We’ll continue our series looking at the wacky stuff Mitt Romney believes as a Mormon next week. But first…

Here’s an interesting speculation to toss into the mix when considering the reasons Mitt Romney might not be inclined to release his tax returns.

Question: Who is the highest ranking member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in elected office today?

Answer: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

As Senate Majority Leader and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Harry Reid has achieved a more senior elected position in the United States government than any Mormon in history.

Q: Is Reid aware that lying is considered a sin in the Mormon Church?

A: Of course he is. So is Romney.

Could it be that Mitt has another reason, other than paying no taxes, for not releasing his tax returns?

Hmmm.

What are the requirements to get to the highest level of Mormon Heaven, the Celestial Kingdom?

The celestial kingdom will be the residence of those who have been righteous, accepted the teachings of Jesus Christ, and made and lived up to all of the required ordinances and covenants during their mortal lives.

Must one be a Temple Worthy Mormon to make it to the Celestial Kingdom?

Yes, according to the same source cited above.

OK. What are the requirements to be considered a “Temple Worthy” Mormon?

According to an official LDS website:

…those who enter the temple must show their faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by living the gospel and keeping the commandments. They must be morally clean, pay a full tithing, obey the Word of Wisdom, keep the Sabbath day holy, and strive to live righteously in all other ways. They must also be interviewed by the bishop or branch president and the stake or mission president and be found worthy to receive a temple recommend. (Emphasis added.)

OK. To get to the Celestial Kingdom where you get assigned your own planet to lord over so you and your temple sealed wife (or wives) can pump out the spirit babies to populate your own universe, you have to be Temple Worthy. And you have to stay Temple Worthy, which means…

Ah ha!

What if Mitt’s tax returns show he was holding out on the Mormons and not “paying a full tithe?”

What is the penalty for something like that? Can one lose his “Temple Worthy” status?

Yep.

According to an official LDS Forum on “The Blessings of Tithing”:

The LDS don’t “demand” the tithe, they equivocate by calling it a condition of worthiness. In other words, if you aren’t a full tithe payer, you can’t get a temple recommend. If you can’t get a temple recommend, you can’t go to the temple and take out your endowments. If you can’t take out your endowments, you don’t qualify for the celestial kingdom (highest degree of glory) and thus, don’t get to dwell in the presence of Heavenly Father. Although, one can always use their “free agency” to not pay the tithe…but the “conditions” do not change.

So… if Mitt releases his full tax returns and they show he has not paid his full tithing?

No more temple worthiness.

No more temple.

No Celestial Kingdom.

No planet. No spirit babies.

Oh, he can still make the Terrestrial Kingdom. According to Doctrine and Covenants section 76, those who will inhabit the terrestrial kingdom include those who lived respectably but “were blinded by the craftiness of men” and thus rejected the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ when it was presented to them during their mortal lives.

Or, if the Lord judges Mitt’s lies and deceptions as evil and wicked, he could wind up in the low rent Telestial Kingdom. According to the LDS scripture, Doctrine and Covenants, Section 76, those who will inhabit the telestial kingdom include those “who received not the gospel of Christ, nor the testimony of Jesus.” It also includes “liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.”

So, if this interesting speculation is true, Mitt has much more than a presidency to lose.



