(The following was published by Cody Quirk on the Hammer of Truth.)
Recently, there was a controversial and outrageously inaccurate article in the Salt Lake Tribune which gave the false impression that our state affiliate in Utah was not only a religious (specifically a Latter-Day Saint) extremist party, but even attempted to portray the National Independent American Party as willing to disrespect the LDS Church’s stance on political neutrality!
Unlike what was portrayed in the SLT article, the so-called pamphlet in question was a simple party-unapproved flyer that was put out by a well-intentioned member of the IAP whom did have previous permission from his Church’s Bishop and Stake President to conduct a nonpartisan class on the U.S. Constitution and was advertising it on the flyer in question. However this individual also included several inappropriate ‘religious’ quotes that, while might be regarded as ‘fact’ by a few in our party, however are also regarded as hogwash by other members of our party as well. Unfortunately, several critics later got their hands on the fliers and thereafter put their conservative and LDS-bashing spin on it with a newspaper that bears a long history of such slander.
And then in the follow up article, the author again added his spin on comments and statements put out by the various state & national leaders of the Independent American Party and its affiliates on the recent matter at hand- again demonstrating the Tribune’s penchant for yellow journalism.
How sad it is that the National Independent American Party, which is a political party seeking torestore constitutional government and our diminished liberties, including the right to free speech and the ability to practice one’s religion without any government inference or preference favoring one denomination over another- gets inaccurately portrayed and stereotyped as both a political party that gives favoritism towards members and any form of patriotic genre of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and even one that would dare favor theocracy with a Mormon-bent.
And sadly, this misconception about us has been going on for quite some time.
Yet the truth is the complete opposite, and it is something that must be addressed in this article.
First, I will admit that yes, the National IAP was founded largely by political activist who are members of the LDS Church, and that yes, in the past our party did have previous themes and an outreach that appealed largely to Latter-Day Saint voters, as many in our party are outspoken on what various LDS constitutionalists have said and taught from before.
That said, and also speaking personally as a individual leader of this party- the National IAP has never, nor ever will exclude non-LDS from joining our ranks, regardless of what denomination or religion they belong to, or even if they belong to no faith at all, or even if they critical of the LDS Church in their personal views and opinions; our party is one that is principled in it’s support and adherence to the U.S. Constitution and especially to religious liberty; being in conformity to what our founding fathers have said many times about religious tyranny and prejudice, which is why the National IAP considers the word ‘theocracy’ to be on the same level as Fascism, Nazism, Communism, and any form of severe totalitarianism that is anti-American in spirit, and anti-Freedom in practice.
And it is comforting indeed that LDS members of the IAP do understand this and do cherish the principles of religious tolerance and liberty as found in D&C Section 134, as well as the 11th Article of Faith in LDS Scriptures, as sectarianism is contrary to what such a faith preaches and believes.
In fact, while many members in our Party do adhere to the LDS faith, including this author, yet the National IAP wants ALL fellow principled conservatives and American patriots of all races and creeds to join with us to help restore our country, because it is going to take more then those of a particular faith, or even no faith at all, to restore this country and it’s government back to its constitutional limitations.
At this point however, this party has grown, organized, and gained ballot-access in various other states, and come to better include those of many faiths in it’s ranks at the present moment, and has further spoken up for ALL religions that are currently on the front lines with our own government on the social issues, as unfortunately such long-cherished rights to free speech and protection from government interference in their matters have become more dire these days for such faiths and those with beliefs that are becoming more vilified by a ever increasingly vile, politically-correct society.
Nevertheless, religious freedom is not only American, but essential for a free nation, and a right that has been disregarded often in both the civilized and uncivilized world. However sadly, even religious prejudice has roared it’s ugly head at certain times in our nation’s past history, and especially with other political parties that have attempted before us to bring back a government and society that was once restricted and bind by our Constitution and the moral values that once governed society.
Being believers of religious harmony, and fighters for religious liberty, the idea of this party fostering one particular denomination over another is not just silly, but downright unacceptable, and even anti-constitutionalist.
Therefore, the National IAP- while championing and upholding the religious rights and freedoms of fellow Christians and non-Christians -affirms on such principles, that we are NOT, nor ever will be- a Mormon (LDS) political party -and that any supposed ‘member’ of this party that attempts to tarnish this fact, or even attempts to turn the National IAP to a sectarian party that caters only to one particular denomination, is undeserving and unworthy to be considered a Independent American, or even a fighter for freedom.
Therefore, let us put this issue to rest and move forward as a vehicle for restoring constitutional government for everyone, once and for all.
