Abstract
Drawing empirically on the examples of the Church of Latter-Day Saints’ (Mormon) participation in anti-ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) ratification campaign and its latest attempts to influence other political issues of moral consequences (such as same-sex marriage) in the United States, the paper attempts to analyse the dynamics of a contemporary religiously motivated political movement. Despite being, on any of these issues, a part of a wider coalition of political actors, the Mormon church displayed a specifically religious motivation, justification and modus operandi . Owing to strong religious legitimacy of their power – based on the doctrine of continuous revelation and enhanced by a sort of “personality cult” of the Church President-Prophet developing in late 20 th century – the leadership of the church has been capable of effective grassroots mobilization, achieved through a disciplined universal priesthood structure. While, from the theoretical point of view, this Mormon political movement is of a traditional, “old” variation (ideological and social cohesion of members, well-defined, stable membership, hierarchical leadership etc.) it has nevertheless been relatively successful in modern political environment. The Mormon engagement, at least in the anti-ERA campaign, had made a difference certainly in Utah, and probably elsewhere as well.
Highlights
Ever since Joseph Smith’s bid for presidency in 1844, Mormonism has been engaged in American national politics to some extent
When this effort failed and Utah was admitted to the Union as a state in 1896, only after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) gave up polygamy and its political monopoly, Mormonism has moved, in the 20th century, into the mainstream of American political life, usually remaining on its conservative side
In the second half of the 20th century political activity of the LDS Church focused on specific issues deemed to be of importance for Mormons, rather than on constant support for any of the two major political parties
Summary
Ever since Joseph Smith’s bid for presidency in 1844, Mormonism has been engaged in American national politics to some extent. Maciej Potz defending the practice of polygamy and the religious-political idea of a theocratic Kingdom of God [Hansen 1967: chapter VII and ff] When this effort failed and Utah was admitted to the Union as a state in 1896, only after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) gave up polygamy and its political monopoly, Mormonism has moved, in the 20th century, into the mainstream of American political life, usually remaining on its conservative side. For most of its leaders and members alike, it is primarily a religious organization, offering supernatural rewards to its members Such designation is, rather, an analytical device to highlight a particular (political, in this case) aspect of the organization’s activity. The article concludes with observations on recent Mormon political activity related to the issue of same-sex marriage, suggesting striking similarities with, and some differences from, the anti-ERA campaign
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