With the bigotry that is evidence in the world, that is destroying countries like Iraq, Pakistan, and Israel, is there any wonder that this happens? Wake up America!

That is absolute religious bigotry.

Everyone should stand against this type of smear, regardless of what you may or may not believe. It's purely sick.

Looks like Huckabee is at it again.

Huckabee is a real piece of work, isn't he?

Outrageous and insulting. The anti-Mormon crowd is some of the most vicious, intolerant, hateful bunch of "Christians" I've ever seen. And, I'm not even Mormon.

Unbelievable.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I would caution everyone against pointing fingers. No one has said that they put this out yet and we certainly haven't found out who. Please, let's not be too quick to judge.

Are those real quotes from the book of Mormon? Even if Romney didn't send the card, those quotes are interesting.

Now don't jump to conclusions. There is no reason to believe that the perpetrators of this hoax have anything at all against Mormons. It is naive to assume in politics that anything is what it appears to be. Who could benefit from this?

Giuliani and Huckabee benefit most from the association of Romey with a description of Mary as white and fair, because those whose skins are not white and fair may detect the odor of racism in the quotation. Of course, Mormonism came of age during a very racist time in American history and it is reflected in the books that Mormon leaders concocted back then. The Old Testament has some very creepy stuff in it too, but let's not start quoting chapter and verse.

Romney himself benefits because of the sympathy he is now getting as the victim of bigotry, so supporters of Romney may be behind it (and perhaps not known to Romney himself).

I am not aware of any big money anti-Mormon groups out there. Mormons are grumbled about by those who take theology seriously, but there is no group that so hates Mormons that they would spend this kind of money just to keep Mitt Romney out of the White House. Mitt is not going to hurt any Conservative cause, and he is about as Mormon as Fred Thompson is Christian.

My money is on the Huckabee supporters, though Huckabee himself was surely not involved. Theology to them is a big deal, and it would make sense to them to attack theology. It would make no sense to Giuliani supporters at all. To them, theology is something that ministers major in at the seminary but it has no relevance to life at all.

So we can relax. This is not bigotry. This is just dirty politics: as American as apple flavored pie-like pastry.

Hate is abundant even during Christmas.

Hopefully Americans are smarter than this bigoted attack. Then again, probably not.

This may have been someone who supports Huckabee, but I am confident that Huckabee had nothing to do with it himself. He would not stoop to this. NO WAY!

Romey and all the Republicans are running on the "Religion Ticket." They promise their voters that God and the Bible will guide their lives and guide their decisions as President. Yet if anyone points out the delusional bigotry, atrocity, absurdy, and contradiction associated with Christianity and it's two thousand year history, those people are vehemently criticised. Intersting, isn't it?

The Book of Mormon claims that dark skin was a punishment from God and that biracial children were cursed. It is legitimate to ask candidate Romney whether he believes these antebellum racial views are true or false, whether these nineteenth century racial teachings are deplorable lies — or the divine and inerrant Word of God. Thus far, he has declined to answer. Sooner or later, he will have to face these issues head on.

Freedom from religious persecution? Apparently not anymore. Witness further, the erosion of our country's core values. Whatever happened to the separation of church and state?

Romney spokesman Will Holley condemned the card.

"It is sad and unfortunate that this kind of deception and trickery has been employed," Holley said. "There is absolutely no place for it in American politics."

Mr. Holley, how do you suppose , Karl ( turdblossom) Rove got to have the reputation as a political genius for your party?

I am a Mormon. I am not offended. But context does speak volumes. Someone is certainly picking and choosing scripture here.
But so what.

Any American who is capable of voting should also be able to investigate both the candidates and the Church (if they so desire) for themselves.

Again…context people!

This is sickening! Absolutely uncalled for.

If this isn't Mike Huckabee's doing, I'll eat my hat. Huckabee is the worst of Jimmy Carter, the Clintons and Elmer Gantry, combined. I would rather see Edwards elected president, and that's saying something, as I'm a rock-ribbed Reaganite!

Questions - re: the biracial issues you ask about in the book of Mormon, there were two races that emerged and at different places each of them is cursed or blessed, but it was always based on whether they were obeying God's laws. Mitt's record and retoric, despite his flaws, makes it clear he's not racist. Also Mormons do not believe its leaders to be inerrant or infallible as the Catholics do, making obscure remarks from the 19th century or earlier even less relevant.

Bigots left this, the religious right is at it again.

There is no place for this in America.

It is simply deceptive and wrong. Shame on whoever did this.

I am in Dallas Texas and can assure you that religious bigotry is alive and well. Just as organized anti-mormon goups continue their hateful effort both inside churches and out. How do I know this? My baptist friends have told me so.

Don't believe everything you read, people.

Romney is clearly the best, most experienced leader and administrator running for president. His opponents have nothing but lies and deception to offer. Support Romney!

Religion and Politics are different things. Romney made it clear last month when he spoke about Faith in Polictics. Its a shame why people ask so many questions about his faith, why don't they ask the same with other candidates.

I hope they find who did this work of distributing the cards.

There is nothing wrong with this card. what's the big fuss?

Go Huckabee!!!

Hey, If a Scientologist was running for President, people would have the same intrepidation. I think more Americans know more about L. Ron Hubbard than they know about Joseph Smith. Alot of Christians still believe Mormans to be a cult.

I am deeply offended by this attack on Romney's faith, even though i support Obama.

We need hope and change. People should look past these differences and it is the hateful smear campaigners we need to be worried about - Clinton and Huckabee both!

Even foreigners want Obama as our president because he is beyond this type of bigotry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuTtflCcjg4

OBAMA '08!!

From my experience as a Mormon living amidst Southern Baptists in Texas, this is the type of antic they commonly use. Partial truths, complete falsehoods, and some sprinkling of truth. When things are taken out of context the entire meaning can be rearranged. Shame of them, and shame on Huckabee .. they are interrelated. He has been following this same Baptist training while pretending to be clueless. Huckabee is both anti-Mormon AND anti-Catholic. Do the research, he speaks and/or participates in both forums. Rather than being inclusive, he is a very divisive candidate.

Don't blame Huckabee, it was probably put out by the Clinton machine. What better way to get the GOP in a mess.

Mitt Romney has a Christmas Tree like everybody else. Thatis good enough for me. Even if he snuck a touch or spiced rum intohis egg nog or had a glass of wine it is ok with me.

Mitt not perfect, but he is passionate about America and thats ok with me to.

Lets not get the Clintons a sleep at the switch againwith the usual verbage for then to do nothing.

I don't know who would send this out, but it seems like another attempt to make the Mormons seem impossibly bizarre to voters. The Irony is that those behind this attempted smear are likely some of the same people who would like to argue that Mormons aren't Christians; so it is odd that they would chose a passage from the Book of Mormon that references a vision of the birth of Christ. I imagine that most voters will look at this card and stare at it blankly for a few seconds before they throw it in the trash with the other 100 ads they got today. This is one of the strangest attacks I've heard of yet.

Here are some links that readers might find useful.

