Diversity is not a word associated with the BYU student demographic. It is true that we have students from numerous countries. It is also true that the majority of BYU students have either spent significant amounts of time in foreign countries or speak a second language. Although these experiences and associations might enrich us, we are anything but diverse. This is blatantly apparent in our political views.

In the words of Stephen Colbert, we have republicans and staunch republicans. The BYU Democrats Club has a small following of democratic students who band together against the overwhelming wave of conservatism at BYU. This last statement may have made you uncomfortable. You are thinking, “What is wrong with conservatism?” There would be a similar problem if it was an overwhelming wave of liberalism. With only one party represented, beneficial ideas that could have come as a result of bipartisan dialogue are smothered.

I served my mission in India and met people with very different viewpoints. I once told a Sikh man that resurrection was a very logical doctrine. He in turn told me that reincarnation was more logical then resurrection. It was at that point that I realized that logic had nothing to do with it. Resurrection seemed logical to me because I had grown up with the idea. I am not advocating reincarnation but am pointing out how other people’s views seem equally as logical to them as ours do to us. Sometimes we let our background influence ideas without realizing the merits of an opposing view.

Although the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encourages its members to be involved in the political process, it is officially politically neutral.  You might not know that going to Brigham Young University.

According to state party records, Republican professors outnumber Democratic professors 10 to 1.

"One of the most troubling elements ... is the growing Mormon tendency to find absolute or at least superior, even divine, truth in the Republican Party platform," Eugene England, a professor of English and registered Republican said in a 1998 Daily Universe article.  "Political parties do not have truth -- they have perspectives," he added.

Despite this, all too often, professors and students at BYU speak as if the Republican party is the "true" party.  They point to America's declining morals and blame it on liberals, despite the fact that a Republican has been president 20 of the past 30 years and despite the fact that Barack Obama's views on such controversial topics as gay marriage and abortion mirror that of the church's.

Before election time each year, this official church statement is read over each pulpit which "affirms [the Church's] neutrality regarding political parties, platforms, and candidates." Importantly, it also stresses that, "principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various political parties."   This goes to show that the church encourages us to look at both sides of the issue and vote based on which one most closely follows what we believe.