ROMNEY STANDS ALONE BUT FINDS COMPANY
With vote to convict Trump, senator shows moral courage advocated by LDS church
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have always been taught to stand alone when necessary.
LDS scripture is full of these stories — Abinadi being burned alive after refusing to recall his words exposing the corruption of a king and his court, Nephi being beaten by his brothers for speaking the truth, Abish staying true to her faith even in the midst of an angry crowd, and so many others.
In the early days of the LDS church, the pioneers were driven out of place after place because of religious persecution, crossing the country in heat and cold and losing family members in order to find a place to practice their faith.
The late LDS President Thomas S. Monson gave a talk called “Dare to Stand Alone” about serving in the Navy during WWII. His officer sent men to their places of worship. Monson held his ground as more common religions were listed, even though he knew he might be the only member of his faith, but in the end he was not alone.
At this point in his talk, Monson invoked a question of “moral courage,” the same thing that Sen. Mitt Romney has been praised for demonstrating by voting for removing President Donald Trump from office.
“We may at times find ourselves surrounded by others and yet standing in the minority or even standing alone concerning what is acceptable and what is not,” Monson said. “Do we have the moral courage to stand firm for our beliefs, even if by so doing we must stand alone?”
This is the legacy of faith to which Romney is referring; a faith that is often marked by standing alone. And that’s what he has done, amid the vitriolic criticisms and condemnations from people who share his faith and his party.
While there is a large number of vocal pro-Trump Mormons criticizing Romney, many members across the political spectrum have thanked him for his bravery. Mormon Women for Ethical Government, an organization I am gladly part of but do not speak for, started an open letter of thanks to Romney, with submissions and signatures from members of the church all over the country and the world.
Although the majority of the members of the church are Republican, Mormon voters have polled over the years as being split concerning Trump’s presidency. During the 2016 Republican primary, Sen. Ted Cruz won the largely Mormon state of
Utah with 70 percent of the vote — much higher than Trump’s 14 percent.
A large factor in Trump’s steep decline in popularity among members of the Church was the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape. It would appear that, while many agreed with general conservative policy, they did not support Trump’s behavior and character. But where then could these people turn once Trump was elected?
These people who were struggling to see their values reflected in the conservative party were left with a choice pretty consistent with the choice Romney had to make: go against their own consciences or dare to stand alone.
In his solitary vote, I see many of my religious beliefs, such as a dedication to the truth, condemning unrighteous abuse of power, receiving answers directly from God about our own circumstances and choosing the right way instead of the easy way.
I was studying at Brigham Young University during the 2016 election. As a liberal intersectional feminist at BYU, there were many times when I was the only person in my class who held the beliefs I did. I stood alone, and I was frequently degraded for it through name-calling or shaming.
On a date with a BYU law student who was a Trump supporter, the conversation quickly went south. After saying that he didn’t see why it was a big deal that Trump bragged about sexual assault on the “Access Hollywood” tapes, he said awful things about the LGBTQ+ community and people of color.
When I disagreed, he told me that there was no way that I was actually practicing my faith properly as a “godless liberal” and that there was no way I could be worthy to enter the Mormon temple if I didn’t uphold the president and everything he said and did.
Although I was nervous, I stood up, condemned the idea that I was not good enough because my religious beliefs led me in a different direction, rejected the sexist, racist, and homophobic rhetoric that he had already shared, and left.
He had driven me there, so I walked home alone in the dark, shaking. It was a small moment. I felt both a rush of pride and then inescapable loneliness and fear.
To see Romney stand alone against people of his own party, some of which were of his own faith, and say that his religious beliefs had led him to a different decision, I felt seen. For the first time in a long time, I felt hope.
His speech also allowed for both political and religious freedom
when he made room for dissent. Rather than insisting that his fellow Republican senators are wrong and enforcing his religious and moral conclusions on his colleagues, he allows them to get their own answers, something encouraged in our faith.
I fail to see this graciousness and freedom for dissent in Sen. Mike Lee’s reaction to Romney’s vote, or in Trump’s response that Romney “used religion as a crutch.”
Although the church has supported legislation (mostly conservative) and largely holds to traditional conservative values, it
does not belong to a party and does not dictate how its members vote; it only encourages people to be politically active.
In his speech, Romney said he trusted his fellow Republican senators to vote according to “the dictates of their own consciences,” alluding to Article of Faith 11, part of a document that states the core beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.
“We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what the
may,” it reads.
I am no theologian. I am no historian or political expert. I’m an average millennial member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But I agree with Romney when he says, “I am profoundly religious. My faith is at the heart of who I am.”
My interpretation of my faith has led me further and further from the current Republican party. It is why I support refugees and reject family separation. It’s why I fight for equality for all people.
Many people of my own faith don’t agree with me, and there is room for that.
My immediate family holds a wide variety of beliefs. While I don’t always agree with them, I know that they are trying to follow their moral consciences and be the best people they can be. Our political beliefs divide us, but our religious faith and our faith in each other bring us together.
Rollins is a web editor for the Joseph Smith Papers and a freelance journalist and editor based in Utah, where she lives with her husband and their hedgehog, Hermione. Her views are her own and do not represent the views of her employer.