The first is a link to the Newsroom site of the Mormon Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints):

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/

There wasn’t any story there that looked like an official response from the Church when I checked, but one might appear there if one is drafted.

The second is a link to Nephi 11 in the html version of the Book of Mormon for those who want to read the quote from the front of the card in context:

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/11

As for the other quote by Orson Pratt, It isn’t in the Churches online resources; if you do a search there for “plurality of wives” all you come up with is references to polygamy written in the 1870’s. This quote is not part of Mormon scripture, and because it’s not referenced on the card it might be tricky to figure out where it is from, or whether it is legitimate.

This stunt surely looks like below-the-belt politics, but it does carry information about Romney's Mormonism that Romney and the Mormons appear unwilling to share in the public sphere. They use rhetoric shared with Christianity to describe their beliefs without ever exposing the basic differentiators. Mormons treat their "religion" with extreme secrecy as if they fear some repercussion if the truth became known. If they weren't so closed about it all, sneak attacks like this Christmas card would not be possible. And "NO THANK YOU" Mormon readers, the answer is not to bring America into your Ward buildings for a good old fashioned teach along. If you want acceptance and/or tolerance, you will have to come clean about your beliefs in public. When and if you do, please be thorough from the pro and con side when explaining your Book of Abraham. And remember, when Romney started playing the faith card in his campaign he opened this religious can of worms in the most dishonest way imaginable. Best of luck to Romney and a sincere wish that he one day find truthfulness.

It's easy to automatically point the fingers at any given candidate. The way politics go these days, it could be someone completely unassociated with the campaigns yet still supportive of one, even Mitt's. Organizations such as MoveOn.org and Swiftboat… have taken increasingly active roles in the primaries as well as the general elections, so we should not count them out as possible perpetrators of the mailer.

I personally see Huckabee as above this sort of act, especially since he has been defending other candidates from personal attacks. Incidentally those attacks mostly seem to be coming from our victim, Mr. Romney, who also has exponentially more capital than Huckabee or any other candidate (except Mr. Guliani). Again, personally, I don't think pulling the victim card is above Mr. Romney as I do not see him as especially trustworthy in speech or deed. But that is neither here nor there, I suppose.

Point being, I think it would be hubris to automatically attack people willie-nillie without any real idea of where it truly came from. This is the reason I dislike negative campaigning - it polarizes our nation in the worst possible fashion. Just research people's campaign platforms and decide based on that, not the commercials.

It is late for me, so please excuse any typing errors. I'm not proofreading.

Happy New Years!

I really want to know who is responsible for these adds so I don't end up voting for that person. I would hate to think one of the other candidates is behind this but I have learned not to be surprised at what people do.

Sounds like a run away Mormon to me, maybe we should pay some attention.

Just remember that this is South Carolina. In 2000 they smeared John McCain (at the time supporting George W. Bush) by telling people that McCain had a 'black baby' (the implication of course being that he had sired a baby with a black woman, who he has never been married to.) The truth was far, far different (John and Cindy McCain adopted an orphan from Bangladesh and raised her). But that didn't stop the 'black baby' smear.

We don't necessarily know if the people behind this are supporting Huckabee this year, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it is the same crew in S.C. who did the hit job on McCain eight years ago.

First of all, Mormon temples do not pay for Christmas cards. Secondly, this is anti-Mormon work at its best! The timing is critical as his opponents well know.

I would not be surprised if Huckabee or his Huckabots are behind this. It is extremely hateful, and it is well known that Huckabee and much of the Christian right are hateful towards the Mormon church. I don't know why. Mormons are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They are moral, family oriented, hard working, and honest. Even more importantly, they don't go around attacking other people's religion. I'm sure everyone knows by now that Huckabee was the key note speaker at an anti-Mormon rally in '98. Can you imagine? Why this man has not been made to answer to his bigotry is beyond me.

I bet you won't find Romney inserting little jabs about Huckabee's Southern Baptist religion. He sticks to the facts of Huckabee's appalling record. Huckabee and his followers can only answer back with religious bigotry.

My vote goes to Mitt Romney.

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is often accused by Evangelical pastors of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion. This article http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early Christianity's comprehension of baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres more closely to First Century Christianity and the New Testament than any other denomination. For example, Harper’s Bible Dictionary entry on the Trinity says “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the New Testament.”

One Baptist blogger stated “99 percent of the members of his Baptist church believe in the Mormon (and Early Christian) view of the Trinity. It is the preachers who insist on the Nicene Creed definition.” It is the Evangelical preachers who push the anti-Mormon propaganda on their congregations. It seems to me the reason the pastors denigrate the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is to protect their flock (and their livelihood).

To Sean Allen:

As Mitt Romney stated in his speech:

"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes President he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths."

I'm not sure what type of venue you had in mind for the Mormon Church to "come clean" about our beliefs, but Mitt Romney is not the one responsible for clearing it up for you. I suggest that you look through a http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/ if you want to know what we believe. The truth of the matter is that the Mormon Church is not shy about what doctrine we believe in, that information is readily available to those who take the time.

The Mormon Church also has online archives of all of its conferences available to anyone with an internet connection. (too bad the same is not true of the SBC, I spent hours looking for the transcript of Mike Huckabee at the 1998 Convention in SLC to see if what he said was anti-Mormon or not).

To Sean Allen:

As Mitt Romney stated in his speech:

"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes President he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths."

I'm not sure what type of venue you had in mind for the Mormon Church to "come clean" about our beliefs, but Mitt Romney is not the one responsible for clearing it up for you. I suggest that you look through a website of the Mormon Church if you want to know what we believe. The truth of the matter is that the Mormon Church is not shy about what doctrine we believe in, that information is readily available to those who take the time.

The Mormon Church also has online archives of all of its conferences available to anyone with an internet connection. (too bad the same is not true of the SBC, I spent hours looking for the transcript of Mike Huckabee at the 1998 Convention in SLC to see if what he said was anti-Mormon or not).

Sean Allen:

I find it very interesting that your comment follows Greg's. You accuse Mormons of secrecy and needing to "come clean in public", and yet Greg provides everyone with the information (or at least the means to get the information) you're saying is being held secret. For a secret church, the LDS have an incredible amount of information available at their website, available to anyone who's willing to go and see.

As for your implied question about the Book of Abraham, I suggest going to the church's website and seeing for yourself. I believe you might even find the entire text of this book available there for your perusal.

My experience is that most LDS people are more than willing to talk about their beliefs, and though there are many zealous members, they are happy to allow you to make your own choices and won't push you into anything you're not willing to accept. Yes, there are some topics considered sacred that they might not discuss entirely, but I'm sure they can give you a satisfying explanation if they see you're willing to hold a civil conversation with them and not hold their beliefs in ridicule and contempt.

This is totally a moveon.org type thing. No one with a brain would take it seriously. Happy New Year !

Jeez! I am not voting for any republican. They have been playing the "God is on our side" card for too long and it is bringing out some pretty ugly bigotry and will ultimately be the undoing of the party.

