Any non-Mormon areas in Gilbert? (Phoenix, Chandler: good schools, living, safety)

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by AndyDwyer480

Lots of people have great faith and still don’t advertise it.

You really can't identify a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) unless they tell you they are of the faith and community. There is no doubt that they are the dominant community in Gilbert if measured through politics and community involvement. However, they are not strange aliens with radically different sensibilities. They typically desire the same things that everyone else does in a community.

The only thing I could see some potential conflict over are some resentments with regard to the school situation. The release-time Seminary program, which is present throughout Arizona, is more noticeable in Gilbert because of the substantial number of LDS students in the high schools. This might create a feeling of segregation within the public schools as the typically whiter and wealthier LDS high school students separate themselves on a daily basis. You also occasionally hear and read about incidents where someone's child felt alienated by the predominance of LDS students who might be cliquish. However, by most accounts that is overblown.

[AndyDwyer480]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

You really can't identify a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) unless they tell you they are of the faith and community. There is no doubt that they are the dominant community in Gilbert if measured through politics and community involvement. However, they are not strange aliens with radically different sensibilities. They typically desire the same things that everyone else does in a community.

The only thing I could see some potential conflict over are some resentments with regard to the school situation. The release-time Seminary program, which is present throughout Arizona, is more noticeable in Gilbert because of the substantial number of LDS students in the high schools. This might create a feeling of segregation within the public schools as the typically whiter and wealthier LDS high school students separate themselves on a daily basis. You also occasionally hear and read about incidents where someone's child felt alienated by the predominance of LDS students who might be cliquish. However, by most accounts that is overblown.

I think you would be surprised how many people write down Mormon as their Religious affiliation but may not have practiced in quite a while.

As far as rich kids making poor kids feel unwelcome? It’s like that literally everywhere. Seriously, go watch a movie about high school. Any one of them. Like literally any one of them.

I’m not Mormon and I do not think that I could ever find myself subscribing to their religious beliefs, but I think they get pretty bad rap for how quiet and peaceful they are. Seriously they get more flak out here then most of the gangs do

[Colt AZ]

Originally Posted by AndyDwyer480

I think you would be surprised how many people write down Mormon as their Religious affiliation but may not have practiced in quite a while.

As far as rich kids making poor kids feel unwelcome? It’s like that literally everywhere. Seriously, go watch a movie about high school. Any one of them. Like literally any one of them.

I’m not Mormon and I do not think that I could ever find myself subscribing to their religious beliefs, but I think they get pretty bad rap for how quiet and peaceful they are. Seriously they get more flak out here then most of the gangs do

Most "religious" groups do.

[Andrew Wilson]

I am with you both AndyDwywee480 and Colt AZ. Both of guys are right.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by Nate4635

I've not lived in Utah, but hearing some of the crazy things the religion imparts on those there, I don't find any of that here. I can buy alcohol, go to bars, drink at restaurants, drink normal Coke, etc.

FYI, you can do all of those things in Utah, too.

[hikernut]

Probably half of the houses in our neighborhood are Mormon, and we are not. Never had any issues. They are all nice people. I've also worked with a number of Mormons over the years and most of the time I wouldn't even know about their religion until someone else told me.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by AndyDwyer480

I think you would be surprised how many people write down Mormon as their Religious affiliation but may not have practiced in quite a while.

As far as rich kids making poor kids feel unwelcome? It’s like that literally everywhere. Seriously, go watch a movie about high school. Any one of them. Like literally any one of them.

I’m not Mormon and I do not think that I could ever find myself subscribing to their religious beliefs, but I think they get pretty bad rap for how quiet and peaceful they are. Seriously they get more flak out here then most of the gangs do

I completely agree with you, and I liked your comments in the Utah forum.

[akemsley]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Living in Gilbert is like living in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A lot of Americans choose to live in the UAE because it's a wealthy country that offers a high standard of living. However, the law is still sharia. You live by their rules. And for most people, they are fine with that. As long as they don't engage in pornography, drugs/alcohol and outward displays of lewd/crude behavior, they are fine. Americans that I know who live there love it. They say it's clean, has great schools and never worry about crime.

Gilbert is the same way. It's a Mormon community. A lot of non-Mormons live there and like it. It's clean, safe, and upscale. People are polite. But it's not a place that you truly express your liberal viewpoint and demand the school board and city council respect your left leaning political views. Make no mistake, Gilbert is a Mormon town. There have been several examples of where the conservative influence of the town has interjected itself in city affairs. I still remember how the Victoria's Secret ad was asked to be pulled down because it was considered too lewd. And even getting approval for the Dirks Bentley bar in downtown Gilbert had been met with concerns for "noise" (despite this being in a downtown where other restaurants and venues where located).

As a life-long religious Mormon who has lived in both Dubai and Gilbert, I'd agree with their similarities. I might be biased, but I'd say living in Gilbert is nowhere near as bad as living in the South or the Mid-west, as far as religious influence goes. The overall culture is more "Mitt Romney", although I certainly did meet a few Ted Cruz types during the short time I lived there many years ago (they were my first shocking exposure to American conservatism).

Oh, and I would also like to apologize for the Victoria Secret ad. The woman who wrote the city insisting it be removed was my aunt who is also Mormon. Apparently her letter made local news and she was all proud of it. I'm certainly not proud of it, and would like to apologize in behalf of all of Mormondom for the stick up her ass.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by akemsley

Oh, and I would also like to apologize for the Victoria Secret ad. The woman who wrote the city insisting it be removed was my aunt who is also Mormon. Apparently her letter made local news and she was all proud of it. I'm certainly not proud of it, and would like to apologize in behalf of all of Mormondom for the stick up her ass.

As a fellow Mormon, I think you and I are a lot alike.

[Sno0909]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Living in Gilbert is like living in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A lot of Americans choose to live in the UAE because it's a wealthy country that offers a high standard of living. However, the law is still sharia. You live by their rules. And for most people, they are fine with that. As long as they don't engage in pornography, drugs/alcohol and outward displays of lewd/crude behavior, they are fine. Americans that I know who live there love it. They say it's clean, has great schools and never worry about crime.

Gilbert is the same way. It's a Mormon community. A lot of non-Mormons live there and like it. It's clean, safe, and upscale. People are polite. But it's not a place that you truly express your liberal viewpoint and demand the school board and city council respect your left leaning political views. Make no mistake, Gilbert is a Mormon town. There have been several examples of where the conservative influence of the town has interjected itself in city affairs. I still remember how the Victoria's Secret ad was asked to be pulled down because it was considered too lewd. And even getting approval for the Dirks Bentley bar in downtown Gilbert had been met with concerns for "noise" (despite this being in a downtown where other restaurants and venues where located).

So it's kind of like the American guy living in Dubai. It's a great country but you live by their rules. Same rules apply to Gilbert. As long as you are okay with that, you'll love it.

I think this is pretty absurd. Comparing Mormonism to Sharia? Wow. I recently moved back to Gilbert. Guess what...I do the exact same things I did when I lived in North Phoenix. Do you think I was expected to change my ways or something? I literally see no difference - except the fact that everything is nice, clean, and new.