We believe...Article 11

"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."

Our country was founded with some basic freedoms. We refer to them as rights. These rights were derived from Heaven:

   

 "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"

 (American Declaration of Independence)

Many of our forefathers came to this country seeking the opportunity to worship without fear. The irony is that when they arrived on this 'new' continent many practiced a similar religious intolerance towards those who did not share their beliefs. Catholics in Delaware were able to practice with little restriction. Cross the border into Maryland you would find much intolerance towards the Catholics from Presbyterians. These measures weren't overturned until after the American Revolution. Such freedoms as voting, bearing arms, holding public office, teaching. and public worship were not afforded Catholics in Maryland. (see Beginnings of the Catholic Church in Wilmington, Delaware by Donn Devine. Retrieved 11/12/2012 from http://nc-chap.org/church/stpeter/devine.pdf)

It is interesting to watch what is going on in the world today. People, again, are beginning to impose others with their beliefs. In some cases, if you are not like they are, you are shunned, ridiculed, and, in extreme cases, killed for holding different beliefs. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was subject to this type of behavior early in the formation of the Church. The early Saints were driven from Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. The state of Missouri, until 1976, had an executive order from their Governor that was used to drive the Saints from Missouri to Illinois. In part it read:

      "The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state if necessary for the public peace..."  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Executive_Order_44)

I do believe that men and women have the right to worship as they will. Please don't impose your belief system on me or my family. Please don't use my tax money to interfere with natural consequences of decisions made by others. Please don't force insurance companies, those that provide for religious groups, to

make them cover for things that are contrary to their belief system.

There is a difference between amicable dialogue and imposing of beliefs. Unfortunately this country is dwelling on the latter much more than the former these days. (I have to stop now because my tongue is beginning to bleed from me biting on it...)

Next...Article 12

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