I had a friend who was a Black Panther spokesman and leader in the sixties .. after a road to Damascus experience I joined the church and I met him in 1979 and told him about it .. he later joined the church too in Oakland ..

He used to quote this scripture from the Book of Mormon ..

2 Ne. 26: 33

For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.

As a Mormon it cracks me up that some posters think that Mormons are secretive or unwilling to "come clean" about our beliefs. I will always answer a question that is posed to me to the best of my abilities. But lets be clear, there are things that some people simply will not listen to or want to hear. No matter what Mitt Romney says about faith, God, Jesus Christ some people will simply say "Romney is a Mormon and I won't vote for a Mormon."
Simple ignorance.

where was the outrage when the Bush campaign had its whisper campaign against McCain back in 2000 about his supposedly fathering a non-white child

one of his adopted kids isn't white

Why is this bigotry? The card might have bad intentions, but it is completely accurate when it comes to what Mormons believe. Romy implied he was a better candidate because of his Christian background. Well, it is now time to expose exactly what that is. It was just a matter of time before Christains turned on on another. The following is an exact quote from Luke. I wouldn't consider it bigotry is someone would send out the text on a postcard. So, I question why Romeny would be upset out a quote taken from the book of Mormon, or from Church Teachings. He should be asked if he believes this at the next news conference.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Reply to Sean Allen:

I don't know where you get the idea that Mormons are secretive. Have you ever heard of Mormon missionaries? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 50,000 full-time missionaries worldwide.

If Mormons are so secretive, why do they have all these missionaries trying to spread the Mormon message? And why do they have websites such as http://www.mormon.org where they try to explain their faith and answer any questions someone may have?

Doesn't seem very secretive to me.

Let's not forget that the Mormon religion is a religion that was built on the belief that blacks were less than and inferior. Blacks were considered evil and punished by God with black skin.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). If anyone has any questions about our beliefs, I would be happy to answer them. I don't know who sent out these cards, but my guess is someone who supports another candidate - not any of the candidates themselves. Most concerns about any faith come stem from unanswered questions and misunderstandings. I don't claim to know everything about other faiths, and I would be happy to answer tough questions or any questions at all about my own. I don't fear people finding out what my church teaches, and if I had a question about another faith, I would ask a member of that faith, so I invite others to ask me any questions they have about my own. I would rather explain than leave it to others who may think they know, or who may just be repeating what they have heard, to explain. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!

There is also no place in national politics for the member of a religious fringe group. By the LDS Church's own reckoning, less than two percent of Americans are LDS Church members. One must assume that the majority of Americans are
cognizant of the fact that Joseph Smith perpetrated the greatest of hoaxes upon the American public. All religious doctrine has been written and rewritten so many times through the course of history that none is truly genuine, but the Book of Mormon is clearly a fraud.

Why does South Carolina get so nasty? Remember the anonymous calls about McCain's "black" daughter in 2000? Good grief!

Anyone with half a brain knows the Temples do not pay for anything, have nothing to do with money and no one 'lives' there to send out cards for anyone. There is no religion and no secrets to anyone who is smart enough to just READ. There is no secrecy to the Mormon faith. Secrecy in the Temples, yes, and if you don't like it, don't think about it. It is just that simple. No funny business, no tomfoolery, no weird happenings. Some people just believe what they hear and are not smart enough or open minded enough to let people practice religion as they see fit. So sue us.

To Sean Allen:

There is no secrecy in Mormonism, but as in ancient Christianity, there are sacred teachings that can't be understood until one understands and lives by foundational doctrines. You don't enroll in calculus until you've mastered algebra.

For example, how much does the Bible record of what Jesus taught his disciples during the 40 days between his resurrection and his ascension? (Answer: almost nothing). Why? Because what he taught them was too sacred to be written and published.

The Book of Mormon also gives several examples where prophets were shown and told things that they were forbidden to write.

Thus Christ said, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." (Matthew 7:6)

Likewise Paul wrote to his converts at Corinth:
"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)

Why do you demand that we "come clean" with all that is sacred to us when you so obviously reject the foundation?

Almost every Sunday Latter-day Saints meet openly in 24,475 local congregations, and the public is always invited. Even you are invited, as long as you don't disrupt the meeting with envy, strive, or division.

There you can observe us partake of the emblems of the body and blood of Christ, promising to take his name upon ourselves, to always remember him, and to keep his commandments. There you will learn what Latter-day Saints really are — devout followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To find the location and meeting time of the LDS congregation nearest your home, go to mormon.org and click on "Worship with us."

hthalljr'gmail'com

The original Virgin Mary was black. The only reason some people think that she was white is because of the Michaelangelo's paintings in which he used his own white family members as substitutes for the black Virgin Mary, Jesus, etc.

Sure, sending it out with an obviously fake name under the pretenses of being from the Romney Campaign is dirty, but people should be aware of what Mitt Romney believes, or at least claims to believe.

Mormons believe that the Native Americans descended from Jews (described as "white and delightsome" by the Book of Mormon). The ancestors of the Native Americans, according to the Mormons, were wicked, and God cursed them with dark skin. Later in the book, they commit genocide and wipe out the righteous white Jews, who had been visited by Jesus after his crucifixion. If the Native Americans repent and follow the Mormon religion, the Book of Mormon promises they will become "white and delightsome" — er, this was changed in 1981 to read "pure and delightsome."

People should be paying attention to what Mitt Romney believes. Until 1978, the Mormon religion was officially racist. Would you want a Scientologist in the White House? How about a member of a UFO cult? It's absolutely essential to examine exactly what a candidate believes, especially if they are members of a religion with beliefs far outside the mainstream religious community.

To Sean Allen:
Romeny has made it clear that his religion is important to him but that he as a presidential candiate will not answer questions about doctrines of his faith. Instead he refers those questions to be answered by his Church Leaders, Whom will gladly answer any questions asked of them or they woudl gladly send to your home two missionaries to answer your questions. The one thing Mormons are not is secretive, that is one of many slurs made by evangelical preachers which are false about the Mormon religion. But Southern Baptist ministers attack Jews, Catholics and any other religion that is not theirs. it is why Jimmy Carter left the Southern Baptist Religion because of their intolerance.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is a 12 Million member church that has many well known members you can see them all at http://www.famousmormons.net it is a church lead by their members and there is no paid clergy. it is all volunteer.
The worst place to get your information on the Mormon Religion is from your church Pastor or from a friend who gets their information from their church Pastor.
If Romney wins the nomination it will get real ugly for him as the evangelical community whom he is trying to court for some reason will go all out to prevent a Mormon from becoming President.

Sounds like just more examples of Reverend Huckabee and Leftist McCain's push-polling bigotry moving up to the next level as they get even more desperate ….too bad they can't be for EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL regardless of race/RELIGION/ethnicity etcetera….hate mongors.

Gee, who would have thought that the party of gay-haters, Muslim-haters and atheist-haters also hated Mormons?

