jskains Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 I have seen several "moving" or "city data" type websites where people looking to move to a particular city or state can ask questions about the area. When I decided to move out here, I read some of them and was amazed with all the posts with a common theme. "We like the Utah area, the clean atmosphere, the family nature, the healthy environment, the overall safeness of the communities. But is there a way to avoid the Mormons?""Looking to Move to Utah, but would like to find a Non-LDS neighborhood"."My husband and I are moving to Utah, but we are not LDS and would like to stay out of LDS communities".It goes on and on and on.... I am pretty certain that people would go ballistic if I put "I want to move to New York, but can I avoid the Jews?" or "I am moving to Southern California, and I'd like to avoid the Catholics".There are other areas. Why all the protections from Koran burnings, but certainly when some guy at Temple Square drags a Book of Mormon through a puddle demanding people "save" it, or a any of the other oddities people have done, no one goes postal over it.I guess the question, other than why people want to move to Utah to avoid the Mormons, is why the bigotry, bad attitudes, and fingerpointing is allowed for Mormons, but very little for anyone else? You'd think a home grown American religion would have a little more protection than all the foreign ones!
thesometimesaint Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) Mostly due to ignorance. It is kinda funny that Salt Lake City is about 50% Mormon. So if you want to live in a Utah city with the fewest Mormons percentage wise move to the heart of "Mormonland". Edited March 3, 2012 by thesometimesaint
jskains Posted March 3, 2012 Author Posted March 3, 2012 No, there are others. Moab I believe is even less LDS. There are a few areas recorded at only 25% or less.
thesometimesaint Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 You are probaly right. Its been a long time since I lived in Utah.
jskains Posted March 3, 2012 Author Posted March 3, 2012 But I do find it pretty goofy if you like Utah and can't figure out that the high LDS concentration might be part of the reason the State is what it is. Bag on LDS all you want, there are morals and values that can increase the chances of a more positive community.Note, I said increase the chances. I worded it that way for a reason.
Saints Alive Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Seems like I remeber seeing where parts of Idaho had higer concentrations of Mormons that Utah.
Saints Alive Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 I love the Beach I just wish there wasn't so much sand and salt water 1
Jeff K. Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Love Rome, but what is it with all those Catholics there!
Messenger Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Jskains,First of all, the premise for your post is a little wierd. I mean, Im not going postal or anything, but its a bit like saying .... "Im moving to Oregon, how do I avoid trees"? Or how about this one ... "I'm moving to earth how do I avoid oxygen?", Or another one..... I'm moving to England, how do I avoid hearing the accent?" But, all fun aside ... (an believe me I am sooooo laughing my butt off right now).... I am a convert, and I have always heard silly things people say about Mormons both before I joined and of course after I joined. I've never felt uncomfortable being a non-member in the company of members. Further, I have found much more tolerance of the general membership of the LDS Church than any other that I have known. However, there is indeed the usual human need somehow say the grass is greener here than there, or my stuff is better than your stuff.... so what else is new?But I can assure you that nobody is going to be dragging you to the baptismal font or forcing you to perform our secret blood ritual upon our alter at the top of Mount Timpanogos, We only do that if you are dead. So, if we enter your bedroom while you are sleeping, and your eyes are closed, just put a sign next to your nightstand that says, "Dear Mormon missionaries, I am not dead, I am sleeping". That way we wont make a mistake.Seriously though ..... there isn't a whole lot of difference from anywhere else in America - because Mormons are already everywhere. ...... everybody has to go to sleep sometime! LOL
Deborah Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 In my housing development here in Utah there are lots of non-Mormons from out of state, but there is also a church every few blocks. In our little shopping area we got a new bar and grill and it is very popular with the non-LDS. Even the LDS go there for the food, which is delicious. You will find what you want to find here and anywhere else. There are communities in California which are also heavily LDS. My son moved from a neighborhood where half his neighbors were LDS.I do find it funny though that someone would want to move to the heart of Mormondon and not want to meet any Mormons. It seems there are other nice places to live where you won't have that issue.
