Romney Mormonism Speech

Mitt Romney gave a speech about his Mormonism faith and how he believes it integrates with his life as a public servant.

For some reason his Mormonism has been a focus point for some time with the media. Never mind the fact that the current Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, is a Mormon. Or Orrin Hatch of Utah. They have not had to defend their faith even though their position in public office is almost as powerful (some would say more powerful) than that of President.

Romney has a tough row to hoe. Liberals fear that his religion will bring a strict judgementalist attitude to the White House. Conservatives, particularly right-wing Evangelicals, dislike Mormonism, and some even brand it as a cult, or at least a false religion.

Romney's speech was less about the tenets of faith of Mormonism than it was about how to integrate one's religion into life as a public servant.

For full text, you can find it at his website: Romney Mormonism Speech

He also focused on how acknowledging that our faith is a part of our lives can unite us if we can look for similarities and set aside differences. He refers back to the founding fathers, who though varied in the details of their beliefs, united around a common cause (namely the pursuit of freedom from tyranny):

"Recall the early days of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, during the fall of 1774. With Boston occupied by British troops, there were rumors of imminent hostilities and fears of an impending war. In this time of peril, someone suggested that they pray. But there were objections. 'They were too divided in religious sentiments', what with Episcopalians and Quakers, Anabaptists and Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Catholics.

"Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot.

"And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God ... they founded this great nation.

The speech overall is very patriotic, very balanced, and I believe motivating.

It is, at its essence, a GOOD thing to work toward unity as a nation, regardless of what you believe about Mitt Romney, his politics, or Mormonism