Tolerance, Faith, & Politics

Recently, I had the high privilege of taking the oath of office for a second time as Oregon’s U.S. senator. With very few exceptions, the people I serve with are distinguished men and women. Whether Republican or Democrat, they go through the fire of a campaign and come to the Senate because they care deeply about making the world a better place and preserving the best about America. 

If I have one impression of our government after six years of serving as a senator, it’s that our Constitution is inspired. Our government truly is “the last, best hope of mankind” as Abraham Lincoln said. Our Constitution has endured more than two hundred years. Through unbelievable trials, it has remained a living document for a free people. And as a consequence, you and I today have inherited a nation that is not just the capital for this land but for the free world as well. America defends human rights; it promotes prosperity through free enterprise, and it encourages others to establish democratic institutions for the protection of freedom in their lands.

I often meet with foreign visitors who are anxious to have trade, aid, and military alliances with the United States. They come because they admire and respect us, even if they don’t all love us. They understand the enduring nature of American freedom and prosperity, and they aspire to it for their posterity and people. 

I feel honored to serve in our nation’s capital. If I were to sum up my life and service to family and community, to God and country, I could probably do it in three words: peas, politics, and priesthood. I hold a law degree, yet I have worked much of my life in the frozen vegetable processing business and in politics. In my service, I try to contribute to church and state. But here I must make an important distinction—I am not a Mormon senator; I am Oregon’s senator. But, I’m free to worship and live as a Latter-day Saint. 
I represent a state where Latter-day Saints are a minority. The biggest church in Oregon is the un-churched—those who choose not to believe at all. One of the noblest values of America evolved out of the history of our colonial forebears. They came here to worship either as Catholics in Maryland, as Baptists in Georgia, Puritans in Massachusetts, or Quakers in Pennsylvania. They struggled to figure out how to establish a state while respecting their religious differences. Tolerance for religious pluralism became a tenet of public life in America. 

Yet even after the founding of our nation, Joseph Smith and his followers experienced the realization that America hadn’t fully learned the lessons of religious tolerance and freedom. Early Latter-day Saints were driven west out of the then boundaries of the United States to pursue their right to worship God according to the dictates of conscience. As a United States senator and Latter-day Saint, I am mindful of my obligation and privilege of representing people of all faiths and those of no faith.

I believe as Latter-day Saints we should be tolerant and respect those of other faiths. We should understand that others believe in their traditions and faiths as fervently as we believe in ours. Remembering this helps me to keep in balance my faith and my duty to all Americans. Therefore, when I go into the U.S. Senate, I don’t check my values and beliefs at the door. But, I am very careful not to pursue a sectarian agenda. No matter what field you choose to pursue, I encourage you to openly live your faith, but do so tolerantly of others. It is not easy to do—but it’s critical. I learned the lessons of tolerance throughout my life by keeping my faith in places where Mormons are minorities. If you ask for tolerance you must practice tolerance. And remember, tolerance doesn’t mean agreement with others, it means respect for others.

Politics for me was one of the formative influences of my life. My father served in the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration. When that administration ended, my cousin, Stewart Udall, became the secretary of interior to John F. Kennedy. One of my earliest memories was going to Kennedy’s Inauguration. It was a cold, clear January day. The occasion was filled with pageantry and importance. I remember seeing this young president and his beautiful wife. I recall hearing the cannons roar in salute, watching the parade pass by, and thrilling to his clarion call for a new generation of Americans to carry the torch of liberty. Even though I was only eight years old, it all struck me as very important. I remember thinking, “I would like to do this some day.” I also remember wondering, “Maybe you can’t because you’re Mormon.” 

I never lost my boyhood interest in public affairs. I remember several things about my eventual decision to run for public office. I’m going to relate some of these to you, not to attract attention to myself, but to hopefully encourage you. I want to urge you to dream big and work hard, because in America your dreams can come true—your religion need not be an obstacle. 