Messenger Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) This has to be the darwin award of all Original Posts.Darwin Points:1) OP is not Mormon.2) Posts a question a Mormon forum.3) About moving to Utah.4) who already lives in a Mormon town (Provo) known for education and its University.5) and asks .... "How do I avoid Mormons" . Edited March 3, 2012 by Messenger
ERayR Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 No, there are others. Moab I believe is even less LDS. There are a few areas recorded at only 25% or less.Yes but nobody lives in Moab. There is nothing there. :D
saemo Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 I have seen several "moving" or "city data" type websites where people looking to move to a particular city or state can ask questions about the area. When I decided to move out here, I read some of them and was amazed with all the posts with a common theme. "We like the Utah area, the clean atmosphere, the family nature, the healthy environment, the overall safeness of the communities. But is there a way to avoid the Mormons?""Looking to Move to Utah, but would like to find a Non-LDS neighborhood"."My husband and I are moving to Utah, but we are not LDS and would like to stay out of LDS communities".It goes on and on and on.... I am pretty certain that people would go ballistic if I put "I want to move to New York, but can I avoid the Jews?" or "I am moving to Southern California, and I'd like to avoid the Catholics".There are other areas. Why all the protections from Koran burnings, but certainly when some guy at Temple Square drags a Book of Mormon through a puddle demanding people "save" it, or a any of the other oddities people have done, no one goes postal over it.I guess the question, other than why people want to move to Utah to avoid the Mormons, is why the bigotry, bad attitudes, and fingerpointing is allowed for Mormons, but very little for anyone else? You'd think a home grown American religion would have a little more protection than all the foreign ones!When i have had people ask me about living in Utah and make statements about Mormn population it's usually three reasons:- Concern that Mormons are going to target their children for conversion. I know people who have not made the move to Utah for that reason alone.- Other people view a dense LDS population as an overly conservative population, and so are looking for the liberal areas of Utah, or in particular the more liberal areas of SLC. In Utah there has been an easy way in which to find out where the liberal communities are....find out where the per capita LDS membership is low.- sense of belonging - Having lived in Utah my whole life, this is the one reason that my husband and I sought out an area to live that had a lower LDS population. As newlyweds, we lived in a neighborhood that was very LDS. When you are the only, or part of a small group that are the only people not going to all the myriad of ward activities, there is a sense of not belonging where you are.
bluebell Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 This has to be the darwin award of all Original Posts.Darwin Points:1) OP is not Mormon.2) Posts a question a Mormon forum.3) About moving to Utah.4) who already lives in a Mormon town (Provo) known for education and its University.5) and asks .... "How do I avoid Mormons" .I think you have completely misread the OP.If i'm understanding him right, he's questioning the validity of other people who have spoken about wanting to move to utah but avoid the mormons. He's pointing out that no one would ever think it was o.k. to say that about moving to new york and avoiding Jews and wondering why people would think it's o.k. to say the same thing about mormons.And i think he IS mormon himself if i'm remembering right. 1
RadioFreeDeath Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Isn't a great deal of what makes Utah friendly and a clean environment etc because of the Mormon population? I feel like thats trying to have your cake and eat it too.
why me Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 I have seen several "moving" or "city data" type websites where people looking to move to a particular city or state can ask questions about the area. When I decided to move out here, I read some of them and was amazed with all the posts with a common theme."We like the Utah area, the clean atmosphere, the family nature, the healthy environment, the overall safeness of the communities. But is there a way to avoid the Mormons?"There is a contradiction in your post which many nonmembers do not get. The contradiction is: the reason why Utah is basically safe and has a healthy environment is because of the lds communities. I don't think that one can have one without the other. But nonlds do not seem to understand this.
why me Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Isn't a great deal of what makes Utah friendly and a clean environment etc because of the Mormon population? I feel like thats trying to have your cake and eat it too.This is true. I think that the problem is that the nonmembers moving to utah have no idea just what a mormon is. And what they perhaps heard is not that flattering. But once they move in, they soon realize that life among the mormons is not that difficult.
