The LDS First Presidency sent a letter dated Feb. 9, 2012, to area leaders with directions to read it during sacrament meeting. The letter instructs that no weekday church meetings be scheduled during the precinct caucus meetings to be held in mid-March.

“We are concerned with the decreasing attendance at these caucus meetings in Utah in recent years,” the letter reads.

Craig Janis, executive director of Utah Common Values and outreach chair of the LDS Democrats Caucus, said he appreciates the push from LDS leaders.

“Utah’s caucus system is flawed and difficult,” Janis said, “but it is what drives politics in our state. If we as members of the Church want to ensure that LDS values are represented in our political system we need to be active participants in that system.”

We hope that UCV’s supporters will attend their caucus meetings as well. Here’s how to find yours!

A new study by the Pew Forum came out last week. It was about Mormons. The survey contained a lot of information, but one part of it was no surprise: most Mormons call themselves political conservatives. Utah Mormons are nine times as likely to be Republican than Democrat. But why? On Monday we’re broadcasting a show we recorded last week at Utah Valley University. A group of LDS legislators joined Doug on stage to discuss how their political beliefs are informed by Mormonism and vice versa.

 http://radiowest.kuer.org/post/11612-lds-values-and-political-beliefs

Pace encourages his fellow Latter-day Saints to consider other political arguments and not immediately revert to Republican positions. This is something UCV can really get behind, since it fits well with the third principle of the Utah Common Values pledge: having an open mind about new ideas.

Pace also describes experiences he has had within the church where he has been criticized for his political beliefs. Some of you may have had similar experiences with church members or even leaders, but it’s important to remember that Mormon Democrats are not “second-class Latter-day Saints”. Some politically conservative church members may look down upon moderate and progressive church members. To some, liberal and democratic political views equate to being less righteous members of the LDS Church. Pace and many of the people UCV has profiled are living proof that’s not true — their LDS values are what have made them embrace the values of the Democratic Party.

Note: This news summary was written by UCV intern Annelise White.

I was blessed to be born in Washington, D.C., spending my childhood in Maryland and Pennsylvania. I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, after part of my family moved here. I have lived a life full of financial and family strife, but I am thankful for the strength and resilience it has given me.

Last August I graduated from Brigham Young University in History. Towards the latter part of my stay at BYU, I (re)discovered much about myself. I have many interests in various fields of study, some of which include: politics (of course), international relations and development, music, veterinary science/medicine, animal rights and welfare, journalism, environmental biology, and the list goes on! Another passion is my love for languages; I’ve studied Spanish and Hebrew and would love to learn several more.

Another vital part of my life is my ethnic and religious background: I have deeply reconnected with my (paternal) Ashkenazi background as a result of my Jewish studies. Additionally, in the summer of 2010 I lived in Bogotá, Colombia, where I gained a better understanding of my (maternal) cultural heritage, and most importantly, where I met my awesome husband. I love traveling and wish to spend a lifetime doing so.

I am both humbled and proud to declare that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I admire doctrines of other religions, but it is my testimony as a Latter-day Saint that reaffirms my political views. As I have matured I have learned to be more open-minded, considerate, and compassionate towards my fellow men. My beliefs are best summed up by a refreshing article published in The Salt Lake Tribune last year: “The Book of Mormon narrative, regardless of its historicity, admonishes contemporary Latter-day Saints to reject riches and to care for the poor and needy.”

While most UCV supporters are probably not planning to vote for Romney in the upcoming election, as members of the LDS Church we strongly condemn ad-hominem attacks in politics generally, and we specifically abhor attacks targeting candidates based on their faith. Here’s to hoping that we aren’t the only ones who stand behind principle #3 in the UCV pledge!

Note: This news summary was written by UCV intern Annelise White.

How did you gain your testimony of the gospel?

I realized as a teenager that I had to either be committed to the Church or not, that there wasn’t any middle ground. I decided to find out if it was true by searching out the truth for myself. I eventually came to a personal decision that it was true. My testimony has also been strengthened by my church service, especially my mission in Belgium/Netherlands and my time spent as a missionary preparation insructor in my ward.

Where do you consider yourself to be on the political spectrum?

I consider myself a moderate progressive. I definitely lean more to the left of the political spectrum, but I also realize that one political party cannot possibly encompass all of my personal beliefs and positions. Being an LDS progressive is not difficult. My religious beliefs do not dictate that I have to belong to one party or the other.

How does your faith impact your political outlook?

My religious beliefs have a a huge effect on my political beliefs. My religious beliefs have influenced how I feel about social programs and the need to help those around me because we are all God’s children. It has also influenced my views on education — that there needs to be more government funding for education and more equality in education through out the country.

My religious beliefs also have a large impact on how I view moral issues. One example is that I see the LDS Church’s stance on many issues as being more moderate than that of most conservatives. I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, but I also support civil unions and believe that there should be equality for all people no matter what their sexual orientation.

How has law school affected your outlook?

Being in law school has helped me realize that the law is such a powerful tool to help people, and that if it is used effectively, it can benefit so many. I think it is the responsibility of people in government and other influential positions to use the law to help provide better opportunities for all Americans.

How did your parents influence your political beliefs?

Growing up one of my parents was a registered Democrat and the other was a registered Republican. However, I soon learned that they often voted for the same people and felt similarly about political issues. I realized that it was important to do research issue-by-issue and candidate-by-candidate and not just rely on party affiliations. I also learned from my parents that it is important for me to find out what issues I care most about and make sure I vote for people who also care about those issues.

