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“We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” |
The first part of this “claim” is true. The LDS people have endured horrendous persecutions, loss of property, rape, and murder because of their beliefs so this article of faith is supposed to be saying,
“We let you believe what you want, please allow us the same privilege.
But, unfortunately, at least here in Utah, the LDS people are the most intolerant people of anyone that doesn’t subscribe to the “culture”.
Our culture is ultra intolerant of any belief or anyone that does not live up to what “I” am doing. There is much too much elitism in the culture to allow this article of faith to be true. There is so much intolerance. Everyone runs around feeling like God loves ME so much, that is why I am so blessed. If only everyone could live their life like ME…
At the same time, there is a fear that we don’t measure up. It is hard to explain or understand how there can be such extreme, conflicting feelings. We feel like we are so blessed but at the same time, there is so much fear we won’t “make it” to the Celestial Kingdom. There is no doubt with most of us that God loves us, simply because we have the gospel and d we hear in church how we are the only ones in the world that are truly happy because we are the only ones that have the only true gospel. (It’s true, we believe the rest of the world is running around in a depressive fog waiting for us to bring them the word, even though Utah has the BIGGEST use of prescriptive anti-DEPRESSANT drug use in the world! As well as prescription drug abuse)
The church claims to be the ONLY true church and therefore, how much God must love ME because I am one of the few Mormons in the world. Yet, being blessed to be a part of the only true church brings a heavy burden. So, on one hand, we can feel so blessed and loved that God wanted ME, loved ME so much, he “led” me to his truth and then there is the pressure to run faster than you are able.
Intolerance: The state recently decided to close about 13 of it’s state run/state guarded/church-goer legislators restricted liquor stores.
They said they needed to trim 2.5 million out the budget.
5 of the closing stores earn the state on average, 1 million each. That is a 5 million dollar loss of state revenue so they can save 2.5 million.
(One report claims the stores earn the state 18.4 million dollars each year but it is not clear whether this is from the 5 largest stores set to close, or all 13).
A normal, non-mormon person would say, “that doesn’t make sense” but the “We claim the privilege” people saw their chance to eliminate a thorn in their side. They don’t drink, therefore they have always and continue to make it as hard as possible for anyone else to. Now, Utah County will have 2 stores. Not in either of the 2 biggest cities in the county.
Out of state visitors will think Utah County is a dry county. What tourist comes to Springville and Pleasant Grove????? What tourist is going to be able to find a liquor store?
Visitors already fear coming to Utah; they are already under the impression you can’t get a drink here. The state pours so much money into attracting tourism and commerce to this state, then they go and do something this stupid.
There is no logical reason for this decision, “lets cut off the states ability to earn OVER 5 – 18 million dollars so we can save ourselves 2.5.”
No logical reason except that Mormons are intolerant of other’s beliefs and practices. The whole world drinks but in Utah, by golly, you will see how great being dry can be, just like us, and then, you’ll get baptized!
