Random media reports talk about the LDS Church's influence on Utah's alcohol laws, how the church has distanced itself from an Idaho candidate, speculation about U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman Jr. and how the church played in year-end news surveys.
The church and Utah alcohol laws
CNN reports about the influence the LDS church has in Utah with alcohol laws. John King, CNN's chief national correspondent, wrote:
It is a debate that is not unusual as cities across America debate new urban planning models. But it is perhaps more controversial and noteworthy here because Utah, the home of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for years has had some of the nation's most restrictive liquor laws. The Mormon Temple is a Salt Lake City landmark, and the church's influence in the city and across the state remains enormous. But the city is now majority non-Mormon, and Becker says his job is to promote — and encourage — those differences.
Idaho candidate stirs controversy
Gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell, Idaho Falls, recently caused a controversy when he sent out invitations to an LDS elders only meeting. Many were upset about the exclusive meetings and they should be. In a pluralistic society, candidates shouldnít be holding exclusive meetings for certain groups to get elected. Rammell says he believes in the so-called White Horse prophecy which was allegedly given by LDS church founder Joseph Smith. According to accounts, Smith states that "the U.S. Constitution will hang by a thread" and that the elders of the LDS church will step up and save it.
According to the Rexburg Standard Journal, the church distanced itself from the prophecy and candidate. The newspaper reported a statement from Kim Farah, LDS Church spokeswoman:
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is politically neutral and does not endorse or promote any candidate, party or platform. Accordingly, we hope that the campaign practices of political candidates would not suggest that their candidacy is supported by or connected to the church. The so-called 'White Horse Prophecy' is based on accounts that have not been substantiated by historical research and is not embraced as Church doctrine."
Huntsman in 2012?
Speaking of Latter-day Saints and politics, at least one pundit is speculating that Jon Huntsman Jr. will end his stint as U.S. ambassador to China to run for president. Forbes columnist and political communications consultant Dan Gerstein wrote:
"Most 2012 presidential bird-dogging will focus on the two top establishment candidates (Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney) and the rogue regime in waiting (Sarah Palin). But don't count out the popular former Utah governor Jon Huntsman yet. Team Obama may have thought they were taking a formidable rival off the board by picking the broadly appealing, Mandarin-speaking Huntsman to be their ambassador to China. And Huntsman may have calculated Obama was probably not beatable in 2012 when he accepted the job early this year. But circumstances have changed just a bit now that Obama's approval ratings have dipped below 50 percent."
Top stories of 2009
The LDS Church and other news organizations released their top news stories of 2009. The LDS Newsroom released its list including the opening of two new temples in Utah.
The Salt Lake Tribune named the Salt Lake Main Street Plaza kiss between two-men and LDS Church support of some rights for gays in Salt Lake City as its second most important story. KTVX Channel Four named it No. 14.
Editors from Utah media who are part of the news cooperative, The Associated Press, voted the story No. 2 as well. The AP's year-end report read:
Few were surprised when the Mormon church threw its weight behind a California ballot proposition that banned gay marriage. But the church's involvement and conflict in a highly charged political issue grew to dominate the news for much of the year. After a gay couple was arrested for embracing on Salt Lake City's Temple Square — charges were later thrown out — advocates staged a series of "kiss-ins" at temples around the country. Later, in Utah, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints endorsed a Salt Lake City ordinance that made it illegal to fire people from jobs or evict them from housing because of sexual orientation. City leaders quickly adopted the measure.