Lessons from a Mormon

My English class may prove to be the most annoying, though the most eye-opening class I have ever participated in. I thought I had overcome all the surprises it could throw at me, but I was proved wrong yesterday. During peer review, I was paired with a girl who also identified herself as a Christian. Once we finished reading each other's papers, we struck up a conversation on the topic of faith, which is what my paper was about.
"So, you're a christian, too?" she asked
"Yes, I am. What kind of church do you go to?"
"Actually, I'm mormon."
"Oh, really..."
"Yeah, and you?"
"well, I go to a Baptist church...don't be offended at this, but the first things I think of when I hear the word 'mormon' are Salt Lake City and polygamy, but I know these are stereotypes of something I am unfamiliar with. Would you care to explain what you believe to me?"
"Well, don't be offended, either, but when I hear 'baptist' I think of Benny Hinn and Tammy Faye Baker"
laughter...and she continued our conversation...
"well, i was raised mormon, but i've gone through a bit of a spiritual odyssey" she said.
"I keep the name, but I have discovered that Jesus Christ is God, son of God, and salvation is only found in His work on the cross, not on anything I have done, and my life is now to be lived to glorify Him.
"Wouldn't it be a perfect world if the church would just unite...stop bashing the other denominations...of course, it's important to worship with people that believe the same things as you...but I wish we could all just come together and read the Bible, that will fix our theology, the Bible, and nothing else."
As we continued, I found I agreed with her wholeheartedly. I was also able to share with her exactly what I believed. She had the right idea!
As the conversation ended, I commented,
"You know, you're not really mormon!"
"well, you aren't exactly a baptist!"
"I know...but from what I have heard from you, i know that you share the same basic beliefs as I do, and most mormons don't think the way you do."
"You're right, and you're a bit "liberal" to be a real southern baptist. But we are both Chrisians, despite our denominations."
Indeed. What a glorious day that will be, when the church does indeed come together.