I got pissed off in GD class this week

[TripletDaddy]

My main problem with Utah mormonism is simply the claustrophobic feeling I would get when every person on my block is in my ward....we see each other daily, every Sunday, our kids play together, everyone goes to scouts together, etc... This really is a product of the demographics and has nothing to do with the righteousness of the people. I am not sure how someone can make an accurate assessment of the righteousness of any states citizenry.

As to the "ward community" in Utah, I dont want everyone in my ward knowing all of my business because they all live within 2 blocks of me, and I certainly dont want to hang out mostly with the same ward people. I like having non-member friends and doing lots of things socially that do not involve the ward or its members.

Some folks gravitate towards that alleged benefit of living in Utah, but personally, it would annoy me. That is why I was grateful that my wife was interested in leaving Utah. we left and never looked back. That decision worked well for us.

We love going back to visit, though. It is always a fun time.

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by MudphudCoug

I have always been fascinated by comparisons between Utah and non-Utah Mormons.

I know quite a few of Mormons in the southwest who go to bars and get drunk during the week, and then show up at church or the temple acting completely pious. And I've seen plenty of the same in Utah.

But in Utah, you're more likely to see kids from your neighborhood smoking behind the gas station, or to catch your active LDS neighbor buying beer at the grocery store. In states with fewer Mormons, you're less likely to bump into these folks at your neighborhood store, so little sins are more likely to go unnoticed. That's the difference between Utah and non-Utah Mormons, IMO.

I hated it when my elder quorum president would run into me at the store while I was buying beer. It was very awkward. It was also awkward when I ran into him while playing black jack in wendover. It was even more awkward when he was at the next table over when I was enjoying the lunch buffet at Golden Trails

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by MudphudCoug

I'm sort of regretting the choice now. I should have been LaterCoug.

I bet for a big enough donation Mike will let you change it again. :-D

Besides, mudphud is good. It's enigmatic. Plus, with your posting reputation, everyone will wonder if it's a slang term for something really naughty.

[marsupial]

Why the change? Mudphud is nice though. In fact, I like it so much I think I will add it to our ongoing list of possible baby names.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by MudphudCoug

I'm sort of regretting the choice now. I should have been LaterCoug.

OK, I get it now. It's actually pretty clever once you figure it out.

[Spaz]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

LOL.

On behalf of my fellow Provo-ites, don't let the door hit your butt on the way out.

To be fair, the only places in Provo I actually lived were on-campus housing, BYU-approved apartments, the Rabbit Hutches, and this apartment complex a few blocks from Smiths, in which resided a drug dealer, a woman who was high more often than not (and who busted into our apartment because she thought my yelling & cheering during a BYU football game I was watching was me beating my wife), my wife was propositioned by at least two men three times her age, and had mold growing on the walls.


The kicker is, it was the married student ward that really pushed us away from Provo, and not 'the compound', as we called it.

[SoonerCoug]

Originally Posted by marsupial

Why the change? Mudphud is nice though. In fact, I like it so much I think I will add it to our ongoing list of possible baby names.

Just wanted a change. Sort of like rearranging the furniture.

It reminds me of mudpuppy. I had to dissect one of those in vertebrate/invertebrate strategies class at BYU.

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

My main problem with Utah mormonism is simply the claustrophobic feeling I would get when every person on my block is in my ward....we see each other daily, every Sunday, our kids play together, everyone goes to scouts together, etc... This really is a product of the demographics and has nothing to do with the righteousness of the people. I am not sure how someone can make an accurate assessment of the righteousness of any states citizenry.

This is precisely why I love Utah County. Not so much for myself, but for my kids. It's very comforting to walk through the halls of the elementary school and you recognize nearly everyone from your ward or stake, and know exactly what their families are like, etc.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

... and I certainly dont want to hang out mostly with the same ward people. I like having non-member friends and doing lots of things socially that do not involve the ward or its members.

You lost me here. Is there some law against socializing outside of ward boundaries in Utah?

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

You lost me here. Is there some law against socializing outside of ward boundaries in Utah?

No, not at all.

But the fact of the matter is, despite being able to socialize with whomever you wish, the main source of sociality is still usually your ward when you live in Utah.

No thanks for me. I dont want to see them same group of people every day....when I drive down the street to my house, then when I go to mid-week church meetings, then when my kids have their friends over on the weekend, then when we go to the ward activity on Saturday, then when we go to Church on Sunday.

Like I said, it isnt for me. It works well for others and if it does, more power to everyone.