Seriously. This kind of attack is disgusting and wrong, but it's hard to feel sorry for Mitt Romney, because this is exactly the kind of thing he foists on God knows how many other religious minorities. There's nothing unfair about making him play in the sandbox he helped build.

Gotta be a fundamentalist evangelical Christian behind this mean trick against Romney. I'm a Mormon myself and some of these so-called Christians have established an entire anti-Mormon industry? Don't believe me? Just do a Google search with the keywords "Mormon cult" and you will see what I mean. It's disgusting really. Rather than focusing their energies on practicing the tenets of their own faith, they seek to tear down the faith of others. They claim it is done in love, but it is actually the furthest thing from love. They even picket outside Mormon general conferences and yell obscene things as our little children walk by. I'm glad in a way that their antics are coming to light due to Romney's candidacy. Maybe they will quit using their pulpits to preach hate against the Mormons.

But did Obama make any cracks about running for Lezident?

http://www.lezident.com

It keeps coming up.

I'm still perplexed by the people who will change there vote based on whether or not a person believes that god had multiple wives. I'm more concerned with the people who don't believe in evolution…. like most of the Republicans…

As a direct decendent from one of Mormon's great apostate families (Jedediah Grant and Heber J Grant - First Mayor of Salt Lake City and 2nd Longest Serving President of LDS) here are a few observations;

1) It had to have been composed by someone who is either a Mormon or who left the Church as it has too much inside knowledge to have been invented by an outsider.

2) The statements are true and not taken out of context that would substantially change their meaning - which makes the observation that it is really dirty politics odd. How is it dirty politics to truthfully state what Mormons believe and why isn't the Romney repsonse "sure its true so what?". Because they know how really offensive their mickey mouse beliefs are to the confessional church (i.e. Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox Christians who, while having different emphasis are basically united behind a series of creeds over the last 1700 years.) Other Christians like the gnostics have existed outside of this fairly homogeneous church but the Mormons are the only ones that have tried to camoflauge it. Again if you think it really is from God why hide it? None of the comments above allege that any of the statements untrue

3) For those unfamiliar with Orson Pratt who was one of Smith's closest and earliest confidents and was in the so called "Quorum of the Twelve Apostles" this citation from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Pratt) gives the details of how he objected to Polygamy and was excommunicated. He later flip flopped decided he now liked polygamy was reinstated and had 10 wives and 45 children (http://jared.pratt-family.org/orson_histories/list_orson.html). He wasn't just an ordinary flip flopper however he had a clever mind and became the chief public advocate for it and published essays about it. This flip flopper was a keen businessman and invented the odometer.

Willard Mitt Romney"s is Orson Pratt's great great great grand nephew. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratt-Romney_family) The essence of these beliefs is that god was once a man like us became a god had polygamous relationships and that we too are destined, if we follow the right path to become gods like Yahweh.

All of the above is factual and cites well established sources, most of them from the Pratt-Romney family. How is it a dirty trick to put this correct information forward and why are the Romney's so angry that it is talked about publicly? Flip flopping has been a well established historical fact of the Pratt Romney family. Pratt was against polygamy and later changed his position and was rewarded with a senior position in the LDS Church. Why is everyone upset when someone changes their position? We all make mistakes and the fact that changing our positions simply happens to elevate us to power should not be taken that it is not a sincere flip flop. Why is prospering from our flip flops a bad thing?

This is just despicable… Why anyone would use someone's private beliefs against them is beyond me. Whoever did this should be ashamed of themselves, no matter what the general impression of the Mormon religion is… An impression that, more often than not, is completely off-base. I'm not Mormon myself but I do know quite a few and I assure you what the public thinks about the Mormons is mostly dead wrong.

I'm sure this is one of Huck's dirty tricks. I've been to Baptist's meetings and this is how the MINISTERS preach their people. They teach the gospel of hate.

No doubt this is the smut work of the Giuliani campaign just as Rove did in South Carolina implying that McCain had a black child out of wedlock. This is despicable and the media should be all over finding out who is behind it…..no doubt they will be their normal lazy selves and not find out anything until some reporter researches it years later for Vanity Fair….

How stupid are people.The IQ of South Carolina must be at the boll weevil level.Isn't that where George Bush spread those false rumors about Mccain fathering an illegitimate black child.The only thing nobody knew about was Strom Thurmond fathering a black child with a housekeeper.The only thing that does not get out in South Carolina is the truth.

How is it "Deceptive" and "Trickery" if it's quoted from the book that is the foundation of his faith? Is it a false quote? Is that quote not in that Book of Mormon? If it is in the Book of Mormon, then where's the deception? Is he saying he's not Mormon after all?

Seems like he should live up to his religion's craziness.

Sean Allen–I respect your personal opinion, but truly, if you want to know more about "Mormonism," then, get on the http://www.lds.org and find the anwers for yourself. The fact is, as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (namenamed Mormons) like myself are more than willing to share share our beliefs. Foremost, to that belief is—"we" believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of our Heavenly Father. He is the Saviour and Redeemer of Mankind, the Judge, and the Creator of the world, as stated by John (John 1:1-3).

On the other hand, for you to say, "Mormons treat their "religion" with extreme secrecy" —is nothing, but a misconception due to lacked of understanding. I encourage you "my brother, " to search and find out for yourself, if you really want to know. I've been there, and I am convert myself. What else do you need to know about the Mormons? Basicly, as stated in the Articles of Faith #13, "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

Hear ye, Hear ye!

Please read the Book of Mormon and and read the whole chapter 11 of 1 Nephi
It's a very beautiful and powerful chapter…Just don't focus only on verse 13…

The summary of the whole chapter is that —

Nephi sees the Spirit of the Lord and and is shown in vision the Tree of Life—He sees the mother of the Son of God and learns of the condescension of God—He sees the baptism, ministry, and crucifixion of the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ)—He sees also the call and minstry of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

This tells us God loves Nephi because he is obedient, humble and meek, submissive, forgiving, kind, compassionate and God-fearing. He was given the opportunity to see visions such as the heavens being opened…

v. 13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a "virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.

v. 14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and and angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi what beholdest thou?

v. 15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins".

v. 18 And he said unto me,: Behold, the "virgin" whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

v. 19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the "Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying; Look!

v. 20 And I looked and beheld this virgin again, bearing a "child (Jesus) in her arms.

We owe a lot to the people whoever sent those cards to the Republicans in behalf of the Romney family, whether they are trying to destroy Romney or not. Whoever they are, thank you very much…Because of this, the minds of the people will be opened to curiosity and will read the Book of Mormon. This book goes hand in hand with the Holy Bible and supports the evidence that we have a Living God and that He sent his only beloved Son thru Mary who was blessed to bear the Son of God. The Book of Mormon is true as the Holy Bible. And whatever knowledge you gain from that book will rise with you in the resurrection and you have more advantage in the world to come…Donot judge the book by its own cover. Like the Holy Bible, its the word of God so it is not to be ridiculed. Remember our Lord Jesus Christ had suffered with pain because of the ridicules and false accusations just because he claims He is the Son of God. The pain and sufferings inflicted to our Lord were not enough that the unbelievers had to beat him with thousands of lashes and eventually crucified Him. Please take time to read. You will learn more about Him. I promise you this will bring peace, blessing and happiness to yourself, to your home and family.

