Official Discussion on the Mormon/LDS influence in Idaho (buy, moving)

[SCGranny]

I used to be Mormon, and will never go back. That said, I have very little problem with Mormons per se. My brother is a Mormon and lives in ID in a small town with a population of 5,000 and 4 (count 'em! LOL) Mormon churches. Hurray for them! They are very nice people; when my sister in law was badly injured at work, they rallied around them and fed and took care of them.

When we went to visit, everyone was soooo nice. We stayed in a quaint motel (I make it a rule to NEVER stay with family) where I could walk to the lobby down the hall in my slippers and PJs and robe, sit in front of the fireplace, drink my coffee and read the paper while the snow came pounding down. Lovely! Everywhere we went around town, everyone was friendly. Hubby and I went to a local bar on Christmas Eve; well of course there were no Mormons there, but the folks were still so nice. There was a blizzard and we walked the six blocks to the bar. After hanging out til midnite, we started to leave, and everyone wanted to give us a ride back to the motel! On our walk, at least three cars stopped to check on us.

We traveled all over Southern ID, and went to Salt Lake to explore the Temple grounds and the Christmas lights and the Geneological Society (hubby is doing his geneology), and met wonderful people everywhere we went. The people in charge were polite and laughed and having a good time, so open and warm, but so were the folks who were visiting. In every town, even at every restaurant or rest stop, Idahoans were open hearted and comfortable. Hubby and I have been told we have an accent, so people would sit down with us and ask us to talk! We made a lot of friends and had a great time. I cried a few tears when we left on the plane to come home! And I am emphatically not a cryer.

I am a southerner, born and bred, raised to politeness and hospitality, and the hospitality in small-town ID is wonderful to experience, Mormons or not. I am also a little eccentric (if the PJs and slippers didn't clue you in) and the Idahoans didn't have a problem with that, either.

We thought about moving up there to be close to my brother; unfortunately it looks like all the folks from CA are going up there and raising the property values beyond all reason. What a shame, because I wouldn't mind living there - unless the Californians are taking it over and turning it into a miserable place like the "snowbirds" are doing to SC. People are people - some treat women like second class citizens, some are rude, some are standoffish and some are self-involved; but I have found that most who are comfortable with themselves and their beliefs whatever they may be are able to be comfortable with others.

[pimit2]

Dear SCGranny,

Thank you for your wonderful post!

The Mormon influence on Idaho is a BIG topic on this Forum. Folks thinking about moving to Idaho often wonder about being a non-Mormon in areas where that religion is so prominent. You have expressed experiences that are close to mine. I have always found those in Idaho who follow the LDS belief to be cordial, considerate, helpful and usually friendly.

On occasion, a post to this Forum will talk about an uncomfortable or bad interface with a Mormon or Mormon family. Well, guess what! That also can happen with those from other religious backgrounds.

While I am not Mormon - and, in fact, have some disagreement with the basic concept - it had no impact on my choice to move to Idaho. It turned out to be a non-issue, as far as I am concerned.

Thank you for your perspective. It was well done.


pimit2 (Bob)

[mersmom]

[quote=fabforever;862050] "last week one of our LDS neighbors came over to talk to me, and we got into the subject of school since she has a 3 year old also. To my surprise and shock, she told me that my daughter would probably be alone in the school bus because all of the kids in the subdivision went to the same church and she didn’t. She also hinted that her daughter would be a proper little girl, while mine would be a bad influence to their kids. At the time I was unable to respond, I just felt so upset and hurt. Although I had noticed that we were not very welcomed in the neighborhood because we were not Mormons, it didn’t bother me until these comments were made last week. "

Fabforever... I wandered onto this website while looking up shipping rates, of all things. I don't even really know how I got here, but I started reading all these posts about LDS "issues" in Idaho. I read your post... particularly the above part and it just broke my heart! I am LDS and I just wanted to let you and anyone else here know that I am saddened that there is anyone out there, of ANY religion, let alone my same religion, who would treat someone like that. I'm so sorry that you were hurt by someone's ignorant comments! For anyone considering moving to Idaho, I do know that there are as many kinds of "mormons" as there are "mormons", so please take it at face value. The LDS religion is made up of people who are imperfect.

