What non-Mormons should know about moving to Utah (Salt Lake City, Sandy: fit in, houses)

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

You must not have been in any "small and old" house in the city itself. In affluent areas they are all gutted and re-done with space added. My own house went from 987 sq ft to 2314 sq ft with granite, stainless appls, travertine, en suite bath, etc. It retained its 1921 Craftsman Bungalow style.

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[Chango]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

You must not have been in any "small and old" house in the city itself. In affluent areas they are all gutted and re-done with space added. My own house went from 987 sq ft to 2314 sq ft with granite, stainless appls, travertine, en suite bath, etc. It retained its 1921 Craftsman Bungalow style.

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It doesn't sound like it "retained the style" then. Part of the charm of bungalow living is "roughing it" in a 1920's home design!

Anyway, I have my own list:

#1 Utah isn't a foreign country. It's not so different from the rest of the Western US to me (and I've lived in Phoenix and LA). Every place has it's quirks but that's all they are... quirks.

#2 Mormons are generally hospitable people. They are not known to insist you be saved and consider you a servant of Satan if you don't, nor behead you and blow things up if you poke fun at their prophets.

#3 Mormons are the majority but they don't rule every aspect of life in Utah.

#4 Utah consistently tops lists for antidepressant use, plastic surgery and pornography. If you need a place with a "dark side" to keep it real you'll be OK here.

#5 You can be happy wherever you are... even in Utah. I'm living proof!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Originally Posted by Chango

It doesn't sound like it "retained the style" then. Part of the charm of bungalow living is "roughing it" in a 1920's home design!

..................!

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The architectural details like hardwood floors, original tile, arches, beams, etc all stay. I prefer an updated kitchen, laundry upstairs, etc.

[formerutahn]

I lived in Utah for 23 years, just recently moved to Memphis. I am not LDS, but would move back to Utah in a heartbeat. Sure there are Mormons who are rude, but you can find that anywhere. I was the only non-LDS person where I worked and almost everyone accepted me, some of them are very close friends of mine. My daughter went to school K-12 in Utah. There were times when of the kids were cruel, but my daughter learned to stand up for herself and what she believed in. But like I said, there are bad, rude people everywhere.

[movingonagain777]

Very well put formerutahn!!! I agree with you!! Utah is fantastic for all types of folks!!

[miketmartin]

No bar that I have been to scans your drivers license when you order a drink, and I think I've been to most of the major bars downtown. That's just a straight up lie.

They scan your ID at the door when you walk in. Pay with cash and they have no record of what drinks you ordered.

Go to most other states and they also now use scanners to scan ID's. Helps prevent fake ID's.

[jessicadwr]

I have lived in utah my entire life. Born and raised. I am not LDS, nor is anyone in my family. Now that I have finally graduated college I am actively trying to get out of here!!! As for the school system, yes both high schools and jr. highs have seminaries, and no not ever LDS kid has to go to it, obviously it has to do with the kids individual parents. If their parents make them then they go. Growing up non-LDS I had some difficult in grade school with segregation and discrimination. But it was only with the crazy mormon kids and their families. All of my friends in school were "jack mormons". And I am currently married to a bishops son. Mormons can be oppressive, mean, and self important. (especially when you are stealing their sons soul But not everyone acts that way. The bar scenes in SLC are actually ok. I have a lot of fun and made a lot of friends. But yes I have had my ID scanned at ever bar I've been to (and those that haven't probably look old enough that the bar tenders can tell they are over 21). But who cares if it's scanned or not? Won't stop me from drinking! I do hate that Utah drinks at bars have so little alcohol in them and the beers suck. But that's why you pre game before going to the bars! As for the working situation, I have usually worked with mostly mormons but really haven't had a problem. Most people once they get to know me are nice and honestly working in healthcare I haven't had any problems.
In conclusion Utah is not for everyone, frankly I am just sick of the mormons and their attitude. Probably screwed myself by marrying a Utah County Bishops Son, since his son is now doomed to hell for denouncing that church. But ya can't help who you love! Since I have involved myself in not a good way with the mormons I have had a lot of problems with them and now I can not wait to escape to a place where I can feel accepted. So ya Utah sucks for us non mormons but it doesn't have to, (my parents love it and never want to leave and my dad is an atheist!) So don't knock it tell you try it I guess!

