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Thursday, March 9, 2000

Pres. Hinckley fields common queries
Mormons can be Demos; we are Christian, he says

By Lee Davidson Deseret News Washington correspondent

Wednesday's coverage: Pres. Hinckley outlines 'the genius of our work'
WASHINGTON -- Yes, Mormons are Christians. No, Mormons don't seek apologies from those who call them cultists. Yes, Mormons fought same-sex marriages in California. No, that doesn't mean the church will expand more into politics.
And, yes, it is possible to be both a Democrat and a good member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley offered such answers during a half-hour of fielding questions from international journalists and their guests after a speech Wednesday at the National Press Club.
The 89-year-old used quick wit and humor to counter-punch sometimes tough questions, often leaving the crowd in stitches with laughter.
For example, when asked if he supports requiring moments of silence in public school for meditation or prayer, he said, "I believe in them, and I'll be glad to get through here so I can have a moment of meditation."
In response to questions, President Hinckley praised the passage Tuesday of Proposition 22 in California to ban recognition of same-sex marriages, and he noted, "We were actively involved there. We were part of a coalition."
But he added, "We are not anti-gay. We are pro-family. I want to emphasize that."
Also, "I'd like to add that the church put no money into that as an institution. All that was spent was contributed by members of the church . . . as individuals."
He said joining that fight does not mean that the church will become more involved in politics. "We do very little politics. We look at Washington and smile," President Hinckley said to laughs.
He added, "We do become involved if there is a moral issue or something that comes on the legislative calendar which directly affects the church."
He said the church also encourages its members to become involved in politics as individuals.
When asked about groups that say Mormons are not Christians, President Hinckley said, "I can never understand it. The very name of the Savior is in the name of the church. . . . The New Testament is a fundamental scripture for us. We have in addition to that the Book of Mormon, which becomes another witness for Jesus Christ."
But he said the church does not seek apologies from such groups. "We have some differences, but we don't worry much about that. We just go on talking positively, teaching positively, working affirmatively to make the world a better place."
When asked about George W. Bush's appearance at Bob Jones University -- where leaders have said the LDS Church is a cult -- Hinckley said, "We haven't given it much thought. We've been persecuted a great deal during our history. . . . Fortunately, that's largely disappeared, and we're not going to fuss over that."
One questioner asked if it is possible to be both a good Mormon and a Democrat. "Yes, I would think so. I don't know why you couldn't. It depends on what you believe as a Democrat. . . . We've got lots of Democrats in the church, lots of them. And they're good people."
He seemed to suggest building more bridges with Democrats would be wise. "This is Washington. I better be careful what I say, but, well, we've got a Democratic presidency, and you've got another candidate pretty well marked out to the future."
When asked if the Internet had a negative impact on the nation's morality, President Hinckley said, "I don't know that the Internet has contributed too greatly to immorality. We're already pretty well sunk down into it."
He added, "I would regret anything which induces people, which leads people to live below good standards, good values, virtue in their lives, causes them to sink down into this low business where they make no contribution."
He said the Internet can produce great good, noting that the church's family history Internet site receives 8 million hits a day.
When asked why he wrote a new book, "Standing for Something," that is not specifically about his church, President Hinckley said, "To see if it could be done."
He added, "I hope to accomplish some good in reaching out to people who may not be interested in our theology but would be interested in our position and stance on some of these values that are of everlasting benefit to this nation and people across the world."