I don’t mean for my reply to be offensive (and I guess you know where this is going). A few thoughts:
I have two women friends who refer to themselves as recovering Mormons. One is a lesbian. Both felt heavily oppressed living a Mormon life and left the faith.
I think baptizing the dead is an insane practice and a waste of time (although I do appreciate the side benefits to genealogy).
I watched a cable documentary on Mormons (and polygamy practices). The people were dressed in the most awful clothes one could imagine and the women talked the talk, but their faces spoke absolute misery.
I think Mormon temples aren’t the best contributions to architectural design.
When I drove through Zion Nat’l Park and stopped in towns on either side, I noticed a definite cultural difference, and it was palpably odd for me to be there. I guess it wasn’t a very welcoming feeling.
I don’t remember the details on my exposure to the concept, but I do respect Mormons’ devotion to family. Based on the above, it seems to play out not quite as well as it’s professed, but it’s an admirable value to hold up.
In general, I think it’s too excluding, too patriarchal and too repressive, but I respect to a degree that some things are kept sacred and that family is a central value.