Mr. Romney: (Excerpts are given, not as Mr. Romney's responses, but only as explanations -- via one Mormon website -- to the queries' rationales.)
For you, as a fanatic, unabashed dev
out Mormon, which you specifically state in your latest “approved” T.V. ad shown on every channel approximately 3,768 times per day, vying as a “trustworthy candidate” for the Republican nomination for the President of the United States, I have a few blunt questions:
1-Over the past 15 years, you have flip-flopped your position (a convenient strategy popular with most Republicans) on Abortion, “Right-To-Choose,” “Pro-Life,” etc. (label it whatever you wish), but more to the point: During your brief stint (can’t imagine why) as Massachusetts’ governor, you strongly supported the Massachusetts’ Gay Marriage Amendment into law, which became effective in 2010. You are presently married to a woman, but suppose Mrs. Romney was a man. Would your marriage also be considered by your Mormon Church as a Celestial one?
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/mormon/marriage/
Excerpt: “This does not indicate a marriage that takes place in heaven, but rather a kind of marriage that is heavenly in nature; it is divine in its origin and potential.
Mormons assert that for a celestial marriage to occur, several key steps must be followed. First, the man and woman must be sealed, or bound, by one holding the authority of God to perform such sealings, which can only take place in Mormon temples. Second, the couple must seek, with all their hearts, to individually and jointly follow Jesus Christ. Third, the sealing must be confirmed by God through His Spirit.”
2-Earthly or continuing “Celestial” Marriage aside, what advice do you give to a gay-married couple, when asked by their 12-year-old child who may have just exited from a sex-education class at school, “Which one of you is my mother and which one of you is my father and how t’heck did you do it?”
Mmmm. No response on that one. Okay, next question:
3-Does your tenet, “Baptism After Death” apply to your Jewish neighbor who is married to a Mormon-Temple-sanctified spouse?
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/mormon/baptism/
Excerpt: “Many people have died without receiving a valid baptism, and they cannot undergo this precious ritual as mere spirits. Because all on the earth do not have the opportunity to accept the gospel during mortality, the Lord has authorized baptisms performed by proxy for the dead. Therefore, those who accept the gospel in the spirit world may qualify for entrance into God's kingdom.
Baptisms for the dead can only be performed in Mormon temples. Elder Mark E. Petersen explained this requirement: ‘Always a center of interest is the baptismal font. In each of the temples this font rests upon the backs of twelve stone or bronze oxen, following in this, as in other particulars, the pattern given by the Prophet Joseph Smith as he instituted temple building in his day under the direction of the Lord. Why is there a baptismal font in the temple? Cannot people be baptized anywhere? The living, yes. But the font in the temple is for vicarious baptisms performed in behalf of the dead.’”
4-(Mr. Romney, this compound question is vitally important to your political campaign): How many sets of Mormon underwear do you have, do you wear ‘em all the time, how often do you wash ‘em, and does Mrs. Romney wear a set all the time?
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/mormon/underwear/
Excerpt: “Known to some is the fact that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wear a special kind of underwear in connection with their religion. This is true of most faithful adult members of the Church. The special underwear is called a ‘garment.’
Garments are a symbolic gesture of the promises that Mormons have made to God. The garment is always worn under other clothing, next to the skin. In fact, for most people who wear it, the garment takes the place of regular underwear. Mormons begin wearing it during their first visit to the temple, wherein they receive individual instruction on how the garment should be worn and cared for, and furthermore, they undergo a sacred ceremony called the temple endowment. Solely during this ritual, additional special clothing is put on; by contrast, the garment or special underwear is worn at all times, both day and night, from then on. It serves as a constant reminder of the covenants made during the temple endowment.
The garment helps in privately yet consistently setting temple-going Mormons apart from the world. Mormons are encouraged through the modest length and cut of their temple garments to always dress appropriately. Devout Mormons further understand that in only a very few instances might the garment be removed, such as for swimming, using the bathroom, or being intimate in marriage. The reasons for keeping the garment on far outweigh the reasons for taking it off.”
Mr. Romney, you failed to respond in detail to my multi-faceted question. I think I’ll vote for Michelle Bachmann. Wait a sec. She just dropped out of the race. Oh, well, one vote for you is as good as a vote for her.
WJK-Jan. 8, 2012
