Romney increases interest in Latter-day Saints
As the Pennsylvania primary nears, it appears that Mitt Romney will be the 2012 Republican nominee for president and the first Mormon presidential nominee from any major political party.
At the Uniontown Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members are aware of this historic significance but, like the national church, are not making any endorsements.
“Our church is neutral but we encourage people to be involved in the community and in the political process,” said Elder Ammon Jeffery, a missionary from Provo, Utah.
Jeffery, 21, who is working in McKeesport, spent a recent day in Uniontown with Elder Zach Collier, 20, of Vancouver, Wash., who is also on a mission trip and assigned to Uniontown. Both men are fulfilling their missions with different assignments in Pennsylvania. The men explained the church sends our 56,000 single young adults every year on two-year mission trips around the world. Elder Sam Kofford of Castle Dale, Utah, also has been assigned to Uniontown.
Asked about the presidential primary, Collier noted the church is not taking positions.
He said, “Our role as a church is not to elect politicians but to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Collier said he has encountered people who bring up Romney in their conversations.
“They’re friendly and it’s something to talk about. It’s a good conversation piece,” he said. “We love the people of Uniontown. My experience is that the people are very warm and welcoming. They’re willing to talk to you as a person and it means a lot to us.”
Yet, if people become interested in the church because of Romney, the church is ready to share the tenets of the faith.
“We welcome all people learning more about the church. My experience has been positive. People are interested in learning what we do,” Collier said.
Jeffery added, “We don’t encourage people to join the church because of somebody. We’re here to help change people’s lives through Christ. We try not to spend too much time on the subject (of Romney) and get on to more important things.”
“The important things being Jesus Christ and his love for mankind,” said Collier.
According to the website for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “More than 14 million people now constitute the church’s membership, a majority of whom live outside the United States. And within the United States, it has the fourth-largest membership of any church. Since its humble founding in 1830 with six people in a log cabin in upstate New York, the church has continued to grow in membership and influence.”
In a website article called “Politics Heightens Interest in the Church,” officials noted, “We have experienced many times the intense inquiry and attention that comes when a member, or members, of the faith are the focus of public attention. Such attention is in some ways simply a result of church growth. With more than 6 million members in the United States, many of our members are now in public life. We welcome and encourage questions about our faith, but we will respect the bright line between talking about the church and talking about candidates for public office.”
There is one Mormon church in Fayette County. The Uniontown Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 210 Barbara St., at the intersection with Wendy Drive, was founded in 1976. Tony Angelo is the current president of the church, which has about 200 members.
Worship is held at 10 a.m. Sunday, followed by 11 a.m. Sunday school, with Bible study for adults and a lesson for children called a primary.
There are men’s and women’s organizations that meet at noon. There also is a ministry for youths and the church sponsors a Boy Scout troop that meets weekly.
The missionaries that are assigned to the church meet with people in their homes and participate in community service, such as working every Tuesday at St. Vincent De Paul Society in Uniontown and assisting people.
More information is available online at www.mormon.org or by calling 724-712-1882.