Mormons at it again

[marshlander]

why do these people always spout their beliefs when their always in large groups = get a mob behind them and they think they can dictate

To be honest I am not sure that would make much difference. Mormons are taught from the cradle to "Choose The Right" and standing up for their principles and "standards" comes into that. Kids are encouraged to stand up and "bear their testimonies" in front of the whole congregation and that self-hypnosis continues throughout life. Some people are more articulate than others, but they will still have the same glaze in the eye when the thinking switches off and the indoctrination kicks in.

Marsh - i remember you once said in a chat or thread that along the lines of its so much easier to come out as gay now than when u were younger.... that is happening now on a global scale too, it is pretty much accepted now amongs the younger generation - these mormans et all are a dying breed clinging on to their outdated rules, the majority will always win in the end and eventually they will fall silent or prob turn their attention to abusing another groups freedoms

It's a classic case of the bullies screaming the loudest (anyone hear the Pope recently?). They are immensely proud of their pioneer past and no one can doubt the determination, ingenuity and industry required to build their cities out of swamps and, particularly, deserts. They set great store by being a people that has developed into a mighty force for good despite years of persecution by the gentiles that surrounded them in the nineteenth century. They have rewritten history, though, to miss out the bits where the founder, Joseph Smith was a convicted con artist who spent much of his time thinking up his next scheme for parting his neighbours from their money. Ask a Mormon how many wives "the prophet" had and they won't have a clue (one legally and thirty-three others as it happens). Nor will they know how he acquired them. They will not be aware that polygamy was actually illegal at the time it was common practice or that Smith sent men away on "missions" and "married" their wives in their absence, much to the disgust of his only legal wife, Emma. Such a charmer was he that many of these women's journals and letters tell of him saying that there was a spiritual sword hanging over his head which was ready to strike him dead if they turned down his advances. They talk about Smith's death as a martyrdom, but historical record (which Mormons are discouraged from reading on pain of excommunication) suggests that the mob that attacked the prison in Carthage in which he was being held prisoner consisted in large part of people who had lost all their savings in the collapse of an illegal bank Smith had set up.

Yes, the trek across the plains was an incredible undertaking, but one that resulted in devastating loss of life. A living God with a living prophet as his spokesman would never have allowed people to undertake some of the most hazardous parts of that journey in the floods of winter. You'll see a few puzzled looks if you mention "Mountain Meadows" to them too. More up to date, before gay-bashing became their political cause of choice they denied men of African ancestry access to their priesthood (women have never been considered in the running). God (eternal and unchangeable as he is) decided in 1978 that "every worthy male can hold the priesthood" as revealed to the then prophet and president, Spencer W. Kimball. It was probably coincidental that the church was going to face the prospect of crippling financial penalties for breaking equality laws ... Their next political target was women, again when faced with pro-choice and equality legislation, but again the tide was against them and they lost that call. Naturally, we are much tinier proportion of the population, so until there is binding legislation concerning equality for lgbt people we are a pretty good target.

Considering the way in which the church is embedded in Utahn life I don't see it falling any time soon. Try getting a job if you don't have a "temple recommend" to flash your prospective employer. In the meantime suicide and homelessness are too common a consequence of being gay among good Latter-day Saints.