Why We Care About Mitt Romney's Dog and Bullying

Reader Comments
Back to blog

“He is a member of a church that does not welcome outsiders—non-Mormons are not even supposed to enter the church.”
Ms. Milligan, I think you need to check your facts. Most Latter-day Saint meetinghouses include the phrase “VISITORS WELCOME” in large letters, right on the sign. I’m not sure how the Church of Jesus Christ could be growing so quickly if people weren’t allowed to visit. (I know I wouldn’t join a church where I wasn’t allowed to attend!)
Besides that, though. Great article. You’re absolutely right that in voting for a President, we need to deal with Presidential issues. Leave Romney’s and Obama’s distant pasts out of this. The fact that Romney strapped a dog carrier to the roof of the car is as inconsequential as Obama’s birthplace being listed as Kenya in a pamphlet promoting his first book. Let it go, people.

Jeff Drake of IN 11:39AM May 22, 2012

Mormonism the worlds most misrepresented religion, yes visitors most certainly are welcome. Generally Mormons are excited to see a new face at church.

Logic of KY 7:33AM May 22, 2012

To JK of California:
As I have already indicated, my comment was made in a tone of jest to illustrate the pervasiveness of "Visitors Welcome" signs on Mormon meetinghouses. I never for a moment intended it to be taken seriously and I meant no ill will by it.
Susan Milligan is a bright person, and I'm guessing she understands the above well enough. However, if she was at all unsettled or offended by my jocularity, I do here and now apologize to her.

Scott Lloyd of UT 1:45PM May 17, 2012

Here is what R. Scott Llyod of DeseretNews wrote on a mormondialogue.org:
Scott Lloyd wrote:
I had a mischievous thought: We could start a campaign to flood Susan Milligan's email inbox with thousands of photos of signs on LDS meetinghouses that bear the words "Visitors Welcome."
I'm not recommending it though; only relishing the idea for my own amusement.
----------------------
Dear R. Scott Llyod,
Thank you for setting such a poor example that reflects so terribly on the rest of members of the LDS Church. It is a terrible shame that LDS Members like yourself refuse to act with any kind of cooth. While Scott Gordon, Juliann Reynolds, Russell C. Mcgregor, William Schyver, Wade Englund, Selek1, BYU Professor Dr. Daniel Peterson, and others MIGHT have chuckled at your "joke"; many other Saints do not appreciate the what you have done. As your childish "joke" reflects poorly on the whole of the Saints. Thank you again for your contribution to the image of online LDS behavior. Some thoughts we have just should not be made known to others.
Perhaps you should use your journalist position at Deseret News, to write an apology piece and use the same piece to inform the world that visitors are welcome to attend LDS Church services. Perhaps you and Kirby should team up, he has great tact at humor.
Next time you feel vindictive, ask yourself if exposing your natural man to the world is really what you want to reflect on you as a person.
Sincerely.

JK of CA 3:40AM May 17, 2012

To hecate1972:
"are you the same scott lloyd that wrote this? "
I am.
It was a comment made in jest, as should be clear from the last sentence. I have no intention of launching or promoting such a campaign.
It goes to the point though: The sign that appears on nearly every Mormon meetinghouse should disabuse anyone of the notion that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not welcome outsiders.

Scott Lloyd of UT 5:31PM May 16, 2012

@scott lloyd
are you the same scott lloyd that wrote this?
"I had a mischievous thought: We could start a campaign to flood Susan Milligan's email inbox with thousands of photos of signs on LDS meetinghouses that bear the words "Visitors Welcome."
I'm not recommending it though; only relishing the idea for my own amusement. "
http://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/57826-blogger-says-mormons-dont-welcome-outsiders/

hecate1972 of UT 5:06PM May 16, 2012

Why liberals care ? Simple , it distacts from Obamas record and his plans for the future . Anything to avoid those topics and reality . Funny though how no one should care or question Obamas past and what he's done . Just burned a few joints and tooted a few lines with Ayers while listening to Rev. Wright and his old bitching about not being proud of America .

Hunter of WI 3:00PM May 16, 2012

Obama is a dog and we don't know anything about his paprs three years into his illegal presidency.
It is nice to know that Obama's campaign paid off Jereniah Wright in 2008 to keep him quiet so Obama's campaign would not be sunk because of the person he really is.

Citizen of WI 2:36PM May 16, 2012

An otherwise well written article from an objective view point, I do have to point out one fault; the church he belongs to does indeed welcome outsiders or non-members gladly into their church. Perhaps the information was misinterpreted. The LDS Church doesn't allow non-members or even members in poor standing to enter their temples, not their church buildings. There is a great difference between a temple and a church meeting house. The church gladly accepts and encourages others to come to their church buildings, meetings, and events. To say that the church in which Romney is a member of doesn't allow outsiders does indeed put a negative connotation to his character and that of the LDS church. Check your information a little more in depth than the average rumor. I do know that his religion has spurred much controversy in his campaign efforts but it is false information and accusations that blow things out of proportion for no reason. But I guess thats media and politics for ya.

Emily Hepworth of WY 1:52PM May 16, 2012

After hearing Romneys response to his bulling as an 18 year old. I will bet like millions looked back and reflected about their own bully episodes as teens. I know I did and it still haunts me to this day. I was in elementary school in Guatemala. It was an American school full of Government students. There was a wierd kid in our class. Not a bad kid just strange. Later I realized he was slow and mentally challenged. But being kids we didn't understand what that meant. We never let him play with us and just were generally cruel with no thought about him really. One day his mom came to our classroom and handed out Birthday invitations to the entire class. I didn't go because the kid was wierd. On Monday our teacher let into us. I've never seen such anger like this teacher vented on to us in her rant. She said not one kid came to his party and he was so sad that he isn't even in class today...I really wasn't a bad kid but I just never until that day understood how my actions and words effected others....As a parent I have told that story numerous times to my children when they didn't want to go to kids Birthday party or were just making fun of others for being different....So how is it Romney called what he did a prank and laughed about it as an adult? What did he teach his children about kindness? What example is he going to be for this country? Romneys response says a million things to me. And they aren't good....

Marian of VA 1:03PM May 16, 2012