As far as what sort of system God would 'put up'...it all depends upon the eye of the beholder...doesn't it?

According to the Hebrews....they were God's chosen people...the people of the Covenant.

There was little room in their philosophies to provide for what the Gentiles might think or might believe.

According to the Hebrews, God commanded them, through Moses, to slaughter entire populations of Gentiles...so that the Hebrews might 'inherit' their lands, and their possessions.

According to the current descendants of Ishmael...God will either utterly destroy, or command the faithful to utterly destroy whoever fails to convert to the 'true faith of God'.

People have differing beliefs regarding God's commandments, and His will for His children.

But no man can be entirely sure until such day as he leaves this existence and stands in the presence of God.

Hope you're having fun in Canada LR. Let me clarify. . .When I said "We're not like everyone else", I meant the LDS church's tenets about who can enter the temple, not us as a group of people. Sorry that wasn't clear.

Life Rocks wrote:
I'm currently visiting my sisters in Canada. This morning i was helping my one sister with some chores around her home (both she and her husband just can't climb ladders like they used to)and a man came out of the house next door wearing one of those turbin style wraps on his head.

I went over and introduced myself and asked where he was from, the significance of the turbin etc etc. He told me he was of the Sikh faith and so I asked him, "If your daughter or son were to marry and they had friends who were not Sikhs would they be permitted to attend the wedding." He said, "Of course".

So far other world religions 5 Mormons 0 in case anyone's counting.

I knew Cree-L personally before he became a General Authority. He was a high powered attorney in Pasadena, was the Stake Pres. in Pasadena stake, then a patriarch, before becoming a General Authority. Nice guy...and certainly he is entitled to his opinion. I no doubt expect that he and I wouldn't agree on a number of topics any longer. The only topics we ever talked about were Church related.

Given the reputation of attorneys in society I never understood why so many people in the Church aspired to that career choice.

I had come back to add the information about the Sikhs and when see the level of disrespect that this has declined to, frankly it troubles me and it confirms my opinion about religion. Disagree all you want but as Latter-day Saints, or Christians ought you not show some respect for each other? I thought everyone was suppose to be a Child of God, a brother or sister? part of the human family?

We may disagree vehemently. Just like those who fight in the wars feel there's some sacred cloth the flag's made from. Other's feel it's their sacred right to voice whatever opinion that comes into their heads.

That's why i prefer to focus on what we have in common as human beings. We come into this world so pure and innocent and then our parents and families and Churchs and schools and governments and societies and the media all distort our views and our sensibilities. Someone makes up some rule...this government started with no tax at all and now it feels it has every right to take as much of our income as it pleases and no one says anything or at least does anything about it. Who decided that they could intrude this much into our lives?

A religion makes up some doctrine or policy that disappoints so many people and those who are members say, "It's our right to believe as we want" and "we're right and you're wrong" (even though it's not you who brought these children into the world, raised and fed them, educated them.

Another human being would recognize my place as a father to participate with my children in their weddings.

A religious zealot would not.

I get tremendous support outside the Church.
People outside the Church control the government and media.

If the Church won't reply in a favourable manner I'll get redress from those who will listen.

And again,I thank all those who have taken the time to comment whether we agree or not.
It seems to be that you are getting to be a bit obsessed with this.

You need to remember that YOU had a part in raising your Children in a faith that you no longer believe in.

The LDS Church requires that anyone entering the temple have a recommend from their bishop attesting to their worthiness to enter this Holy Place.

If that policy were to be changed, then the sacred nature of the wedding itself would be indelibly altered.

94% of temple marriages are successful, in a society where over half of the marriages end in divorce. Although you were not able to attend your daughter's wedding, you probably won't have to attend another one, at least for her.

There is an excellent article on this topic at
http://www.adherents.com/largecom/lds_marriage.html.

Jaye wrote:

"However...after reading what you've written about your father...I can understand your perceptions when it comes to discussions with 'old men'."

Well, Jaye, just so you know, you're having a discussion with an "old woman". I'm 51, but I think (although I may be wrong) that you're a LITTLE older than I.

Girl Raised in the South wrote:
Jaye wrote:

"However...after reading what you've written about your father...I can understand your perceptions when it comes to discussions with 'old men'."

Well, Jaye, just so you know, you're having a discussion with an "old woman". I'm 51, but I think (although I may be wrong) that you're a LITTLE older than I.

My comment was not meant to convey that you were a little girl, an adolescent, a teenager, or a young woman.

It was meant to convey that your remarks about your father were enlightening.

His behavior during your discussions obviously affected you at the time you experienced it. And sometimes what affects us adversely as children can still have it's affects upon us even when we approach middle age.

That's all I meant by my remark.