saemo Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) There is a contradiction in your post which many nonmembers do not get. The contradiction is: the reason why Utah is basically safe and has a healthy environment is because of the lds communities. I don't think that one can have one without the other. But nonlds do not seem to understand this.Objectively, No, it doesn't take Mormons to make a community safe, and the air quality along the wasatch front is one of the worst in the western US. According to Forbes, the safest cities in the US are Plano, TX followed by Henderson, NV and Honolulu, HI.Most people I know who move to Utah for the environment are referring to ski/board in the winter, mountain bike in the summer...the lifestyle of outdoor activity is what makes Utah It for them, not Mormons. Edited March 3, 2012 by saemo
frankenstein Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 You might want to revisit how "clean"Utah is. What is it air quality, what are the water quality standards...etc. as for avoiding the mooormons, stay away from provo and the surrounding areas. But as with all things you find what you look for.Some might consider a picture Hung behind a receptionist, wherein the focal point is a Mormon temple, is not appropriate for a corporation. Other will not see a problem with it.
RadioFreeDeath Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 You might want to revisit how "clean"Utah is. What is it air quality, what are the water quality standards...etc. as for avoiding the mooormons, stay away from provo and the surrounding areas. But as with all things you find what you look for.Some might consider a picture Hung behind a receptionist, wherein the focal point is a Mormon temple, is not appropriate for a corporation. Other will not see a problem with it.I think though the point of the argument is not the specific clean air or whatever, its the concept that people come to Utah because they appreciate that which is unique and positive about it, but they want all theses trappings without the majority of the population the mormons that make it so great. A therefore B. They want the B without the A.
cdowis Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 There is a term "Utah Mormon". Not just a Mormon, but one who is from Utah. I went to BYU and lived in Utah for several years and couldn't wait to get out of Utah. Can't explain it, perhaps there are so many social Mormons. I feel more comfortable among members of the church outside Utah.One footnote, when I visited a ward in southern Utah, they called each other Mr. and Mrs. rather than brother and sister. Strange. 1
why me Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 I think though the point of the argument is not the specific clean air or whatever, its the concept that people come to Utah because they appreciate that which is unique and positive about it, but they want all theses trappings without the majority of the population the mormons that make it so great. A therefore B. They want the B without the A.That was my point. Take away the B and we have a problem Houston. As I understand it, Salt lake City had a gang problem a few years ago. I am not sure if that problem still exists. But I don't think that many mormons were members of these gangs.
saemo Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) That was my point. Take away the B and we have a problem Houston. As I understand it, Salt lake City had a gang problem a few years ago. I am not sure if that problem still exists. But I don't think that many mormons were members of these gangs.Gang activity in Utah isn't divided by religious belief and practice, it is by and large ethnically divided. Guess what, the sad fact is that Mormons do get involved with gangs. One of the most violent gangs in Utah are the Tongan Crips, which are comprised almost entirely of Mormon teens and young adults.http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2005/July/07-29-com.htm Edited March 3, 2012 by saemo
why me Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Gang activity in Utah isn't divided by religious belief and practice, it is by and large ethnically divided. Guess what, the sad fact is that Mormons do get involved with gangs. One of the most violent gangs in Utah are the Tongan Crips, which are comprised almost entirely of Mormon teens and young adults.http://archives.pire...y/07-29-com.htmI can't say if these are active mormon kids. However, the lds have made Utah a rather safe place to live. But it is not a perfect world to live in.
Messenger Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 You might want to revisit how "clean"Utah is. What is it air quality, what are the water quality standards...etc. as for avoiding the mooormons, stay away from provo and the surrounding areas. But as with all things you find what you look for.Some might consider a picture Hung behind a receptionist, wherein the focal point is a Mormon temple, is not appropriate for a corporation. Other will not see a problem with it.Just a side note and an agreement with you on the environmental quality in Utah: Its poor at best. When the smog inversion hits, its pretty hard to breathe, especially if you have any kind of slight respiratory problems. I had a slight allergy when I lived in Oregon, moved to Utah and I was on medication year round, with only minimal benefits. Also, there is the water quality of the drinking water there. Along the Wasatch front, the drinking water is very high in calcium, which is a huge trigger for kidney stones. The only time I had one was in the 2nd year I lived there. That was the most pain I have ever been in. I guess the good think is you can easily request a blessing from just about anybody! LOL Although its cold in Idaho, I certainly have had no respiratory problems anymore, or any others related to drinking water. In fact, I think the water here is just about as pure as it can get anywhere in the country. But, it is cold in the winter... just not so much this winter.
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