Oh, Miss Ferly, I fully understand. And I find your answer most revealing. You say at first "I have no desire to become a Mormon or believe in anything that the Mormon faith has to offer." But then you add, "We allow whoever wants to come and worship God to come and worship (in other words, EVERYONE is welcome). We don't steal 10% of our congregations wages. We don't exclude other people from entering the church if they are not Baptist. We don't believe in modern day "prophets". We don't believe people are evil if they practice another religion (only God can judge)." We come to invite you to check out our religion. Close to 60,000 missionaries come, most of them for two full years, paying their own way (the Church does not support them monetarily), to bring you what we believe is the original gospel taught by Jesus Christ. "EVERYONE is welcome" at your church? Why, not only is EVERYONE welcome at OUR church, but we come to your door to give you a personal in-person invitation to come!!! We exclude no one! No one "steals" 10% of any portion of anyone's money in our Church. We do require tithing, as a prerequisite to 'be worthy' for, among other things, to receive a temple recommend. But, then again, that is what 'tithing' as taught in the Bible means - 10%. There is no IRS or any such institution in the LDS faith. We know that you do not "believe in modern day prophets". Which 'traditional Christians' do? (None that I am aware of). But then again, we are NOT 'traditional Christians'. Oh, we ARE Christian to be sure. We believe that only in and through Jesus Christ can we, you or anyone be saved. We believe that he is our advocate with the Father, our Redeemer, Alpha and Omega, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh, the only perfect being to live on the earth. And we come to you and the whole world to gladly declare that the heavens are open again. That God again speaks to mankind, as Amos, a prophet of the Bible boldly declared— "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Bible | Amos 3:7) God spoke to Noah in his time. He commanded Noah to build an ark. But Abraham didn't need to build an ark in his time. But God appeared unto him, and gave him commandments to fit his needs and his situation. Then more than half a millennia later, God spoke to Moses. God had already declared his word to Noah and to Abraham. But that was insufficient to meet the needs of Moses and the people of Israel in his day. You may think that "Mormonism" (a name given by others to us, and not given to us by ourselves) has nothing for you. But, perhaps you are not as welcoming as you claim. 2,000 years ago, some other groups of religious people thought they had God's true religion too. And then someone came and upset the 'apple cart', so to speak. His name was Joshua. They said to him, essentially, "Noah we know, and Abraham we know, and Moses we know, but as for this fellow (Joshua), where did he come from?" Of course, "Joshua" was his name in Hebrew. In Greek, his name is Jesus. The religious people of Jesus' day also had their religious traditions. They believed it was the "real deal"—straight from God, pure as pure can be, etc, etc, etc. Sound familiar to you at all? It should. It is the position today of what I call neo-Pharisees and neo-Sadducees. These groups and others of close but varying beliefs disagree at times with and between each other. But what they, like Pontius Pilate and Herod agreed on (though they were at enmity between each other), is that this 'interloper', this charlatan, this annoyer, ought to be put to death. And so he was. And like the neo-Pharisees and neo-Sadducees of this day, they may disagree with each other, and often vehemently on many religious subjects. But what they DO agree on between themselves, and what DOES bring them together, is that these "Mormons" are absolutely and completely WRONG! What do "Mormons" say as to whether or not Baptists, or any other "-ists" are "wrong"? You said yourself, "...We don't believe people are evil if they practice another religion (only God can judge)..." I don't, we don't say that you or any other sect of Christianity is wrong. What we DO say and believe is that God declared the following in the "First Vision" received by the very young Joseph Smith Jr in 1820 when he was but age 14— "5 Some time in the second year after our removal to Manchester, there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division amongst the people, some crying, "Lo, here!" and others, "Lo, there!" Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist. 6 For, notwithstanding the great love which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion, and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy, who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling, in order to have everybody converted, as they were pleased to call it, let them join what sect they pleased; yet when the converts began to file off, some to one party and some to another, it was seen that the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more pretended than real; for a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued—priest contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that all their good feelings one for another, if they ever had any, were entirely lost in a strife of words and a contest about opinions. 7 I was at this time in my fifteenth year. My father's family was proselyted to the Presbyterian faith, and four of them joined that church, namely, my mother, Lucy; my brothers Hyrum and Samuel Harrison; and my sister Sophronia. 8 During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong. 9 My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others. 10 In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it? 11 While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 12 Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. 13 At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to "ask of God," concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture. 14 So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally. 15 After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. 16 But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. 17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! 18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join. 19 I was answered that I must join none of them, [u]for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof." 20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, "Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off." I then said to my mother, "I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true." It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?" (Pearl of Great Price | JS-History 1:5 - 20) WE have not said that other religions are WRONG— Jesus Christ has declared it! And he is God! (As you have said, HE can judge). You say that you accept ALL of ALL FAITHS. But, is Christ divided? And if it is, can it stand? Remember what Jesus himself declared— "22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. 30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (New Testament | Matthew 12:22 - 30) If God is the same "yesterday, today and forever", why does he not speak to mankind today as he did anciently? (via prophets and apostles)? Well, part of our message is— He does! Isn't that marvelous? God is not dead nor doth he sleep! He speaks! The heavens have been again opened. And the dispensation of the fullness of times is here! Why wouldn't you or anyone want to hear such "glad tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people"? The angel who declared that prophesy to the shepherds the night of Jesus' birth were not being merely poetic or euphemistic. This is the very reason why nearly 60,000 missionaries are going to all the world, literally, to bring this most happy news! Why don't you want to hear? Why won't you at least give them a chance? 1 WHO hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? (Old Testament | Isaiah 53:1) 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (New Testament | Romans 10:14 - 17) Again, on the one hand you claim to be "open". On the other hand, you adamantly declare that you are "closed" to any new word from God. To you the canon is closed. You are blind and deaf, but not because you CANnot see, but rather, because you WILL not see!