their digging up the artifacts and i can't wait for that episode to end!

The Mormons have some great things going for them. Their genealogy services are some of the best. The close family ties are wonderful.
However, their are some strange religious practices. Despite, "The Church" comments stating plural marriage is not practiced, devote Mormons are taught that it is an important part of their life to come. From those whom I have met who are currently practicing plural marriage(see it in it's full glory in southwestern Utah), the publicity out there now is "just how it really, truly is".
Anything that people try to keep "secret" will be sought out by others.
That is human nature.
From

In my view there are parts of religion that are open and free to discuss. The Law of Tithing for instance. Another may be teachings of scripture and the Ten Commandments. But when you get into more sacred subjects such as temple ceremonies, it takes a certain understanding before they can be reverently understood.

Take, for instance, chemistry. You have to understand basic principles of math and science before you can delve into the study of chemistry. It's not 'secret', but it's on a whole other level of understanding...

Sacred things take a certain understanding and commitment. Those who participate in these sacred ceremonies have already accepted the prerequisites required. They've paid the price so to speak. Thus they have obtained a temple recommend which involves an LDS Bishop who ascertains that you are living the higher laws set forth by God (morality, tithing, etc).

Once those who get hold of these sacred ceremonies, without fully understanding their meaning, they are often mocked. The truth is GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED, especially when sacred items and information are trampled under the feet of men. In the scriptures this is known as 'Casting pearls before swine'.

This is why the creation as described in Genesis is an allegory of sorts. People can't understand it, can't handle the truth, and then they trample it.

I have been LDS my entire life, and have always been very active. Never once have I ever been taught, nor do I plan or have any desire, that I should have more than ONE wife.

Ever.

mr caldiero(sp?)is mistaken when he equates sacred with secret---he is simply describing the natural man's curiousity---but sacred is not secret simply because there are no bars to learning---only gates through which one must pass in obtaining knowledge---the writer above who described the process in mastering chemistry is spot on---i remember my grand uncle george wanting to know more about the "secrets of our chemical world" but not having the means or knowledge to go very far down that road---

rnoble- I think Mr caldiero's point wasn't that others weren't capable of learning the "secret". His point (I think) was that those who have been initiated into the "sacred-secret" feel that they do know something that the unititiated don't know, and won't know, unless they come and join them in their secret-sacred ceremonies and rituals.

Sometimes a dictionary is useful:

se·cret [ skrət ] adjective

Definition:

1. not widely known: known by only a few people and intentionally withheld from general knowledge

Hugh, and I thought this was a state run university; but then again mormons run the state!

If it is so complicated and mysterious so as to be ineffable then it is probably not of God's communication with man, but of man's exploitation of man. God is bigger and beyond any church or religion. Foget about other mens notions and look into your own head and heart for the answers to God.