From Los Angeles to Idaho (Boise, Meridian: chapels, neighborhoods, weddings)

[motherof3bylax]

Hello - we are looking at relocating from Los Angeles to Idaho,,,we have three kids, 9th grade, 7th grade and 2nd grade...so looking for great schools, of course,,,also looking for a "hometown" feel with nice neighborhoods, parks and overall sense of community and family. We are catholic and would not like to live in a predominantly LDS neighborhood...(not that there's anything wrong with LDS)... I have read alot of threads here and have been researching different communities, but would like to hear honest opinions about communities that would fit my criteria...of course, there are alot of other things to consider,,,but, I must start somewhere! Thank you!

[stingraynm]

Originally Posted by motherof3bylax

Hello - we are looking at relocating from Los Angeles to Idaho,,,we have three kids, 9th grade, 7th grade and 2nd grade...so looking for great schools, of course,,,also looking for a "hometown" feel with nice neighborhoods, parks and overall sense of community and family. We are catholic and would not like to live in a predominantly LDS neighborhood...(not that there's anything wrong with LDS)... I have read alot of threads here and have been researching different communities, but would like to hear honest opinions about communities that would fit my criteria...of course, there are alot of other things to consider,,,but, I must start somewhere! Thank you!

You'll find a wealth of neighborhoods that fit your criteria in Boise. Up Bogus Basin to the north of Hill Rd. is a great area, with quaint at the bottom to posh in the foothills. I grew up in both those areas and it was a safe childhood with a big back yard. Same with the East side foothills and out Warm Springs up to around Columbia Village. Lots of new communities with quality amenities, but you'll pay for them. Most Boise schools are good. As with most valley sprawls, the hills and edges are the best bet for schools. Not to sound like an up-tight prude, but most of the schools in central and thoroughfare areas will have your kids mingling with peers by junior high whose parents follow the permissive persuasion, shall we say. I know from experience as someone who grew up in a nice neighborhood in the Highlands and attended North Jr. High. By the time it came time for me to go to Boise High, my parents switched me to a small private school for several reasons. From LA, though, your kids will find any Boise school to be quite mellow and friendly. My dad grew up in Hazelton, ID on a farm, so he was easily worried by what is probably fairly commonplace in any school nowadays.

[rickers]

If you are Catholic and you move into a so called Mormon neighbor hood (what's that !), you wouldn't even know it unless you try to get involved and try to be part of the community or something. (That is something a lot of people moving to the north-west seem to want to do.) Most folks in Idaho as well as Montana just really don't give a flying rats patootie what or who you are as long as your a nice honest person and don't push any new way on anybody. I've never even heard of Mormon neighborhoods ! Have you ever visited the northwest ? Don't believe much of the B.S. you read here, and like I always say, visit, visit, visit before you freaking move anywhere.

[Syringaloid]

Originally Posted by rickers

If you are Catholic and you move into a so called Mormon neighbor hood (what's that !), you wouldn't even know it unless you try to get involved and try to be part of the community or something. (That is something a lot of people moving to the north-west seem to want to do.) Most folks in Idaho as well as Montana just really don't give a flying rats patootie what or who you are as long as your a nice honest person and don't push any new way on anybody. I've never even heard of Mormon neighborhoods ! Have you ever visited the northwest ? Don't believe much of the B.S. you read here, and like I always say, visit, visit, visit before you freaking move anywhere.

LDS/Mormon dominant neighborhoods (which do exist) are easy to spot because you will notice a Stake Center or chapels scattered to and fro.

Most of Boise lacks in LDS churches as most are in the West of the city and into Meridian. The rest of the city has some but they are few and far between. There is not a Mormon church in the downtown area of Boise which is predominately Catholic. I can think of an LDS Stake Center way out on Warm Springs Ave and there is one on Bogus Basin Road, but only one.
I guess there might be a downtown LDS church if you consider the LDS Institute at BSU, but that is adjacent to campus.

Boise has sevaral beautiful Catholic churches and some really amazing new ones which have been built in recent years to handle the influx of population and the growth of the Catholic church in Boise. Our mayor is Catholic and many people in the city in power are also Catholic. One of the largest yearly events celebrated in Boise by the Basque citizens is based on a Catholic Saint. The first religious service in Boise was a Catholic Mass so the church is deeply rooted here.

[DESERTRYDER]

I don't think the Mormans will cause you as much harm as a gansta rapper you might encounter near LAX.
Cut the Mormans some slack because everyone I ever met was a great person.
Just don't go to the socials when they invite you and don't try on the special underware

[stingraynm]

Originally Posted by DESERTRYDER

I don't think the Mormans will cause you as much harm as a gansta rapper you might encounter near LAX.
Cut the Mormans some slack because everyone I ever met was a great person.
Just don't go to the socials when they invite you and don't try on the special underware

From the perspective of your average secular or non-denominational citizen, they throw pretty boring weddings, too. You just sit around while the couple goes through a closed door ritual, and then there's no alcohol at the reception and most of the single women in attendance are extremely friendly until they find out you're not a Mormon looking for a bride of your own.

Hey, I'm not putting it down, 'cause a wedding is a time for the bride and groom to ritually express their union under the belief system they see fit, and by all means they're catering to their families who put in so much personal and financial investment. Any friend of worth won't mind casting aside personal expectations and enjoying whatever is romantic/appropriate to those involved in the wedding. I just couldn't resist joining in the jest, having been a young college guy who appreciated the... ahem... "party" potential of weddings and got to see one converted pal's wedding that proved that's not exactly a unanimous possibility.

[IdahoEagle]

There is a Website called Catholic Idaho which is hosted by the diocese of Boise that has information on Catholic churches in Idaho. There might be some useful information there that might help you.
Catholic Idaho -- Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise

St. Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d'Alene is listed there. It is a beautiful church in downtown Coeur d'Alene by Sorenson School.

The bells used to wake me up on Sundays...

[rickers]

I bet the inside of that church is as beautiful as the exterior. I've never been inside of a Catholic church. Can you guess what Catholic church these photos are from. Hint; Its on an Indian reservation in Montana. The entire inside of the church has these beautiful paintings on the walls and ceiling.

[stingraynm]

Originally Posted by rickers

I bet the inside of that church is as beautiful as the exterior. I've never been inside of a Catholic church. Can you guess what Catholic church these photos are from. Hint; Its on an Indian reservation in Montana. The entire inside of the church has these beautiful paintings on the walls and ceiling.

Wow... those are profoundly spectacular. Is there any info about who the artist was?

[rickers]

The painters name was Brother Carignano he painted 58 murals in this church The church was established by Father DeSmet and Father Hoecken. I think it may still be in use.