“Barbara” alerted me to the story of Mitt Romney being involved in an automobile accident in France. Romney was in France in 1968 doing his missionary work when he was driving a car with 6 passengers, including Mr. and Mrs. Leola Anderson. Ms. Anderson was the 6th person in a car with only 5 seatbelts. Mrs. Anderson was killed but all the other passengers survived. Romney was knocked unconscious and suffered a broken arm. Daily Kos has written a detailed narrative about the cover-up of the accident. Obviously the accident occurred long ago, and there is no suggestion that Romney was under the influence or drunk when the accident occurred. The point of the story is that Romney may have been negligent in driving, that he may have caused the accident, and that there may have been a cover-up of the story to preserve his father’s good name. Romney’s father suggested that the priest driving the other vehicle was drunk, and crossed into the oncoming traffic, and thus, was responsible for the accident.
Why is this important? Does this story, even if true, have any bearing on the Presidential Race in 2012? The answer is yes! It’s not the automobile accident that is frightening. It is the dishonesty that is troublesome. Even more distressing is the fact that as a Mormon, Romney may have been taught to lie because he would be”Lying for the Lord.” “Lying for the Lord” is not only condoned, but part of the Mormon faith. We have all told “white lies”. If a friend asks if she looks fat, we lie and say “of course not. ” When your four year old child confronts you with a tear running down his cheek and asks where the pacifier is, you may not admit that you know it is in the trashcan because you put it there. However there is a need for the American people to believe that our President is telling us the truth, even if we know that politicians notoriously stretch the truth. If the President is to have any credibility with foreign leaders, or the American people, we must trust him/her to tell the truth. Mitt Romney is unable to instill that much needed confidence, because of his past, and because of his faith.
Why is it that Romney’s faith gives rise to distrust? It isn’t because his faith is different than mine. It isn’t that his faith is different than the majority of Americans. The problem is that “Lying for the Lord” is a teaching of the Mormon church. Lying for the Lord is such a well known concept that there is a Wikipedia page devoted to the practice. Here a just a few of the troubling quotes:
“ …lying is justified. For the Mormon, loyalty and the welfare of the church are more important than the principle of honesty, and plausible denials and deception by omission are warranted (as in failing to provide tax returns) by an opportunity to have the Mormon organization seen in the best possible light.
“We really aren’t obligated to answer everyone’s questions.” He goes on to say, “We never provide meat when milk will do”, and, “We seek to answer any serious question by finding the most direct route to the Sacred Grove.” [2]
On page 50 of the current missionary manual, Preach My Gospel, the section on The Fall reads:
“When first teaching this doctrine, do not teach everything you know about it. Explain very simply that God chose two of His children, Adam and Eve, to become the first parents on earth. After their transgression they were subject to both sin and death. By themselves they could not return to live with Heavenly Father. The Lord spoke to Adam and taught him the plan of salvation and redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ. By following that plan, Adam and his family could have joy in this life and return to live with God (See Alma 18:36; 22:12-14).”
Missionaries are in essence encouraged not to disclose that Mormons believe that The Fall is a wonderful and fortunate event, that the curses that followed are considered blessings, and that the action that Adam and Even committed is considered righteous, intelligent, and worth imitating.
Without question Romney is a devout Mormon. If there are things about the Mormon church that are offensive to mainstream America, and Mitt Romney explains that he doesn’t personally agree, how can we know if he is telling the truth, or “Lying for the Lord?” If Mitt Romney believes that it would be good for the Mormon Church to have one of its members elected President of the United States, then he can justify any lie he might want to tell. His own church teaches that it would be not only acceptable, but encourages him, to lie, if he perceived that it was helpful to the church.
Virtually every major religion in the world places great value and importance on the being truthful. Consider these references in these various religions:
1. Judaism and Christianity. Proverbs 12.22
2. Taoism. Tract of the Quiet Way
3. Judaism. Talmud, Baba Metzia 49
4. Sikhism. Adi Granth, Maru Solahe, M.3, p. 1062
5. Islam. Qur’an 61.2-3
Cf. Matthew 23.2-3, p. 810; Analects 2.13, p. 810; Dhammapada 51-52, p. 811; James 1.22-24, p. 811.
