Exactly. What's sacred to one person should be respected by another, even if the two don't believe the same way. It breaks my heart when people deface synagogues, temples, and other places of worship. Why would someone do such a thing?

So true. When I visit mosques, I always wear a headscarf, take off my shoes, even if my religion doesn't demand that.
Of course, it doesn't mean that I don't protest about the way, people are mistreated in certain religions. But I always say, that's the individuals in there, not the religion. We've had plenty of scandals in the Catholic church but I wouldn't want to be judged by them.

Amen! Some horrific things have been done in the name of religion. It's absolutely our right, even our duty, to protest when religious beliefs get in the way of human rights. On the flip side, my ancestors came to America seeking religious freedom. They were able to find it in Utah, ONLY because earlier members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were driven out of the Eastern U.S. by violent mobs. They fled for their lives and many, MANY needless deaths occurred while those pioneers were crossing the country to get to Utah. Even today, every time my church opens a new temple or holds some kind of large public gathering (like the Easter Pageant in my city), people come out to protest the Church. I've never seen these protests turn violent, but they are disruptive. While I believe in the right to protest, I don't always understand it. What's the point of disrupting a peaceful gathering that people are attending of their own free will and where no one is being harmed just because you disagree with the church that is sponsoring it? I don't get that.

Also, yes, I think a lot of the problems that create scandals come from an individual who takes their religious beliefs to extremes. We've had our fair share as well!

Unfortunately, you are so right. I have read books about people who used the church for their own purpose and who made life for others a living hell. That's not what any church preaches.

I'm afraid, we will never stop people from thinking what they think but hopefully people will get more respectful one day.

I agree! I always take those kinds of accounts with a grain of salt. An insider's view from someone I trust is always the better choice.

One thing my church is excellent at is helping people. Not only is the Church involved in all kinds of humanitarian aid projects all over the world, but it also excels at serving "the one" as Jesus did. For example, something a lot of people might not know is that each active member of the Church is assigned to either a person (or several persons) or a family (or several families) to watch over. Another lady in my congregation and I are assigned to three women—we check in on them regularly and make sure they're doing okay. I also have two women who check in on me. The men are assigned to families. I love this as it ensures no one is forgotten :)

That is simply a wonderful approach to any community. I love that.

I find religion fascinating as well! Like I said to Sam, I especially like learning about it from insiders, not bitter ex-members.

And, yes, I really have been asked all those questions. Most of them were when I was younger (pre-Internet) and information wasn't as well disseminated as it is now.

When people talk about Mormon polygamy, they're referring either to practices that took place within the mainstream church in the 1800's or practices that take place now within fringe groups not associated with the mainstream Church.

I do have ancestors who practiced polygamy as instructed by the church in the 1800s, but that was a LOOOONNGGG time ago!