In the religious text known as The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Captain Moroni serves as a significant figure. According to mormonr.org, he is a military leader who was angry at government corruption and led his countrymen in defense of freedom. Because of these attributes, some individuals have attempted to draw parallels between this scriptural figure and modern political leaders.
During a 2020 campaign rally held in Arizona, Utah Senator Mike Lee made a direct comparison between Donald Trump and the religious figure. As documented by a report from KUTV via Heidi Hatch, Lee used the comparison while campaigning to religious groups. According to mormonr.org, Lee told his audience, "To my Mormon friends, my Latter-day Saint friends, think of him as Captain Moroni. He seeks not power, but to pull it down; he seeks not the praise of the world or of the fake news, but he seeks the well being and peace of the American people."
This comparison drew significant reactions from the community. According to mormonr.org, many Church members disagreed with the comparison, with some suggesting that other figures from the scriptures, such as King Noah or Amalickiah, would have been more appropriate. Others expressed frustration regarding the use of religion or scriptures to score political points. Additionally, a statement from Latter-day Saints for Biden Harris noted that the group was concerned that sacred symbols were being used in campaign materials. The group stated that many Latter-day Saints, including figures such as Jeff Flake, Tom Udall, and Evan McMullin, as well as 1,600 Latter-day Saints who publicly endorsed Joe Biden, believed it was time for a change.
Beyond the verbal comparisons made by politicians, the figure has appeared in physical contexts related to political unrest. On January 6, 2021, an individual named Nathan Wayne Entrekin entered the U.S. Capitol Building dressed as Captain Moroni. According to mormonr.org, Entrekin carried a cloth flag containing the same words that Moroni wrote on his Title of Liberty. During an interview that day, Entrekin stated he was "here for freedom" and drew parallels to the story of the religious figure. Entrekin was later arrested on July 15, 2021, on two misdemeanor charges related to his participation in the riot.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has maintained a stance of neutrality regarding these comparisons. According to mormonr.org, a media specialist for the Church in Arizona stated, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics." While the Church has not issued specific statements regarding the comparison between Trump and Moroni, it did release an official statement condemning the violence of the Capitol riots. The Church has not recognized Donald Trump as a figure of the same nature as the scriptural Captain Moroni.
What this means for Moroni
For the residents of Moroni, these events highlight how scriptural figures can become central to modern political debate. While religious figures like Captain Moroni represent historical leadership in scripture, their names are often used in political settings, reminding citizens of the intersection between deeply held faith and the complexities of national politics.