I do appreciate reading things like this for the self-evaluation it induces. I can't help but sit here and think on how I have been treating my neighbors, LDS or not. I would love to say I invite every neighbor over for dinner, but I don't invite anyone over for dinner... that would require me to cook! No really, someone said, in some post, something like this (I'm going to paraphrase, badly): Most likely, non-LDS aren't treated as poorly as they imagine, and most likely, LDS aren't treating people as well as they imagine!
I thought that one hit right on the nose. I appreciated the wake up call for evaluating myself on this issue.

As far as my kids are concerned... I feel like I let them play with whoever as long as I feel like the friend's family has similar values to mine... don't swear in front of their kids, watch ratings on movies, things like that....Is that a freaky LDS thing... or a normal person-whatever-religion thing? I always try hard to get to know the parents of my kids friends so that I have an idea of what the children's values are. I, frankly, don't even know what religion many of my son's friends are and I intend to keep it that way! After all, Jesus said, "Love everyone"... not, Love everyone who is the same religion as you!

[Kat1996]

I am a temple card carrying Mormon and my husband is an RM (that's returned missionary). I find it disturbing when I hear about people being shunned because they are not LDS. My best friend is Catholic and we get along just fine. When we go out to eat she drinks and I throw back my diet Cokes.

Yes there are going to be more LDS in the west since they settled Utah due to that pesky extermination order in Missouri and then were kicked out of several other states.

Yes I agree that some can be cliquish and that is such a crappy reflection on the rest of us. Honestly I have met some people from Utah who cannot handle living any other place. They have no idea that dry sauce (Utah thing) does not exist everywhere and goodness forbid that I normally have a diet Coke IV drip attached to me at all times. You should see some of their faces when they find out that I was inactive for almost 7 years.

We actually have refused to move to Utah because we don't want our kids to grow up in a fishbowl. That being said we also would do almost anything to move to ID. DH best friend is there and we just love the area. It has nothing to do with the population of LDS.

Also remember that the shunning goes both ways. Growing up in Oklahoma I was the only Mormon kid in my school and parents looked at me like I had a second head when they found out. Here in KY there are churches that teach you how to preach to LDS.

Directly around our home we have kids who are: Muslim, Korean, Hindu, Catholic, Baptist, etc. They are all welcome at my house and my kids are welcome at theirs. I think this makes a more well-rounded person.

Anywho just my .02

[SCGranny]

Aha! Reason number 57 for having a Mormon friend - a permanent designated driver! LOL

Seriously, most parents will not have the identical values as everyone else in a neighborhood - even if they have the same religious beliefs. There are some parents who swear (and their kids pick it up) who will never lie to or cheat anyone. And there are some parents who are 'well respected' in neighborhoods, attend Church several days a week, who turn out to be child molesters or wife abusers. I never judge on the surface that people portray, but on the results of their child-rearing, neighborhood life, or business dealings.

[ki2serenityLV]

I don't live in Idaho,yet, although I am seriously considering it right now. Which explains how I got to this site today. I am also saddened to hear that a non-lds person had been hurt or saddened by an lds person. I was not raised in the lds religion, but recently i have decided to convert. LDS people are the same as non-LDS people they have just chose to make different decisions about how to manage their life. Just as certain religions dont eat certain foods,or go to church to confess their sins, or go to touch a statue in reverance, so do the LDS have their little things that they do to better their lives for themselves. I for one will never judge anyone even though I am now LDS. I have done alot of things that makes me far from perfect, well most of the things that makes me far from perfect, so I am never going to be in the state of mind to judge what other people do whether they are LDS or not. I hope that people wont judge me because I am LDS, but if they do then I hope they at least take the time to know me as a person and not a whole religion, so they can see I am just trying to make it in this world like everyone else. My children do have morals that we will stand up to. But I had those same values as a non LDS mom too. I invite children in my house regardless of race religion or morals, as long as while they are in my home they follow my house rules.
I think we all have more in common then we would like to think we do, because being segregated is easier then working on relationships with other people. I sincerely understand and hear your points of view on LDS people, and I take the points as a challenge to myself, so I can be a better person and maybe someday make someone say,"wow, that mormon girl was pretty cool!"

