By Jennifer Litz
Editor
December 6, 2007

Mitt Romney takes the stage today in College Station, Texas, to talk about “Faith in America,” or, more honestly, to defend his presidential viability despite his Mormon faith. A California director who should know has a three-prong suggestion for Romney.

One, talk about Mormon values more than Mormon doctrine, because Mormon values espouse patriotism. Two, keep it personal, Mitt: Talk more about your own convictions than your religion. And three, remind Americans they’re not voting for the Pastor of the US, but rather, the President.

Director Adam Christing’s last piece of advice is somewhat ironic. For he has just completed a 60-minute documentary whose central premise is that Romney would be a shoo-in for the presidency—if it weren’t for his religion. The documentary explores the history of Mormon prophet Joseph Smith, who ran for the presidency over a century-and-a-half ago, only to be eventually slain by an anti-Mormon mob. This is the framework offered for understanding Romney’s plight: That he faces a powerful and hostile Evangelical voting bloc, and a nation somewhat uneducated on the tenants of Mormonism. The conundrum is explored by Mormons and non-Mormons alike on the made-for-TV documentary.

“This program is about Joseph Smith and Romney, but mostly [asks], ‘Why is there a problem? Why can’t someone run as black, Jewish, female—why is that such a block?’” says Christing, a former member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and current member of the Mormon History Association. He came away with some personal reflections after the project.

“I’m really convinced that Americans—for some reason with presidents . . . it’s almost like they want a relationship with the president, more so than with Congress or a governor. And because he or she potentially has the power to start war, or blow up world, [I] think they want them to be prayerful presidents.

“I think even Evangelicals feel like, ‘does he [the president] have God’s phone number?’ A lot of people here have heard from their pastors, ‘Mormonism is a cult,’ etc. It’s gonna be hard for Romney, in one speech, to overcome generations of criticisms.”

The documentary has pre-screenings Dec. 12 in Salt Lake City and Dec. 19 in Los Angeles. Romney refused to be interviewed for the documentary, but one of his staffer sons viewed a trailer, at www.amormonpresident.com .