Well… he is a mormon, and it is what mormons believe… so, its actually kinda sad he'd deny it… cna't have faith both ways. FLIP FLOP again!

I am from the Phillipines and a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and as a convert I know first hand if the church is a cult or not. A cult claim that he is God himself. Joseph Smith never claim to be such. The church is not his but God's. Honestly, we are not supposed to explain to those people who think we are not ' Christians" because the scriputre says "ye shall know them, by their fruits",, but it's like God says, if they are good fruits, they are mine, surely, if they are bad fruits,…….well, it;s that simple. Good tree bringeth forth godd fruits. Amen

Maybe Romney "saw" MLK marching with Jesus and his dad down in South America?

I like Mormans but they sure believe in some weird fiction.

People in SC are not going to vote for him anyway.

Just a few thoughts by a Mormon, born and raised on the East Coast….

These cards and attacks don't offend me, they seem somewhat comical because of their oddly presented context. Fortunately, most Americans know personally a Mormon, either a neighbor, a friend, or a work associate. Most know that they could ask their Mormon friend anything and you'll get a straight answer.

Those who say things like "the Mormons need to come clean and tell us their secrets" sound kind of funny. What exactly do you want to know? We are Christian. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as all Christians do. We have another text of ancient scripture (for all to read) called the Book of Mormon that supports the Bible by it's further affirmation that Jesus is the Christ.

Ironically, those who think Mormons are some secret cult and say things like: "come clean", "they just say they're Christian as a cover", "Mitt needs to fess up what he believes", look really silly. When Mitt said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is my Savior "on National TV., who are you to tell him he doesn't really mean it? Many of those who cry foul sadly won't even touch the Book of Mormon themselves to even find out what it's all about. If you're going to spend time ridiculing beliefs, for your own benefit, at least do some objective research.

For anyone interested in finding out what this Book is all about you can actually get a free copy by logging onto http://www.mormon.org. That's how secret it is!

If Mormon's are secret, then it's an odd secret with nearly $13 million members worldwide, and humanitarian value of donations in recent years exceeding $700 million dollars to causes like Tsunami recovery, hunger in Africa, building villages etc. etc. etc.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Mormon religion teach that when they die they become "gods" and get their own planet? If this is true, I think I'll convert and choose a planet that has hundreds of Super-Walmarts!

Well, if you ask me it performs a much needed public service… Namely, pointing out how ridiculous the Morman religion AND FOR THAT MATTER, ALL RELIGION is.

The sooner we cast off the yoke of religion and focus that recovered energy, time and money on the real problems facing mankind, the better.

Ths is a grand slam victory for Romney, his camp has been wishing someone would do this for months. But you’ll have to excuse me, I’m not sick and twisted enough to politicize bigotry. Huckabee’s embarrassments with Pakistan are nothing compared to this blunder, whether or not he is behind it, people know it is his supporters and this makes him look really bad.

I’m not sure which cute little piece of propaganda I love more, this cozy anti-Mormon smear or those lovely pamphlets the Nazis distributed in 1936 that warn people about the evil Jews and how to spot one by the size of their noses. One wonders if any Jews ran for office in Germany and what sorts or propaganda was unleashed then. I wonder if Huck’s Gestapo paid extra for the full-color glossy sheets.

You have to admire what the “christian” South has gift-wrapped for us over the years. The Slavery movement, The KKK and now this anti-semetic type anti-Mormonism. A real class act. Mormons need to bring the hammer down on this stuff. The NAACP & Anti-Defmation League would.

Americans, and especially responsible evangelical christians, will reject this utterly. Huckabee needs to immediately condemn this act of bigotry or risk a backlash that could finish his campaign.

I think I hear the devil cackling somewhere.

For those who don't get why his is wrong, it's because it's claiming to be from Romney and paid for by the Boston Temple. The people who actually are behind it aren't being honest and forthright about who they are and what their motives are.

Really? Why is everyone offended by this? When I read it I really cracked up. Maybe Mary was an albino from the Middle East. You never know. Yeah, an "exceedingly fair and white" Mary as funny as all the white Jesuses on crosses in Catholic churches or the blond Jesus depicted in evangelical Protestant literature, and the Latino and black Jesuses that appear throughout Christian churches in Latin America and Africa, respectfully.

Pretty much all religions have things about them that are absurd or offensive. Personally, I don't think Mormonism is far below Scientology as far as whacked-out beliefs are concerned. I'm sure most Mormons are kind and normal people, but, like the Catholic church (in which I was brought up), there are a lot of cultish elements to the sect.

I'm so sick of this culture of political correctness, and the Right is as bad about it as the Left is. Watch the Southpark episode about Mormons. It's pretty funny.If I were Romney, instead of whining about being attacked (alas, Romney is usually the candidate that can't do anything BUT attack others), I'd say "My religion, like most religions has its quirks and archaic worldviews, which I recognize as artifacts of their time instead of holding them to be perpetual truths. The culture has changed since the Book of Mormon was written but it's core values are still relevant today."

Naturally, I would never expect for Romney to say something halfway intelegent; but until he clarifies his stance on these issues instead of trying to divert attention from them, I can only assume he actually believes them and is covering them up. Which is kinda scary…

This is probably a good time for people to get an overview of Mormonism from both sides, favorable and critical. For favorable information you can check out LDS.org and Mormon.org, for critical information you can check out MRM.org and IRR.org.

The fact is that the Mormon Church today takes no official position on whether God is polygamous or whether God the Father was married to his spirit daughter Mary, so don't be deceived by the impression that the Orson Pratt quote is entirely false.

Dirty tricks will serve noone this campaign cycle. I think Romney will get the benefit of the doubt and more people will vote for him.

Everyone . . . everywhere . . . ought to immediately condemn fraud. It is amazing to me that people feel like they have to steal his identity and claim to send cards sponsored by groups that would never do such a thing in order to try to undermine the man who is most qualified to lead our country.

Shocking, sickening, and it ought to be investigated and prosecuted by the FBI as a religious hate crime and as a fraud. It is likely with the right incentives law enforcement can track the origin and whoever sent those out ought to spend 15 years in jail, and a lifetime if he or she ends up affecting the election and costing my kids the chance of living in a country governed by a man as incredible, articulate, brilliant, selfless, and noble as Mitt Romney.

A good working definition of a cult is a religion that keeps a large part of its rites and beliefs secrets. Mormonism fits this to the bill. It is only in hushed words that you hear about the magic underwear, the death pacts, the weird "baptisms" of dead people… and, hell, my friends parents couldn't even attend his wedding (because he is Mormon and they aren't!)… don't believe me? Try to walk into any Mormon "temple" and see if you are cheerily invited in…

"Maybe Romney "saw" MLK marching with Jesus and his dad down in South America?"

