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| Mitt Romney |
During a January 23 exchange between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, Romney boasted of his business success. Tax records reveal he earned at least $21.6 million in 2010. During the verbal volley between the two candidates, I remembered that Romney is also a Melchizedek Priesthood holder in the Mormon church, probably a high priest. I’m sure he’s been a bishop, stake president, mission president or regional representative.
Then, like a rap on the head, it hit me. His money got him to the top in Mormonism.
Among high-level Mormon men, though, Romney is the norm. I saw many like him during my 11 years in the LDS church. Physicians, attorneys, corporate execs, investors and others in esteemed professions routinely receive the most coveted Mormon church callings. Because of their inflated earnings, Mormon men in these professions also pay substantial tithing to the church. And that’s largely why they’re asked to serve in church leadership.
They’re not necessarily more spiritual, intelligent or talented than Mormons of lower income levels, but they have given more money to their church than people in commonplace professions. In a sense, they’ve bought their way to the top. After all, since Mormonism’s early years, how many LDS church presidents and apostles since didn’t finish high school or achieve success in their esteemed professions? Few, if any.
“Absurd! Ridiculous! All lies!”
That’s what most Mormons would say in response. They would claim the Lord calls whom he wants to lead his church.
But think about it. Most of today’s Mormon general authorities have exceled in business or in one of the professions. They’re doctors, lawyers and businessmen—and they have money! Few of “the Brethren” (Mormon general authorities) were janitors, retail clerks, customer-service reps or waiters immediately before their callings. And Mitt Romney? He comes from BIG money.
Now, unlike most ex-Mormon pundits, I’m not for or against Romney in his run for the U.S. presidency. I don’t believe being a Mormon necessarily disqualifies you from serving effectively as president of the United States. It doesn’t necessarily make you more fit for the job either.
But I can see why Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts and multimillion-dollar capitalist, progressed so far in the LDS church and in government service. He has BIG money. And if you have substantial assets, you’ll go far in Mormonism, just as in politics. (Are any of the 2012 U.S. presidential candidates not millionaires?) Mitt Romney proves it.
I doubt Lord approves of an individual’s wealth unless he uses most of it to help others. In my view, paying ten percent to the Mormon church, whatever the dollar amount, doesn’t qualify.
With awe-inspiring compassion, the Savior described the widow’s offering in Luke 21. “Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,” Luke records, “and [Jesus] saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on’” (verses 1–4 ESV). Jesus loved the poor and often chastised the rich.
How poignant are the Savior’s words regarding rich and poor. “ . . . Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation” (Luke 6:24 ESV). “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20 ESV).
These words apply to Mitt Romney—and to everyone else.
Comments or questions? Write loren@gco4lds.org.
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