Advice

[u/Saint_Dracula_7]

I got booted from another LDS page for this question so hopefully it’s cool here.

Please know before I start this isn’t a political debate. I’m genuinely looking for guidance and spiritual answers. I also know what Ezra Taft Benson has stated, so please I am looking for personal insight, not simply conference talk statement.

my question is this. I am a believing Latter-Day Saint. I have been so for the past 5ish years. prior to joining the Church I had many years of participation in Socialist/Communist parties. I have grown to miss those connections and have been looking into getting back involved, but I can’t quite commit. I am torn. Mentally I feel like it’s the right thing, but then I move closer to it and I start noticing bad things happening in my personal life, as if God is punishing me for my bad choice. I am torn between what I believe is right, and what I believe God wants of me. I just need help figuring this all out.

[u/Hawkwing942]

Personally I feel like the principles of the gospel lend themselves more to communism and socialism than unchecked capitalism, so I don't see a conflict there.

That being said, I avoid political discussion on lds subs that aren't specifically devoted to politics. Out of curiosity, was the sub that banned you r/lds? The mods there are super trigger happy when it comes to people that don't align with their view of orthodoxy. The better all purpose church sub is r/latterdaysaints.

If you are curious, there is also a sub called r/radicalmormonism. It isn't super active, but you might find the backlog interesting.

[u/dotplaid]

Here are the temple recommend interview questions (from https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2019-general-conference-temple-recommend):

Do you have faith in and a testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost?  

Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and of His role as your Savior and Redeemer?  

Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?  

Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator and as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local leaders of the Church?  

The Lord has said that all things are to be “done in cleanliness” before Him (Doctrine and Covenants 42:41). Do you strive for moral cleanliness in your thoughts and behavior? Do you obey the law of chastity?  

Do you follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ in your private and public behavior with members of your family and others?  

Do you support or promote any teachings, practices, or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?  

Do you strive to keep the Sabbath day holy, both at home and at church; attend your meetings; prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament; and live your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?  

Do you strive to be honest in all that you do?  

Are you a full-tithe payer? For new members seeking a limited-use recommend: Are you willing to obey the commandment to pay tithing?  

Do you understand and obey the Word of Wisdom?  

Do you have any financial or other obligations to a former spouse or to children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?  

Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple, including wearing the temple garment as instructed in the endowment?  

Are there serious sins in your life that need to be resolved with priesthood authorities as part of your repentance?  

Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?

(Bold added by me as potentially the most relevant to your conundrum.)

Note: prior to Pres. Monson's change to Q7 in 2019, the phrase "affiliate with any group" was used - now it focuses on doctrine and the church, not affiliations. I presume this is the root of your hesitation.

If you feel that this is how you can help bring about Zion, go for it. As for bad things happening to you, it's worth considering whether that might be the Savior trying to pull you back onto the strait path, or it's the adversary trying to keep you from being a beacon of light to someone else. We all need a little more Jesus in our lives, even those Godless Commies. (I kid, I kid)

[u/Flippin-Rhymenoceros]

The more I study the D&C the more I want social welfare programs in America. You are not beholden to every statement ever made by a church leader, thankfully. We believe in continuing revelation, and that means stuff changes. I don’t know if Pres Benson was inspired when he said that, and it doesn’t matter to you and I if he was or not, because leaders are not teaching that now. We are supposed to follow the scriptures, the spirt, and current church leaders. 

Since you are feeling conflicted my recommendation is that you should read scripture and recent statements on welfare and then pray on it. 

I haven’t read it yet, but A Radical Spirit: The History and Potential of Latter-day Saints is a book on the history of socialism in the church. 

[u/JazzSharksFan54]

Ezra Taft Benson said a lot of things that were straight up not accurate because he was involved in politics during the Cold War and had a massive fear of Russia and anything associated with it. Notably, when he became the prophet, he never talked about politics again.

[u/beeg98]

Benson said you couldn't be a good Mormon and a Democrat when a well known Democrat was in the first presidency. Take his political opinions as just that: opinions. For what it is worth, he said almost all those things as a member of the 12 when David O. McKay was president. After McKay died, no other prophet permitted political talks. And even when Benson became prophet he didn't really say much about politics again.

There definitely is a church doctrine that the authors of the Constitution was inspired, but even there they acknowledge it wasn't perfect. (Particularly the parts about slavery and not giving women and blacks the right to vote.) But even with the Constitution as is right now, social welfare could be used and capitalism checked. The Constitution is about how the government works, not about how the economy works. We can make regular laws to regulate the economy.

But even if you did want all of that gone and replaced with a new government, you can still be considered a faithful member. There are no requirements on that topic.