I study the issues and form an opinion about how I should vote in every election. But I believe in the power of prayer and I pray about my votes before casting them. Sometimes I feel that I receive direction (occasionally different than the opinion I had formed). Sometimes I sense no direction. In those cases, I proceed with my best understanding of the matter. This has been at pattern since I first voted at age 18.

I try to study the issues and the candidate. There are some Mormons I trust as politicians, and there are others that I do not. Having said that those politicians represent both the Republican and Democratic parties.

I must admit that I think that some Mormons merely choose to support the Republican Party because it seems like the hip thing to do.

However, there are many out there who studied out the issues and do side with the Republican Party. More power to them!

For many years I didn't pray about politics. Now that I know a lot of politicians, I pray constantly.

I usually do my praying after I've cast my vote, as in "Dear Lord, please help the guy I just voted for clean up the mess made by that incumbent." Sometimes I follow up with one for the people standing in line behind me to vote. It goes "I pray these people have the good sense to finally vote for change instead of the status quo."

Vote the man not the religion. There are amazing individuals who get the vision for our country and hear the needs of its citizens. Find them they are mixed into every aspect of American Culture. That is the publics responsibility to educate ourselves and know who represents us...I do agree a little shout out to heaven for anyone never hurts!

What happens if some prayers come back vote for Bush/Hatch and others come back vote for anyone else?

How can God direct different answers for different people? If everyone were tuned in, wouldn't they all get the same answer?

Why did Mormons vote for Bush the second time? Did God affirm that Bush's war on terrorism justifies the murder of innocent Iraqi women and children?

Or are that many Mormons not praying correctly?

"What about you? If you’re the praying type, do you honestly consider all candidates with an open mind, make a selection and then go to the Lord in prayer about your choice? If so, good for you. If not, maybe it’s time you joined me in a little repentance."

I suppose this means Mr. Windley has been remiss in prayer and as a result has made some poor choices.

Does that mean that Mr. Windly may make poor choices without prayer?

But clearly some people made good choices without prayer which would suggest that prayer is not required to make good choices, except in the case that prayer can correct some peoples disposition to vote for the wrong person.

Help

Hello, my name is Tom Grover and I cohost a local politics show up in Logan on KVNU (can be heard all along the Wasatch Front, SL and UT counties). We are interested in having someone do a 3-4 minutes weekly report on the Utah blogosphere. We can't pay them (we hardly get paid!), but it could be a lot of fun.

Let me know if you know of anyone who may be interested.

435-512-0653

Tom

I do a lot of praying for other things, but not politics. I vote for my party...for the mission of my party.

I was one of the few who attended the US Senatorial debate yesterday at the Salt Lake Library auditorium. (August 12, 2006)All of the candidates were there except Orrin Hatch. I'm new to Utah but the more I learn about Mr. Hatch, the less I'm enthused. Senator Hatch has ignored the State Legislature and the people of Utah on a continual basis. Search the candidates and virtually any of them could not do worse than Senator Hatch. Doesn't take much prayer to figure that out.

If Orrin Hatch has been ignoring the state legislature, I say that's a point in his favor and one thing that many would do well to follow.

The problem with Hatch isn't so much that he's been ignoring the state legislature in as much as he has been ignoring the common people of the state of Utah in general.
Hatch is a career politician who is entirely controlled by special interest groups.

Look at his voting record at ontheissues.org.

Two things in particular I would point out. First being that he voted no on repealing tax subsidies on business outsourcing jobs overseas, and the other is that he constantly votes against money going into public schools (save for money specifically for "abstinence education")

There is an old quote that states, "Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed regularly, and for the same reasons."

I believe this should apply specifically in Orrin Hatch's case.

If you are a more conservative minded person you have the option of voting for the Constition party candidate or the Libertarian party candidate.

Ultimatley, unless you are one for power politics, and politicans that are bought by special interest groups... I can assure you there is a better candidate out there who represents your interests other than Hatch.

-Jeff Moir

I guess I should correct myself for my typo there. I meant to say "Constitution" Party.