Hi! We're LDS Democrats.
We're an official caucus of the Utah State Democratic Party, and we're a big tent. We are proof that the LDS Church is home to a diversity of political opinion, and we aim to be a bridge between the LDS people of Utah and the Democratic Party.
The LDS Church has often repeated that, "Principles compatible with the gospel are found in the platforms of all major political parties. While the Church does not endorse political candidates, platforms, or parties, members are urged to be full participants in political, governmental, and community affairs."
This is what inspires the members of the LDS Democrats Caucus to be active in politics, and in particular, to be active in the Democratic Party. We feel that the Democratic Party is where our most easily align. We are Democrats because of our strong LDS faith. Here's what a few of our caucus members have to say about .
Our Mission
Utah has a rich heritage and a bright future. Our families are the basic units of society, and their success determines the success of our communities. For this reason, our mission is to reduce economic stress, create safe neighborhoods, and provide quality educational and community resources. We take our stewardship over the natural world seriously. We strive to make our communities welcoming and safe for all of Utah's people without regard for when they first came to our great state. We recognize the hand of Divinity in the US Constitution, and we seek to ensure that the rights and freedoms it provides are available to everyone.
Our goal: Encourage more Latter-day Saints to participate and feel welcome in the Democratic Party and vote for Democratic candidates.
About Us
LDS Dems includes an executive committee and two planning committees. The Chair is Utah State Senator Ben McAdams, and the Vice-Chair is Crystal Young-Otterstrom. We are in the process of recruiting regional chairs who will coordinate activities and outreach committees for their area.
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Outreach Committee (Chairs: Craig Janis and Chris Balmanno)
The purpose of this committee is to create a comprehensive database of all LDS Democrats in the state and to convince moderate and Republican members of the LDS Church that the Democratic Party is really the "right place" for them. Additionally, the outreach committee oversees messaging, rapid response, candidate recruitment, "LDS 101" training for non-LDS candidates, and other similar activities.
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Activities Committee (Chair: Trisha Beck)
This committee plans quarterly events with the dual purposes of helping caucus members feel a sense of community and introducing potential caucus members to the ideas of the Democratic Party in a comfortable, LDS-based setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why should I join the LDS Dems caucus?
The best way to answer this question is to show you .
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What does membership in the caucus entail, and how can I join?
Caucus members are encouraged to support the caucus' work by volunteering on one of the state or regional committees, but such service is not a requirement of membership. To join the caucus, just fill out a membership form!
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Does the caucus endorse candidates?
Most caucuses do endorse candidates, but we've chosen not to. We made this decision because we think it sends the wrong message to endorse a candidate as being the best option for LDS voters. Instead, we encourage our members to use convention time to bring an LDS perspective to the other caucuses that do make endorsements.
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What are your positions on abortion and same-sex marriage?
We are a big-tent organization, and our members' positions on these issues mirror the diversity of opinion amongst the world-wide membership of the Church. There is no "litmus test" regarding these issues for membership in the caucus.
Regarding abortion the Church has said that it "opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience," but allows for exceptions in specific circumstances. The Church "has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion."
Regarding same-sex marriage, the Church is "unequivocally committed to defending the bedrock foundation of marriage between a man and a woman," but has taken an active role in support of non-discrimination ordinances that protect members of the LGBT community.
Contact Us
To contact us, please send an email to hello@ldsdems.org, chat with us on Twitter or Facebook, or meet up with us at one of our events. Or call Crystal Young-Otterstrom at 801.652.0737.