And, maybe a point of additional clarification: Sir, no matter where I am, no matter what I’m doing, no matter how or what I’m speaking…I am a Christian first (or should be attempting to be such). No doubt, sometimes, in the political arena it is difficult to remember my primary obligation. Perhaps it won’t be until after I depart from “political” office that I will truely feel comfotable again in my own skin…the skin of a Christian attempting to share the Gospel with my friends and neighbors…wherever I am. Because…I’ll always be a Christian…but I won’t always serve as an elected official.

Do you see anything wrong with US ambassadors, governors, state legislators, and other government officials WHO ARE BAPTISTS using their governmental positions (as well as their semi-official “private” blogs) to promote their particular religions as well as to convince others that “Mormons are not really Christians”?

Do you want US ambassadors who are Catholics to be using their official positions to help promote Catholicism? As a taxpayer, do you see anything wrong with a Catholic ambassador using his or her ambassadorship to promote the Roman Catholic faith? Should they be able to use their official positions to be telling other people that “Roman Catholicsm” is the sole true church?

Do you want US ambassadors who are non-believers to use their positions to undermine religion?

Or is it only Mormons who can use their official government positions to promote their personal religious beliefs?

While I think you can in fact see that government officials should not use their official positions to say that the Mormon Church is not true, you seem to think that the opposite is permissible.

Too bad that you cannot see that you are doing exactly what you would criticize others for doing — if the shoes were reversed.

Please don’t think that I don’t understand the responsibility and opportunity we have to share the Gospel. We shouldn’t hide from that. But there is a time and place for everything, and that includes sharing the Gospel.

When Mitt Romney was asked in a nationally televised debate if he accepted the Bible as the the word of God, should he have also added his testimony of The Book of Mormon? Did he hide what he truly believed? Fortunately he had the good sense to know that in that forum it probably wouldn’t have done either the Church or his campaign much good.

It was a forum to discuss government, what I would have expected to see on your blog as well.

Of course anyone moving into most Utah communities is aware of the predominant LDS culture. But running them over with talk of LDS missionary work may not be the best conversation starter.

In my experience the best missionaries I know are the ones who are capable of interacting with everyone without feeling the need to bring up the Church in the first 15 minutes or 6 months or whatever. They’re just good people, good examples, good friends, and if the opportunity seems right they bring up the Church and extend an invitation. And if the person has no interest, they’re still good friends.

Your assumption that “Huntsman’s ambassadorship ….. puts him in an even better position to teach the gospel…” comes across as if that is his primary goal. I doubt that is the case. And I doubt your “personal” comments have been helpful to either the Huntsmans or the Church as the internet carries them to the homes of people of all backgrounds and faiths.

I guess reminding your constituents that you’re LDS is a good way to prepare for the next election when 85% of them are LDS. But in the bigger picture, it reinforces the idea some have that the Church has too much influence on Utah politics, and you might ask if that is helpful to the Church. Nothing wrong with LDS politicians being influenced by their LDS values. That’s a good thing. But your comments certainly didn’t represent the 15%. And no one in the 85% needed to hear it from you anyway, especially the way it was phrased. Tell them instead what you’re doing for District 57.

Again, I know your intentions were good. But please consider your entire audience.

Fair question, let me tell you about District 57. District 57 (by my rough estimate) is approximately 85% LDS. I know it’s a unique demographic. The other 15% live in a community dominated by City Councils, Mayors (all three), and business owners who are LDS. People are voted on by the local electorate because of who they are. (Believe it or not, people around here even decide whether to shop at certain stores depending on if they’re closed Sundays.) The non-LDS population of this district know they’re moving into a predominantly LDS community before they move here. Despite the high-concentration of LDS, many non-LDS individuals and families have chosen to live in this community because they feel comfortable here. It is never my intent to alienate, or to be insensitive to, my non-LDS constituents…I represent all of us.

For 30 years I lived outside Utah. A good portion of my out of state non-LDS acquaintances…have had me share the gospel with them…I don’t recall a single person who was offended because I shared the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. And, I don’t ever recall being offended by anyone who sincerely shared their beliefs with me. We can all learn from eachother!

If we hide what we sincerely believe and teach our children within the walls of our own homes, then the Gospel cannot and will not spread throughout the earth…and at the rate things are happening politically, it needs to go forward now.

How do I feel if I’m a Catholic or Protestant or Hindu or Buddhist living in District #57 and I come across this? Or have you already decided that everyone in District #57 is LDS? All of your readers who said that you stated what they were thinking should ask themselves the same question.

You could learn some things from Huntsman. He knows that when you hold elected office, you represent all of the people. You still have your faith, but you’re sensitive about the wide range of beliefs held by others, and that’s reflected in what you say, and don’t say.

Please, Rep. Frank, think things through a little more before you write. Your intentions might have been good, but your comments were more appropriate for FHE.

As a voter in District 57…..please don’t catch the wave!

NO ONE owns blogs, but the individuals and organizations that create them. There are millions of them – to suggest the left controls them is a study in lunacy.

Blogs are “owned” by savvy people with internet technology skills, some of whom use it to blog about values, religion and politics. As a member of the illustrious “left” I suppose (as if we are this monolitic mass), I am appalled by your bias and stereotypical response to criticism about your blatant use of this “un-official” but very official looking realm to blast your own sheltered opinions that mirror the dictates from on high at Temple Square.

You are going to wake up one day to discover that Utah is full of non-Mormons, all of whom expect and deserve intelligent, level-headed and secular leadership by their elected officials – or those elected officials won’t be so elected next time around. For the people and by the people, actually means people like me too. Remember? That oath of office thing?

I am glad I came across this “personal journal” published on the world wide web – it will certainly inform my future opinions of Mormons and how I choose to lobby and vote.

The tide is changing – you might want to catch a wave into the new century.

When Rep. Frank says, “Huntsman’s ambassadorship…puts him in an even better position to teach the gospel,” it reinforces the stereotype that everything Mormons do is centered around converting their coworkers and countrymen, a perception which–and this may surprise you–turns a lot of people off and doesn’t make them want to learn more about the LDS faith, much less elect a Mormon to high office.

When he is functioning as Ambassador, Mr. Huntsman will be representing the United States government, not the LDS Church. He’ll likely be wearing a suit and tie, but without the missionary name tag. If the way he lives his life encourages people to learn more about his faith, fantastic. But he should not be using his ambassadorship as a bully pulpit to preach the LDS faith in China.