Commanded to Caucus?

Two years ago, the LDS Church came with strong counsel to participate in the local precinct caucuses of the party of our choice.  I was already planning to go as I have in the past, but it was that time two years ago that our precinct, by acclamation (all three of us), sent me to the County Convention and on to the State. It was fun!

While the church has been pushing civic participation a little stronger this year, yesterday it got about as strong as it could be.

In Sacrament meeting, a high councilor reread the letter from the First Presidency , emphasized political neutrality for the church, said that the Stake President had been on a teleconference with the First Presidency about this, and informed that the entire Stake Presidency and High Council made commitments to attend a caucus (he didn't say which). He then read the location and times of the Democratic and Republican Caucuses and named a bunch of other parties, Constitution, Libertarian, Green (and then I missed a few), and said that information on their meetings could be found on the web. Finally, he read D&C 1:38:

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants

Good Grief! (I was actually tempted by stronger language as in "Oh, my Heck!") The High Councilor never used the word "commandment," but the scripture rather clinched it.

I'm faithful and optimistic enough to take them at their word that we really should and could attend the party caucus of our choice and that this is not some cynical plot to save Orrin Hatch from the the tea party. But that's not my caucus to worry about anyway.

The best part is a friend in the ward already asked if I would take him to the Democratic caucus. No, wait. The really best part was that when the High Councilor was reading his "counsel", my wife whispered to me, "That's it. I'm changing parties." She was rather annoyed last time by the endless rounds of voting among 90 attendees at her party caucus until the tea partiers wore down the others. Hopefully ours will remain much simpler. But it will be interesting to see if any more show up. As party precinct chair, I did get a list of voters registered with our party. There were a few names I recognized but I haven't blown their cover- yet.