[ejay]

I am also a Latter Day Saint. Mormon is a slang term that is offensive to Latter Day Saints. Just so all of you know. I don't like being called a Mormon because that's not what I am. And the fact that a lot of Latter Day Saints were killed and run out of there home town in misouri when the church was being started by joseph smith. Proves that there is an inherit predjudice against Latter Day Saint People in general. They killed our prophet!!! I have been ridiculed for my regilious beliefs spit on and treated poorly by non members out of pure ignorance. I find it offensive that so manny peole are willing to bag on a religion that they have no idea about.

I dont see a catholic complaint post sticky here just a mormon one. Your ignorance of us is the problem not us. When you pre judge some one and single them out you have become a racist. If you had a sticky post about gay people and every one bagged on them there would be trouble. And I have no problem with gay people. Its there life live it. But why must I accept you if you don't accept me? It seems to me that Latter Day Saints are very accomidating. Are you?

[Syringaloid]

Originally Posted by ejay

I am also a Latter Day Saint. Mormon is a slang term that is offensive to Latter Day Saints. Just so all of you know. I don't like being called a Mormon because that's not what I am. And the fact that a lot of Latter Day Saints were killed and run out of there home town in misouri when the church was being started by joseph smith. Proves that there is an inherit predjudice against Latter Day Saint People in general. They killed our prophet!!! I have been ridiculed for my regilious beliefs spit on and treated poorly by non members out of pure ignorance. I find it offensive that so manny peole are willing to bag on a religion that they have no idea about.

I dont see a catholic complaint post sticky here just a mormon one. Your ignorance of us is the problem not us. When you pre judge some one and single them out you have become a racist. If you had a sticky post about gay people and every one bagged on them there would be trouble. And I have no problem with gay people. Its there life live it. But why must I accept you if you don't accept me? It seems to me that Latter Day Saints are very accomidating. Are you?

I beg to differ about Mormon being offensive to members. I saw your post here and asked several LDS/Mormon people I work with here in Boise and they all said that the term Mormon is not offensive although the Church prefers to be referred to as Latter Day Saints. Why would Mormon be offensive when the Book of Mormon has Mormon in the title? Wasn't Mormon supposed to be one of your prized old and ancient prophets? I bet he would not be happy to know his name is considered slang by some of the members

[ejay]

I have been a member for 35yrs. And no where on my church does it say "The mormon church" That was a name given to us, That for some reason church members have accepted. I was always taught that I was a Latter Day Saint not a mormon. I don't know how others have been taught but that was a biggie when I was growing up. That has changed but there are some of us that don't like the term. Mormon was a prophet but I think that by using his name you take away from the true name and meaning of the church. Just like all religions every ward is different but all wards believe the same basic teachings.

Look at this link.... Question and Answer 21

This is the quote from the website.. "
[SIZE=3]578: [/SIZE][SIZE=3]On 01/24/99, [/SIZE][SIZE=3]Janna asked,[/SIZE] I work as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Part of my duties requires answering questions submitted to our question board. What follows is a question that recently was submitted: "Why are Mormons called 'Mormons' if the name of their church is 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?'" I have looked at several websites related to the Mormon faith and was unable to find an answer to this question. I was wondering if you would know the information necessary to answer the question? I would appreciate your help and thank you very much for your time.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were nicknamed "Mormons" by non-members because of their belief in The Book of Mormon. Non-members have at times also referred to the LDS faith as "Mormonism". Members of the Church typically prefer their official nickname, Latter-day Saints.

[Sage of Sagle]

Ejay,

As a moderator, I am telling you that due to the widespread use of the term, we are NOT going to ask members to cease using the term. Enough LDS-believing people I know personally use the term "Mormon" and I see it often enough in press (uhhh...yeah....type in "mormon.com"):
Mormon.org

If you harangue people about this topic, you'll simply find yourself being edited...it's your choice...but we'd rather keep you here...really...