McKay Coppins' new book The Wilderness bills itself as a deep dive into the Republican Party's quest to take back the White House. Although my personal politics lean to the left, I found the book a captivating read that helped me better understand the current chaos in the Republican Party and the challenges we face in the United States regarding wealth, gender, and racial inequality.

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As we do every year around Christmas time, we sat down as a family to watch “The Muppet Christmas Carol”. This is one of my favorite family traditions that helps us remember what Christmas is really all about. As I’ve gotten older and as different things are happening in my life, I have taken something new from the story each time I watch it. This year I couldn’t help but find some similarities between specific current events and the story Mr. Dickens told so well.

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As I start this blogpost, I will apologize to Luke for my literary license.

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

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This morning I listened to the latest episode in the new NPR Politics podcast discussing “The Battle for Control of the GOP.” National Politics Correspondent, Mara Liasson reminded me of something I learned in my 12th grade AP Government class. You pick your party affiliation based on the “three legged stool”, in this order.

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We join people all over the world in condemning the violence committed by terrorists in Paris and Beirut, and mourn for the innocent people so brutally murdered in these attacks. These attacks are crimes against humanity. But let us not respond to these crimes with fear and paranoia which causes us to abandon the very humanity that has been attacked. There is no evidence to connect the Syrian refugees to these attacks, and it is our moral duty to extend help to those fleeing violence and persecution. Let us not forget that our own pioneer ancestors were once refugees fleeing from violence.

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These last few days have been ones for reflection on the work of MormonPress and Mormon Progressives. What is that work?

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LDS Dems believe individuals and families become self-reliant through improved education, health, and opportunity.

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I was shocked and saddened to hear of the new policy adopted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints concerning the blessing and baptism of the children of same-sex couples. The pain experienced by LGBT members of the Church is excruciating. It is only made worse by policies that end up dividing families rather than uniting them. Aside from the children of polygamists, the offspring of murderers, adulterers, drug addicts, and others who are not leading lives in accordance with church teachings are allowed to receive a blessing and join the Church at age 8. Why single LGBT families out? It seems hypocritical, to say the very least. Sadness soon turned to disgust when I opened Facebook and came upon a post written by a relative defending the Church's decision. One of the responses really infuriated me. The commenter, also a relative, wrote, "I have had to laugh at all who don't even have a dog In this comment and spread lie after lie. Like why do they even care????" So, basically, unless yourself or someone in your immediate circle of family and friends is personally affected, you shouldn't even care about the countless families that are being/going to be harmed by this policy. You've got to be kidding me! One of the great responsibilities we have in this life is to love and serve others. It is both a privilege and a blessing. Love is, in many ways, the quintessence of the gospel. Let us not forget John 13:34: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." At General Conference in October 1985, Elder Loren C. Dunn of the First Quorum of the Seventy said it best: "We teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a gospel of salvation and exaltation. It is a gospel of love—love of God and love of fellowmen." One of the ways we show love to our fellow brothers and sisters is caring about their welfare. Sometimes it's a sibling. Other times it's a child. Or perhaps it might be a stranger you run into on the street. When others fall, we should be there to help lift them up. As we move forward and try to come to terms with this latest development, let us reach out to LGBT Mormons with love and understanding, not indifference or derision.

We, the LDS Democrats Caucus of Utah and our sister organization, the LDS Democrats of America, declare that the World Congress of Families and organizations like it are perpetuating the so-called war on religion by confusing the free exercise of religion with the establishment thereof. 

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gave a landmark speech on religious freedom at the Second Annual Sacramento Court/Clergy Conference last week. We LDS Democrats heartily applaud Elder Oaks’ inspired remarks. We find them moving and powerful.

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The LDS Dems caucus supports full Medicaid expansion. Do the right thing, right now, and bring greater access to healthcare for our most vulnerable Utahns. We support this compassionate, common-sense program. 

We support UtahAccess+. However, we encourage the Task Force to consider a few opportunities for improvement. Edit #1: we are gravely concerned about higher premiums and co-pays for Utahns in the coverage gap. Surely Utah can find a better way to fund its small share of Medicaid expansion without asking a family to choose between milk or a prescription for their child. Edit #2: we recognize that a funding mechanism seems logical, however the current physician assessment is exorbitant and we believe that a smaller fee will provide enough revenue to cover Utah’s 10% share of the expansion bill. Edit #3: physicians and medical facilities are not the only ones who will financially benefit from Medicaid expansion. Insurance companies will too. We encourage adding a funding mechanism with assessments of insurers in order to lower assessments on physicians and medical facilities.

 

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