I have a question about this letter. Who is it written to since Brother X is referred to in the third person? Is it his wife who got the letter, not him? Is it addressed to her not him? This might make a little more sense. Every woman I know would prefer a “good friend” being upfront about why she can’t continue a friendship rather than not knowing why someone she is close to is avoiding her. But perhaps this isn’t a good friend of the wife, just some random person.
This person is obviously very upset about Obama being president. Sometimes people need to complain about other people, I guess. I was just talking to the RS president today and she mentioned a complaint that someone had (not who said it) about something in the ward.
I tend to be conservative and tend to think it is more likely that Mormons are conservative, but I understand liberal ideas and I like Obama. If you can understand the other viewpoint it can help to see why they are so upset and not blame them for feeling upset about it.

An interesting Deseret News article on what President Uchtdorf and Elder Ballard have to say on the matter (not that that’s going to change anybody’s mind, but it is proof of how loony the rabid-anti-Obama mindset is):
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705279298,00.html

makakona–that is sad. I hope your ward can recover now.

jks–It is my impression that the letter was sent via e-mail to the family (I assume the parents, not involving the kids). I do believe that Sister X is significantly more conservative than Brother X, so maybe the letter is from someone who had once been close (although I have pictured this letter coming from a man–I could be all wrong). And you are right–this letter may have been meant as a kindness to explain seemingly strange behavior.

MAC–I actually think this is a genuinely strange letter. I would be surprised at anyone feeling that a vote for someone was against the gospel of Christ, except for, perhaps, a vote to re-elect Hitler. Even then, I would chalk it up to a personal decision which is probably a mistake they might later regret. I actually have a very good friend who is married to a fairly prominent conservative talk show host and he routinely (daily) says quite outrageous things which I not only disagree with, but feel are distinctly unchristian. I believe his livelihood is a bigger deal than a single vote, but I am also able to maintain a relationship with the family. You are right that this writer is bein a bit self-defeating–I admire the passion.

Tim–interesting link

John Mansfield–I think it is preferable to make an ass of yourself in private, and certainly kinder to call someone evil in private than public.

jks asks the same questions I did when I read the letter. I suppose it’s a sincere intent to explain oneself, but I just believe everybody is crazy nowdays.

I received a similar-in-message but much briefer, less thoughtful email from a man whom I had known when he was a senior missionary serving at the Church History Library — I had written to ask to be taken off his anti-Obama spam mailing list, and he wrote to tell me how heartbroken he was that I had left the gospel to follow after Korihor.

To me, people like this friend of mine and the one who wrote to Brother X are not really kooks in the classic sense of DSM-IV (or whatever edition the psychiatrists are up to now). They are, rather (or additionally, if you maintain they are kooks), exceedingly immature in the gospel. They cannot distinguish between their political views and the gospel, and they cannot comprehend that — politics not being identical to gospel — reasonable, faithful, thoughtful, worshipful members of the church could reach different political conclusions. Instead, their simplistic thought processes are: “I am a good Mormon. You are different from me. Therefore, you are not a good Mormon.”

And then they pervert that good ol’ proselyting, testifying instinct into the sending of letters like that to your Brother X.

If I’m not mistaken, comments of this nature fly around at conservative thinkers, as well. Not to throw stones, but I think Ardis has nailed a big aspect of the issue with such inappropriate behavior:

They cannot distinguish between their political views and the gospel, and they cannot comprehend that — politics not being identical to gospel — reasonable, faithful, thoughtful, worshipful members of the church could reach different political conclusions.

And so it happens anytime anyone crosses that line. Like Harry Reid says “I am a Democrat because I’m Mormon” and like some of the examples here say about being Republican (though in not so many words).

I have yet to see how the Gospel is polemic in political implications. I see room for all types.

I grew up in an evenly divided ward and today I wish our church had at least some diversity of thought. I think we would be better served with at least some.

The writer of the letter would probably vote for a king or dictator. I get similar comments regarding conservation and global warming.

Trying to explain this kind of letter? Meh.

Did you ever see the (admittedly profanity-laced) bit Chris Rock did about “Crazy People”? I think this is it–Whatever happened to CRAZY?

Scott,

I have a problem with a particular subset.

[...] letter given to someone and reproduced at Mormon Mentality. The poll asked if you agree that evolution is the best explanation for the origins of human life [...]

I think it all stems from that “If you have any ill feelings toward anyone…” statement that makes us almost insistent that we all be the same… Because somehow diversity can cause ill feelings and ill feelings can keep us out of the inner circle and that can keep us from getting from where we want to go. And so there are so who are compelled to tell why they are stepping out of the circle.

jjohnsen–wow. I don’t know if it is more common in UT or not. I would guess it is most likely to occur wherever people feel there is hegemony. FWIW, this letter was NOT from a UT saint.