6. Judaism and Christianity. Psalm 101.7
7. Buddhism. Dhammapada 306
8. African Traditional Religions. Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)
9. Jainism. Upasakadasanga Sutra
10. Christianity. Matthew 12.34-37
11. Buddhism. Dhammapada 176
12. Hinduism. Laws of Manu 4.256
13. Islam. Hadith of Muslim
14. Confucianism. Analects 2.22
15. Buddhism. Majjhima Nikaya i.414, Ambalatthika-Rahulovada Sutta
16. Buddhism. Maharatnakuta Sutra 27, Bodhisattva Surata’s Discourse
17. Judaism and Christianity. Isaiah 5.20
18. Buddhism. Dhammapada 316-18
Even atheists value truth. ”Truth” may be a religious concept, but more importantly it’s a value, a character trait, a matter of morality. I don’t care what your religion is, or if you are religious, but I do care if I can’t trust you to tell me the truth.
Romney has been labeled a flip-flopper.
Perhaps he isn’t flip flopping, maybe he is just “Lying for the Lord?”Perhaps voters will be unwilling to vote for Mitt Romney, not because their religion is different than his, but because of the difference we place on the importance of telling the truth.
47 comments
Comments feed for this article
August 10, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Bob
I was wondering how they were going to throw Mormonism into the fray. It’s looking like the RW is going to let the Mormon hang himself. Perhaps even let Romney go all the way to the convention, select Ryan, kick Romney off the ticket, select a VP for Paul Ryan, then steal the election as planned. It’s a known fact that Ryan has all the drama plus all the hate the RW has for any population group other than white men.
August 10, 2012 at 2:45 pm
malialitman
Bob,
After what I have learned about Romney, his connection to the El Salvador death squads, CRC, and Lying for the Lord, I think there is even a greater chance for a brokered convention, and that is a frightening thought!
August 10, 2012 at 1:56 pm
lisabeth
Great article Malia! It’s so ironic that you wrote this, because we were just talking about this last night. And I did some reading and found a lot of information. This lying is why many have left the Morman church. I do believe Dominionist Christians also believe lying is ok if it benefits the church.
Romney is VERY high up in the church! He is/was a bishop. This is the fastest growing religion in the country and I bet the church will spend anything/do anything to get a Morman in as President. There is a very enlightening film on Netflix that shows how involved the Mormans were in the whole Prop 8 issue in California. Everyone must see this film!!!! And yet they have tax exempt status as a religious organization!! It’s outrageous!!
There is another documentary about gay Mormans and how they are treated by the church!
Romney did an ad this week saying Obama is waging a war on religion. It’s a bold face lie because religious employers can opt out of providing birth control. But what’s even more interesting to me is that his campaign opened the ” religion” door. Many Americans know nothing about Mormanism and if they did, it would/could effect their vote.
I’m all for freedom of religion but when a large church interjects financially into politics, then in my mind they are open to scrutiny!!!
August 10, 2012 at 2:43 pm
malialitman
lisabeth,
I never opposed Romney because he was Mormon, until I learned more about the Mormon church. The more I learn, the more I am convinced that Romney’s religion IS a reason NOT to vote for him.
August 11, 2012 at 4:11 am
lisabeth
Yes, I felt the same way! I always believed it was wrong to judge someone based on religion. But that is because I believe in separation of church and state. The Mormans and some others don’t. And many of their beliefs and actions are frightening.
August 11, 2012 at 8:54 am
WakeUpAmerica
Malia, I would say that the way he implements his religion is a reason not to vote for him. I have many family members and friends who are Mormon (I am not) who are very good and honest people. They are nothing like Romney. You will find Christians and Jews who believe fiercely in “an eye for an eye” while many religious people do not. I’m sure that’s true of any religion.
August 11, 2012 at 11:13 am
malialitman
WakeUpAmerica,
Our family has been good friends with several Mormon families in Dallas, and I was frankly feeling that it was about time that we have more diversity in our President’s religious faiths. When Romney won the nomination, I actually thought it was good that we had a Mormon running for President. However as I’ve learned more about Romney the more I see how bad he can be. Anyone could use their religious affiliation in the wrong way, and justify anything evil, and that is what I see Romney doing. It’s like Palin or Bachmann saying that God told them to run!
August 10, 2012 at 2:41 pm
MissSunshine
I was a faithful Mormon for the first 38 years of my life; so before any currently active Mormons post Article of Faith 13 “We believe in being honest, true… etc.” I would like to say that some of the nicest women I know are in the church.
That said, the higher up the priesthood hierarchy you go, the less truth you can expect to be told.
“Prophet” Gordon B. Hinckley was the last straw for me. Neither he or Mitt Romney have the grace to even blush, if their whoppers inch them a little closer to their goals.
I read and studied my way out of the church, in the dark ages before the internet. Today, a person who wants to find out the good, the bad, and the ugly about early church history and Joseph Smith can locate that information pretty quickly. Beware! As a human being, you may become very depressed to learn how easily decent people can be conned.
