There’s a lot of interest these days in Mormons, with a Broadway play about Mormon missionaries, and two running for president (Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman). Most Mormons are Republican conservatives, although Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, is a social Democrat. Whether Republican or Democrat, they usually support immigration controls, the war on drugs, nation-building in foreign lands, and traditional marriage laws.
Are there any Mormons who favor laissez faire and libertarian policies?
I wish to direct your attention to a new book called “Latter-Day Liberty: A Gospel Approach to Government & Politics,” written by a young libertarian named Connor Boyack and published by Cedar Fort Publishers in Utah.
Boyack is a BYU graduate, and a big fan of Cleon Skousen and our pamphlet “Persuasion vs. Force.” Generally, Boyack is more libertarian than conservative. In addition to citing libertarian passages from Mormon scripture and Church leaders, he has extensive chapters on war, immigration, illegal drugs, as well as commentary on controversial subjects such as Christian Communism, Prohibition, and the Welfare State. In the appendix of “Latter-Day Liberty,” he reprints President Ezra Taft Benson’s classic “The Proper Role of Government,” which is libertarian in tone.
It is so well written and persuasive that I agreed to write the foreword when he approached me earlier this year. This is the first time I’ve agreed to write an introduction to someone else’s work.The book has been endorsed by Congressman Ron Paul, FEE, and the Mises Institute, among others.
For more information on the book, go to the website, www.ldsliberty.org.
“Latter-Day Liberty” is available on Amazon for only $12.23, plus S&H. Amazon has several positive reviews.
Connor Boyack will be a featured speaker at FreedomFest next year (July 11-14, 2012, Las Vegas).
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What a fascinating question: Mormons have always seemed to me strongly libertarian – strongly self-reliant people who understand the importance of character and mutual trust in the marketplace to the general welfare. A close Mormon friend explained to me that there aren’t, for example, “rules” against drinking caffeinated beverages – one is not “forbidden” to do so. Though one is encouraged to exercise wise judgment, how one behaves is a mattr of personal conscience – a very libertarian, and a very American, view of life.
President Benson’s “An Enemy Hath Done This” and “The Proper Role of Government”, W Cleon Skousen’s “The Naked Communist” and “The 5000 Year Leap” are among my favorites and are must reads for anyone, in or outside of the church to read and learn from. I will most likely read “Latter-day Liberty”. I am a Conservative member and know that we share many similar political views with Libertarians. I have very close friendships with members who also identify themselves as Libertarians. Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe we part ways on social issues and national defense, to name a few. For example John Stossel, a well known Libertarian, on one of his shows, says he’s fine with gay marriage and Ron Paul, another Libertarian, recently caught heat for his comments on national defense. I do question the previous comment to some degree regarding caffeinated products. There are many things (regarding the Word of Wisdom) not mentioned by name in the scriptures for obvious reasons but I strongly believe making “how one behaves…a matter of personal conscience” alone…is a copout!
I am Libertarian and Mormon, I think it is the most harmonious relationship.