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John Daley ReportingFrank Pignanelli, Deseret Morning News: "I think this is huge. It's good news for democrats. It's good news for Utahns. It's actually very good for republicans too, because what it says is that for both major political parties, there's something there for all members of the LDS faith."
A new statement on political participation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Is it an invitation to consider more than just one party? Members of Utah's various political parties are taking note of a letter about political participation from the LDS Church's First Presidency.
The letter was read in church meetings Sunday and one line in particular is drawing attention. We're getting quite a bit of reaction to that line. Democrats say they're delighted, republicans are urging people not to read too much into it. And the Church is not commenting, letting the letter speak for itself.
For years at the polls Utah has been as reliably Republican as any state, thanks in large part to a large Mormon, GOP-voting base. This even though the LDS Church has long been officially neutral. A new statement reinforces that neutrality.
Just as it has in many recent election years, in a letter read in church gatherings on Sunday, the First Presidency urged political participation without endorsing any candidate or party, but this year it also said, "Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in the platforms of all major political parties."
Democrats believe the statement could help remove a stigma, especially in rural Utah.
Wayne Holland, Chair, Utah Democratic Party: "The statement of the first presidency in our belief is a clear comfort to the many thousands of Utah LDS democrats. We're very encouraged that the principles of the democratic party and the teachings of the LDS faith are very consistent."
Joe Cannon, Chair, Utah Republican Party: "I think it's a clear signal that we can embrace things that are good in everybody's platform. I don't read more into than that. Utah is still going to be a pretty heavily republican state."
Kelly Patterson is a BYU Political Science professor.
Kelly Patterson, BYU Professor: "It seems to be a new phrase and it's really up to the parties whether or not they can capitalize on that."
Frank Pignanelli is a former state Democratic lawmaker and Deseret Morning News columnist.
Frank Pignanelli, Political Columnist, Deseret Morning News: "It unhooks whatever problems there were before. It makes the statement that an affiliation or a distance from a religion neither one of those are good. What it is, is people of the LDS faith can be a good republican, but they can also be a good democrat."
Again, no comment from the Church today, but most political watchers we spoke with today say they don't expect this to inspire any major sea change in Utah's political world, although they do see this as a notable development.