Here’s the flyer:

Now here’s a little bit about me:

• I was born in Kansas to two university professors. My parents are wonderful, educated, and loving people who have made me the person that I am. They raised me to be open-minded, non-judgmental, and to appreciate education.
• My family has university hopped from Alabama, back to Kansas, and most recently, to North Carolina. I love living on the East Coast with all of this country’s history and being so close to our nation’s capitol.
• I am a sophomore at Brigham Young University studying Political Science. I love the environment at BYU and feel blessed to be at this wonderful university. After graduation, I’m planning on attending either law school or graduate school in public policy or public administration. I want to end up working for the government or for a non-profit organization.
• I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church has taught me much about life and has helped shape my political beliefs. I look forward to getting married and having a family of my own some day!
• As a college student, it’s hard to have time for hobbies but photography is my passion and I love music. I play the violin and piano for fun. I enjoy traveling, and along with that, photographing the world.

Thanks for taking some time to get to know me, and I look forward to getting meet all of you!

Recent events in Washington have demonstrated once again how much Americans differ on how to resolve the nation’s problem.  The parties to the debate cannot even agree on the nature of the public good.  The lecture will argue that these conflicts arise out of basic contradictions in our national values and therefore will perpetually recur.  The question the lecture will pose is: Can Mormonism, a religious tradition of particular relevance to Utahns,  contribute to the resolution of these fundamental disagreements.  Can a religion that is authoritarian in nature help solve the problems of a democracy?

You can watch Bushman’s full presentation by following this link: http://stream.utah.edu/m/dp/frame.php?f=d2dc65e364f8da77135

Somos mormones moderados y progresistas. Aunque cada uno tenemos nuestras propias experiencias únicas y puntos de vista diferentes, somos unánimes en nuestro compromiso con estos cinco ideales. Por favor considérelos, y luego agregue su firma al compromiso usando el formulario a la derecha. ¡En defensa de los valores que apreciamos!

1. Seguimos la Constitución y promovemos su vitalidad.

Los Fundadores de nuestra nación fueron sabios y dedicados, los honramos y respetamos por el mantenimiento de la vitalidad de su mayor logro - la Constitución de los Estados Unidos. Los fundadores intencionalmente crearon una Constitución que proteja los derechos y libertades, pero sigue siendo lo suficientemente flexible para que se puede aplicar a los problemas específicos de nuestra generación y las siguientes. Esto significa que, además de la obra ilustrada de los fundadores, nosotros también podemos beneficiarnos de los inspirados progresos de la sociedad americana después de su creación. Estamos orgullosamente conectados con el pasado, pero nuestro progreso no está restringido por él.

2. Protegemos los derechos y libertades individuales.

El mayor logro de la Constitución de los Estados Unidos es su fuerte protección a los derechos y libertades individuales. Desde que la Constitución fue adoptada en 1787, estas libertades gradualmente han estado disponibles para cada vez más estadounidenses, sin distinción de raza, género, condición social o credo. Continuamos con  esta tradición de trabajo en nombre de aquellos que todavía no pueden disfrutar de todas las libertades que Estados Unidos ofrece.

3. Respetamos a los demás, y mantenemos una mente abierta.

El civismo es fundamental en una sociedad abierta. Nosotros respetamos a los demás, incluso cuando no estamos de acuerdo con ellos. Evitamos los ataques personales y el recelo, porque este tipo de tácticas no tienen cabida en el tipo de comunidades que queremos para vivir, mantenemos nuestras mentes abiertas. Estamos dispuestos a modificar nuestras opiniones a medida que nuestro conocimiento y comprensión se expanden. Esperamos que otras personas demuestren el mismo respeto, civismo, y una mentalidad abierta con respecto a nuestras opiniones e ideas.

4. Apoyamos los esfuerzos que fortalecen a las familias.

La motivación que nos guía es ayudar a las familias de Utah a ser exitosas. Nosotros amamos y cuidamos a nuestras familias, y deseamos fortalecerlas. Porque sabemos que no hay dos familias iguales, nos abstenemos de juzgar a los demás. Nosotros fortalecemos a las familias mediante la promoción de políticas que les ayuden a tener vecindarios seguros, recursos financieros adecuados, atención médica básica y el acceso a la educación y otros recursos comunitarios. Tomamos en serio nuestra mayordomía sobre el mundo natural, y nos aseguramos de que las actividades de desarrollo y recreativas se llevan a cabo de manera responsable para que nuestras familias puedan vivir en un medio ambiente sano. A veces podemos lograr estos objetivos respetando los espacios de las personas, y otras veces debemos intervenir activamente para ayudar, pero siempre con el objetivo de fortalecer a las familias de Utah para que tengan éxito.

5. Construimos comunidades prósperas que dan la bienvenida a todas las personas de Utah.

Creemos que Utah debería ser un lugar acogedor y seguro para cada uno de sus casi tres millones de personas. Algunos habitantes de Utah son la primera generación de americanos que vinieron a nuestro estado en calidad de refugiados, y otros vinieron en busca de oportunidades económicas o recreativas. Muchos de nosotros somos descendientes de los valientes pioneros que viajaron a Utah buscando refugio de la persecución religiosa. Nosotros respetamos la diversidad y apoyamos los esfuerzos que permitan a los residentes de Utah ser emprendedores y laboriosos. Nos resistimos a los esfuerzos que alienan y demonizan a grupos de nuestro pueblo. Utah es un lugar muy grande, tanto en la geografía como en espíritu, y hay mucho espacio para todos nosotros.