After graduating from BYU and practicing law for several years, I took the opportunity to go back to my boyhood town in Oregon and acquire the assets of a food processing business. 

I went to Sharon, my wife, and said, “I’d like to go back to the place of my birth, Pendleton, Oregon, and buy a financially distressed food processing plant.” Her question was, “Why did you go to law school if you wanted to be a pea picker in Pendleton?” It was a good question. Nevertheless, we went to Oregon, and our company prospered to the extent that it’s now producing about 15 percent of America’s frozen peas and corn. 
Fifteen years later, I remember watching a news story about a young man declaring his candidacy for president. I didn’t think he had a chance because the then president was at 90 percent popularity. This candidate was a forty-five-year-old southerner. I had just turned forty. I thought to myself, “He’s about your age, and he’s running for president—you’re still thinking about running for something.” The candidate was Bill Clinton. His candidacy motivated me. I once told him his presidential campaign had in part inspired me to run for office. He looked somewhat chagrined that he had so influenced me, particularly after I voted twice to remove him from office. 

Shortly after seeing that news story about Clinton’s candidacy, some prominent people in our community encouraged me to run for the Oregon state senate. I was a bishop at the time, and I did not think it was right for one holding an ecclesiastical position like that to also pursue an elected state position. I said, “I’m interested enough that I will ask my stake president what he thinks.” I went to him and said, “My first responsibility is to this calling, but running for office is something I’ve always wanted to do. What do you think?” He responded, “If you want to run, we’ll release you. If you don’t run, we’ll fire you.” He continued, “You’ve served for four and a half years, and we were going to get rid of you anyway.” 

I went to my wife and said, “Sharon, I’d like to run for state senate.” Her response this time was, “Well, you’ve been a lawyer, a pea picker, and now you want to be a politician. Why do you persist in descending the ladder of social acceptability?” Nevertheless, she supported me again. 

I feared Oregon would reject someone with a seemingly conservative background like mine. But, bucking the odds, I won a large victory. Then came an opportunity to run for the U.S. Senate upon Bob Packwood’s sudden resignation. My doubts crept back in, but I decided to try. I came from forty points behind, only to lose by a percent. It was a deeply disappointing experience. But to my amazement, my Mormon faith never really came up during the campaign. Indeed America, in particular Oregon, had learned the lesson that John F. Kennedy taught: how you pray should not keep you out of public service in this country. 

The day that I lost, Mark Hatfield, the sitting U.S. senator from Oregon, called me and said, “Gordon, I know you don’t want to hear this, but you’ve got to run again, because I’m not going to run for re-election. I’ll help you even more, and I think you can win next time.” I took his advice, ran again, and won. 

In the course of your life and career you will not always win. When you get knocked down—and I promise, you will—the great task is to get up and try again. You will be surrounded with feelings of doubt, despair, and dismay. If you can hold on, these things make you a better and stronger person. Don’t quit. To lose an election or a job is not to be defeated, but to be challenged. You haven’t failed until you quit. 

I spoke earlier about tolerance. I found that the Oregon people are so tolerant and open, there’s even room for Mormons. Oregon’s two senators are a Jew and a Mormon: one from the populated, liberal part of our state, another from the rural, conservative part. I think that speaks well of Oregonians. In America we make room for people of all faiths and from all places.

As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, I have traveled the world preaching religious tolerance. It has been a privilege to advocate on behalf of those who are being persecuted. It’s also a great privilege to get a call from church leaders and to be asked to help. Not just to help our Church, but other churches as well. 

The 11th Article of Faith reads: “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” Remember and practice the 11th Article of Faith as you leave BYU and go into business, law firms, county commissions, or even the U.S. Senate. 

I hope you appreciate the privilege and blessing you have as a citizen of the United States of America. Your dreams can come true. Mine have. If you will dream big, work hard, hold on to your values and live them, I promise you more victories than defeats. 

