Opinion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

[John Dibble]

Positive. They have problems in their history and founding of course, but that applies to most religions. At the very least they tend to have quite a bit more self-discipline than practitioners of other religions do on average, and they tend to be pretty nice people too.

[John Dibble]

At the very least they tend to have quite a bit more self-discipline than practitioners of other religions do on average

At the very least, followers of Taliban-style Islam tend to have quite a bit more self-discipline than practicioners of other religions do on average. Sounds like a positive to me!

I note you left out the last part of what I said.

Besides, the Taliban are the type that let themselves get swept up in emotions such as anger - hardly a model of self-discipline as far as I'm concerned.

[John Dibble]

Kinder, gentler theocracy? They're trying to convert you, dude.

Here's what life in a theocratic Mormon state (for example, Utah Territory in the 19th century) would be like:

* Alcohol and tobacco banned
* LDS doctrine is official state faith
* Blending of secular and spiritual leadership (LDS leaders acted much like medieval Popes, issuing directives in both realms)
* Intolerance of (and sometimes overt violence against) "gentiles"
* White supremacy encoded in Church and (therefore) state law
* Pervasive woman-hating; Mormon men could (and some still do!) "possess" more than one wife, like so many cattle

Before the United States took a hand, that is where their iron "self-discipline" brought them in the 19th century.

Once again, you totally ignore something I said. Let me refresh your memory, since you can't seem to be bothered to read a mere two or three posts up:

They have problems in their history and founding of course, but that applies to most religions.

My given opinion is in regards to the church and its followers now, not in the 19th century. If you want to live in the past then that's your business, but I prefer living in the present.