Mormons and Mitt - the Myth about separation of church and state

If Mitt wins, the mormon "prophet" will be the effective leader of the free world, not Romney himself.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/derrick-shore/mormons-and-mitt-the-myth-about-separation-of-church-and-state_b_1898659.html

"But here's why Mr. Romney's religion is relevant: For Mormons, there really is no such thing as separation of church and state."

"The sometimes-blurry lines between the LDS church and politics can be illustrated by the 2008 passage of Proposition 8 in California, which amended the state's constitution to ban gay marriage. The First Presidency of the church issued a written statement asking members to do all they could "to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman." Top Mormon officials also held a special, emergency satellite broadcast from Salt Lake City in which they warned, "You are a mighty army. You'll be responsible for holding true to the doctrines of the Church.""

"Mormons believe that their leader is a modern-day prophet who speaks directly to God -- and that's why their stance on many issues or practices seems to evolve or change abruptly. In 1890 the prophet instructed members to immediately end the practice of polygamy (which Congress had outlawed in 1862 but which church members continued to practice for decades). Then, in 1978, fifteen years after racial integration was mandated by the federal government, God revealed to Mormon leaders that African-Americans could finally enter into Mormon temples and hold the full privileges of membership. Mormons can't anticipate when these kinds of revelations from God may come, but they live as righteously as possible in order to be ready to adapt to commands from their leaders. From the written word in Mormon scripture to melodic hymns in church, members are often referred to as the Lord's "soldiers," "sheep," and "children.""

"If Mitt Romney is elected president, what happens the next time top officials in the Mormon church instruct members to take a specific political stance because it is God's will? Because Mormons are expected to put God before everything else, this puts Mr. Romney in a tricky position that might jeopardize his eternal salvation. As the leader of our nation, who would he put first: God or the American people?"