~ an important distinction ~

in all my time of thinking & having opinions 

{which is a lot... i have a lot}

i have realized something important

& that is this

there's a difference between what I feel & believe & think i should do

& my choices

& what i would advise other people to choose {esp. friends & family}

& how i choose to respond to other people's choices

& how i would advise other people to respond to other people's choices

in order to be happy :)

meaning

i make choices 

& i try to make choices that are kind 

& thoughtful

& in line with God's will

but i also recognize that every human in the world is different

& is coming from different places

& that my job is soooooooooo not to judge them

& I am firmly in support of their right to make their own choices

{pursuit of happiness & all that}

so while i choose to use certain language

& wear certain clothes

& behave a certain way

i also choose not to judge others for their choices

bc i have no idea where they're coming from

& i choose to assume

that they're doing the best they can

& i can probably even learn something from them.

It is not for us to say who, in the deepest sense, is or is not close to the spirit of Christ. We do not see into men's hearts. We cannot judge, and are indeed forbidden to judge.

C.S. Lewis

"It is impossible to know all that informs our minds and hearts or even to fully understand the context for the choices we each face." // w. craig zwick 

EDIT ~ Dallin H. Oaks actually stated it really well here: [emphasis added]

"In dedicated spaces, like temples, houses of worship, and our own homes, 

we should teach the truth and the commandments plainly and thoroughly 
as we understand them from the plan of salvation revealed in the restored gospel... 

In public, what religious persons say and do involves other considerations. 

The free exercise of religion covers most public actions, but it is subject to qualifications 

necessary to accommodate the beliefs and practices of others...

On the subject of public discourse, we should all follow the gospel teachings to love our neighbor and avoid contention. 
Followers of Christ should be examples of civility. 
We should love all people, be good listeners, and show concern for their sincere beliefs. 
Though we may disagree, we should not be disagreeable. 
Our stands and communications on controversial topics should not be contentious. 
We should be wise in explaining and pursuing our positions and in exercising our influence. 
In doing so, we ask that others not be offended by our sincere religious beliefs and the free exercise of our religion. 
We encourage all of us to practice the Savior’s Golden Rule: “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).

When our positions do not prevail, we should accept unfavorable results graciously and practice civility with our adversaries. 
In any event, we should be persons of goodwill toward all, rejecting persecution of any kind, including persecution based on race, ethnicity, religious belief or non-belief, and differences in sexual orientation."