Explaining the Bundys sans Mormonism

As a Mormon, it’s hard for me to watch or listen to anything the Bundy boys say without being instantly reminded that they represent a very real element within my belief system. One that I don’t happen to agree with or particularly like, but is nevertheless tied to a shared history. When I hear Ammon Bundy bearing his testimony that he knows the federal government isn’t true, I close my eyes and wish this wasn’t all somehow rooted in the faith we share.

So, for those of you who feel like I do and wish that they were simply just part of a larger movement of militant conservatism, independent of any Mormon connection, you’re in luck. Sort of. Ben Geman over at the National Journal put a piece up on Saturday that ties Bundy’s actions to “the far-right, an­ti­gov­ern­ment ‘pat­ri­ot move­ment,'” which he explains in detail in the piece. He manages to dissect Bundy’s ideology without mentioning Mormonism at all. It’s a refreshing thing to read, even though at the end of the day I still can’t shake the unfortunate connection I have with these protesters.

Here’s the full article, if you’re looking for a little Bundy escapism, sans the Mormonism. http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/253039/deep-roots-oregon-standoff