You know how Mormons stand in the street trying to convert people, well me and some mates went and talked to the Mormons while quite drunk (we had each had a barmaid, which is about ten beers).

The discussion went on for about an hour and eventually the mormon I was talking to acknowledged that evolution actually made a lot of sense under mormonism and saying that he was going to have to do more research to understand how the book of Mormon could have originated in America around 600BC.

So, I think I may have converted a Mormon into believe in evolution.

I personally don't see why ordinary people care if evolution exists. Their opinion won't make any difference. In terms of beliefs on evolution, the only ones whose opinions matter are lawmakers and scientists.

Unfortunately, it does matter.  Because they vote for people who make teaching it illegal and cut off funding for research assoicated with evolutionary scienses.

Scientific curiousity and knowledge should always be encouraged, if not for their own sake then so as to create an environment that further encourages new discovery.

Put alternatively, who do you think tell lawmakers what to do, and where do you think scientists come from?