Welcome!
Though this was posted several days ago, your intro really resonated with me. I'm not a member of the church, but I've been married to a member for 7 1/2 years. When we started dating, I took a hard look at the church, and was afraid to tell my family I was thinking of joining. Surprisingly, they were completely understanding. I'd recommend giving them the benefit of the doubt, definitely.
Also, if you're still unsure as to how to go about learning more about the church, you can always call up some local Missionaries if there are any near you. When I was curious, I went online and a couple delivered a Book of Mormon to me. They also answered all my questions, and were more than willing to help me through my decision one way or the other.