Religious Tolerance

Karl (the great husband that he is) ran to the grocery store (Fry's), late this evening to pick up a couple things for play group tomorrow. When he was on his way out of the store, he saw the LDS missionaries putting their cart away. The manager came running out behind Karl, toward the missionaries. He began to yell and basically chew out the missionaries. He said that they were soliciting religion in his store, and if they EVER CAME BACK AGAIN HE WOULD KICK THEM OUT. The young missionary simply replied, "We are just putting our cart away, and then we are leaving." The manager rang into them again, reiterating his threat. The missionary replied "I don't think you quite understand what we are doing", and again said we are just putting our cart away. Needless to say Karl was pretty livid, not just for the fact that the manager was out of line, but that he waited to chew the missionaries out until after they PURCHASED their groceries. Karl went back inside and said basically how inappropriate it was for him to speak like that to the missionaries. The manager said that they were soliciting religion, and tried to blow Karl off. Karl replied back "Then why on earth would you allow girl scouts to solicite cookies outside (no offense to girl scouts...I LOVE them), and some even go as far as to harass shoppers. The manager replied that they had corporate approval, and added that he will not tolerate religious solicitation in the store.
Okay. I have really been thinking alot about this lately. Just simply the fact that our nation was founded on the religious tolerance. That we have the right to worship and believe in what we choose. But hundreds of years later we are still fighting the battle that our ancestors fought. So if I am wearing a CTR ring, and someone asks me about it, I am I not allowed to talk about my faith inside a Fry's store? Is it right that Mike Huckabee essentialy has continued in the presidential race, not because he thinks he has a chance to win, but to guarentee a Mormon won't win? I know at this point I'm rambling, and I don't know what the answer is, but I do feel like now is the time for us to really take a stand. Honestly, this TERIFY'S ME! I never went on a mission. I am not the person that goes out of her way to make her opinion know. I have honestly never given anyone a Book of Mormon. I honestly, haven't made an effort to talk to my neighbors about the gospel, about my beliefs, about my faith. Maybe this is my wake up call. Maybe this is really bugging me, because that is what I need to work on. I simply don't know.

Also, I feel like this world is full of wonderful, loving people that are looking for a better life. A happy life. I think we all are. But I also feel like Satan doesn't just have a little crack in our armor, he has our breast plate completely off. That for some reason, what is tolerated as acceptable social behavior in today's society is so opposite of what should be done to work toward a better life. Tonight we were watching that new lie detector show. Basically, a person is hooked up to a lie detector, and they are asked questions. If they answer truthfully, they win money. If they don't answer truthfully, they lose everything. By the end of tonight's episode this woman confessed that she had an affair on her husband, would leave her husband for her ex boyfriend, amoung many other things....all for money! She essentially just ruined her life for money! I know I'm still rambling.

I am grateful for the gospel, for the guidance it give to me in my life, on a daily bases. I am grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and that through him, and because of him, I can return to live with my Father in Heaven again. That I can be with my family for eternity. I know that with out the words of the scriptures and the prophets, I think I would be very confused. I just wonder lately, how much we can each do in world, by simply sharing that knowledge. I know that sounds cliche, but I think for me, it just clicked.