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church has large storehouses of food in every Stake, term for the larger area the church serves, families in financial trouble can apply for assistance from their local bishop. This requires the family to disclose all bills, habits, and spending to the Relief Society President, the women's organization leader in each ward. The private business of the families is discussed at Ward Meetings and the family's application for assistance is determined. If the family shares their food with anyone for any reason, help is denied. Families with incarcerated loved ones are told not to send packages, parents are told not to share food with their family members when they are in need or they cannot receive any help. Part of this whole procedure is the Relief Society's visits to the home to ensure the mother is managing her household properly and making good use of the assistance. This only further shames those in need of help, making them feel and appear irresponsible.

People that need this help but are considered in violation of the rules above and others not mentioned are required to pay tithing to maintain good standing. If tithing is not paid, the ability to attend temple sessions is suspended. Many families are forced to forgo purchasing food and paying necessary bills to maintain their status, as temple attendance is mandatory for endowed members. A terrible choice.

Cultural and ethnic differences and traditions are expected to be discarded to "fit in" to the LDS mold. Women from Africa, Hispanics, and others are required to abandon traditional dress and styles of hair and jewelry. Though heritage and family history are honored, adhering to cultural norms of the same heritage will leave the family ostracized by members.

The church leadership is all male, nearly all white, and all very old. Young men must work their way up the ranks of leadership, leaving any hope of modernizing the church vacant. Jesus himself made reference after reference to the traditions of men invalidating the word of God. These traditions and many more leave members that don't fit the mold lonely, lacking needed support and friendship, and unable to progress in positions of leadership. The time for the church to enter the modern world has long since passed. With membership dwindling, converts leaving the church when these things become apparent, and very high levels of inactivity the church is not prospering as reported.

All is not well in the wards and branches of the church. Depression in Utah is the highest in the country and the populace there is largely LDS. With such high and unrealistic standards imposed by the traditions of the church and the strong social pressure applied to those that don't adhere to the traditions, it is plain the damage done to individuals, families, and the church at large. Church should be a place of acceptance and love. In too many LDS churches they are places of judgment, shame, and forced conformity. The basic doctrines are a far cry from the traditions of men that are stifling the hearts and joy of members that don't fit the mold.

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