Romney must overcome bias against Mormons

Grand Rapids - Some polls show 40% of the electorate say they would not vote for a Mormon for president.

It is one of the challenges Grand Valley State University Assistant Professor Kevin den Dulk says Mormon Mitt Romney must overcome.

"He is going to have to show his faith is mainstream and is consistent with what the average American would want."

The leader of the 45 hundred member Grand Rapids Mormon stake says Mormons are similar to any other Christian denomination.

"We believe in God the Eternal Father," says stake president Kaplin Jones. "We believe in His son Jesus Christ and through Christ's atonement we have the opportunity to be resurrected and achieve eternal life. We think of ourselves as Christians."

Mormons also believe the "Book of Mormon" was revealed to church founder Joseph Smith, Jr. while he was a teenager living in New York State during the 1820's.

The early church was guided by subsequent revelations Smith said he received from an angel.

"A series of revelations not popular with some people," says Jones.

Assistant Professor den Dulk says it's impossible to predict how big a factor his Mormon faith will have on Romney's bid for the White House.

"Surveys that suggest 40% of the public won't vote for a Mormon reflects a certain degree of ignorance about the religion," says Assistant Professor den Dulk. "Those percentages can be overcome by Romney using his campaign pulpit to educate the public about the church."

"I think we have a great message," says Jones. "A message that will bless families and will allow people to rise up and be a better person. I hope they will take a look at it."