Actually we are Christians. We follow Christ, we preach of Christ. We do all things through Christ. As do other Christians I believe. That's what makes them Christians. (=
Sorry to hear that you'd be happy to find out someone isn't Christian more especially try to convince the world the same... Hope I didn't "twist" your words there.
Not sure if any religion could be summed down to a nutshell. But if I were to do it I would be sure to take the exact references from it's texts or be certain my facts were straight.
Yes, Joseph Smith did find the golden plates, but he was not a man. He was a 14 year old boy. The golden tablets had many instructions written upon them by the first people to be on this continent. These people lived around the time the Tower of Babel was destroyed and fled here. Another set of people fled here during the times of Jeremiah. These tablets however did not contain instructions for him. He couldn't even obtain the plates for some time after finding them. He was an uneducated boy who was educated by angels. And by way of commandment translated what was on them through the power of God and His instruction so we could have the record we have today. Which in it's entirety is what constitutes an ancient record of the dealings of an ancient peoples who dwelt here in the Americas. Containing their dealings with eachother, their covenants with the Lord and their commandments from Him.
The tablets were never lost. Some of the written translation was lost during the time of translation which Joseph was rebuked for. The plates however were never lost. After translation they were taken by the angel Moroni. Although we don't have them today there were eye witnesses who Joseph was allowed to show the plates to, 8 of them, who's witness we have signed in the beginning portion of what we call the Book of Mormon today. There are also written testimony of 3 eye witnesses who the angel Moroni showed the plates. Their witness can also be found under the BoM's cover. And we also have the witness of Joseph Smith Jr.
Actually they are brothers as are we all. We all were created by the same God and lived with him before the foundations of the Earth. Once Lucifer rebelled he was cast out along with the 1/3 of heaven that followed him. They are the spirits who tempt and taunt the children of men today. Who will never receive bodies to go through the trials of life in.
The afterlife isn't much different. But I know that I cannot raise myself from the dead nor can anyone nor did Jesus nor do I have in my power or will ever have a power to say who ultimately gets resurrected. In fact, every person who has ever lived on the face of the Earth or lives or ever will live on it will be resurrected. But not all will be resurrected to the same state. As far as going to far off planets to start a race of our own. This is all speculation and priestcraft which creeps it's way in through imagination and has no part in scripture.
Yes, members of the church that attend the temple wear garments. And I would not know about trying to leave the church. You can have your name blotted out I'm sure.
Interesting that you end your unbiased whatever this is with something like this. If you go a little bit more into it though. Look at the testimony of the black people in Africa that were awaiting baptism that couldn't for many years. What held them together so long. There had to be something to drive them and keep them. As well as the early pioneers of the church that suffered so greatly and paid such a great price to give us the model of what a saint should be.
Funny thing is. No one really digs up any dirt or "tries" with many other religions. I guess they are perfect...God's word is perfect men's words are not nor is the fabric(religion) which holds them(men) together. I do however believe that "Morminism" is the most correct. Anyone truly seeking to find out are entitled that same witness.
I think the only way to see that is if you were neither Christian nor LDS.
To those who came to this thread in hopes to learn more about latter day saints and what they hold dear in their hearts feel free to PM me and we can talk. I however don't suggest letting people who have no testimony of these things share them with you. For example take someone who peers through the Bible looking for falacy and error to "prove it's error." For one, the Holy Spirit is not going to to be able to touch his/her heart. If he/she were sincerely seeking truth perhaps then the spirit may touch that persons heart. Anyways. thanks for the OP's honest opening of the thread. Beware of any people that bear their though opinionated but false testimony/facts about what you hear of the church. That which you practice is truly the only way to dissern whether it be of God or the Devil. We have a truth. Whatever persuadeth a man to do good and believeth in Christ is of God and is good. Such can be applied to anything pertaining to it. You don't go to a football player and ask him how to play baseball. No didn't think so. (= Again, takes a lot more than 1 post and several lines of text to sum up our beliefs. But if you really want to know their is a written summary of them in what's called the articles of faith. There are 13 of them. You can find it here
http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,106-1-2-1,00.html