People say they can’t stand politics. I understand that. But life is about politics. Politics is about communication. Communication is about making your case, getting your way, and winning what you believe to be right. Part of your responsibility as Americans and as Latter-day Saints is to be involved in politics to the extent that you can stand it. At the very least, be an informed voter. I will not tell you how to vote; that determination is your sacred right. Patriots died to make sure you have a democratic choice. It is a great disappointment to me that so many do not vote. Somewhere on the continuum of running for president and being an informed voter, I plead with you to get involved. An important part of enjoying a full and successful life is serving and participating civically. 

Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, because I’m here to say that you can. If it can happen in Oregon, it can happen in Ohio; it can happen in any state of the United States. God bless you and good luck.

Q&A 

Q: Senator, how do you deal with situations when your constituents desire something that you morally feel is wrong?

A: First, you and I will never vote for anyone with whom we agree 100 percent. When you look for someone to vote for, look for three things: 1) someone whose general political philosophy you agree with; 2) someone whose judgment seems sound and good; and 3) someone who has personal integrity. 

For me, one of the tests of personal integrity in public life is whether an individual will sacrifice his or her office for a principle he or she believes in. If you vote for leaders who act as political weather vanes, you’ll find they don’t have integrity—they just want to be popular. There have been times I’ve had to ask myself, “What do I really believe? For what cause am I willing to lay down the keys of my office to defend?” 

Some of the moral issues in politics that bring a Latter-day Saint into conflict with the conventional thinking involve the sanctity of life such as abortion and assisted suicide, as well as issues regarding the family. I have never hidden my position on any of these kinds of issues from Oregonians, even though I am often in the minority. Sometimes, I simply admit, “That is my belief; it is grounded in my religious faith.” The people of Oregon have a right to know it. They know it, and they vote accordingly. 

Even though my constituents don’t agree with all of my decisions, I believe they know my differences with some arise out of genuine conviction. Having said that, you can’t be in the minority on everything, or you won’t be elected. But again, voters can abide differences on some matters when born out of conviction. 

Q: What is the reputation or stereotype of Latter-day Saints in politics?

A: Latter-day Saints generally are seen as peculiar people. I think there are some who look at us with suspicion. However, they are few, and I think most deeply admire us for the values we promote in the public arena. There certainly is a mainstreaming of Mormons in the public square. Five percent of the U.S. Senate are Latter-day Saints. Once, Neal A. Maxwell and I were visiting in Washington, D.C. He said something I’ll never forget: “If Joseph had had but one of you” (meaning Latter-day Saints as U.S. senators to help redress the grievances of the Saints). His words reminded me that we should help ensure social justice for all, even for Latter-day Saints. 

I am grateful for an opportunity I had to help two Latter-day Saint missionaries. Several years ago, I got a call from Church headquarters about two missionaries kidnapped in Russia. I was on my way to the White House and within the hour was able to approach President Clinton. I said, “Mr. President, there are two young American boys who are in great danger in Russia.” He immediately directed all the resources of the American government to help the Russians to free these boys; they were brought back safely. 
In sum, I believe our faith is needed, valued, appreciated, and deeply respected in American government. That doesn’t mean there aren’t opponents, but opposition can make us stronger. 

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Flag photo by Seth Smoot. Other photos courtesy of Senator Gordon Smith’s office.

About the Speaker 
Gordon H. Smith was sworn in as a United States senator on 7 January 1997, becoming the first U.S. senator from eastern Oregon since 1938. Smith serves on five major Senate committees: Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Rules; Indian Affairs; and the Finance Committee. He also serves on the Special Committee on Aging and is a member of the Senate Western Water and Rural Health Caucuses.

Smith earned a history degree from BYU in 1976 and a law degree from Southwestern University in 1979. He and his wife, Sharon, have three children and maintain homes in Pendleton, Oregon, and Bethesda, Maryland.

This text includes excerpts from the senator’s speech to Marriott School graduate students 10 January 2003.