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Mormons may dominate Utah's religious landscape, but they must not be domineering, especially in their interactions with outsiders, a top church leader counseled Salt Lake City area Latter-day Saints.

Apostle M. Russell Ballard, addressing 220 stakes (regional groups of LDS congregations) in a sermon live-streamed earlier this month from downtown's Conference Center, cautioned members to recall the times when their Mormon ancestors were in the minority and suffered "persecution and discrimination."

"This is an important reminder. … We should treat one another with respect and kindness and especially those living among us who are not members of the church," he said, "because we were once strangers, too."

While Ballard reminded the assembled Latter-days Saints of their missionary duty to spread the word about their religion, he also urged them to "honor and respect everyone's agency to think and believe — or not believe — as they choose."

"If a neighbor, work colleague or schoolmate is not interested in investigating the gospel, we must always continue to extend the hand of friendship," he said. "Our love for them should not be conditional; it should be sincere and without strings attached."

On another topic, Ballard, who turns 88 next month and is third in line for the presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reinforced a message he delivered to LDS educators earlier this year, telling the faith's lay leaders to take seriously any questions members may have about Mormonism's past and present.

"I am concerned when I hear of sincere people asking honest questions about our history, doctrine or practice, and then being treated as though they were faithless," he said. " ... We need to do better in responding to honest questions. Although we may not be able to answer every question about the cosmos, or about our history, practices, or doctrine, we can provide many answers to those who are sincere. When we don't know the answer, we can search to find answers together."

An LDS apostle for more than three decades, Ballard said when he has questions he cannot answer, he often turns to trained scholars for help. He also pointed to the faith's Gospel Topics online essays, which cover some of the thornier aspects of Mormon history and teachings.

Ballard conceded that satisfying answers may not always be possible.

"At such times," he added, "it's good to remember that there is still a place in religion for faith. Sometimes we can learn and study and know; sometimes we have to believe and trust and hope."

David Noyce