Mormon Democrats in Utah

Before it became a state in 1896, Utah had two political parties–the Peoples Party for the Mormons and the Liberal Party for those they called Gentiles. And over the past few decades, the state has pretty much restored that old political order, with the Saints gathered unto the GOP and Democratic Party largely confined to the, uh, Gentiles.

Given the preponderance of Mormons in Utah, it will thus not surprise you to learn that 57 percent of registered voters call themselves Republicans and just seven percent Democrats. And until recently, the Democrats seemed to be happy to think of themselves as the anti-Mormon party.

But under the chairmanship of BYU graduate Jim Debakis the Utah Democratic Party has undertaken to reach out to the Mormon community, and in less than a year, LDSDems has become the party's largest caucus. At the Sunstone Symposium, a couple of its leaders told how they go about their business.

A lot of it boils down to approaching the task the way Mormon missionaries do their thing. Rather than tried to persuade proselytes, you give testimony “why the Democratic Party is true.” You see yourself as about the business of “proclaiming the [party] Gospel and “perfecting the Saints.” And you find ways to indicate how Utah Democratic beliefs are consistent with LDS doctrine.

For example, Doctrine and Covenants 101:80 reads:

And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose.

As for LDSDems, its mission statement includes this testimony: “We recognize the hand of Divinity in the US Constitution and we seek to ensure that the rights and freedoms it provides are available to everyone.”