“The IAP may not be Mormon, but looking at their website I am seeing a lot of Christian religious stuff.”
We’re like the National CP, only more focused on the constitution and lacking in the theocratic extremism department.
“It’s shocking to read of its mission of “political neutrality” after the Mormon church’s funding of California’s Proposition 8 in 2008, which just barely passed and outlawed gay marriage in CA. That ban has been definitely restored in California this year, which I consider a good thing.”
And you’re a Libertarian? You should read the LDS Church’s statement on political neutrality on the url link I have in the beginning part of the article; the LDS is politically neutral except on certain social issues that it feels would affect it, and encourages individual members to get involved and contribute financially to political causes, like it legally did on the Prop 8 case, which while would’ve banned gay marriage in California yet still allowed gays to have many medical & financial benefits and protections, and still allow civil unions in California.
FYI the LDS Church supported various propositions addressing gay marriage in various states before Prop 8- so what made Prop 8 an exception all of a sudden to the various political work that the LDS Church did before?
Yet out of the various voting & ethnic groups that helped Prop 8 win in California, my faith was singled out and our chapels were vandalized and firebombed in some cases, as well as having packets of white powder mailed to our Temples in California and Utah. My local ward even did a volunteer watch on our chapel back then in order to make sure no one came up there to do any vandalism.
Now off the subject, I have to ask, how is it Libertarian to support the rights of gays to marry, when that would be getting the government further involved in defining marriage, and especially create further red tape & regulation on the subject of government recognizing marriage?
I recall REAL libertarians want the government to stay out of the issue of marriage completely, because getting it further involved in changing the rules would simply expand the regulation that it has on the issue of marriage.
Another thing, while you’re right that hypocrisy has been prevalent in religion and various churches, including mine, why do you also have a problem with a religious faith exercising its First Amendment and constitutional rights?
Being caught up “suddenly” in the world of politics (although I despise the term and prefer being called a Statesman), I can see where the IAP site(s) are carrying the remnants and quotes from America’s Founding Father’s which relate to faith and not necessarily religion.
Our nation did not have a single Mormon as a Founding Father, because the group did not exist until Joe Smith did his thing somewhere along the road later in life… Becuase if he were to have pulled such a thing near Pilgrim Rock they would have burned him as a witch.
However, mentioning one’s personal faith, is not such a bad thing -from my perspective-. My campaign site will never mention such a subject as in the “we” or “our” goals, but merely in my single two sentences related to MY relationship with my Creator (even if He just so happen to be everyone’s Creator as well) in Mealer Initiative 2014 of:
” I am far from perfect. My life is based on integrity, perseverance, hard work and painful losses, but I am gifted with confidence and faith in a Creator who lifts me back on my feet every-single-time. I will contract with Arizona to keep my pledge and my open-book Governorship will prove my sincerity. Besides that, my economic plans cannot be beat.”
Personally, I see nothing wrong with letting people know that my faith is a fighting issue “whether I like it or not”… Perhaps I am more honest than others. I dunno.
Modern media has made out anyone and everyone who quotes from ANY book to be a zealot. If I were to quote from Mark Twain such as: “Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”
Mark Twain
I’d sound like some freaky Greenie tree hugger. (Sure I like trees and green is a decent color depending on the shade, but that’s a huge difference from being an eco-terrorist).
Or maybe one we ALL probably agree with: “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”
Mark Twain
Hell… That’s the essence of Liberty.
One more for the road… “Thank you. Thank you very much”
Elvis Presley… simply because it works.
The IAP may not be Mormon, but looking at their website I am seeing a lot of Christian religious stuff.
I appreciate your trying to set things straight, Cody. However, I’ve learned something from this article that will only add to my tremendous dislike of the Mormon religion: its hypocrisy. It’s shocking to read of its mission of “political neutrality” after the Mormon church’s funding of California’s Proposition 8 in 2008, which just barely passed and outlawed gay marriage in CA. That ban has been definitely restored in California this year, which I consider a good thing.
I suppose all denominations and Christians are guilty of hypocrisy at times, but this was a big one.
Thanks.
This is a stereotype that has been hanging over the shoulders of the National IAP for quite some time, and it had to be addressed.
I believe Cody. The “pretend IAP” members had me caught up in this issue and it rattled my campaign. We have since straightened it out. This type of thing is usually created to cause major disillusionment between the loosely associated groups who are binding together to fight the established criminal-political realm.
Evidently, the establishment of corrupt elected bastards are afraid. When I take office as Arizona Governor, they had better find a deep cave and hide.