Non-mormon family looking to relocate to Lehi (Hyrum, Salem: condo, gated)

[Snowbird]

Forgive me for butting in here, and I haven't read this entire thread, but I don't know why we're working so hard to convince non-believers (those that don't believe Utah is liveable) to convert. We just passed one million people in the Salt Lake area, we are full. Besides, these nay sayers wouldn't notice that the scenery is amazing, the outdoor activities are close and world class, the people are friendly and helpful, the city is vibrant and culturally diverse when all they could hear is themselves complaining about the locals. We should be discouraging grumps and whiners from moving here. It would make my Sundays on the ski slopes much less crowded and much more pleasant if they were to move elsewhere. Just my opinion.

[chazcrew]

LOL Snowbird, good point.

[DP525]

Originally Posted by edschred

Hi All, It’s my first post here. I work and live in Manhattan, NYC, as a real estate broker. 15 years selling residential here. Anyway, I've been to Park City skiing a couple of times. I was thinking of getting a second home there and maybe living threre part time. I don't have a family yet but will someday in th enext five years or so. Manhattan is just too much fun to settle down right now. I am religious but not Agnostic. Just spiritual. I believe in one God and that Gods presense is shown to me in others by the love I see them giving. I enjoy the practices of others that worship their God either in a group or individually if it comes from a place of love and respect. When people get preachy or demanding, I step aside. Anyway, I didn't originally come here to talk about religion. I was interested in Real Estate Investment in Park City, and the SLC areas. Mainly because it's so beautiful in the Mountains and the skiing and other outdoor lifestyle stuff rocks there. So, I found this site and stumbled across this thread. WOW! This hits the nail on the head. What's more important than where you live and what you believe in? I only read the first and last parts of the thread. It seems that DP stated in the beginning that "Utah was going to have to do without him". At the end he's talking about which subdivision to live in that's close enough to work, but far away enough from religious people. Hey DP, what changed your mind? Was it the money and career? Was it that you now agree and want the religious lifestyle that Utonians have? What was it?????

They (we?) are referred to as "Utards" not Utonians.

So you want the crib notes version, huh? Basically Utah is a beautiful state with a vibrant economy and the career opportunity was too good to pass up. It is a bit different here culturally than what we are coming from but nothing I don't think we can't get used to. And living in the Salt Lake area really isn't too much different than living in other any western city.

[coolcats]

Snowbird -- good points. I would personally be happy if the population quite growing, because it is getting crowded. Maybe its a pride thing -- clearing up misconceptions.

[DP525]

Originally Posted by coolcats

...the LDS church needs 960 chapels in the state of Utah to serve the needs of its members.

It looks like half of them are in Utah county.

While we are on the subject of wardhouses, I noticed something interesting today while driving around. Actually I noticed it when I first moved here but it really registered today. When I do happen to see an actual church building of another denomination (not a in a strip-mall, carpet outlet, or theater), there is ALWAYS an LDS wardhouse within one block if not right across the street or next door. And quite often the non-LDS church is flanked by two LDS wardhouses. This can most obviously be seen in Provo on the east side of I-15 where there is a rather large protestant church with wardhouses on each side. This is also the case with the Methodist church on 10600 south between 700 and 1300 east in Sandy. I also noticed it in West Jordan on 9000 south at 3300 west. It reminds me of when a couple of smaller birds team up to attack an invading crow. Interesting.

[LlasaLost]

As to why there's so many LDS churches in Utah, and why they are located where they are, maybe a little information would be helpful (?):

The structure of the LDS Church is a little different (so what else is new?) than other churches, i.e.,

1. a 'Ward' is similar to a 'Parish' in the Catholic Church; it covers a geographic area;

2. a group of Wards is under the umbrella of a 'Stake,' which is similar to a 'Diocese' in the Catholic Church;

3. Wards usually have memberships of around 150 to 500 members (although that can fluctuate somewhat);

4. Individual members attend the Ward which covers the geographic area in which they live. The same Gospel is taught in every Ward so there's rarely skipping off to attend a different Ward than the one which covers their area. The idea of attending a different Ward just because of a charasmatic or popular preacher is not something we do; if you don't care for the leaders of your Ward, just wait awhile, things will change (see #5 below);

5. A bishop is "called" to the volunteer job of being a bishop over a Ward; that "calling" can last up to 5+years. The job of being a bishop is not transferrable, in other words, if one is a bishop of a Ward in one area, he has no authority over any other Ward but the one to which he is assigned. There is no paid clergy, the bishop supports himself and family. He can be a doctor, a farmer, a mechanic, retired, young, old, etc.; the calling is not dependant upon prestige---it is a call from the Lord, Jesus Christ, to serve, guide and uplift others.

[Grblpwr]

Originally Posted by aussie_american

I have been looking at housing online and am wondering about the Traverse Mountain development. It seems that it would meet the "new neighborhood" criteria and is a lot closer to the IMFT plant than Daybreak, or even Suncrest. A lot of the lots look small in size, but being on a hillside, many also have a view, which makes living on a smaller lot not seem so closed-in as just looking at the neighbors house. Does anyone have any experience or insight into what the Traverse Mountain community is like?