August 10, 2012 at 3:19 pm
malialitman
Miss Sunshine,
Thanks for sharing your personal story! It gives me hope that people will learn.
August 11, 2012 at 4:14 am
lisabeth
Thanks for sharing. I have met many nice Morman people where I live. It’s the policies, beliefs AND the way they are covertly trying to effect politics that really bothers me. Good for you for learning more and making your own decisions. I’ve read and heard that it can be very tough to leave the church
August 11, 2012 at 11:17 am
malialitman
lisabeth,
I know it was controversial to write about religion, and I risk alienating my friends who are Mormon. I have the utmost respect for them. I respect them because they are good honest people who I trust. Therein lies the difference. There are good and bad people of every religion, and they could all use religion to justify any bad thing they want to do. I think Romney has crossed that line.
August 10, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Pokeen Djibouti
Hi Malia,
Sorry to be off-topic, but a couple of thoughts came to mind as I was reading your post here about Mitt Romney…
Does Ms. Tripp have any first-hand knowledge of any income that Todd Palin received from the proceeds of his “pimping” activities? If so, was this income disclosed on all of the proper documents? (including Todd & Sarah Palin’s IRS jointly-filed tax returns, copies of tax returns provided to the McCain campaign, FEC disclosure forms, and disclosure forms to any other entities such as the State of AK or various Boards of Elections that require a sworn affidavit declaration with regard to accuracy and inclusion of all sources and amounts of earnings.)
I recall that the Palins had to file amended tax returns to include as income the per diem that was collected from the State of AK, with taxes due on the amount excluded by this “oversight”. Is it possible that perhaps the “pimping income” was omitted as well?
Re: STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
The statute of limitations does not apply in the case of a false tax return or fraudulent tax return filed with the IRS with intent to evade any tax. See section 6501(c)(1) of the Tax Code and section 301.6501(c)-1 of the Tax Regulations.
Under section 6501(e) of the Tax Code and section 301.6501(e)-1 of the Tax Regulations the statute of limitations is 6 years if the taxpayer omits additional gross income in excess of 25% of the amount of gross income stated in the tax return filed with the IRS.
Here’s the link for more information including instructions for informant claims for Whistleblower awards for those who turn in tax cheats as well as for those who choose anonymity or those who wish to forego a reward:
http://www.irs.gov/compliance/article/0,,id=180171,00.html/
I know you are very busy, so please don’t feel obligated to address all of these issues. Most of this is merely informational regarding things that you have likely considered already, but I wanted to just “think out loud” in case any of this might be of use to you. Thanks for all of your tireless efforts.
Pokey
P.S. Although it deals with federal employees exclusively, here’s a link that might be helpful for background information: http://mspbwatch.net/
http://mspbwatch.net/2012/08/05/dissenters-digest-for-july-22-august-4/
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00458588
August 10, 2012 at 3:18 pm
malialitman
Pokeen Djibouti,
You are right on in all of your observations. Of course I can’t get personal copies of her tax returns, but I feel confident Todd never disclosed this side business. There is a “whislte blower” provision in the tax c ode, and I think several people have used it to bring to the IRS’s attention several potential problems with the Palin’s returns. I think they are still investigating. I’ll keep you posted on anything I hear, but you’re observations are spot on!
August 11, 2012 at 12:07 am
Barbara
Malia,
Thanks for listening and following up on the story of Mitt’s vehicular homicide. I’ve posted countless comments on so many blogs about that story, the travesty of “lying for the Lord” and Bains’s ownership of the company that incinerated medical waste, including aborted fetuses. Sometimes I despair that no one is listening.
Thanks for all that you do.
August 11, 2012 at 11:20 am
malialitman
Barbara,
I am listening, but I get frustrated that there is not time in the day to do all that I would like. It helps when readers send me the information to get me started. Thanks for what you do!
August 11, 2012 at 7:32 am
Beaglemom
A friend of ours, formerly Mormon, when asked about “lying for the Lord” about a year ago (with regard to Mitt Romney), was a little too quick to deny and then defend the Mormons. His take was that “all religions do it.” At that moment, our friend was indulging in a little “lying for the Lord” of his own to protect his Mormon background. Understandable, I guess, but frustrating for us who were seriously curious about the practice. This is obviously a real problem because I do not think that Romney can discern truth from falsehood.
August 11, 2012 at 11:14 am
malialitman
Beaglelmom,
Exactly my point! It seems that he feels totally comfortable lying if he thinks it is for a good cause.
