The Mormons...

Why so many bad experiences, we are not all bad. there are those of us who believe that everything is black and white and then there are others of us who believe that god wants us to have a little wiggle room from time to time. no one should be told that the choices they are making are wrong when they don't know the full extent of the circumstances. God gave us free agency as a way of being free to make our own decisions and then be held accountible whether for good or for bad. every religion has their good and bad about them it's up to you as individuals to discover just what they are.

Trojan Princess wrote:

Why so many bad experiences, we are not all bad. there are those of us who believe that everything is black and white and then there are others of us who believe that god wants us to have a little wiggle room from time to time. no one should be told that the choices they are making are wrong when they don't know the full extent of the circumstances. God gave us free agency as a way of being free to make our own decisions and then be held accountible whether for good or for bad. every religion has their good and bad about them it's up to you as individuals to discover just what they are.

Experiences are what we ourselves make of them. They certainly don`t make anyone else good or bad. In my case, my experience opened other doors, it was the path I had to take. Trojan Princess you are right, that everything is left upto us to respond in our innate right of freedom.

I agree with you 100% and as I continualy learn what my wiggle room is in life, I find that I do need to be tested on my openess towards other people and take them on a person by person evaluation, not all the time does one bad apple spoil the whole berrel you must look at each apple and pick the best of the bunch.
I've not had any \"Bad\" experence with the Mormons, it is with just some of the Ideals that I have a problem with, my three catagories for how a church body dictates how welcoming it is, Blacks, Women and Homosexuals.
Finaly after the 60's Blacks are invited, women well it still needs work and Homosexuals even more work.
I have no doubt that in time (not today as I keep my mind in the here and now) the LDS church will welcome all, I know this because a lot of the youth that my partner has come in contact with have been asking a lot of qhy questions and that is when you know a church is starting to grow up when it is not afraid to ask why.
Why should we keep X,Y and Z out, what does it serve in worshiping the lord, is the message and good news for everyone who wants to hear it.
Free will, yes Trojan Princess we all have it and that is why we have the ability evolve beyond our phobias and sexism.
On a side note I am enjoying reading all the points of view on this subject as it helps me a lot to being true to the force a Jedi of the light.
MTFBWY

In my travels, I have learned several things about the Mormon faith.

I have found Mormons to be more devout in their beliefs and standards then other christian faiths, which I find commendable.

I have found Mormons to be less then receptive to other ideas, which is very commen in the christian faiths.

I am a christian, and while I do not believe in the book of Mormon, just as I do not believe in the Koran, I respect it as a holy book because Mormons respect it as a holy book.

While I have philosophical and doctrinal differences with the Mormon faith, as I do with most christian faiths, I see the underlying principles of Christianity. The belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the acknowledgement of his crucifiction as a sacrifice for the sins of man.

At the roots of the faith, I can agree that they are part of the christian community, and not a cult as many believe. And for that, I respect them and their faith.

Before I say anything, it is my opinion that anyone who with a true heart put their trust in Jesus Christ is a Christian. It is also my experience that no Chruch (with no exceptions) is free from exclusiveness nor inclusiveness. To compare one Church with another and put them on an evaluation scale is to do great injustice to its members.
One reason I can think of why for example the Christian Church of the Latter Day Saints is not accepted by the other Christian Churches is because the latter have only the Bible as a written source of revelation whereas the prior has the Bible and the Book of Mormon. This does make a difference as far as communality is concerned.

I feel that mormons are one of the most devoted groups to God. I once dated a mormon, and although she was not active in the church, I could honestly say that she at her spiritual lowest was higher than I was at one of my highest. I love the mormon faith and have in the past sharply defended it from anybody who dared to say that mormons aren't christians. I also get upset when \"polygamy\" and \"mormon\" are used together. Polygamy is no more in the church and people need to understand this.