LOL, mormons 'see' a lot of things…they are following a guy who was chased out of a jail in illinois ( for fraud, people were about to kill him ), he ran out of the second floor of a jail in nauvoo (sp?) illinois, ran west, wrote a bizarro book to 'complement' the Bible *cough cough* - and we are not even getting to the 'own your own planet' or the 'heritage of polygymy' - yes, those mormons 'see' a lot of things, like i said….

anyway, ron paul sent the mormon Christmas cards out i bet LOL

An exceedingly white Mary? OK. When one examines the teachings of the Mormon church, its hard to imagine anyone actually believing in that nonsense. Its totally alien to the Christian Bible. What's even more troubling is we have a Mormon actually seeking the highest office in the land, and leading in many polls! Mormonism will not play well in the Bible Belt South, which can make or break a campaign. The more liberal eastern seaboard states may embrace Romney but once more of these revealing cards are sent out, and a broader discussion of Romney's actual religious beliefs is undertaken, he'll flop. No doubt about it. Bizarre religious views aside, Romney is unfit to be president. He's a hopeless flip flopper without even an iota of character. He looks stiff, unlikeable and overly rehearsed. And he stubbornly clings to the embattled George Bush as if he's the pope. Give me a break please.

So, first I hear that Mormons are so secretive and "cult"-ish and won't let anyone know anything about their religion. Then I hear that Mormons are so pushy and overbearing with their religion and trying to shove it down everyone's throats. If we're going to have oversimplified generalizations, can we at least make them consistent?

Personally I'm an Obama supporter, but I am saddened by the religious bigotry so evident in the sending of this card (and, sadly, in many of these posts). This is obviously an attempt to smear Romney and portray Mormons as both racist and wacko through the emphasis of words which are, quite frankly, probably more figurative than anything, and a 100+ year old quote which is by no means accepted doctrine among Mormons (and as others have pointed out, Mormons are hardly secretive about what their doctrine really is).

I had the opportunity while in Salt Lake City to attend a few meetings held by the LDS Genesis group, an organization formed within the Mormon church in the early 1970's for the benefit of its black members. I learned some fascinating things. At a time when many whites in America were blatantly racist, Joseph Smith put up members of a needy black family in his home for an extended period of time, donated some of his personal property to help buy the freedom of a black brother's son, and ordained at least one black man as a general authority in the Mormon church. His friendship toward blacks is part of the reason why many whites of his time hated him. I have many black friends who are devout members of the Mormon faith, who have encountered no racism there.

In the meantime I find Huckabee's behavior to be far from Christian–shall we talk about his response to Bhutto's assassination as an opportunity to spread fear and prejudice towards Pakistanis, never mind actual facts or common sense? The man claims to be a Christian? Has he ever read what Jesus actually taught?

If you really think a Baptist is going to vote for Romney you probably believe in the tooth fairy, Santa, and Rush Limbaugh too. Bwahahaha

IF Romney wins, does he take the Oath of Office with his hand on The Book of Mormon? That's an important question and goes to the heart of the matter.

I blieve that he should do just that. An oath given on someone else's Book of Faith is worthless. If Mitt Romney believes the Book of Mormon, then his oath should be given upon it.

Or perhaps there should be no Holy Book at all, since it is really the Constitution of the United States that the President swears to uphold.

A bumbling attempt to smear Romney. The card tries to trick people into thinking that the Mormon church is pushing and funding parts of Romney's campaign. But I checked. The church website doesn't say a word about the campaign. I asked some Mormon friends, and they say their church does not suggest who to vote for, and doesn't allow church facilities, activities, or funds to be used to support political candidates. They say they feel free to be a member of any party, and to vote for any candidate. Best evidence of that, I suppose, is the fact that the senate majority leader, Harry Reid, is both a Mormon and a life-long Democrat.

good job huck I was at your anti mormon speech in 98…next time come with facts cuz it seems like you cant respond back to the truth with your issues as governor. Mitt is statin facts congrats on the low blow card

I'm completely speechless but what I just read.

Someone has broken Federal election law by attributing funding for these cards to the Mormon Church. It is interesting that the FBI is now investigating. Should this trace back to Huck in ANY way his candidacy would be disqualified by law. Even if it is just a supporter, don't we have to consider Huckabee's campaign to be unethical and controversial should this in any way affect voting in SC? If he wins SC we won't be able to escape the feeling that his side cheated badly.

Is anyone blasting Romney's "neg ads" seriously going ot be able to live down what has just been illegally done by Huckabee's camp? WOW. Unbelievable.

Craig Grant in Carlsbad:

The theology and veracity of the card are irrelevant. Mormons are comfortbale with the doctrinal differences of evangelicals and are not interested in debating obscure, out of context qoutations from the 1800's.

The reason the FBI is now investigating this malicious attempt is because it is illegal. Make no mistake, should this trace back to Huckabee in any way his run will be finished, by law.

Anyone who is wondering what the big deal does not appreciate how devious this was.

Why are you get so worked up over this? Can anyone know for certainty how many wives God has, so why fight over this? So what if God has many wives, are you going to say no to Him? Maybe that explains why Mormons see nothing wrong with a man having many wives. It's just a distraction. There are more important issues to deal with here.

The card may not be from the Romney's but what it says is true.

The Mormon God is a polygamist god and Mitt Romney's goal is to become a GOD and spend eternity in the celestial kingdom with Ann Romney and all the other goddess wives he will have.

Honest, this really is what Mormons believe!

Though it is dirty, Romney deserves it, because he has run a very negative campaign against his rivals, dem or repub. He is simply not presidential.

Okay, I miss out the part that says the card is from the Romney family.

It's one thing to frighten people with the Mormon religion, but it's another thing to send out a card, claiming it's from Romney while it is not. Now, that would be wrong and should be investigated.

To Defense Dem:

The quote is "exceedingly fair and white", not "exceedingly white". If you understand white to be "not black, asian, etc" then where is the controversy? Were the Jews not a white race?

No, Kerry in San Diego, Judaism is not a race, it's a religion. Jews have lived in many countries, in Europe, South America, North America, even India and China, and their skin hasn't always been "white." In any case, the controversy is about the fact that the Republicans in South Carolina continue to practice politics at a gutter level where one's opponent is destroyed by any means possible. Push polling is an art down there. I know very little about Mormonism, but I wouldn't not vote for him because he is a Mormon, but because he is flip-flopper of monumental proportions.

We are looking more and more like the Sunni's and Shiites. When will the homicide bombings start because one particular brand of Christianity doesn't like the other?

Every religion is a question of belief - and thus of controversy.

It comes as no surprise to me that politicians from a party which has made religion its creed come under scrutiny and attack for their beliefs!

Nonetheless, it is not so much important what Romney believes (he's a Mormon), but what he thinks about religion (that it is a public matter):
Americans who are concerned about their religion (Catholics, Evangelicals, Mormons, Muslims or any other religious community) would do well to vote for a president who does not mix faith and public affairs at all.

