~”If more of your fellows would exhibit the same forthrightness in owning up to your beliefs...”~
Here’s the problem: we are so often accused of believing things we don’t believe. Personally, I don’t mind being beaten over the head with my genuine beliefs (in fact, I’m more likely than not to take the opportunity to expand on them); but I am quite offended when people accuse me of denying what I believe because they are just so sure that I actually do believe it but that for some reason I’m covering it up.
Usually this happens because they read some website that has some quote from an early LDS leader that they take out of context and construe to mean something or other. For example, by this method, it’s quite plain that Mormons believe that Adam is God. It’s right there, in Church history; Brigham Young said it, according to the LDS Journal of Discourses. Never mind the fact that he contradicted that statement on many occasions, and other LDS leaders have never said anything to ratify it. Never mind that it is therefore probably a misspeak or mistranscription. Mormons must believe it, so when they say they don’t, they’re obviously lying!
Generally I and the fellow Mormons I’ve encountered around here try to be very frank about what we do and don’t believe. We own our beliefs; we’re proud of them, and we’ve no reason to be ashamed of them. We can’t really help it if people are so blasted determined to discredit us that they refuse to listen to anything we say that tends to show that we really aren’t a bunch of kooks. I chalk it up to ecclesiastical penis envy.
Personally, I find it a pleasure to correct the record; if a person is willing to ask with an open mind, I will always to the best of my ability help them understand what is fact about my faith and what is fiction. Feel free to do so in the future.
OK then; for I've sure GIVEN you plenty to chew on.