Why would an LDS political candidate say this?

[LA Ute]

As a Republican I admired David Harmer for running a plucky, principled race in a special election in the Bay area. Here's what MormonTimes reported him as saying in a recent speech to the BYU Management Society:

Harmer said he ran because he was prompted by the Spirit. He said his family is currently studying Captain Moroni, and like Captain Moroni, American Mormons must hoist the Title of Liberty. "Freedom is a pre-condition of everything else God has in his plan," he said.

He said running again is a bit like being asked to play the organ at stake conference; if he declined he would feel bad as he believes it is his calling.

"It is not about me, but it is about someone that is strong raising the Title of Liberty," he said.

Maybe he thought he was speaking in private. I don't mind candidates having such thoughts privately and sharing them with family and close friends, but you don't sat stuff like that in a public setting. It's now on the Internet and he has risked transforming himself from a credible GOP up-and-comer to someone who looks a little like a fringe candidate. I don't think he could get away with that even in Utah. I am disappointed.

[Indy Coug]

Thanks for expediting his exposure.

[LA Ute]

Thanks for expediting his exposure.

It's in MormonTimes and available to anyone who Googles his name. It might as well be in the newspaper (and MormonTimes also has a print edition - anyone who subscribes to the Church News gets it).

[Goatnapper'96]

As a Republican I admired David Harmer for running a plucky, principled race in a special election in the Bay area. Here's what MormonTimes reported him as saying in a recent speech to the BYU Management Society:

Harmer said he ran because he was prompted by the Spirit. He said his family is currently studying Captain Moroni, and like Captain Moroni, American Mormons must hoist the Title of Liberty. "Freedom is a pre-condition of everything else God has in his plan," he said.

He said running again is a bit like being asked to play the organ at stake conference; if he declined he would feel bad as he believes it is his calling.

"It is not about me, but it is about someone that is strong raising the Title of Liberty," he said.

Maybe he thought he was speaking in private. I don't mind candidates having such thoughts privately and sharing them with family and close friends, but you don't sat stuff like that in a public setting. It's now on the Internet and he has risked transforming himself from a credible GOP up-and-comer to someone who looks a little like a fringe candidate. I don't think he could get away with that even in Utah. I am disappointed.

John Jacob really wounded Chris Cannon in the 2nd Utah District in 2006. In fact, I thought Jacob would win until he announced that Satan was purposely screwing up his campaign. It didn't go over well and most of that district is Utah County. It did pave the way for Jason Chaffetz. So even in Utah such a statement is damaging.

[LA Ute]

John Jacob really wounded Chris Cannon in the 2nd Utah District in 2006. In fact, I thought Jacob would win until he announced that Satan was purposely screwing up his campaign. It didn't go over well and most of that district is Utah County. It did pave the way for Jason Chaffetz. So even in Utah such a statement is damaging.

I am guessing he didn't realize the press was there or that he was on the record. Maybe a rookie mistake. Too bad - it will be used against him.

[UtahDan]

I have to be honest LA, I don't think it was offensive in the least. I don't think he said "God wants me to have this office." I took it as "God prompted me to get involved, and I think it is my calling to be involved and do my part."

There are an awful lot of Baptists and Evangelicals in the south who talk in stronger terms than this. Obviously, he doesn't live in the south. But I am usually pretty sensitive to that sort of think and I thought it was pretty mild and nuanced. Just my two cents.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I wouldn't call it offensive. But it certainly seems nutty to me. Those that are convinced that they are carrying out God's will in the political arena are often the ones you need to look out for.

[LA Ute]

I have to be honest LA, I don't think it was offensive in the least. I don't think he said "God wants me to have this office." I took it as "God prompted me to get involved, and I think it is my calling to be involved and do my part."

There are an awful lot of Baptists and Evangelicals in the south who talk in stronger terms than this. Obviously, he doesn't live in the south. But I am usually pretty sensitive to that sort of think and I thought it was pretty mild and nuanced. Just my two cents.

It could have been much worse. I still think it's a mistake to say "God told me to run for office," which is a reasonable reading of what he said.

[TripletDaddy]

I guess I don't see the nexus between the story of Captain Moroni's Title of Liberty and running for elected office. Wouldn't this guy basically go to city council meetings and pancake breakfasts and stuff?

[mUUser]

because members have a tendency say things around other members that they'd NEVER say in the real world. This is one of them, and makes him come off as a bit of a nutjob.

[Non Sequitur]

I had a missionary companion whose father was in the same mission as John Harmer, David Harmer's father and the former Lieutenant Governor of California. Apparently the elder Harmer was a mullah and not well liked. The joke throughout the mission was that when the Elders would pray, they would always pray that no Harmer accident would befall them.

[DU Ute]

I guess I don't see the nexus between the story of Captain Moroni's Title of Liberty and running for elected office. Wouldn't this guy basically go to city council meetings and pancake breakfasts and stuff?

You'd think so, but when the shit hits the fan you want someone who will rend his coat and rally those pancake-eaters to the cause of liberty.