Religion is a matter of religious belief - Politics is a matter of political preference. Please don't mix the two! Every candidate and party who does, bears their own responsibility for faith-based controversies…

Oh,oh. Republicans attacking a fellow republican. How low can you go?

"white" = "pure" in the Book of Mormon. This was also the connotation of the word back in the 1800's in the literature of the time.

Keep in mind, it has also been alleged that Huckabee was a keynote speaker in an anti-Mormon rally in Salt Lake City in 1998, under the auspices of the Southern Baptist Convention. His ilk are notorious for lying and waiting to deceive. Anti-Mormon stuff like this gets circulated many times to Mormon's doorsteps quite often. Now they are taking it to another level. These neferious junk peddlers are now trying to subterfuge the Presidential run. The perpetrators shuold be prosecuted for defamation.

maybe she was fair and white, who are you guys to press people on their religion. I have to hear how jesus was black all the time.

Theology occurs only in the mind. We can't see heaven through our telescopes, we can't photograph demons, we can't know the names of the angels, and we don't know why God is thought of as male. There are a thousand holy books associated with this faith or that one, and they all give different answers to every question. None of us has been to heaven or the afterlife and come back with photographs.

So, if one faith says that after we die we go to Jupiter and the other faith say that we go to Pluto then who among us can prove the truth of either statement. If one says the chief angel's name is Leon and the other say's it's really Elroy, how can we argue with each other over "facts" that occur only in the mind and no where else? The only thing we can say for sure is that most of us do not practice the true faith, because there is no church or faith that a majority of Americans belong to.

This Christmas Card is not about theology, Mormonism, Christianity, race, racism, the virginity of Mary, or the color of her skin (she probably looked like a middle-eastern woman since that's what she was). This card is about politics of the dirty variety. It was intended to stir up the hornets' nest that has all you hornets buzzing about with rage.

It could have been sent by supporters of any of the Republican candidates, but most likely it was sent by the supporters of someone who would benefit from it in SC. Who could that be?

Average of recent popularity polls in SC
Poll Date Huckabee Romney Thompson McCain Giuliani Paul
12/18 25.8 19.3 13.5 13.0 12.8 6.3

If Romney support deteriorated, who would be the beneficiary? Presumably Huckabee, Thompson, or Giuliani. We can speculate that supporters of one of those three are the culprit, but the candidate himself may have no knowledge of the prank. If the Romney campaign fell apart, who would get most of the benefit?

Why does religion matter anyway? Is it not bigotry to judge someone by their race, skin color, RELIGION or gender? You would not stand out there and scream that you won't vote for someone because of the color of their skin, so why is it OK to discriminate on the basis of religion? Maybe Sir Elton John was right when he said that we should abolish religions. After all, all relgions do is create more hate, diision and death.

This sounds like the same low-class non-sense that George W. Bush pulled in South Carolina by insinuating that John McCain had adopted a dark skinned Asian child. That "Chrsitmas Card" showed McCain's family and highlighted the little girl, who appeared to have been enhanced to appear darker. This just shows the contempt that many Republicans have for Southerners in general and South Carolinians in particular. We deserve better than the GOP has to offer.

For the past 30 years every piece of anti Mormon propaganda that I ever seem came from a Baptist Book store. Just go into one and look for yourself.
If you want to discover what Mormonism is all about go to the Bible.
Look at Acts 3 verses 19,20, and 21. God is telling you straight out that in the days of refreshing he will send Jesus Christ again to preach upon you. Why because
he cares about all his spirit children on earth. If you look closely at Bible verses in the New Testement you will discover that the Mormon Church is just a restoration of the Church Jesus Christ established almost 2,000 years ago. Jesus Christ himself sits at the head of the Mormon Church and all its Doctrine came directly from him and he directs the Church today.
If you want to know what Mormon temples are about go to the last two verses of the old Testement Malachi 4 verses 5 & 6. The salvation of all mankind from Adam down to the judgement day are in these verses for everyone that wants them.
When Jesus was baptized who baptized him and by what priesthood was he baptized. John the Baptist held the Levelical Priesthood from his father the High Priest of Isreal. Then God mentioned from heaven "This is my son in whom I am well pleased" and then the Holy Ghost decinded upon him like a dove.
God's Priesthood and the authority to baptize has always came from God and Jehovah who is Jesus Christ in the flesh from Adam on down. It does not come from Mankind and has never came from mankind. The people that think this
will find themselves where they do not want to be on judgement day and it is not far away. You can see it coming in the news you see every day.
There were Black people in the Church in the early days and there were Black
people that went west in the early days with the Mormons. Some held the Priesthood for awhile until Jesus Christ asked them not to use it at the time for some reason unknown but he gave it back in 1978. all you have to do is look at the hatred the Black people have to deal with in the South from the White people
and I think you will have the reason. When I lived in the south in the early 90's I attended the Jackson Mississippi ward. There were Black people who attended the ward and there were Black people who held the High Priesthood. There were a few White people in the Ward but most departed and attended other wards in other cities because they did not want to attend any Church with a Bloack person.
The Book of Mormon is a 2nd witness to the bible in line with the Law of two witnesses. Unlike the Bible which has endured many translations throughout the years the Book of Mormon came with one and only one Translation by use of a Urim and Thumin from Jehovah. The term is in the Bible. Look it up.

The Book of Mormon. People need to know about it and read it. If you are dumb enough to elect Mitt Romney, you might be wise to know what you are getting in to.

This is amazing. Put a shiny enough polish on any turd and Americans will vote for it.

Wake up people.

how are people even taking the republican candidates seriously at this point? i am from massachusetts and (1) can assure you romney was the worst governor we have seen in a long time, spending less that 100 days per year in the state (2) have conservative beliefs but am consistently disgusted by republican politicians.

BUSH IS NOT A REPUBLICAN HE IS A BIGOT!
IMPEACH!

I don't like Mitt Romney or the Mormons but anyone who knows anything about the Mormon Church would knows that a Temple would never do this. I sense Karl Rove's invisible hand here. At least it is in the spirit of the man who has done more damage to Democracy than anyone in the history of the republic.

To Al from San Francisco,

Are you kidding me? How ignorant can you possibly be? Romney deserves to have his religion attacked by the worst kind of bigot because he has, "Run a dirty campaign"? Romney has run a variety of tactful compare and contrast ads in which he simply states the facts of political positions and records.

How you can even compare the two shows your complete lack of intelligence. Romney is perhaps the most presidential candidate that is running on either side. His opponents know that and the only ammunition they have is to bash his religion. It makes me sick. What's next for these good Christian bigots? I shudder to think.

I do not believe it beneath Mitt to have sent these cards and then deny it.He seems a little less than honest to me. I guess because big business men can put the screws tous with a smile and we feel like they did us a favor.think about it.

I also think it's from Huckster. He can't challenge anyone on past performance because he was pen palls with convicted rapist Wayne DuMond.

"Dear Wayne. . . . My desire is that you be released from prison," the governor wrote. "I feel now that parole is the best way. . . ."