DP525, obviously you have already chosen Daybreak and seem reasonably happy with it, but you haven't really responded to my query on the commute. How long does it take you to get to/from work each day? Also, how close is the nearest shopping mall and/or grocery store?

Traverse Mountain is nice, but keep in mind that the largest outdoor shopping center in Utah is supposed to break ground somewhere between Traverse Mountain and Cabellas in 2008, which means major traffic.

(http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_309175222.html (broken link))

[Grblpwr]

Update to my earlier post.

I noticed a few people posting on this forum are coming from the Manassas, VA area, which is where I came from. I have been here a little longer now and still love it (as does my husband). A few things have happened in the time since my last post.

1. The invitation to ward events have stopped coming. Just not attending seemed to get the message across in a short period of time. No non-ward invitations have been issued, but since I am not very social it doesn't bother me.

2. I went on three interviews (got a job, yay) and was asked if I was LDS on two of them (as noted in earlier post, I am not). Even though I know this is an illegal question I went ahead and answered figuring if I didn't get the job because of that I would not have liked working for/with the people anyway. I was hired by one of the firms that asked that question. Ironically, before I responded that I was not LDS, one firm made it clear the reason they asked was because they have had problems with LDS employees being intolerant of other employees (ie. refusing to work with homosexuals or persons of other races or religions) and they wanted it made clear that if I was LDS I would have to be willing to work in a diverse culture. It actually came across as a negative to LDS members. The other firm wanted me to know the language gets a bit rough (it is a warehouse type environment) and if I was LDS it might be offensive to me.

3. I still have not met any person in this state (LDS or otherwise) that has been rude or mean or unfriendly. My neighbors and I will stop to chat or wave when we see each other outside and I have yet to be made to feel like an outsider.

4. The health and dental care is amazing. I have never been to such high-tech medical/dental facilities in my life! Nor have any other doctors/dentists been willing to so thoroughly and patiently explain everything to me.

5. Many, many places are closed on Sunday and the further south you go the worse it gets.

The kids are still a bit aggravating, but we are learning to work around them (after all, we are the invaders into their territory). We just pay close attention in parking lots and driving, we go to the movies on Sunday when the majority of the population is in church and if we eat out we go later when the kids are more likely to be in bed. I think we are even starting to tune out the screaming in the stores.

One weird thing, though, since when are high school students allowed off campus at lunch? The fast food places are absolutely packed with teenagers in Lehi, Alpine and Pleasant Grove between noon and 1 pm during the week. Between my husband and I we have lived in 6 different states and this is the first we have ever seen kids allowed off campus to eat.

[imaworkinonit]

[quote=ngela Slater;135110]I am in the same boat as the last poster. We are about to move to the Lehi area. I have 3 daughters and am terrified that they will not be included on activities, slumber parties etc. I was raised LDS-and have NO intention of ever becoming a member again.

I live in the Highland area, which is more LDS than Lehi, I believe. We have had mixed experiences. The fact that we are not LDS is an issue. Sometimes more than others. I wouldn't say that is has been horrible, otherwise we would have moved by now. But stuff comes up at school from time to time. Sometimes teachers bring up religious stuff that makes my kids feel out of place. Sometimes kids try to preach at them or invite them to church.

And it does bother my kids. It makes them feel unaccepted when friends try to change them. But it's not every day. They are well-adjusted and have friends. But not as many as they would if we were LDS. (Only one of them has friends in our neighborhood which is full of kids their ages---and they HAD friends in the neighborhood previous to us leaving the LDS church 7 years ago, but they drifted apart after we left).

My kids get invited to parties and such. They aren't outcasts. The biggest problem is in our neighborhood. They just aren't part of that group anymore. Those kids see each other 2 or more times a week, so it's just natural that they hang out with each other more. Plus, since my kids clearly don't attend church, they get to be the occasional reactivation target . . . which has the unfortunate consequence of making a friendship awkward. UGGGHH. Of course those kids aren't going to want to hang out with mine if mine reject their invitation.


We are considering a move to Salt Lake county so we can feel more a part of the community and my kids won't feel like outsiders or projects. I think the LDS members up in SLC are more tolerant, more open minded, and less pushy. I think the Lehi ones are probably more relaxed as well.

We've also considered Lehi, because I'll bet it is somewhat better than Highland. But if I'm going to pack up and move, I'd rather just get out of Utah Valley.

I'm reading this forum because I'm curious where out-of-staters are heading . . . . THAT's where I want to go. We're thinking maybe close to traverse mountain or draper or riverton, or sandy . . . . My husband wants to know where all those Flash Technologies employees are moving in because he thinks they'll be a good influence.

[coolcats]

Originally Posted by Grblpwr

I noticed a few people posting on this forum are coming from the Manassas, VA area, which is where I came from. I have been here a little longer now and still love it (as does my husband).

Just curious if you ever have longings to go back. I was living just up the road from you in Chantilly. I miss the nice trees, and the great job opportunities, the relative proximity to the ocean, but other than that, I haven't looked back. No more 5:30 a.m. traffic jams, no more $350,000 2 bedroom condos etc.