Former Governor Mitt Romney, 2012 Republican Presidential Nominee
While US President Barack Obama’s perceived Islamic sympathies have continued to hound him with conservative Christian voters, challenger Mitt Romney’s Mormonism has hardly stirred a prayer. As far as Israel is concerned, many Christians believe that Romney’s support for the Jewish state is stronger than Obama’s. But how might Romney’s Mormon faith influence his policies vis-à-vis Israel?
Mormons teach that they are the direct descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Book of Mormon states that the Israelite tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim were exiled from Jerusalem and settled in America. According to Mormon doctrine, this migration fulfilled the prophecy of Jacob on his son, Joseph:
Genesis 49:2 - "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall"
The Book of Mormon also tells of a group from the Tribe of Judah who came to the Americas after its defeat by Babylon around 600 BCE.
On the title page of the scriptures of the Latter-day Saints there is a clear condemnation of anti-Semitism and support for a future Israel.
3 Nephi 29:8 - "Yea, and ye need not any longer hiss, nor spurn, nor make game of the Jews, nor of any remnant of the house of Israel; for behold, the Lord remembereth his covenant unto them, and he will do unto them according to that which he hath sworn."
Mitt Romney at the Western (Wailing Wall)
These beliefs may account for the fact that among Jews, Mormons ranked at the very top of the approval list in a report done by the Public Religion Research Institute (Jewish Values Survey, March 2012). Jews viewed Mormons more warmly than any other religious group in the survey. This positive attitude is not only the result of Mormon support for Israel. Christians also love Israel, and yet Jewish people tend to be far more suspicious of evangelical Christians.
According to “Shrbh” (Hebrew initials), a Messianic Jewish scholar in Jerusalem, there is a unique affinity between Mormons and Jews. “I think there is a common feeling of being a minority which has suffered persecution,” he said. “This leads Mormons to a feeling of identity with Jewish suffering.”
This Messianic Jewish scholar supports Romney for president because he believes that “this will provide a platform for a respectful relationship with Jews and Israel as a whole. …This respect will prevent a Mormon president from placing overbearing pressure on Israel to conform to the international community's desires.”
The connection between Jews and Mormons runs deep and could play a significant role in Romney’s support for Israel. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, believed unashamedly in the return of the Jews to their ancient homeland in Israel.
Israel’s ambassador to the USA, Michael B. Oren, writes about the first Mormon pilgrimage to Jerusalem in his book Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East. In 1841, Smith sent his “personal apostle” Orson Hyde to the ancient Jewish capital. “Climbing the Mount of Olives, Hyde erected an altar and beseeched God to ‘restore the kingdom unto Israel, raise up Jerusalem as its capital, and continue her people a distinct nation and government.’
Mormons would later integrate that prayer into their liturgy and, on the site of Hyde’s altar, build a branch of Brigham Young University.” In terms of Mormon theology, their presence in Jerusalem is far more significant to them than just a university center.
Governor Romney’s commitment to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is well known, although he was quoted in U.S. News & World Report as saying that if elected he would “pledge allegiance to the Constitution, not the Mormon Church.” From 1981-1986 Romney held the position of Bishop over his congregation in Boston, and from 1987-1994 he presided as President over the entire Boston district, which included dozens of congregations and over 4000 members. Romney spent two years after graduating college as a Mormon missionary in France, and he and his family continue to attend a Mormon congregation every Sunday.
Yedidiah, a Messianic Jewish officer in the Israeli army is not convinced that a Mormon president in the White House is good for Israel. “I can’t understand how an intelligent government official can believe all those strange Mormon doctrines,” he said about Romney. In spite of the fact that while visiting Israel in July of this year Romney made it clear that Israel is “the highest national-security priority,” many Israelis are still undecided. “There are too many things about Romney that I don’t know,” the Messianic officer said. “Obama has not been bad for Israel. At least we know where he stands.”
The faith elements of the upcoming US elections are fascinating. Both vice presidential candidates are confessing Catholics, the incumbent president is perceived as a Muslim, and a Mormon is making a serious bid for the White House.
Israelis, however, will not be judging Mitt Romney, or any other candidate, on their faith, theology or church attendance. Israelis just don’t have that option. Israel will be looking at the actions of any candidate that shows good faith and understanding of Israel’s predicament. Matters of personal faith they leave to God.
Credit to David Lazarus – “Why Israelis don’t Mind a Mormon in the White House” – Israel Today, October 18, 2012
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The 2012 American Presidential is destined to become one of the most divided elections in America’s entire political history. Truly it may divide the nation and polarize its constituents like no other national epochal event save the mid-19thcentury American Civil War. This time the G-d of Israel is laying out the foundation for the division not only of the United States but every nation around the world.
According to the Sages of Judah, all the 70 nations of the earth that came from the ancestral loins of Noah after the Great Flood that destroyed the whole earth, were given a responsibility to protect and save the “Sheep” (Covenanted Jews) of the House of Judah. This has been a traditional role of the United States but it appears that America’s future will become an Islamic Sharia governed nation like the same trends in Europe, rather than Lost Ten Tribes in Northern Europe and America supporting and protecting the “Sheep” surrounded by a pack of wolves seeking her demise.
The facts exist; the G-d of Israel is the ruler of all the Earth. Evil powers under the rule of HaSatan are trying to usurp that rule so that all of Planet Earth will come under the rule of rebellious angelic forces. Hashem’s capital of this solar system is Jerusalem, a place that G-d calls His own in unequivocal terms. The final Drama of the Ages will be over Jerusalem, yet when all hope appears to be lost, the forces of Light will eradicate the forces of darkness. The era of the Messiah will now reign in an era of Torah enlightenment.
If you want to learn more, click the link and Contact “Kol Ha Tor Vision”, the Voice of the Turtledove. Kol Ha Tor is a joint Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber Mission to bring awareness of the imminent fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies regarding the Redemption of all Israel (12 Tribes Re-conciled and Re-United). This super Event of all Times will entail Establishing the Shomron (the Ancient Bible Heartland of the Patriarchs) and the Judean Wilderness as part of the Land of Israel, and preparing the “Land” for the Return of the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel and then the Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about Kol Ha Tor Vision for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron Lives!”, a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House in Samaria.