I have to admit that I am like just about everyone else out there. When I feel like something, or someone I love is attacked, I want to defend. It is no different when wanting to defend my own religion. When I was in high school, I distinctly remember sitting around with a handful of friends and the subject of religion came up. I grew up in Texas, so when it came to religion, I was always the minority. In a school of 2500 students, there were only a handful of us, maybe 5 or 6, that were LDS. So, I was used to having to explain what I believe. Things haven’t changed that much since then. While we like to think we live in a more tolerant society, there will always be people that are ignorant, and stubborn in their views.
When that group of friends started asking me questions, it was brought up that they were taught in their church that mormons were part of a cult. When I first hear that word, I can’t help but attach a negative connotation to it. But, when I asked my friends what they meant by that, they explained that they were taught it meant an organized religion. I remember thinking, well, if that is your definition, then yes, I’m a member of a cult. But, I knew there was some negativity behind it on their part too. It was not just a nice way of saying that I belonged to an organized religion.
I like to think that being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is more respected now then it was 20 years ago or so when I had that conversation with my friends, but the fact of the matter is, that like with anything, if ignorance continues to be taught, then ignorance will carry on. Unfortunately, with the recent political debates for the republican nomination, once again the subject of Mitt Romney’s religion came up, and this same argument that we are members of a cult has surfaced once again. It just goes to show that in some places, this ignorance is still being taught.
I don’t feel the need to defend the fact that I am, indeed, a Christian. Anyone can go here to see what I believe. I guess I just feel the need to voice my sadness that there are so many people in this world that are unwilling to learn. There are far too many people in this country, and in this world who make up their mind about someone or something, and refuse to hear anything that might contradict their narrow-mindedness. That makes me sad. It is OK to have beliefs that contradict someone else’s, but at least be willing to be open to hearing another point of view.
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October 2011 General Conference-
Elaine S. Dalton Address