Is just anyone allowed to go into your temple for a service? No. Are your sacred ceremonies public. No. Can you be excommunicated from your family? Yes. If you don't tithe 10%, will you still be considered a Mormon. No. If you are not related by blood to one of the "9" or Joe himself... can you become a church leader. No. Do you believe there is just one savior and it is Jesus and Jesus alone. Sort of.
For these and so many other reasons, Mormons are a cult. They do not believe in Jesus in the same way other Christians do. They believe in Jesus the way that Terminator 3 was as good or better than the first 2-- which is to say they believe the sequel is just as good as the original.
The definition of a cult is a church that excludes members who do not rigidly adhere to doctrine, who are required to pay for salvation, where all of their "truth" will not be set down and dispensed from the get go for all to understand (so they can change the rules as they go), hold ceremonies only in private-- unable to be viewed by the public-- for members only. Scientology qualifies under this rubric also. Branch Davidians. Jim Jones. These are all qualities that they have in common, religions that are referred to as cults.
Mormon's are GREAT people, wonderful human beings, credit to their communities-- blond haired and blue eyed with generally perfect teeth (they have a dental plan)-- I know, I dated several in high school, right up until they figured out I was not Mormon. However, they have a truly insane religion, they are not as nice as they appear, they really ARE trying to convert your children, which is why their Churches are usually found very near public schools and are referred to as "recreation centers"... because INDOCTRINATION centers... would be pushing it. When I was discovered as not tithing, not 100% faithful, I was shunned by the people who had pretended to be my friend to try and convert me, coworkers refused to talk to me, classmates refused to work or talk with me, police were sent over to my house to tell me to stay away from them, the principal of my school called be into his office to give me a lecture about "stalking" my mormon girlfriend-- by my dating her when she asked me out. I lived in Mesa, AZ... where every street is named after one of the original founding Mormons.
I bear them no hatred, but advance them no trust. I came to know them and their religion well, and they are deserving of all the derision and more. If people knew more about the real history of the mormon church, I doubt the church would even still exist. I was told many of these secrets by one of the granddaughters of "the original 9" (Mormon Apostles, kind of). They believe that dark features of any kind are indications of the devil in you, which is why blacks were excluded for so long. It is also why they are nearly universally fair eyed, light haired, light skinned--- they seek to marry and breed with only the whitest of the white.
They are not evil, but they are dangerous. They mean well, but they will do you wrong. They are prosperous, but believe in nepotism above all else. They ar good people, but with very fatal flaws. Don't drink their "nice guy" coolaid: like a amoral salesman, they want a commission on bringing your soul and bringing your kids souls to the Mormon faith so they can become cosmic gods (part of the story they WON'T discuss until you mime a hari-kari style ritual making an oath to the church for life in 'magic' underwear-- yes, you heard me right).
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