hundred forty four is known as the white horse prophecy smith's successor as head of the mormon church brigham young relayed this prophecy writing in eight hundred fifty five when the constitution of the united states hangs as it were upon a single thread they will have to call for the mormon elders to save it from utter destruction and they will step forth and do it several other church leaders have since confirmed that this was indeed what joseph smith said and why he was running for president basically the idea behind the prophecy is that one day our constitution would be hanging by a thread and a mormon would rise up win the presidency and save the nation by being led by divine providence. this all seems pretty far out there but believe it or not this prophecy in my opinion has helped shape mitt romney's life in several different ways literally since he was a tiny child as sally denton writes and salon from the time of his birth march thirteenth one thousand nine hundred seventy through adolescence and into manhood the meshing of religion and politics were paramount in mitt romney's life he was

mormons move once again. their new leader, brigham young, takes a large contingent to the great salt lake valley. in 1885, the mormon churchygamy as a way to gain statehood. church elders approach miles park romney, miles' son asking him to set up a mormon colony where polygamy could be practiced, first in the arizona territory and then in mexico. >> and they went to mexico so they could continue to practice plural marriage. and then when you had the mexican revolution in 1913, they had to come back and they had to start all over. >> although steeped in his family's history with the church, as a teenager, mitt romney is far from a devoted mormon. >> so he then went on his mission to france. as he left, you know, he has since said he had only a thin tissue unquote of connection to his faith of mormonism. >> but missions serve two purposes, helping convert others while also deepening the faith of the young missionaries themselves. >> important roles would be what missionary work does for the young men and young women who serve missions. that is, it's maybe one of the most effective tools for building leadership in the church

mormons move once again. their new leader, brigham young, takes a large contingent to the great salt lake valley. in 1885, the mormon churchng polygamy as a way to gain statehood. church elders approach miles park romney, miles' son asking him to set up a mormon colony where polygamy could be practiced, first in the arizona territory and then in mexico. >> and they went to mexico so they could continue to practice plural marriage. and then when you had the mexican revolution in 1913, they had to come back and they had to start all over. >> although steeped in his family's history with the church, as a teenager, mitt romney is far from a devoted mormon. >> so he then went on his mission to france as he left, mission to france. as he left, you know, he has since said he had only a thin tissue, unquote, of connection to his faith of mormonism. >> but missions serve two purposes, helping convert others while also deepening the faith of the young missionaries themselves. >> important roles would be what missionary work does for the young men and young women who serve missions. that is, it's maybe one of the most effective tools

mormons move once again. their new leader, brigham young, takes a large contingent to the great salt lake valley. in 1885, the mormon churcholygamy as a way to gain statehood. church elders approach miles park romney, miles' son asking him to set up a mormon colony where polygamy could be practiced, first in the arizona territory and then in mexico. >> and they went to mexico so they could continue to practice flurl marriage. and then when you had the mexican revolution in 1913, they had to come back and they had to start all over. >> although steeped in his family's history with the church, as a teenager, mitt romney is far from a devoted mormon. >> so he then went on his mission to france as he left, you know, he has since said he had only a thin tissue unquote of connection to his faith of mormonism. >> but missions serve two purposes, helping convert others while also deepening the faith of the young missionaries themselves. >> important roles would be what missionary work does for the young men and young women who serve missions. that is, it's maybe one of the most effective tools for building leadership in the church