"There is nothing secret about the meeting -- it's just the sacred nature of the things we will be talking about," said Rammell. "We are going to talk about (LDS Church founder) Joseph Smith's prophecy that the Constitution will be hanging by a thread and that the Latter-day Saint elders will step forward and save it."

Mormon women are barred from holding the LDS priesthood, but the GOP hopeful provided a further explanation for their exclusion from the campaign meetings:

Rammell said that though LDS women were not invited because of lack of space, he hopes that the men will take the message home to their wives.

And what message might some critics take home from Rammell's announcement? As the Standard Journal notes: "In the past, Rammell has been criticized for using his faith to further his campaign."

Whether the aspiring Republican is guilty of that in this instance will be the subject of in-depth follow-up coverage by the Standard Journal, just as soon as its reporters have obtained the ecclesiastical clearance required to attend Rammell campaign events.

In other Mormon news:

Utah native and Brigham Young University alumnus Matthew S. Petersen has been elected to serve as chairman of the Federal Election Commission in 2010.

David J. Harmer, Mormon congressional candidate: The Spirit prompted me to run, because I am strong like Captain Moroni.

(Gen. JC Christian, patriot, provides additional commentary: Captain Moroni for Congress)

And ... Meet Ben McAdams, Utah's newest state senator:

Ben McAdams, a senior adviser for Salt Lake Mayor Ralph Becker, will become Utah's newest state senator ... McAdams, who is married and the father of three children, told the delegates he would work for fairness and equality. "I plan to be a visible ally for gay and transgendered Utahns," he said. "We are agents of change."

More Mormons like Ben McAdams, please.

Update: Rex Rammell describes official LDS church disapproval of his tactics as "ridiculous":

An LDS church spokesman has released this statement:

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is politically neutral and does not endorse or promote any candidate party or platform. Accordingly, we hope that the campaign practices of political candidates would not suggest that their candidacy is supported by or connected to the church."

Rex: