The basis of Mormonism is no more illegitimate than the basis of any relgion

[hawkeye59]

As to whether Mormonism is a sect or a cult, I might characterize it as a sect because they do have some very unorthodox views in their doctrine.  But they profess to be Christians and believe in Jesus (albeit not the same way as many Christians do), and that's what matters most to me.

This. I'm not a Christian, but it's my understanding that belief in the Trinity is not necessary to be Christian.

[hawkeye59]

Being human is a function of God in your view. Without it, you have no emotions (other than loneliness I guess, which rather than hope, is what remains in Pandora's Box), even though other animals do. I get it.

Well, for the animal thing, I have no idea (the LDS Church is basically mute on animal-related theology besides the "don't eat too much meat guys" part of the Word of Wisdom), but you've got the basics of it.

And hey, I actually like the LDS version of the afterlife a lot; unlike in some "standard" versions of the afterlife, you don't go to hell if you weren't quite good enough, you only go to a slightly less awesome version of paradise. Even somewhat bad people aren't consigned to an eternal hell, only the worst of the worst go to anything close to it.

Makes more sense than the mainstream Christian and Islamic version.