The only insight into Romney's views occurred soon after Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, admission that he once saw a UFO. A reporter with a sanguine curiosity asked if Romney believed in extraterrestrials.

"I'm afraid I do not believe in extraterrestrials visiting earth," he said. (http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/11/romney_lands_in_cleveland.html)

Why this should matter to believers of "extraterrestrials visiting earth" is in interpreting and understanding the intent and belief of Romney when it comes to extraterrestrials and more importantly the theology of the Mormon Church regarding life on other planets.

While Romney's declaration sounds correct and consistent with official Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) doctrine, it is not fully complete. The impact and scope of what Mormons believe about extraterrestrials has been illustrated through fiction in a new book entitled, The Conversion Conspiracy.

Extraterrestrial contact would adversely affect some sectors of organized religion. Unlike 9ll, that brought many to faith and back to church, this crisis could have the opposite effect, driving society away from its Christian roots into deep despair.

An optimistic study in 1994, questioned the impact of an Extraterrestrial presence on religion and surmised that only 28% of the population would be in religious crisis. (
Alexander, Victoria, "The Impact of UFOs and Their Occupants on Religion" report produced for the Bigalow Foundation 1994)

However, the cumulative effect of panic and uncertainty could push fundamentalist, awaiting the second coming of Christ to either cling tighter to faith or to completely let go. The real effect is a potential that societies belief systems might all collapse. Issues of evolution, genetics and pure science would all be in flux. The effect would cross all political and ideological boundaries.
(See: http://www.ufoarea.com/aas_fulldisclosuretruth_sl.html)

According to fictional premise set forth in The Conversion Conspiracy, understanding this impact of disclosure on society, sinister government forces are covertly propelling a Mormon Candidate to the White House to prepare earth for colonization. Art imitating life, or just a coincidence?

Regardless, the book is a good source for what Mormons know, believe and accept of the extraterrestrials phenomenon. Doctrinally, Mormons believe that God has created Worlds without number (Pearl of Great Price: Moses 1:33) and those worlds have human life on them. In essence the Gospel according to the LDS, is a Galactic Gospel.

Romney said he didn't believe that extraterrestrials had come to earth. But he didn't omit that he could believe in extraterrestrials. Yes, a subtle distinction, but important and consistent with his church.

So we have potential hope that Romney may be open to accepting the possibility of extraterrestrial contact because it fits within this theological framework.

However, unlike Jimmy Carter who made campaign promises to release UFO files and in fact made a request for disclosure once in office, there seems to be no recorded intent by Romney to uncover the UFO conspiracy. (Peter Gersten, "Official Disclosure: A practical impossibility" AlienZoo 07/10/2000) and ( http://www.presidentialufo.com/ufo_coverup.htm)

It may not really matter who becomes president in 2008 in regards to the extraterrestrial question. Even the well indented President Carter was either unable or unwilling to reveal any secrets. As long it is in the best interests of the government to conceal the truth about UFO's the secret will remain hidden.

Shane Lester
www.shanelesterbooks.com

See also our articles: UFO Full Disclosure: We Can’t Handle The Truth Ex-Pilots Call On The U.S. Government To Re-Open UFO Files Are We Ready To Communicate With Advanced Alien Civilizations? Airships over New England in Early 1900s UFO over Edwards AFB, California, 1957 More UFO Sightings