September 12, 2012 at 8:30 pm
The_DNA
You know what strikes me as funny? The southern white evangelical Christians are faced with an interesting dilemma. Most of them consider Mormonism – a cult. Rev. Huckabee has even referred to them as “soulless.” For Christians, the Bible ends with Jesus; no ifs, ands, or buts. The Mormon are preaching is considered blasphemous. Now comes the choice… Do they both for a member of a blasphemous cult or do they vote for a Black man? It seems to me that they would rather risk an eternity of fire and brimstone, then to risk another four years of having a Black president. They would rather smell the Devils foul breath forever and ever, than sit across the dining room table with a Black man.SMDH
September 12, 2012 at 8:47 pm
malialitman
The DNA,
I wonder if there will be such uncertainty that they might just not vote.
October 1, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Sonny Joseph
WOW!!!!YOU HIT IT ON THE SPOT
October 1, 2012 at 5:32 pm
malialitman
Sonny Joseph,
Thanks for reading, and your comment.
September 13, 2012 at 12:24 am
Richard Formo
Wow ! That’s some heavy stuff,you’re sayin ! The Holy Spirit in me says Romney has evil plans ! Watch his eyes !
September 13, 2012 at 7:32 am
malialitman
Richard formo,
It’s funny that a man who thinks he’s so holy could be such a liar!
September 22, 2012 at 6:45 am
Carol
This was an interesting article and may explain some things.Lying for the Lord is a new concept to me. I am surprised but it does explain the ease at which Mitt Romney says things that do not ring true. What else does the Lying for the Lord condone? How about the recounts of a chosen high Bishop in the Mormon Religion should be ruling from the highest spot in the country (White House) and the highest spot in the Mormon Temple? They speak of an Oval Office replica in their Washington Temple on the 5Th Floor.Is there any truth to this??Seems there is a lot that we don’t know about this candidate.It is not clear how much, because he is used to a Religion that now we learn condones “Lying for the Lord”. When he has the rich and conservative behind him..for e.g. almost every radio station I have heard in the past 4 yrs has been talking right wing when this wasn’t the case years ago. The purchase of at least 850 radio stations nation wide by Clear Channel in 2008 has something to do with this. Then Mormonism with their rich right influence the Candidate in the running for the White House has had a big advantage.America needs to be very careful with the racist portion voting for Mitt Romney just because he is white..they may be opening Pandora’s box if they don’t reelect the President who has steered them out of the mess that was here prior to his arrival.Don’t they remember?? Or are they listening to those jabbering voices that are on the Radio Stations bought for the reason of getting rid of the President in this election??
September 22, 2012 at 8:06 am
malialitman
Carol,
I previously thought it would be a good thing for the country to have a person as President who was of a different faith. However I know understand that Romney is just a member of the church, but a leader. It would be like electing a priest or rabbi to the White House and I don’t think that would be best for the country.
September 22, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Carol
Malia,
Thank you for your reply. I agree. It would seem not in the best interest of the country to do this. Your blog is really interesting and I’m happy to have found it! Thanks.
September 23, 2012 at 8:13 am
malialitman
Carol,
Thanks for reading! I have family in this weekend, so I’m kinda limited this weekend.
October 4, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Joy Stewart
Have read your comments, thanks to a niece sharing your sight. Very informative and interesting. What is frightening to me is the lack of any choice. Obama’s book about his father’s dreams and his years following other ministers, and the claiming of being a “Christian” while wanting the Bible out of our lives, and God removed from government makes me very
wary of where our country is headed. I was raised in a “free American” and live by the Word of God, the Bible. I cannot call Obama a Christian. I pray for our country!!!
October 4, 2012 at 11:31 pm
Coleen Davies
Really, Joy??? As I have asked MANY “War on Religion” supporters, please show me some proof, with some FACTS, that Obama is engaging in a “War on Religion”!!!! Are you a birther, also? Because I think it’s been proven over and over that those are flat out lies. Just like the birth certificate issue….
And you are more than welcome to live by the Word of (your) God and the bible, but they have NO BUSINESS in politics or Washington, DC!
October 5, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Owen
As a freethinker, I find the sentence “Even atheists value truth” offensive. Rational thinking leads to the conclusion that, if we want to get along with others (family, friends, & everyone else we encounter), we all need to be truthful with each other. It’s as simple as that. No supernatural beings are needed in order to support truth as a human value.
October 5, 2012 at 5:38 pm
malialitman
Owen,
Absolutely!
October 6, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Owen
So perhaps something like “Non-religious people value truth just as much” would work better.
October 7, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Anonymous
[...] [...]
