Most organization have what are called "founding myths." The Founding Fathers of the United States are certainly shrouded in myth, and almost all nations have their national myths. The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have founding myths, and almost all religions have myths at their roots. Hell, even the Disney Corporation and Microsoft and Apple Computers and Google have founding myths. Those myths embody the ideals of the organization - the so-called "facts" of the myth are generally immaterial, except to those (both those who believe and those who do not believe the founding myth) who see things with a literalist, fundamentalist point of view.

To live with myth requires intelligence, imagination, and the ability to perceive abstractions.

Yes, the Mormons have founding myths. They treasure those myths, but most Mormons I know do not seem to have their lives dominated by a literal view of those myths. They "get" what they're supposed to get from that mythology, a strong community spirit that holds family life in high esteem.

One can work with Mormons for years without being preached to, although you'll certainly know they're Mormon. The "temple garb" (underwear) that Mormons wear isn't some sort of obsession - for them, it's normal, something they do to keep them mindful of the ideals they hold sacred. It may sound strange to other people, but is there really something seriously wrong with wearing a particular style of underwear?

Yes, I'm very much aware that anti-religious sentiment is in vogue nowadays, but does that make it right? There are lots of good reasons to criticize Romney, but don't pick on his religion.

-Joe-