The White Horse Prophecy: Why I now get it, when I remember liberals questioning my uber-connection to religion in politics.

Here's a great piece on Religion and Politics that Randy Stapilus posted two days ago. I found it fascinating, especially since I had never read about The White Horse Prophecy from Mormon faith founder, Joseph Smith. And since I had interrelated Faith and Freedom so often in the 90's.

No wonder people winced at a few of my speeches in those days. Man, if I sounded like this (even remotely like it...) the left had a reason to wonder.

Since I am neither Mormon nor a believer in a New-And-Improved-Messiah, I read the piece with a fascination akin to the many times in prison that I have met a con-man... something seems to be familiar and believable, but something deep-down seems to be "off".

Randy captures the story well.

Den

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The white horse and the cherry tree

by Randy Stapilus under Idaho.

There’s often some degree of religious tribalism in politics – the identification of some voters with some candidates because of a shared religious view; to some extent, that’s just a normal part of elective politics. There are limits, even in places where the identification is very strong, to how far it can be pushed. In the 1994 gubernatorial race in Idaho, Democrat Larry EchoHawk (Mormon by faith) was thought to be damaged somewhat when links between his campaign and support out of Salt Lake City. The damage was not least among fellow Mormons who disliked having their church so overtly identified with a partisan political campaign.

But that was nothing to what an Idaho gubernatorial candidate this year has in mind. At least according to a news report in the Rexburg Standard Journal – there being no apparent reference to it on the candidate’s own web site. . .

The candidate is independent Rex Rammell, who has made highly overt mention of his LDS faith before, and next month plans to kick it into a new gear. According to theStandard-Journal: “In January, Rammell will kick off a series of special meetings targeted specifically at ‘faithful priesthood-holders of the LDS Church’ to discuss the so-called ‘White Horse’ prophecy.”

Meaning the meetings – though apparently campaign events held by a man seeking to be elected governor of all Idahoans – will be open only to men active in the church, because “it’s just the sacred nature of the things we will be talking about.” Starting January 19, meetings are planned for Idaho Falls first, then Rexburg, Blackfoot, Pocatello, Twin Falls and Boise.

This is something new, at least in recent times: A political campaign explicitly aimed at one religious group.

But this isn’t just marketing segmentation; it’s much more than that. The newspaper report indicates that a good share of the talk will relate to the “white horse prophecy,” and that should raise some wider concerns.

You may have heard reference to it before, in the context of a prediction that the constitution one day would “hang by a thread.” Here’s the generally neutral Beliefnet description:

The White Horse prophecy is the name for a largely oral tradition that says Joseph Smith predicted that a day will come when the Constitution will hang by a thread (or “be on the brink of ruin”) and the elders of Israel (or “the Latter-day Saints,” never an individual) will step forward to save it from destruction. Although no definitive version of the “white horse prophecy” has been traced to Smith, a number of sources recorded him as saying something to that effect. The denunciation of the prophecy as false and ridiculous by a few Mormon leaders is probably a reflection of the prophecy’s non-canonical status, and their wish to rule out melodramatic interpretations of what may have been a largely metaphorical prediction.

Put that in the context of Rammell’s gubernatorial campaign, its projected audience, the influence of Glenn Beck and the superheated rhetoric aimed at the Obama Administration. This ought to be watched closely.

Comments

[LM Anderson]

The slant I read in your editorial is less than admirable. First, to be clear, I am not LDS and I am a woman. Second, the point out an error of fact, Rammell is not an "Independent" candidate, he is a "Republican" candidate. I have read Rammell's written statements and have watched the interviews in their entirety. I find it disturbing that the biased media has a problem with Rammell speaking to members of his own church about matters of grave concern to him. Nobody has a problem with him speaking to members of any other faith, organization or group. I find it freightening that the media choses to focus on whether or not he should talk to church members instead of focusing on the real issue, we have a crisis in America and it is time for everyone to wake up. The intent of the media to create a prejudice against non-LDS and women where none exists is disturbing but typical.

[Dennis]

Why do you care? Your comment is rather odd. Not LDS? Ok, fine. A woman, who cares?

The greater (and odder) thing is that you don't mention your support of Rammell. C'mon be completely honest. Give me the full picture here...
Dennis

[LM Anderson]

I'm tired of the media playing cards: Gender card; religous affiliation card; race card. At every opportunity they twist and distort messages to create a sense of prejudice. It's very old and irritating. My statement that I am not LDS and I am a woman implies explicity that despite the media's attempt to try allienate women and non-LDS by their reporting of this issue is not working except to incite anger towards the media.