I am a Mormon.

Who are the Mormons? Are they crazy people with horns and multiple mothers/wives that worship some man?

I don't know. Am I? For all of you that grew up with me, went to school with me, were my best friend, and have participated in plays and community service with me, do I fit the description you've been presented?

Do I?

How many of you know without a doubt that I am a Christian? That I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that He atoned for my sins?  How many of you know that I am a good person, or at least I try to be in every way?

How many of you have seen me do something kind, without any personal gain or reward?

Hopefully all of you.

How many of you have genuinely seen me do something cruel or undermining?

None of you.  Because that's not who I am.  Why am I not like that? Because of my faith and my knowledge of Christ.

If that's not who I am, why would you assume that the rest of an entire religion is any different?

When you're thinking negatively of the LDS church, do you forget that each and everyone one of you know someone that's LDS?  If you're reading this blog, then you obviously know me.  Do you ever consider that when you're laughing at something mean about my faith or my people that you're also mocking me?

I must say that I do also find it pretty humorous that this is a country claiming freedom of religion while its own administration participates in the mockery of mine and its citizens won't vote for a man because of his.  Funny, right??

No, I guess I didn't really think so either.

Don't think I'm offended or hurt by the actions of certain people lately.  This is something that the LDS church has faced since its origin.  Mormons were driven from state to state until they had to flee the existing United States entirely. 

Men, women, and children were killed because of their participation with the LDS church.  Simply because it was easier for people to believe horrible things than open their eyes and see that this religion wasn't that different.  

Oh.  Did you not know that LDS people were killed just for being LDS?

Did you know that in Missouri it was okay to kill someone as long as they were Mormon?

No? I guess they don't teach that in school.

Did you know that law wasn't done away with until 1976?

Yeah, I didn't think so.  

So, while even my friends mock and are unnecessarily afraid for the same reasons mentioned at the beginning, remember one thing.  I'm LDS and I've never hidden it or been ashamed of it.  Remember who it is you know that's a member of that faith and who it is you're mocking and afraid of.  Then remember me.

And then do one thing.  Find out for yourselves about the Mormons.  Don't go to a Baptist to learn about a Mormon. No offense, Baptists. ;) But really.  Go to the source, learn for yourself, then make an informed opinion. That's all I ask.