http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7780619?source=rss
 
WASHINGTON - Presidential candidate Mitt Romney says in a videotaped
interview that he doesn't know that God has spoken to anyone since the
time of Moses.

The comment is in stark conflict to his Mormon faith that
believes God spoke to founder Joseph Smith and other church prophets
subsequently.

In the interview with Boston's WCVB, a reporter asks Romney
several questions about his faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, including how his faith would impact him if elected.

"Should God speak to you, and ask you to do something that might
be in conflict with your duties as president, or should He speak to
your prophet who would speak to you, how would you make that decision,
how would you handle that?" reporter Natalie Jacobsen asks.

Romney laughs and then replies, "Well, I don't recall God
speaking to me. I, I don't recall God speaking to anyone since, uh,
Moses and the [burning] bush, or perhaps some others, but, but I don't
have that frequent of communication."

The interview aired on the Boston station on Dec. 9 and was
offered to the 28 other stations nationwide owned by Hearst-Argyle
company.

Mormons believe in modern revelation and that the church's
prophet communicates with God, a belief that puts it at odds with
other mainstream Christian faiths. The faith was founded by Smith, who
said he had spoken to God and that an angel led him to brass plates
that became the Book of Mormon.

Asked about Romney's comment, campaign spokesman Kevin Madden
said Romney has said previously said he will not distance himself from
his faith and pointed to a passage in a speech Romney gave earlier
this month addressing his religion.

"Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any
other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on
presidential decisions," Romney said during the speech in College
Station, Texas.

"Their authority is theirs, within the province of church
affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin."
Madden did not address whether Romney believes in the Mormon
tenet that God communicates with the church's prophet, currently
Gordon. B Hinckley.