One of these things is not like the others: 100% of Utah’s federal representatives are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 90% of Utah’s state officials are Church members, and 60% of Utah citizens are Church members [1].
Growing up as a Church member in Utah County, it always seemed to me that most of my neighbors were Church members. I remember elementary school teachers assuming that my classmates would understand words like “ward”, “bishop”, and “primary”, and I remember church parties being synonymous with neighborhood parties.
I was less apt to notice the few houses on my block whose kids weren’t in my primary class and who showed up to neighborhood parties late, having missed the official invitation in Sacrament meeting. I knew that caucuses and birthday parties and recitals were held in my meetinghouse, but I never paid attention to the few small chapels of other churches. It took me years to learn of my city’s thriving Catholic church, the vibrant Apostolic band, or the yearly mission trips from a local nondenominational congregation [2].
My community–like much of Utah–owes a great deal to these other faiths. People who aren’t members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teach in our schools, staff our hospitals, feed our hungry, and heal our brokenhearted. They do just about everything–except govern.
Especially in local and state elections, where partisan cues play less of a role, it’s crucial that candidates for public office signal their cultural acceptability to voters. In Utah (partly because Church members vote at higher rates than non-members), this includes signaling their Church membership. Being part of a local ward–especially in a leadership role–is one of the most effective ways to build the trust and name recognition required to win an election. This puts non-members at a disadvantage.
In addition to Church members dominating government offices, the Church as an organization holds a lot of influence over Utah politics. The members who make up 90% of representatives and 60% of voters often base their political decisions on Church teachings, so Church policies are reflected in voting behavior. Even beyond the polls, the Church itself is a major economic player, giving it a certain degree of influence over Utah’s government.
This is not a critique of specific policies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of the Church’s political involvement, or of the behavior of Church members. I am a devout Church member, and I am grateful for the way my religious background influences my political views. This is simply a call for more religious diversity in Utah’s politics. I hope that the 40% of my community who are not members of the Church can also feel free to live–and vote–according to their faith, to run for office, to advocate for policies, and to fully integrate into Utah life. I’m certain their increased influence would only make our state’s government stronger, more inclusive, and better prepared to serve its people.
Solving this complex problem goes beyond the scope of this article, but here are a few ideas as a start. Organizations and individuals recruiting candidates for office could ensure they’re directing proportional resources and attention to non-member potential candidates, rather than just relying on church connections. Political events like debates and candidate open houses could be held in community churches other than Latter-day Saint chapels. Where appropriate, elected officials could seek policy input from organizations like the Utah Valley Interfaith Council and Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable.
For nearly 200 years, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have made this Utah desert blossom like a rose by strengthening communities and engaging in politics. These contributions will always be crucial to our state’s identity, but it’s time for our government to reflect our state’s religious diversity.
