Religious Tolerance

So I have some friends who aren't members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and some friends who used to be and no longer are and I get so sick of all the friends that they lose or all the preaching that they receive. I was reading in the Joseph Smith manual today (lesson 29 --I'm trying to catch up:) and I loved how he emphasized that we need to love other religions. I really enjoyed this quote: "We ought always to be aware of those prejudices which sometimes so strangely present themselves, and are so congenial to human nature, against our friends, neighbors, and brethren of the world, who choose to differ from us in opinion and in matters of faith. Our religion is between us and our God. Their religion is between them and their God.”

I think members of the LDS church get too caught up in trying to preach the gospel to everyone that they forget a few main principles. First of all they forget to love, President Uchtdorf send recently in conference "Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk." And the second principle we forget is agency. "All persons are entitled to their agency, for God has so ordained it. He has constituted mankind moral agents, and given them power to choose good or evil; to seek after that which is good, by pursuing the pathway of holiness in this life, which brings peace of mind, and joy in the Holy Ghost here, and a fulness of joy and happiness at His right hand hereafter; or to pursue an evil course, going on in sin and rebellion against God, thereby bringing condemnation to their souls in this world, and an eternal loss in the world to come. Since the God of heaven has left these things optional with every individual, we do not wish to deprive them of it." (Joseph Smith Lesson) If we all truly loved our neighbors and friends then when we invited them and they chose to not accept our invitation we would still love them we would still be their friends. I've known so many people who have been outcasts because they weren't interested in the LDS church and it frustrates me so much. I wish that people would learn the principles of true friendship and love.

We all have our agency, but just because our children have friends that aren't members doesn't mean that they are going to be persuaded to do evil things...friends can be good influences too. We are taught to respect and love people of all faiths.

And most of all when we choose to reject people of other faiths we are really hurting ourselves and what we can be taught from them. I believe that everyone has good qualities in them and believes some truth. If we diligently seek to find that truth and find those qualities than we can become enlightened and better for it!!!