Discrimination is an ugly word that describes a very ugly practice.  When you discriminate against something or someone, you refuse to give it the same value or equality as something else.  This can be a good thing; if someone has “discriminating taste,” this means they know the difference between fine wine and sugary grape juice, or between beautiful furnishings versus items that actually hurt your eyes.  But when it comes to things like religion, Mormons and discrimination sometimes go hand-in-hand.

In the past, there have been times when Mormons and discrimination were perhaps more justified or warranted.  Because the Mormon religion believes that being married and raising a family is part of God’s destiny for his chosen people, the practice of polygamy was common among them.  Unfortunately, some of those with very fundamental beliefs about the family, particularly women’s roles and responsibilities, were found to be forcing teenaged girls into marriages to men much older than them, and some members were said to have not just two or thee wives, but literally dozens!  When talking about Mormons and discrimination, it’s important to remember that sometimes these splinter groups do not represent the core teachings of the church or its leaders today.

Another point to remember about Mormons and discrimination is that some people realize that Mormons follow the founder of their church, Joseph Smith, and believe that he was divinely ordained by God to restore true worship and correct what they call is apostasy in the Christian faith.  Some people of other religions, however, do not appreciate being called apostates of their own faith!  Some may feel that these beliefs are too strong from Mormons, and discrimination often follows.  Of course, it’s good to remember that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs about God and salvation, even if those beliefs are offensive to others.

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