NOM

Is anyone aware of any other Church (aside from Jehovah’s Witnesses where shunning the transgressor is very similar) that is as exclusionary as the LDS Church?

A very small percentage of the Church is receiving its highest sacraments, which in turn, becomes so miniscule in the macro view of the world’s population. Our doctrines seem to be set up to weed out 99.99999999999999 percent of the available souls. Their must not be a lot of crowns to go around.

I used to think that the JW teaching of only allowing 144,000 people in to heaven was a maligned doctrine, but perhaps this view is not so different in Mormon doctrine? – That number can’t be far off from the monthly Temple attending orthodox Mormons. I’ve heard over half of converts are never endowed.

Why does this not compute with more people in the Church. Do any of us common folk even have a chance based on the odds?

So the 15mil membership compared to the 7.5bil total population is less than 1/4%.

Then as you state above, we narrow it down to endowed active members. Then narrow that down to those who don't lie about porn, masturbation or any other closet sins. If you look at the average ward, there are 6-10 "great families" who seem to have their crap together with FHE, daily scripture study, etc. The rest of us sit there in SM and listen to their meow meow talks and feel like crap, like we'll never measure up. So I'd say 144k is pretty accurate. So, how's that awesome plan of happiness working out for all of God's children? Obviously HE does not want the vast majority of us sharing the throne.

Personally, I think the LDS church, just like any other group of people, is very INCLUSIVE... so long as you fit in.

I had a discussion with my wife the other night on this very topic. Nearly every group of people out there, whether it's Mormons, or JW's, or the D&D club in highschool or the bowling league at work will be more than willing to accept you with open arms. You just have to figure out what that groups thing is, and how to fit in.

In LDS culture, the things you do to fit in are go to church, not drink, not smoke, and talk about tender mercies (sure there are more). When you do those things, you build your Mormon-cred, and you will absolutely be accepted with open arms.

With respect to transgressions, I think LDS people can be very forgiving, provided you put forth some kind of effort to put yourself on the "right trajectory". Perhaps what you are sensing is that cultural expectation to make sure you are on the right trajectory. From my experience in LDS culture, someone that had 'sinned', but was making efforts to return to the "straight and narrow" would be celebrated, while someone that had left the "straight and narrow", but had no interest in returning would very likely be shunned.

The view I had about the second anointing (if that's what you meant by "highest sacraments") (didn't know much about it or even its name at the time) was something to aspire to as much as returning to God. I figured that a few decades tops didn't matter much, and the ordinance seemed really awesome but superfluous. So I wouldn't take that as especially exclusionary.
As azflyer said, Mormons are very accepting as long as you make some effort to go along with the group and don't show up with a sign that says "Anti-Mormon" on it. Sure, you have to laugh along at awkward jokes about how what's-his-bucket went so inactive, he offered the Elders coffee when they dropped by. But you're then automatically a member of the group, and even non-members are very welcome. As long as defense mode isn't triggered, you get a free pass into the group.