It was good to finally start to see some information shared about the Morman religion, although soft from a reporting viewpoint. It is a start in educating the public on the potential pitfalls that could be evident with a Mormon president. There are many sides to this religion, some of which destroy peoples's lives. More needs to come out regarding the rigidness and controlling principles of this organization. If you ever want to leave this religion check out the stories in the Morman Recovery wesite. Hopefully people are somewhat nervous with the possibility of a Morman president. Thank you for beginning to inform us.

There has been much talk lately about Mormons, who they are and what they believe. As someone who is Mormon, I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss my own beliefs so that you may know what I personally believe and not rely on someone else who doesn’t know me and is either ill-informed, biased, or knows little to nothing regarding what I actually believe. https://www.facebook.com/hunter.swift/posts/10151004708375754

Continued from below: As an LDS woman I relate to righteous priesthood holders as a colleague, all of us striving to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Christ. Actually, I find that righteous men tend to hold good women somewhat in awe, and to rely on their inspiration and counsel. Men who do otherwise haven't figured it out yet. Women who feel otherwise likely have been listening to the wrong voices.

Remember Moses? Omitted from the report was the foundational fact that Heavenly Father AND Jesus Christ came to Joseph Smith and appointed him to begin the work of preparing the world for the Second Coming. Christ and angelic messengers came again many times to teach him. Many subsequent Prophets of the Church have had similar experiences. Most of the millions of members today have received personal revelation in their hearts and in their minds confirming these truths, repeatedly reaffirmed by a wide variety of experiences. As one result, we see and understand a bigger picture of life, which makes sense of both history and human nature. Leave out the revelation and it would be just another Christian faith. Teachings and understandings of Christianity were lost from Christ's Gospel with the deaths of the Apostles and those to whom they had given the priesthood authority to lead the church which Christ established. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("saints" meaning church members, as used in Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Phillip and Peter; NOT exalted, deified persons) is Christ's RESTORED church. We are not dissuaded from our beliefs by rhetoric or demands when such God-given spiritual experiences are burned into our hearts and minds. As to priesthood, most non-Mormons, as well as LDS feminists, are hung up on the idea of "power", not realizing that Mormons define power differently than does the rest of the world. Our power consists of responsibility to serve God and humanity, and when we are filled with the desire to do so without motives of pride, ambition or domination, the true power of God operates through us (male OR female) to accomplish His purposes. In this context women experience all of the spiritual gifts described in scripture, as do men who are true to their priesthood. Priesthood denotes specific responsibilities, NOT a reward of "rank" or "promotion" as so many people seem to presume. As an LDS woman I relate to righteous priesthood ho

People have to remember that priesthood is not a paid position. It's unpaid work and no priesthood holder can use his priesthood on himself. If my husband needs a healing blessing, he has to get it from someone else. He can't give it to himself. I can receive every blessing he can give and so can he. When my husband and I started a new business, he insisted I be president because I'm the visionary. I divided up the work, but although I'm the president, the company would fail without his part of the work and his talents. We have different talents, but they're equally important. When it comes down to it, I think his are more important because he can code the website database and sell. I can't sell and if you can't sell you have no business. In the same way, my husband and I have different roles in God's kingdom, but both roles matter equally. Power and leadership are not the same thing. All Mormons answer ultimately to God, who sets the doctrine--not the mortal leaders. Every role is just another way to serve God. I don't care how I serve--just so I can.

The idea of the Priesthood is a tricky one to explain to those with feminist attitudes. Yes, having the Priesthood is a "privilege," but in the same way the ability to bear children is a "privilege." It's often said in the church that women aren't given the Priesthood because they "don't need it." Women are considered born with all their rights to perform duties. It's also worth mentioning that it's taught men need to be living their lives in such a way that they are "worthy" of their Priesthood in order for that authority to be valid, and no such thing is said of the women. What it amounts to is essentially men with the Priesthood are given the right to perform certain ordinances such as baptisms and giving blessings. Everyone is free to these things, they just need to ask, and it's considered a priesthood holder's duty to be available to serve individuals with needs in these manners. It's very much about service. It's certainly nothing like women must always cook dinner and do what the man says, or anything of the sort. I personally feel as though the LDS church grants a tremendous deal of respect towards women, and I believe most of the women in the church feel the same.