A new Sunstone magazine issue is in the mail, and we’re now working on a special issue about Mormonism and politics to go to press in three weeks. We’ve commissioned several pieces exhibiting a variety of approaches to this theme, and we are excited by what we received.

We’d very much like help with one of our planned sections, though. That proposed section is a sampling of Mormon voices on the key issues animating this year’s national election. In other words, we’re hoping to highlight Latter-day Saint thinking on issues such as the economy, immigration, war, use of torture, the environment, health care, reproductive choice, welfare, or the place of religion in politics.

We’d love you to send us your opinions on any of these or other election issues. But we’d like you to do more than just offer your opinion; we’d like you to reflect on what it is within Mormon theology, scripture, or your own personal spirituality as informed by interactions with Mormonism that has influenced your opinion. In short, we’re hoping to understand what Mormon-influenced lenses you use in forming your opinion on the issue.

If you’re willing to share your thoughts with us, please aim for 400-750 words and either post your reflections here on SunstoneBlog or email them to me at dan at sunstoneonline.com. I’d love to receive these by 8 February—but the sooner the better. We can’t promise that we’ll publish everything we receive, but we hope we can include something from everyone who writes. And if you hold a conservative position on an issue and feel uncertain if it would be welcomed for inclusion in the magazine, please know that we’re looking for a broad spectrum of opinions and reasons for those opinions. Our goal is to show the depth and breadth of Mormon political views and how those views may be informed by our experience with the gospel.

If you’ve already shared your thinking on a blog or in some other forum and want to adapt it for this project, please feel free to do that. Just inform us of that when you submit it here so we can secure permissions, if required.

Much thanks!
Dan Wotherspoon
Editor, Sunstone