What "creepy religious exercises" are LDS parents "commanded to have with their children"? What on earth are you talking about? There is no such thing in the Mormon religion.
Your quotes included this one:
President Gordon B. Hinckley (on the Miracle of Faith):
As it was then, so it is today. This precious and marvelous gift of faith, this gift from God our Eternal Father, is still the strength of this work and the quiet vibrancy of its message. Faith underlies it all. Faith is the substance of it all. Whether it be going into the mission field, living the Word of Wisdom, paying one’s tithing, it is all the same. It is the faith within us that is evidenced in all we do.
Our critics cannot understand it. Because they do not understand, they attack. A quiet inquiry, an anxious desire to grasp the principle behind the result, could bring greater understanding and appreciation.
I was asked at a news conference on one occasion how we get men to leave their vocations, to leave home, and serve the Church.
I responded that we simply ask them, and we know what their answer will be.
What a marvelous and wonderful thing it is, this powerful conviction that says the Church is true. It is God’s holy work. He overrules in the things of His kingdom and in the lives of His sons and daughters. This is the reason for the growth of the Church. The strength of this cause and kingdom is not found in its temporal assets, impressive as they may be. It is found in the hearts of its people. That is why it is successful. That is why it is strong and growing. That is why it is able to accomplish the wonderful things that it does. It all comes of the gift of faith, bestowed by the Almighty upon His children who doubt not and fear not, but go forward.
Can you tell me in what way you find this to be offensive? Actually, you, by your own actions and words, are verifying exactly what he said:
"Our critics cannot understand it. Because they do not understand, they attack." Isn't this exactly what you are choosing to do?
Perhaps it would be better if you would stop and consider the next line of his quote:
"A quiet inquiry, an anxious desire to grasp the principle behind the result, could bring greater understanding and appreciation."
Is that an offensive line to you, too? Or are you able to recognize how powerful a concept this simple statement is in a time when so many people only seem interested in adding to the havoc already so aboundant in the world.
You have obviously been very busy with research. Unfortunately, you violated the first rule of valid research. You had a preconceived bias that colored all your findings and your conclusions. As you yourself said, you researched all this to "prove" that Mormons are a cult. No matter what you found, you read it through that bias.
My quoting your quotes as I did is a prime example of that. Nowhere in the words of that kind and gentle man was ANYTHING that any normal person would take offense to, and yet you did.
I don't know you. I don't know your story. But I do know that you must be a very sad person to invest so much time in a project such as this one for the purpose you stated. Guess what? Anybody can do the same thing with any religion. Quotes out of context, with your own interpretations interspersed liberally throughout in order to lead the reader's mind to the conclusion you want them to reach. You must be a very sad and bitter person.
I'm sorry you can't get past whatever has caused you to be so bitter towards 12 million people you have never even met. Surely there must be a better way to accomplish your goals that this.
SusanHere