I'm in Charleston SC and haven't received any political mailings.

Everyone knows Mitt is a Morman.

This will have a negative impact on Huckster, beacuse he can't stand up and fight for his own convictions and has to attack his opponents with strange post cards.

I'm sure most people receiving this card will be more offended by the person who sent it to their house and disrupted their holiday.

When JFK (A Roman Catholic) ran everyone was terrified that he would make decisions by the bible and influence of the Pope, and he was asked about this, and he answered.
Now Mormonism is a odd form of Christianity which holds beliefs that no other branch of Christianity does; and if Romney is a devote Mormon then it is absolutely fair to ask him questions about the beliefs he holds and how they might affect his decisions in the white house.
For him to call 'foul' on this, saying that its slanderous that people are reading quotes which he, as a mormon, professes to believe in is ridiculous.
To me, it sounds like he's hoping that most voters don't know anything about mormonism so they won't care to ask any questions.

"It is sad and unfortunate that this kind of deception and trickery has been employed," Holley said. "There is absolutely no place for it in American politics."

DECEPTION AND TRICKERY… but lots of places for them in American business and American government; American business shapes the ethics or lack of ethics in American government, and American government mirrors the ethics or lack of ethics in American politics. Don't blame the church or whatever group sent out the fraudulent cards; blame the political culture that we have created within our own country; the corrupted culture that grows stronger with each passing day.

huck says that if everything romney said about him was true, huck would not even vote for himself, well, if everything that was said about the mormons was true, there would be no mormons. wake up people and see the brainwashing that antimormon material feeds you. that is exactly what it is doing feeding you with goofy things like this. this is beyond obvious that it is antimormon material. i am an african american in the south and i love my mormon neighbors. honest and accepting me as a neighbor. i know they would not be ashamed to sit by me in church or have me over for dinner, because i have been, i cant say that about huck.

A synonym for "fair" is beautiful.

A synonym for "white" is morally pure.

The Book of Mormon quotes the prophet Nephi as seeing a beautiful and pure woman who becomes Christ's mother.

Do other Christians disagree that Mary was not morally pure? Maybe it was Nephi's opinion that Mary was beautiful (ie fair) but let's not smear Mary by being offended by the idea that she was a pretty girl.

This card plays on people's willful ignorance. You can choose to see racism in anything. Anything. The passage quoted from the Book of Mormon is a portion of the Book of Mormon that records Christ's birth - since the Book of Mormon is ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF JESUS CHRIST. In the quoted passage Mary is referred to as morally pure and beautiful in synonymous words.

I don't know whose the bigger fool: The people who sent out this card with the idea that this passage is somehow racist or the people who have read it and assume it must be racist. Insert rolling eyes here.

Instead, what it brings to light is that the Book of Mormon is, I repeat, another testament of Jesus Christ.

Dee Cook, you may THINK you are being honest, but you are not being FACTUAL. Isn't there something in the Bible about not bearing false witness against your neighbor? If you say that someone else believes something when you've been told time and time again that they don't, wouldn't this fall into that category?

However, since it didn't sink in the first, or second, or third time…what you said is NOT what we believe nor is what you said the doctrine or teachings of the Church. Period!!! End of discussion. ANYONE in the church can say ANYTHING that they want, and I mean anyone. Do you understand that? That doesn't make it doctrine and doesn't mean we have to all believe it.

Actually if you've been told that's not what they believe and you still say they do then you're also breaking the commandment about not lying. But hey, isn't repentance great?

I'd like to tsk-tsk, but as a Muslim in this incredibly ignorant country, it's hard for me to feel bad for Mormons or Romney. Probably because I've read and heard the words that have the GOP and Mormons have used for black people like me, for Liberals like me, for Muslims like me. You reap what you sow. You want to support a guy who is for persecuting someone because they are in the minority fine. Have fun with that. Good luck.

The GOP peddles in hate and the faithful minions lap it up instead of actually thinking for themselves. How else to do you explain the stupidity that these people spout of Obama being "half-Muslim". I mean, can someone be "half-Lutheran"? Or when they insist he's Muslim because of his name. As if large chunks of the populations of Palestine, Egypt, or Syrian aren't some sort of Christian. Willful ignorance and suppression of critical thinking skills is what the GOP wants in their voters and they got them.

To all the LDS people posting, you're wasting your time. The type of people who'd bash your religion (especially anonymously on a comment board) are not the type of people who are interested in actually learning. Do you realize that those people would rather quote at me, some hatemonger's site, and in the same breath, when I explain a passage from the Qur'an tell me I'm being selective? Nevermind that they have no idea about Islam and have never actually talked to a Muslim before. Nope, some hateful lies on a website hold more water than a discussion from an actual Muslim.

what is it about south carolina that republican candidates get "swift-boated"?
that is the same thing that happened to john mccain in 2000, with the vicious lies perpetrated about him as with this card…very interesting…looking like romney's about to take iowa and new hampshire though…

To Defense Dem:

The quote is "exceedingly fair and white", not "exceedingly white". If you understand white to be "not black, asian, etc" then where is the controversy? Were the Jews not a white race?

To Kerry: The context of the quote is still the same. I never mentioned anything about race, so there is no need for your racial hyper-sensitivity regarding this issue. Further, I didn't write the Book Of Mormon so if you want to challenege anyone regarding that passage, then go to the 'celelstial kingdom' and discuss it with Ol' Joseph Smith.

I am not sure why you brought the Jews into this. But the controversy, duh, is that these are religious views that Romney holds. Mormonism is not Christian, no mater what kind of spin any of you put on it. My Bible says one faith, one God, one baptism. The Mormons claim Jesus did not die on the cross. My Bible says differently. And because these doctrines are contrary to traditional Christian belief, many people who identify themselves as Christian will not vote for a Mormon. For the record, people are sworn into office by the Bible because that Book is the religious standard in America, always has been and assumably always will be.

Yoy are obviously an obverzealous Mormon or sympathizer. That's fine. But please know that your sentimentality and emotionalism perhaps would be better served at the polls or on the campaign stump with your candidate, Romney, whose campiagn is gonna sink faster than the Titanic.

Wait a minute, I thought the GOP was the PARTY OF INCLUSION? The Republican candidates are trying to drive a wedge between voters on a non-issue like religion or say the paternity of McCain's adopted children? Ohh my. And the sad truth is there are few members of the Republican party smart enough not to be taken in by this play to their deep seated xenophobia and need to hate others.

The only people that would believe Romney would send these cards out are the same people that would believe that John Kerry would intentionaly say that American troops are stupid. Both men are career politicians and would not make mistakes like this.

Even though I am not a Romney fan, I think it would be nice for him to win the same way it would be for Hilary to win. To let people see that neither one of them is the devil. What is interesting is those who feel that way are the same group of people, namely the conservatives who call themselves “real Christians.”

Should anyone doubt what is meant by "white and delightsome" in Mormon scripture, please do not let a Mormon pass this off as white = pure.

White means white.

See this insightful commentary regarding Native American people by Mormon prophet S