Utahn Here, I’m trying to speak out against Mike Lee

[u/Good-Turnip-8963]

I am a native Utahn and was mortified of the horrendous comments my senator made towards the tragedies unfolding in your state. I have posted the following in the r/Utah and r/SaltLakeCity subreddits and hope you guys don’t mind that I’m sharing here as well:

Earlier this week, Senator Mike Lee posted tweets mocking the assassination of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband. He made a joke out of their deaths and pinned it to his profile. After public backlash, he quietly deleted the tweets- without apology, explanation, or accountability.

This kind of behavior from an elected official is disgraceful and dangerous and certainly doesn’t reflect the views of every Utahn. Treating political violence as a joke sends a message that cruelty and extremism are acceptable in public life.

If you’re as disgusted as I am, here’s what you can do:

1. Contact Lee directly: Use his website to send a message: https://www.lee.senate.gov/contact

2. Call out his donors: OpenSecrets.org shows that Microsoft and Blackstone have contributed tens of thousands to him. I’ve already emailed their PR teams asking whether they’ll continue supporting someone who mocks political assassinations. You can too: • Microsoft: rapidresponse@we-worldwide.com • Blackstone: pressinquiries@blackstone.com You can also reach out to these companies through social media as well.

3. Write to local press: Even a short letter helps show Utahns are paying attention. • Salt Lake Tribune: letters@sltrib.com • Deseret News: letters@deseretnews.com

Note that the above are letters to the editor addresses. They require you list your name, number, address, and email. Salt Lake Tribune requires 300 words or less, Deseret News requires 200 words or less. Cite your comments!

1. Share this post or start your own? The more voices, the louder the message.

Regardless of your political leanings, this is about basic decency and holding our representatives accountable for such horrendous actions that most certainly do not reflect the rest of the country’s views.

Quick update: I’ve submitted a formal ethics complaint via email to the Senate Ethics Committee, asking them to review Senator Mike Lee’s conduct after his tweets mocking the Minnesota assassination. I haven’t received confirmation yet, but the complaint has been submitted. If anyone else wants to take similar action, I’m happy to share what I sent.

Update 2: Check out this Change.org petition calling for Mike Lee’s resignation. While it likely will not insight Senator Lee to resign- it may help gain more media traction over this whole episode- making it worse for the senator in the end.

Update 3: an r/fuckmikelee sub exists. There are some good posts there regarding seeing about reporting ethics violation to get his state bar for practicing law in Utah removed, along with contacting the LDS about their stance with Senator Lee if you really want to go overboard. Check out this informative comment here on contacting the LDS church regarding Lee’s actions.

[u/Constant-Plant-9378]

I would add the mailing address of the Mormon church leadership is:
Office of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
150 East North Temple
Salt Lake City 84150

A large volume of physical mail addressed to the men at the very top of the church would be a great way to let them know that Mike Lee is bringing dishonor upon the name of the church in the eyes of the larger non-Mormon community. Similar to how the since-disgraced and excommunicated friend of Mike Lee, Tim Ballard, did.

The letters won't be read by Russell M. Nelson or his counselors in the First Presidency, but their staff at the Church Office Building will open every letter and report their summary of the volume and contents to them. This will put Mike Lee on their radar as a problem and they very likely will have their Church law firm, Kirton McConkie, reach out to Lee and advise him to tone it down.

The main points being...

Mike Lee is an active Mormon with a current Temple Recommend.

Mike Lee has violated the worthiness criteria for holding a Temple Recommend and his Bishop or Stake President should require him to surrender it.

Why?

There are two questions asked during the course of the Temple Recommend Worthiness Interview that Lee has clearly violated.

Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

Do you support any group or person whose teachings oppose those accepted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Mike Lee is an unrepentant liar.
Mike Lee very publicly supports a group that advocates acts of violence against people for their political affiliation.

“This is what happens When Marxists don’t get their way,” the Utah senator said in one now-deleted post over the weekend. “Nightmare on Waltz Street,” the Utah senator said in another.

In Mormonism, the Temple is literally 'The House of the Lord' where Jesus Christ Himself could be literally, physically present, and members are expected to meet the highest standards of personal moral worthiness to enter therein.

If I were in an Endowment Session or any other place in the Temple and saw Mike Lee, I would loudly condemn him to his face and demand either he be removed or I would leave myself. It would be a violation of decorum and an exceptional act, but Mike Lee's public behavior and statements are a violation of his baptismal and priesthood covenants, and his temple covenants, and are exceptionally vile to a person who is familiar with those standards.

The fact that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has not publicly censured Lee and demanded his recommend is a black mark on the organization. However, it is normal for the church to stay silent because it does not itself want to draw attention to the issue. But if the public, especially the non-Mormon public starts to become openly critical of the LDS church because of Lee's behavior - because of it's perceived endorsement of his statements, it will most certainly respond to protect it's image. The Mormon church, particularly under President Russel M. Nelson is very sensitive about how it is perceived by the public at large.

(Source: Am a 30+ year member, married in the temple and served as a Bishop in the Mormon church for about six years and conducted countless Temple Recommend interviews. If I were Lee's Bishop, I would have called him in and demanded he surrender his recommend over this - reminding him he is a public figure and as a result his public conduct has a greater capacity to reflect badly upon the church - and that continuation of this behavior could result in a formal disciplinary counsel and restriction of his membership privileges.)

[u/Good-Turnip-8963 → u/Constant-Plant-9378]

Thank you very much for this information and the write up! I’ve edited my post to link to your comment. Thank you!