[jethat]

I'm a 50 year old non-Mormon, life long Salt Leker and I love Salt Lake City for the most part.The most difficult thing is if you have children. The seminary thing thats been mentioned is only part of it. Most of the kids social life happens at the local ward. The Mormons have there own Boy and Girl scouts and if you would rather your children not participate in Mormon church ran activity's your gonna have to go out of your way to do that. There are social clicks in the schools that start out in the church and all.. If you can handle your kid having a casual relationship with the church things go smother. Thats how it was with my kid. I let him do things with the church. If you dont do that they can struggle more being accepted.
If you dont have kids other then some wierd stuff like the liquor laws and that kind of thing its really not bad.

[Brian Carv]

wow- im new to this blogging- what and eye openner though- dont even know that im in the right place for this commet but here goes- Im really intrested in relocating to Utah, I live in hawaii now and have lived here all my life. I love hawai but it has gotten to crowded for me. I have been to Utah many times but only to ski and vacation. My wife and I really enjoy it and so do our kids. I am planning to move here in about 5 years when I retire. I have been looking mostly on line for places to live. Everytime I go there with the intention to look for places I end up just skiing and enjoying the trip as a tourist. I've talked to people that are from Utah vacationing in hawaii but it seems that everyone has a differewnt take on the best places to live - I guess thats expected. Maybe thats why I've found this site and would like to ask anyone out there in Utah for some help with this. Im a Catholic and I have a lot of friends that are Morman so im cool with that if they are cool with that. Im a fire captain in hawaii and my wife works for the city. My wife and I (and my grandson) would like to find a place with wide open land (an acre or more) that is not so much off the grid but enough that I could play my drums and not disturb my neighbors kind of place. I know this sounds weird but i hope you get what im saying. A place thats away from heavy crime were i wont be the guy everyone else thinks doesnt belongs here or shouldnt have moved here. A Walgrens commercial kind of place (haha) i think everyone wants a safe place to live and grow. anyway thanks for reading this and if you can help i'll appreciate it a lot. aloha

[MisfitBanana]

Originally Posted by Chango

It doesn't sound like it "retained the style" then. Part of the charm of bungalow living is "roughing it" in a 1920's home design!

Anyway, I have my own list:

#1 Utah isn't a foreign country. It's not so different from the rest of the Western US to me (and I've lived in Phoenix and LA). Every place has it's quirks but that's all they are... quirks.

#2 Mormons are generally hospitable people. They are not known to insist you be saved and consider you a servant of Satan if you don't, nor behead you and blow things up if you poke fun at their prophets.

#3 Mormons are the majority but they don't rule every aspect of life in Utah.

#4 Utah consistently tops lists for antidepressant use, plastic surgery and pornography. If you need a place with a "dark side" to keep it real you'll be OK here.

#5 You can be happy wherever you are... even in Utah. I'm living proof!

I lived in California for 27 years, then moved to Utah 6 years ago. I had never known someone under the age of 30 who had gotten botox and fillers (and talked about it like it was no big thing) until I moved to Utah. I know a bunch of people in their twenties (I work at a college) who have gotten botox for the "lines" in their forehead (nonexistent even before the botox), or who have plumped up their lips with fillers. Men do it as well as women.

One of the women who did it told me that about five or six years ago, Utah topped the list for most vain state. I believe it.

And I'm betting the porn has to do with the way so many people prefer to ignore sex, and act like if they never mention it, their kids won't ever get curious or hear about it from other sources. Even the sex education in schools is seriously lacking.

EDIT: Forgot - it's also amazing how people carry little pharmacies in their purses. I've heard people offer other people all kinds of drugs if they wanted it. Similar to offering someone an aspirin, except they're offering percocet, etc.