Which prominent LDS members collaborate with Turning Point USA?
Executive summary
Reporting in the Salt Lake Tribune shows that some Latter-day Saint (LDS) individuals and local conservative activists have worked with Turning Point USA or supported its campaigns — notably Tyler Bowyer and other local operatives in Arizona political fights — but the sources do not list a comprehensive roster of “prominent LDS members” who formally collaborate with Turning Point USA (reporting focuses on local activists and shared issue alliances) [1] [2].
1. What the reporting actually documents: local activists and issue alliances
Salt Lake Tribune reporting describes Latter-day Saints and evangelical conservatives who “work with” or are aligned with Turning Point USA on social issues such as family policy and opposition to LGBTQ+ ordinances; the stories highlight individual activists — for example, Tyler Bowyer is repeatedly named as a Turning Point figure active in Arizona politics — rather than a roster of nationally prominent LDS leaders formally partnering with the group [1] [2].
2. Examples cited in the stories: Tyler Bowyer and Arizona organizing
The Arizona coverage names Tyler Bowyer as a Turning Point operative who celebrated recalls and was involved with get-out-the-vote efforts; the pieces connect Bowyer and other Turning Point supporters to campaigns against an LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination ordinance and to a recall effort in Mesa, Arizona [2]. The Tribune reports Bowyer’s public social-media posts celebrating a recall win and notes Turning Point’s local organizing and messaging tactics [2].
3. How sources frame LDS involvement: shared goals, not doctrinal unity
The Salt Lake Tribune frames cooperation as pragmatic and values-based: a Mormon activist quoted (Bowyer, in the Tribune piece) argues Turning Point’s work “is super aligned with the fundamental foundation of the LDS faith,” citing shared priorities like family and “Christ-centered focus,” while the story also underscores “very clear doctrinal differences” between Latter-day Saints and evangelical Turning Point allies [1]. That framing shows alliance along political and social lines rather than theological merger [1].
4. What the reporting does not show: no list of nationally prominent LDS collaborators
Available sources do not mention a formal list of prominent national LDS political figures or general authorities working with Turning Point USA. The coverage concentrates on local activism, issue campaigns, and individual operatives — not formal endorsements from Church leadership or a roster of well-known Mormon public figures allied with Turning Point [1] [2].
5. Competing perspectives and potential agendas in the coverage
The Tribune presents two competing points: activists claim ideological alignment and practical usefulness of Turning Point’s organizing skills, while the reporting also highlights tensions between LDS doctrine and evangelical politics. The emphasis on local political wins (recalls, municipal fights) could reflect the paper’s interest in political consequences, while Turning Point allies emphasize victories and mobilization — an implicit agenda to portray effectiveness for conservative causes [1] [2].
6. Limitations of available reporting and unanswered questions
Current reporting is limited to local examples and issue-focused alliances; it does not address whether Turning Point USA has a formal outreach program targeted at Mormons, whether national LDS public figures work with the group, or whether any Church institutionally endorses such collaborations — those points are not found in current reporting [1] [2]. The sources also do not provide membership lists, formal partnership agreements, or national financial ties between Turning Point and named LDS leaders [1] [2].
7. How to interpret “collaboration” in this context
Based on the Tribune’s coverage, “collaboration” appears to mean shared campaigning, local organizing, and mutual support on specific policy fights rather than formal, high-level partnerships. Activists publicly celebrating electoral or recall outcomes and Turning Point’s role in get-out-the-vote operations are concrete examples of that practical cooperation [2] [1].
8. What a reader should watch for next
Follow-up reporting should seek confirmation beyond local anecdote: look for named national figures, documented organizational ties or donations, or public statements by Turning Point or LDS institutional leaders. The current corpus provides snapshots of local alignment and controversy but does not substantiate widespread, formal collaboration between nationally prominent LDS figures and Turning Point USA [1] [2].