Hi All - new guy on the board here...
As an introduction, I am a 40-something MWM, a California transplant to North Carolina, and currently of no particular religious affiliation. No religious upbringing when I was young, as an adult I have "spent time" as an agnostic, atheist, Southern Baptist, and "new-agey-neo-pagan". If I go to church at all these days, it is to the "Biker Church" where they are great and non-judgmental folks. While I enjoy my time there, I don't consider myself a member.
Several times during my life I had opportunity to travel for business to Utah. I always felt some kind of attraction to Salt Lake City and had never consiously connected it to the LDS Church, except for that really cool building in the middle of downtown. My only understanding of "Mormons" was the contact I had with folks I ran into through normal life events; school, neighbors, work, community groups, etc.
Last year, I spent a little over two weeks there and finally took the temple tour, and was almost in tears. I felt so warm, welcomed, and... I don't know how to describe it - comfortable, safe, "home" (?). I had no idea that Mormons were Christians and believed in Jesus Christ - imagine my surprise! Then, I put 2 and 2 together, Mormon = LDS = the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! (duh). It was then that I also realized, there had been LDS people around me almost all my life... someone trying to tell me something?
My wife thinks I'm nuts and am risking getting "sucked into a bigoted, male dominated, white-guy cult", and scoffs at my interest. I really can't talk to her about any of my investigations and she's made it pretty clear that if any missionaries come to the house, she will laugh, scoff, and insult them right out the door (and me along with them)
So I've been reading a Book of Mormon, listen to BYU Radio and Classical 89 via the Internet while I work. I have lurked about a bit here reading, and thought it about time I poked my head up and said "hi".
I didn't mean to go on a long diatribe about my spiritual/social history, but thought I should let everyone know where I am coming from in case I say/ask something stupid. I promise to read before posting
Thanks!
~bc