Sunday, December 27, 2009

Rammell and the elders

The Statesman has an article about Rex Rammell and his apparent effort to improve his political position by courting fellow members of the LDS church. The church has been trying to maintain its distance from this effort.

Rammell has focused on a couple of quotes of obscure origin that say, essentially, some day the US Constitution will be in big trouble and elders of the church will have to step in and save it.

I don't know much about that, but it's interesting to me because it depends on "Elders." I get 19 year old kids in white shirts and suits occasionally knocking on my door to talk to me about Mormonism, and every one has a name tag identifying him as "Elder Smith," or whoever. I just find the idea of a 19 year old "Elder" to be a bit amusing.

6 comments:

Tara A. Rowe said...

Elders are men 19 or older in the church that have not attained the higher rank of High Priest (usually something that happens to guys in their 60s or something). The reason the missionaries are elders is because they've just attained that rank in the priesthood by going through the temple, I guess. So, Rammell isn't shooting for a room full of 19 year old boys.

la pianista said...

Not that it's important, but here's a little more information: 18 year old young men are old enough to be ordained to the office of Elder. The 'word' Elder not only refers to those who hold that office of the priesthood in the Mormon church, but also to those who are serving in leadership positions in the administration. So essentially, it's two different things. Additionally, a male may be advanced to the office of High Priest at any age after being ordained an Elder, commonly at the time he would be called to serve as a bishop or other 'leader'.

But, like I said, it's not important.

The fact that Rammell doesn't belong in public office still remains.

Alan said...

Thanks, Tara.

Non-LDS said...

May I ask, why is it wrong for a person (any person) to speak to members of their own faith about their concerns for our country? Why is it different from speaking to members of another's faith? or members of any other organization? I read Rex's statements and listened to his interviews and never did he say he was speaking on behalf of the Mormon Church or any person in the Mormon Church. He was speaking on behalf of himself and had "invited" members of the Church to discuss his concerns, which by the way, are valid concerns to LDS and non-LDS alike. An invitation is just that, an invitation-- not an obligation!

Anonymous said...

You want the government to stay out of the church, keep the church out of government.

Nick Jones said...

I am a member of the LDS church and I found it completely ridiculous that he did this. It was very "exclusive" in its wording of who was invited. I am an active Elder in the church. He does not have the right or the authority to do such a thing. Insane.