When it comes to the controversial mixing of religion and politics in the LDS world, much of the discussion has focused on national campaigns and high-profile ballot initiatives.

But perhaps we should be more concerned by how some in our church may be using their membership to influence local elections.

This problem only recently came to my attention when I heard about a vicious e-mail circulating around a Utah County town, attacking one of the mayoral candidates there. I obtained a copy of the e-mail -- which, of course, was written anonymously -- and the more I read, the more disappointed I became.

The writer, apparently bent on destroying this candidate's political and personal reputation, clearly knew he or she was writing for an LDS audience.

"I have information that I have been holding inside of me and it has been eating me alive," he or she writes. "I spoke to my church leader on Sunday without mentioning details or names and he suggested that I confront the issue."

The e-mail, which weighs in at almost 2,000 words, is peppered with manipulative phraseology like this, clearly designed to appeal to the active Mormon voter. In national politics, strategists and speechwriters carefully consider their language in an effort to influence specific demographics. Apparently, this writer is well-versed in such techniques.

The "concerns" listed in the e-mail include:

• Attacks on the candidate's family life and marriage, and claims that if elected, she would neglect her children and let mayoral responsibilities overshadow her maternal duties 
• Charges that the candidate is struggling financially, with implications that she has been irresponsible with her money
• Allegations that the candidate is exploiting the poor and elderly
  

What's more, one of the e-mail's recipients, confused by how she would have landed on this contact list, began asking around her ward and discovered that many on her congregation's e-mail list had received the same unprovoked e-mail. Is it possible that this anonymous writer went so far as to use ward lists to circulate the nasty attacks?

I haven't followed the elections in question, so I can't speculate as to whether the claims in the e-mail are true, nor will I pass judgment on the writer's intentions (though it is clear in the e-mail that he or she knows the candidate personally and they recently had a falling-out.)

What I take issue with is the blatant exploitation of a religious community in order to harpoon a local political candidate. Heaven knows, exploiting religion is practically standard practice on both sides of the aisle in the national arena. But can we, as Latter-day Saints, really justify exploiting our own faith in order to win an election?

Local politics can easily become petty and gossipy, destroying long-time friendships and dividing neighbors. But if we are the saints-in-progress we claim to be, we should do everything we can to rise above the status quo.

Otherwise, we forfeit our right to complain about the nastiness of politics.