Maybe it strengthens it even more--being a Democrat remains a calling from God for the elect ;)

POINT #1 I think when we try to justify our politics, parenting style, recreation habits or anything else by comparing ourselves to another individual or family puts us on very shaky ground. While I have no reason to believe the Faust family is anything but stalwart, I think excusing one's own behavior or beliefs by comparison to what is publicly apparent in others is unwise

POINT #2 Even IF the Fausts were among a group that initially were assigned to register as Democrats, I do not believe that would give their descendants any obligation to hold to that party if they were opposed to it in any meaningful way. Brigham Young assigned many families to go settle in various places such as Mesa, Snowflake, Safford and other areas in Arizona, as well as tall hroughout Utah to get the area established. That did not imply that their children and grandchildren or great grandchildren couldn't move on to someplace else if they found the opportunity.

I believe Pres. Foust was far too intelligent and insightful to maintain a political party OR a religion simply out of family tradition. I believe he remained loyal both to the Gospel and to the Democratic Party because he reasoned each one out in his own mind and found they made sense to him.

While I have some issues of agreement with and some issues of opposition to BOTH the Republican and Democratic parties, I've long leaned more to the Democratic side. I had one Elder's Quorum President in a former ward tell me he didn't believe registered democrats should be allowed to have temple recommends. He was serious. Fortunately, he was not in a position to either issue or deny recommends. I was not offended, but I was astonished by the shortsightedness of that narrow view.

I absolutely believe it is quite possible to be a "good church member" and be strongly democratic.
I also believe you can be a "good church member" and be strongly republican. I think the important factor is to be reasonably informed, thoughtful and prayerful in all the choices we make of who or what to support or not support politically.

I think anyone who votes straight ticket of EITHER party is ignoring the words from D&C 130: 18: "The Glory of God is Intelligence." God gave us brains. He expects us to use them.

Some smart, well reasoned, righteous people will come to the conclusion that Republican candidates best represent them. Others will not. As for me and my house - we will continue to cancel each other out every four years.

I remember hearing of the same thing happening in Huntsville, Utah with the McKay family. David O. McKay's house was chosen to vote Republican, while Gunn McKay (a member of Congress representing Utah) was "made" a Democrat.