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Just ordered my copy. I'm looking forward to this discussion.

I started reading last night. Nice to see you joining this one Suzanne. So far 9 people have said they're going to participate so this might be a discussion in which to get the author involved.

Just downloaded the Kindle edition. Will probably start on it tomorrow.

I have now read the Introduction, and offer the following personal note:

About forty years ago, I loaded my wife and son into our car and went to Salt Lake City to work as a government (federal) attorney. I visited Temple Square, and saw the 'official' versions of how the LDS church came into being. I also met many Mormons, and some Jack-Mormons (an individual who came from a Mormon family, but did not follow the faith). I found them as individuals to be friendly, hard-working, and very intent on converting us. I did find some books that were less than favorable to the LDS church and its adhrents. I am sure much of this will be discussed later in the book.

Before I move on to Chapter 1, a couple more personal observations based on my time in "Zion" (Salt Lake City). Naturally the largest denomination were the Mormons, second were the Roman Catholics, and to my surprise, the third largest group was the Greek Orthodox Church.

Officially, Mormons do not smoke, or drink alcoholic beverages, or anything with caffeine (coffee, tea, even Coca-Cola). But they do love their sweets. For its size, I think Salt Lake City has more bakeries and cany stores than any city I have been lived in or visited.

One question before I move on. Has anyone besides Chris and myself had more than a possing connection with the Mormons? If so, please leave a post.

when i think of mormons i cannot help but remember

Tal Bachman, son of Randy Bachman, Tal slipped the chains and made off a free man.

Orson Scott Card, i enjoyed reading "enders game" recently and cracked up when i looked up the author only to find he was a mormon in hot water over a position against gay marriage i think it was. Made me laugh to contrast the controversy with the fact that i had enjoyed the book completely oblivious to all the goings on.

Brandon Flowers, lead singer of the Killers, i just love their stuff!

it's funny how these three are just great fun whether they are mormons or not.

sort of reminds me of Mark Heard who was a fantastic wordsmith but nonetheless a christian.

though i think these guys would rock in whatever sub-culture they happened to spring up in.

you can't keep a good man down

I knew Card is a Mormon, but not the others. In one of his novels, I think it is "Folk of the Fringe," Card has a group of Mormons 'moving west.' As this is a post-apocalyptic novel, I can't help wondering if this part was inspired by actual Mormon history.???

I remember also that the late Howard Hughes had a set of Mormon bodyguards; he supposedly liked the fact that they did not smoke of drink.

Religious opinions should be no more immune to discussion and criticism than scientific or political ones.

i like the cut of this writers jib already!

But other Mormons secretly go through life under tremendous pressures: pressure to conform, pressure to get married in the Temple, pressure to have lots of children, pressure to be the perfect wife/husband/child, pressure to be straight, pressure to squelch doubts, pressure to devote all their free time to the church, pressure to uphold...

this reminds me of all the other "voices" out there that seek to dominate the individual

mormonism is one example of a class it seems

ideologies that seek to impose outward conformity, to make merchandise of the individual, to supercede the individuals right to sovereignity over themselves.

i hate seeing individuals "under pressure" like that, i'm glad for every one who makes it out alive.

The simple fact that the LDS church, like every other religion on the planet, demands moral authority over any of us is more than enough reason to examine their claims about reality—and oppose them if they are wrong.