While he was arguing that people should not put up with oppressive governments I would take it and apply it to Mormonism. Mormon God says that we are free to do as we please, and yet would have us baptized at 8, part of the priesthood (for men) at 12, proselyting at 19 or 21, and married at 22. All of these things happen before we reach an "age of discretion". Mormon God says that we are here to learn and prepare to become gods ourselves but part of the preparation is obedience. A god must by logic be the perfect leader and yet Mormon God, despite saying He wants us to be like Him does not want us lead, He wants us to follow.

Like John Locke, I say throw off the shackles of oppression and discard the chains of obedience and shame and become human beings. Become like children, free and independent of the labels of society. Feel free to be yourselves and don't be or become something just because those around you want you to be it.

I say to hell with labels and categories and be yourself.

That's great until you want to get on a plane and go somewhere and discover you need a passport.

Does one need some sort of passport to exit Mormonism and re-enter the real world - some sort of mechanism, key, or ? that helps push open the Emergency Exit Door?

I left so long ago that I don't remember. I remember having to work hard at getting over beliefs and prejudices that I originally imagined I was born with; is that part of the process?

And so parents have the right to make their kids do their bidding.

After they reach the age of discretion for some reason most people feel the need to label themselves or to accept labels that are given to them. No one has to be anything, it is perfectly healthy to not be Mormon, or to not be Republican or Democrat.

Obviously, children are born into homes that have accepted those labels, and a child who is raised in a home that embraces those labels is likely to accept those labels as well but it should always be the child's decision.