The Bundy Militia’s Particular Brand Of Mormonism

[CopyBoy]

“I’m Captain Moroni, from Utah.”

That’s how one militiaman at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge responded to OPB’s Amanda Peacher when she asked for his name.

That name is not a silly response to deflect responsibility: In many ways, it encapsulates a deeply intertwined anti-federal sentiment mixed with Mormon symbolism. Captain Moroni is a crucial figure in the Church of Latter Day Saints. He’s also a heroic figure for anti-federalist extremists.

In the modern day west, Captain Moroni has become one of several powerful symbols for the Bundy militia’s anti-governmental extremism.

opb.org/news/article/explainer-the-bundy-militias-particular-brand-of-mormonism/

 

[Son_of_Niall]

This is a fact that is getting lost. These are RADICAL MORMONS trying to reenact Mormon confrontations that occurred early in the 19th century.

 

[Alex_H]

I like the idea of local governance without federal intrusion, though.

 

[7_Sorrows]

This is a fact that is getting lost. These are RADICAL MORMONS trying to reenact Mormon confrontations that occurred early in the 19th century.

Really? I did not know there was a Mormon connection. I thought this was rancher vs. federal government.

 

[Jerusha]

Really? I did not know there was a Mormon connection. I thought this was rancher vs. federal government.

The whole thing is Mormonism on the radical right. That is why the feds do not appear to be doing anything. They are pressuring SLC to defuse the situation. SLC historically has done almost nothing about fundamentalist Mormons since the days of polygamy. And even that was under federal pressure.

Since Waco and Ruby Ridge, the FBI has had a non-violent policy with such situations. Pressure from SLC should work. If only because this kind of craziness gives them a black eye.

 

[iepuras]

There are some who are calling for their excommunication as a way to get the Bundy’s to back down. patheos.com/blogs/peculiarpeople/2016/01/cliven-bundy-and-his-sons-are-terrorists-so-why-havent-they-been-excommunicated/

However, others believe there is no reason to excommunicate them. bycommonconsent.com/2016/01/05/should-the-church-excommunicate-ammon-bundy/

Just looking at the LDS Church Handbook 1 for the reasons for excommunication, it seems to me that their stake president has a case to excommunicate.

“The purposes of Church discipline are (1) to save the souls of transgressors, (2) to protect the innocent, and (3) to safeguard the purity, integrity, and good name of the Church.” [emphasis mine]

What they are protesting may very well have merit, but any merit in their cause is gone because they took their firearms with them. I know they haven’t actually hurt anyone yet, but it just does not look good.

 

[Jerusha]

The feds are cutting off electricity, telephone, and food supplies. Looks like they are being put in a Gadianton position.

The feds could help the national debt by selling off tracts of land, but in excess this would open things up to ecological devastation. Which is what the Hammonds did.

 

[RebeccaJ]

The LDS Church has a press release on this event.

While the disagreement occurring in Oregon about the use of federal lands is not a Church matter, Church leaders strongly condemn the armed seizure of the facility and are deeply troubled by the reports that those who have seized the facility suggest that they are doing so based on scriptural principles. This armed occupation can in no way be justified on a scriptural basis. We are privileged to live in a nation where conflicts with government or private groups can — and should — be settled using peaceful means, according to the laws of the land.

mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-responds-to-inquiries-regarding-oregon-armed-occupation

 

[Brandon_Cal]

This is a fact that is getting lost. These are RADICAL MORMONS trying to reenact Mormon confrontations that occurred early in the 19th century.

They seem more like radical libertarians to me who are couching their grievances (and reactions) in Mormon terms.

The whole thing is Mormonism on the radical right. That is why the feds do not appear to be doing anything. They are pressuring SLC to defuse the situation. SLC historically has done almost nothing about fundamentalist Mormons since the days of polygamy. And even that was under federal pressure.

Since Waco and Ruby Ridge, the FBI has had a non-violent policy with such situations. Pressure from SLC should work. If only because this kind of craziness gives them a black eye.

These aren’t “Fundamentalist Mormons”, i.e. Mormons who are not members of the LDS Church. The Bundy clan, as I understand it, are practicing LDS members. They aren’t of the polygamy practicing, “plain-clothes wearing” offshoots.

There are some who are calling for their excommunication as a way to get the Bundy’s to back down. patheos.com/blogs/peculiarpeople/2016/01/cliven-bundy-and-his-sons-are-terrorists-so-why-havent-they-been-excommunicated/

However, others believe there is no reason to excommunicate them. bycommonconsent.com/2016/01/05/should-the-church-excommunicate-ammon-bundy/

Just looking at the LDS Church Handbook 1 for the reasons for excommunication, it seems to me that their stake president has a case to excommunicate.

“The purposes of Church discipline are (1) to save the souls of transgressors, (2) to protect the innocent, and (3) to safeguard the purity, integrity, and good name of the Church.” [emphasis mine]

What they are protesting may very well have merit, but any merit in their cause is gone because they took their firearms with them. I know they haven’t actually hurt anyone yet, but it just does not look good.

I think that argument in favor of excommunication is stretched a bit thin. “Safeguarding the purity, integrity, and good name of the Church” I’ve always understood to still refer to doctrinal and moral purity. This argument is not unlike the argument that the Catholic Church should NOT HAVE lifted the excommunication of Bp. Richard Williamson due to his antisemitic and holocaust-denying views.

 

[Son_of_Niall]

I like the idea of local governance without federal intrusion, though.

Maybe these wonderful ‘patriots’ who are against government intrusion into private lands could give back to the Paiutes, the Shoshone, and the Bannocks the property where the Bundy’s are right now holding.

 

[Jerusha]

They seem more like radical libertarians to me who are couching their grievances (and reactions) in Mormon terms.
Which fundamentalist Mormons often do.

These aren’t “Fundamentalist Mormons”, i.e. Mormons who are not members of the LDS Church. The Bundy clan, as I understand it, are practicing LDS members. They aren’t of the polygamy practicing, “plain-clothes wearing” offshoots. That is why I use fundamentalist Mormons, rather than Fundamentalist Mormons. Not a typo.

I think that argument in favor of excommunication is stretched a bit thin. “Safeguarding the purity, integrity, and good name of the Church” I’ve always understood to still refer to doctrinal and moral purity. This argument is not unlike the argument that the Catholic Church should NOT HAVE lifted the excommunication of Bp. Richard Williamson due to his antisemitic and holocaust-denying views.

Mormon rules are different. Behavioral purity is foremost, since it is impossible to adhere to doctrinal purity because of internal conflicts.

 

[Brandon_Cal]

Mormon rules are different. Behavioral purity is foremost, since it is impossible to adhere to doctrinal purity because of internal conflicts.

Behavior purity only factors in when the behavior in question is regarded as a sin. What sin are the Bundys committing?

 

[zaffiroborant]

Maybe these wonderful ‘patriots’ who are against government intrusion into private lands could give back to the Paiutes, the Shoshone, and the Bannocks the property where the Bundy’s are right now holding.

 

[Jerusha]

Behavior purity only factors in when the behavior in question is regarded as a sin. What sin are the Bundys committing?

Mormon rules include breaking the law as a sin. That adaptation occurred when the feds cracked down on polygamy.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Mormon rules include breaking the law as a sin. That adaptation occurred when the feds cracked down on polygamy.

Yeah, a felony conviction in the US will get a Mormon excommunicated. The Bundy’s aren’t there yet.