Resect

I read this at postsecret.com today.  The same thought has been on my mind recently.  I feel like there is a lot of hypocrisy that goes on when it comes to religion.  I have heard a lot of talk about some of my own beliefs and how narrow minded they are.  I have heard people say that the church I belong to needs to be more accepting of all different lifestyles and choices because "its who they are." Every time I hear that I think, "well you don't seem very respectful and accepting of MY lifestyle.  You don't seem very accepting of MY beliefs."  Excuse me for not changing what I believe to follow social trends.  Pardon me for being faithful to my religion, believing in God, and trying to obey His commandments.  It seems like people who oppose my religion can be as critical of me and my church as they want, but I'm not allowed to speak out against someone else.  If I do, I'm judgemental.  I'm narrow minded.  I get eyes rolled at me and gasped at if I speak what I believe, but everyone else would love to tell me what they think and how I am wrong.  I have never told anyone how they should live their life.  If I am asked my opinion, I give it honestly.  What makes people think they can tell me what I should believe? Why can't they respect my choices the way I respect theirs? 

There are teachings and commandments and doctrine in the church that I don't understand.  There are things I have doubts about.  There are also things that I know are true.  There are teachings that kept me out of trouble in high school.  There are teachings that taught me to serve and love everyone.  There are teachings that helped me understand why I have trials and how I can repent and be a better person.  So, I don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.  That is what I love the most about the LDS church.  I love that I don't have to know the answer to everything.  I can gain a testimony of gospel principles one at a time, and I am allowed to doubt and have questions.  In fact, I'm encouraged to study out in my mind and my heart if what the church teaches is true.  I love that I can put commandments to the test and see how I feel about it and see if I get blessings from them. 

In the Book of Mormon, it says that men are free to choose.  Free to choose the right or the wrong.  I don't want to take that choice away from anyone, but there is still right and wrong out there.  Those definitions don't change.  When the world says, people should be able to do (fill in the blank), I agree.  They should be able to choose to do whatever they want with their life.  What I disagree with is whether that choice is right or wrong.  Same sex relationships are a sin.  But people can certainly choose to do that if they please, and I'm not going to tell anyone they CANT do that.  I expect people to do the same for me.  You can think what I do and what I believe is completely backwards and makes me a terrible person.  But I still have the right to make my own choices without having you tell me how I should be. 

I don't mean to offend anyone in what I write.  I just wish we could all play nice.  Thanks for reading, and feel free to post your thoughts.