Mormons have an obligation to the rights of other minority religions arguably more than probably any other group. Faced with persecution in the past and possible persecution in the future, it is imperative that Mormons remember the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith at this time more than any other time, over the rights and freedoms of Muslims to build their cultural center where and how they wish.
It shouldn't surprise anyone that Mitt Romney released a note to the press that he was against the Cordoba Initiative project. We shouldn't be surprised because Mitt Romney wants the votes of bigoted conservatives. So he will ride the coattails of demagoguery and hate even though, as the link above notes, it goes against the very things Mitt Romney spoke about when defending his own Mormonism:
THERE IS, in this country, an “essential connection between the survival of a free land and the protection of religious freedom.’’ Indeed, “religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.’’
What was surprising was Harry Reid's capitulation to the demagoguery. What exactly was he thinking? Whose votes did he think he could get? Maybe he thinks liberals in Nevada will hold their noses and vote for him in November just so they are not represented by the utterly ridiculous Sharon Angle. Who knows. He may be right. But in any case, his position makes no sense particularly as the Senate Majority Leader, whose words ought to carry some weight. but it seems he's letting Republicans dictate his words:
Reid, after all, only issued the above statement after his Republican opponents began hitting him for going silent on the matter.
The problem both Harry Reid and Mitt Romney have is that they belong to my faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The LDS Church, more commonly known as Mormons, and not very well liked here on Daily Kos because of the position Mormons and the LDS Church has taken on the issue of gay marriage, but that's neither here nor there, is a minority religion that faces stigma over several issues, including the gay marriage position. It's past history with racism and polygamy haven't won as many adherents as they probably could have had without those. In any case, the LDS church has a history of being persecuted against, from state persecution (Governor Boggs of Missouri issuing an order to execute Mormons), to mobs killing Mormons, to more tame persecution regarding zoning of temple buildings. This is one area where Harry Reid and Mitt Romney, as well as most Mormons have a conflict regarding the allowance of Muslims in lower Manhattan to build their own cultural center where they may like and where they can legally build. Harry Reid and Mitt Romney must now stay silent and not lend their weight and influence in where the LDS Church can build their temples. Mitt Romney should be quite well aware of the controversy over the Boston Temple and how ignorance and outright lies led to the LDS Church having one hell of a fight to get that temple built.
The problem Harry Reid and Mitt Romney have is, how can they go to the rest of America and ask for rights to build temples in their backyards when there is such mistrust of Mormons, and then have their opposition to Muslims not having the same right, hang over their heads? For the rights of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be protected, the rights of other minority faiths must be defended by the likes of Mitt Romney, Harry Reid and all Mormons in this country, or any country. And this is the point of one Joseph Smith, founder and first prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who said:
“The Saints can testify whether I am willing to lay down my life for my brethren. If it has been demonstrated that I have been willing to die for a “Mormon,” I am bold to declare before heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any other denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves.” (HC 5:498.)
Let me repeat that last part again: for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter Day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves. Mormons have an obligation to defend the freedoms of other minority religions not just because that's the right thing to do, but out of simple self interest. For the rights of Mormons to practice their faith, they must defend the rights of others to practice theirs just as freely as we ask others for us to practice ours.