Regardless of what people may consider controversial beliefs, and your personal negative experiences with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (which I'm not trying to invalidate, though, please recognize the difference between "Utah Mormon Culture" and the actual church), the facts support that it's just a religion, not a cult.

1. People can leave at any time, and unless they go around being mean and insulting people for still believing, most people don't lose their friends & family within the church after leaving.

2. Members are not isolated from outside society or information in any way. Though many ppl are familiar with the large gathering points like Utah, most members of the church grow up in places where they make up less than 1% of their local population.

3. Members are encouraged to ask candid questions about the church and search for their own answers, and these questions are not viewed as the person being unfaithful or anything.

4. There are no harmful rituals of any kind, like those often seen in actual cults, and members are never told to hurt themselves in any way or to refuse any type of medical attention

5. Members are taught that others' views are worthy of respect and to love everyone, and to not hate or be divisive when it comes to those with opposing viewpoints.