October 11, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Ron
What about Exodus 20,16: ” You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” I have always been taught that this prohibits lying in any form. Does the LDS church simply ignore this? From the descriptions I have seen in the above discussions, this church sounds a lot like the Church of Scientology. From what I know about Joseph Smith, it seems he was a man from the South who suffered from epilepsy. Could this have had something to do with his visions? Regarding Joy Stewart’s comments about Obama, it seems she is using slogans she has heard, not what he has said. The founds of our country were determined to cherish and state the need for belief in God as necessary for America, but to leave any organized religion separate from being an “official religion” for he United States. This was to escape the mistakes made in the Old World custom of churches actually running the government through a monarch of some sort who had a direct line to God. Separation of church and state, Joy, simply means that we all have not only freedom of religion, but freedom from religion as well, if we so choose. Just because Obama does not belong to your church is no reason to say he is therefore a danger to our country, even though we may disagree with his attitudes toward reproduction.
October 12, 2012 at 11:50 am
malialitman
Ron,
There is so much that Romney does and says that makes no sense to me. He portrays himself as such a holy and religious man, and yet lies every time he speaks!
October 19, 2012 at 2:10 am
DeltaForce1
I have wondered how mitt can make up fabrications of events to suit whomever he is talking with at any given moment. Some feel that is shape-shifting…others see it as “etch-a-sketch”…while still others think it is lying…and still others think he is a flip flopper. When mitt debated Ted Kennedy on the topic of a woman’s right to choose, Senator famously uttered these words to mitt: “mitt, you are not pro-choice, you are not anti-choice, you are multiple choice. I took that to mean that because mitt was born into wealth, he was infected with that loathing which some wealth people have towards others that are poor…that sneer, that sense of I’m better than you, that self-righteous arrogant posture. Now I’m beginning to think that mitt suffers greatly from a pathological defect that is colored greatly by his Mormon faith that condones the telling of falsehoods if in the tellers mind, he is doing so for a greater good…as in say whatever you need to say to get elected…because once elected just think how you could spread Mormonism to Americans and the world at large. It is quite scary to contemplate this given the power of the bully pulpit the POTUS has at home and abroad.
October 19, 2012 at 8:40 am
malialitman
DeltaForce1,
Because the media is becoming so polarized, it is harder and harder to convince anyone that somebody is really lying. They just say it’s the media trying to sell stories, and we are the victims.
October 19, 2012 at 11:40 am
Hazel
No coment on religion…..But my openion is Mitt is not the person to run our country!
October 19, 2012 at 11:52 am
malialitman
Hazel,
I don’t think so either. Just the choice of Robert Bork to advise on matters re the constitution should be enough to scare anyone away from Romney.
October 19, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Tiffany
The more I read about Romney and the things brought to light in this article, I got chills several times. I am a Christian and it just really frightens me that many Christians are voting for this man. I’m almost speechless. I’m telling you, I know Christians are fasting and praying for this man to be voted into office.
October 20, 2012 at 8:42 am
malialitman
Tiffany,
I’m Christian too and very hopeful that we will, in the future, have more diversity in the religious preferences of our Presidents. When Romney rose to the top I initially thought it might be good for the country to embrace a President of a faith different than the majority. However the more I learned about Romney the more frightened I became. He’s not just of the Mormon faith but was a Bishop. That’s like a priest or rabbi. Jon Huntsman is Mormon and HE doesn’t think Romney is a good choice. The more I learn about Romney the more I view him as the leader of a cult, instead of simply a candidate who happens to be a Mormon.
October 21, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Glenn
What an excellent article. Please forward this to the NY Times and the Washington Post and the USA today. Good job Ms. Litman.
October 21, 2012 at 5:14 pm
malialitman
Glenn,
I have forwarded many articles, but I find that national publications are more receptive to readers like you sending a link to the article than if I send it as they perceive me sending the article to be a way of self-promotion and they never even read the article.
October 24, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Virginia Vet
Thanks for your courage in writing this. It is difficult to write critically about religion in these politically-correct days where that has become on of the third rails. I have begun reading the Book of Mormon and am amazed that anyone believes the stuff in it. I am most offended by the belief that Native Americans are lost tribes of Israel, their skin darkened because of sin. I only recently learned about the “Lying for the Lord” concept. Wow, does it explain a lot. Just imagine how much Romney being president would advance the Mormon agenda. I now believe he will do or say anything to become president.
October 24, 2012 at 6:16 pm
malialitman
Virginia Vet,
I think it makes so much sense, if you think about all the flip-flopping he has done. Most people would be embarrassed to change their position so often, on so many issues, but he seems to be so comfortable with it, that I think he really thinks he is Lying for the Lord.
April 26, 2013 at 4:14 am
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There’s certainly a lot to know about this subject. I really like all of the points you made.
April 30, 2013 at 8:05 am
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There’s definately a lot to know about this subject. I like all the points you made.