What a stupid,pathetic question.

You sure sound like a good follower of Christ

friedel,

I asked an almost Zionist American-Jewish friend of mine during a discussion about the million Israelis vs Americans and saving them. He admited he would choose to save the Israelis for what I would have to admit are a bunch of really rational good reasons but not in MY best interest.

This guy was smart enough to grow up and be president one day.

I feel like a McCarthyite, all dirty, but since he admited that I've felt kind of disturbed about the whole Middle-East thing and about highly tight-knitted communities such as the Mormons. Fair, unfair, whatever. It is what it is.

Not an ounce of hate dude.

Practicing Mormon here. Most of us end up practicing our oaths in fairly innocuous ways. Time: 1.5 - 2 years of a mission, plus time spent in our various church callings (assignments like teaching, cub scouts, etc.), plus regular church attendance. Talents: if we are good at something, we use it to help others. Anything else: we pay 10% of our income as tithing, plus parents often fund the missions of their children. We also believe in having as many children as we can, and bringing them up in the faith. That about does it. We are supposed to try and bring others into our faith, but most of us avoid it for reasons that are obvious to anyone who reads this thread. To be honest, most of worry that we don't do enough to really qualify for heavenly rewards.

The real problem you have is an individuals RIGHT, to worship as they want. It is not about SECRET Oaths. What are you really afraid of if you don't believe in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mormon?

I could not even stumach finishing this post of yours. It is filled will misunderstanding and complete falsehood about the church. Mixed with this is a hostility towards anyone who would disagree with your opinion (which is exactly what is is, and nothing more).

While I agree that using simpathy is a low move, that is not the intention of most people who mention the persecutio of the church (which was in no way justified by the law of this country). I have only seen it brought into the discussion when we are accused of being violent (which cannot be truly substanstiated). It is a simple comparrison. We were violently, and unjustly, expelled from three different states where we legally purchased land. Dispite this fact people harp on the romours of violence in the church, or those acts of violence which were condemned by the church.

From the amount I read of your post you are not interested in a serious discussion of anything dealing with the LDS church, regardless of any proof that can be offered. You hae your opinions, and instead of proving them, or even attempting to, you simply tell everyone that they might as well not try to have a civilized discussion, as you refuse to listen. I know few people who would wish to enter any conversation with one of this attitude.

Having said this, I end my post hoping we can all get along in a nation that allows us to believe any doctrine, no matter how silly or strange. Thank you.