Despite the ceaseless cries of religious bigotry by LDS friends in the I-15 corridor—they need not be so up in arms—Mitt Romney will take the Republican nomination for the United States Presidency.

I am no prophet, and neither am I the son of a prophet; but this I know to be facts about what the Republican party cares about (agreeing with John):

Romney has the money.

Romney looks presidential in the midst of liberal opposition.

Romney is a conservative family man.

And soon all the world will be studying Mormonism.  The General Authorities, especially the First Presidency and the twelve Apostles, had better emerge from their administrative round tables and start clearly explaining spiritual doctrine.  People get tired of hearing from public relations websites and scholarly professors and the common Latter-day Saint (who is actually very bold and refreshingly frank – thanks).  They want to hear what the top people have to say.  This is not the job of politician Mitt Romney.  For the top people among the Melchizedek priesthood with their special apostolic callings are the ones claiming to be the living oracles of God Almighty, the ones claiming of hearing divine revelation from God for men and women in America.  So they should speak up over the clear questions by American people on the topics of biblical revelation and LDS revelation.

I just read from cover to cover the leading conservative evangelical magazine, World (December 22, 2007). 

Their cover story was on Mike Huckabee, but I think it should have centered squarely on Mitt Romney.  World magazine is missing the dynamics of the bigger, political picture (of course, as an Idaho spud, I speak as a fool.)

Joel Belz opened up this magazine edition with a short post entitled:  “The right questions:  It’s not bigotry for voters to take Mitt Romney’s Mormonism into account.” 

First, here is my advice to Joel.  If there are questions about the LDS religion, go to the authoritative source.  Get with the top General Authorities.  You need to get together for a conversation in 2008.  Soon. 

And it is the LDS twelve apostles that need to engage in conversation with their religious antithesis in America:  conservative, non-ecumenical Calvinists.  General Authorities must open up a slot for Joel Belz or Marvin Olasky.  Neither one of them bite with angry, hateful fangs.  Honestly.  In 2008, the vampires of BYU grad, Stephenie Meyer, are more dangerous by far (I’m laughing).

Secondly, on page 17 of World, I was disappointed by Clint Rainey’s short post, “Open Season:  Even good press may be bad news for Mitt Romney after his speech on Mormonism.”

Romney gave a good political speech.  Why are conservative evangelicals afraid to say this?  I think it is because there is a fear of legitimizing the doctrines of Mormonism in America.  Eh?

The political year 2008 will be a year paving brand new, uncomfortable territory for both conservative LDS and conservative evangelicals. 

Indeed, the Triune God will be teaching us a lot of things in the days ahead.