[Blowtorch]

My logical construct as to why LDS church leadership would not be running things through Mitt Romney is based on 2 things. 1) There is no recent historical precedent of the leaders of the church strong-arming a major political candidate, and, as with Harry Reid, it appears there is absolutely no pressure at all, demonstrated by his uber-liberal politics not affecting his church standing.

2) even if the Leaders wanted to "run things, " Romney would not be their candidate of choice-his politics are also left of the church, and as you and I know, there are strong Mormons in the faith and other, let's say more moderate Sunday Mormons. Just because he is an active Mormon, his belief system may be further away from "the faith" than he lets on. I know this is true of a lot of Mormons, especially these days.

[Colofornian]

1) There is no recent historical precedent of the leaders of the church strong-arming a major political candidate, and, as with Harry Reid, it appears there is absolutely no pressure at all, demonstrated by his uber-liberal politics not affecting his church standing.

A Mormon in the WH would be unprecedented; so you make here the logical fallacy error of equivalency: Deeming that the power construct within Congress is somehow approachable to the White House. It's not.

2) even if the Leaders wanted to "run things, " Romney would not be their candidate of choice-his politics are also left of the church...

Well, at least a better try here...but no cigar...

What too many FREEPERs fail to realize is that the Mormon church can be liberal when it wants to...and it's been awfully convenient for that to happen more and more the last few years.

Examples:

* Homosexual rights: Mormon church supports Salt Lake City's protections for gay rights and Mormons Back Salt Lake City Gay Rights Laws

Illegal alien liberal policy nuances... note these headlines:
* 2 LDS branch presidents in Utah deported to Guatemala, El Salvador
* Utahpolicy.com had a headline in 2011: Considering The Disconnect Between Some LDS Church Members and Leadership on Immigration

Abortion: The official Mormon church position (see
http://www.religioustolerance.org/lds_abor.htm) is that it's "OK" for an abortion if...
(a) Incest needs to be covered up;
(b) The baby is disabled and needs to be destroyed accordingly
(c) Mom's "health" (whatever that means...distinct from saying "life" of the mother)
(d) If the abortionist says it's "OK"
(e) If the Mormon god says it's "OK" in prayer...

E alone above could "justify" abortion to individual Mormons as long it overrides the person's conscience!

And if you need further evidence of just how liberal the Mormon church leadership can be when it wants to be, then look at how Harry Reid was welcomed with such warm open arms by an all BYU student & faculty occasion for Reid to speak there: Reid gets warm reception at BYU

Too many FREEPERS somehow think that Romney's wishy-washiness is "unconnected" to his faith. Well, the Mormon leadership has shown it can be morally wishy-washy whenever it's "convenient."

It was "convenient" for the Mormon church leadership to pass homosexual rights for Salt Lake City 'cause they were coming off of what the MSM regarded "negative" media play re: Prop 8 in CA.

It was "convenient" for their missionary program to support aspects of immigrants being here illegally.