Everyone should have religious freedom. People should be able to worship as they choose. Our nation was founded on religious freedom. Now it is under attack and we must fight to preserve it.
In the early days of the Church, the prophet Joseph Smith said this:
"If it has been demonstrated that I have been willing to die for a "Mormon," I am bold to declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves. It is a love of liberty which inspires my soul — civil and religious liberty to the whole of the human race." —Joseph Smith, 1843Elder Robert D. Hales said:
"There are four cornerstones of religious freedom that we as Latter-day Saints must rely upon and protect.
"The first is freedom to believe. No one should be criticized, persecuted, or attacked by individuals, or governments either, for what he or she believes about God."...
"The second cornerstone of religious liberty is the freedom to share our faith and our beliefs with others."...
"The third cornerstone of religious liberty is the freedom to form a religious organization, a church, to worship peacefully with others."...
"The fourth cornerstone of religious liberty is the freedom to live our faith—free exercise of faith not just in the home and chapel but also in public places."...
"Some are offended when we bring our religion into the public square, yet the same people who insist that their viewpoints and actions be tolerated in society are often very slow to give that same tolerance to religious believers who also wish their viewpoints and actions to be tolerated. The general lack of respect for religious viewpoints is quickly devolving into social and political intolerance for religious people and institutions."...
"As disciples of Jesus Christ we have a responsibility to work together with like-minded believers, to raise our voices for what is right." -- Robert D. Hales, "Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom", April 2015 General ConferenceEverybody should be able to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience. Not only is it essential to democracy but it is also essential for our own salvation.
This is the reality of what the LDS church believes about people of other beliefs. As other churches bash other religions from their pulpits--you will never see that happening from the LDS church itself. That is why your series is awesome. It helps others understand what the church really believes, teaches and what members SHOULD be living. A lot of people judge the church based off what they see people doing or not doing--rather than what the doctrine and beliefs of the church actually are.
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