Non-mormon family looking to relocate to Lehi (Salt Lake City, Provo: house, neighborhoods)

[DP525]

OK, I have read a lot of stuff on the internet about how non-LDS children are treated by their LDS counterparts in Utah schools. None of it is good. I have read how some LDS moms tell their children to not interact with the non-LDS kids.

As far as I am concerned, I couldn't care less how my neighbors want to treat me. But I am scared to death that my children will have too many negative experiences living in Utah.

I am about to pass up a great offer to relocate to Lehi to work at the new IM Flash Semiconductor fab. Please tell me my fears are unfounded. Any non-LDS with kids living in Utah, please chime in with your thoughts. Thanks.

[Elder_Shawn]

Originally Posted by DP525

OK, I have read a lot of stuff on the internet about how non-LDS children are treated by their LDS counterparts in Utah schools. None of it is good. I have read how some LDS moms tell their children to not interact with the non-LDS kids.

As far as I am concerned, I couldn't care less how my neighbors want to treat me. But I am scared to death that my children will have too many negative experiences living in Utah.

I am about to pass up a great offer to relocate to Lehi to work at the new IM Flash Semiconductor fab. Please tell me my fears are unfounded. Any non-LDS with kids living in Utah, please chime in with your thoughts. Thanks.

I grew up half my elementary life non-LDS and I'm non-Caucasian. I never felt that I was treated poorly in school by others before I was baptized LDS. I grew up in North Ogden where the area was probably 80-90% LDS. Some of my best friends growing up are non-Mormon. I think the whole Mormon, non Mormon issues pertaining to kids may only be an issue in Orem, Provo, or really small Utah towns. Places near Lehi where the population is exploding is much more heterogeneous. Utah is a fine place to live and have a family in my opinion. We currently live closer to the Univ of Utah were most of the faculty and staff are not LDS so our neighborhoods are quite diverse..

[DP525]

Thanks for your input, Shawn. I am really hoping the whole issue is just overblown. I grew up in small town Wyoming with a fairly large LDS population. They were all great people and I had several close LDS friends.

Any non-LDS with kids care to chime in?

[starling]

We lived in southeast Idaho for a year, which is more LDS than most of Utah. At the time we had three elementary/preschool aged kids and I was more than shocked at how cruel the LDS neighbor kids were to our kids. At times they would include our kids in neighborhood play, only to have the LDS kids call our kids names and take their pocessions. Other times they wouldn't include our kids, which was a relief to me. The concerns from non-LDS parents fell on deaf ears, so finally the non-LDS parents took it upon themselves to confront the cruelty of the LDS kids right in front of the LDS parents. It was quite the scene! Even the retired LDS neighbors spoke in favor of the non-LDS families. Thankfully we moved after 14 months, but left a poor Jewish family to fend for themselves. My advice to you is find a neighborhood that is not primarily LDS. We made the mistake of buying our house before interviewing the neighbors. We had never had to do that before and haven't had a need since. If there is a university in town, which there was in our town, try to buy/rent close to the university. This provides for more diversity. Currently we live in a neighborhood in AZ that was settled by LDS families, however there has been quite a bit of turnover so the "majority" no longer exists. WHenever you move into a neighborhood that is more than 50% LDS, they have the majority and the rest is a minority. That is where you run into the lack of respect for those of a different faith. As far as your concern about the LDS parents not allowing their kids to associate with non-LDS kids, it is DEFINITELY a reality no matter WHERE you live. Exclusivity is part of their church culture because they are nothing more than a cult.

[pinkpalace]

I was born and raised in southeastern ID. My Mom was LDS, but my Dad was not. Even though I went to church every Sunday, went to seminary in Jr. High and HS, and did all the other "LDS" activities, the other "100%" LDS kids shunned me because my Dad didn't come to church.

I love a lot of things about Utah, but I would NEVER live there due to the strong LDS influence, not only in the schools, but also saturated in the school boards, politics, everywhere.

I'd go elsewhere.

[DP525]

Thank you all for your responses. Unfortunately what you have to say is the same as what I have been able to find out on my own. I don't think I want to submit my children to that kind of treatment so Utah will have to get along without me.

[Elder_Shawn]

Originally Posted by starling

Exclusivity is part of their church culture because they are nothing more than a cult.

That is a very powerful statement that I personally take offense to. The Mormon church has many friendly and respectful people in its congregations. While I don't discount your feelings or if your kids were excluded from certain activities, it doesn't give you the license to label a church of over 10 million members a cult. If you recall history the LDS people did not move to Utah (rocky mountain region) by choice, but rather ended up here because they were forced by mobs to live in a place no one else wanted to.

I've been treated poorly from people of most "organized" religions, but I'm mature enough to understand that a small group rarely represents the whole.

Using your logic all Muslims are suicide bombers and all Catholics are child molesters. It's sad that an innocent real-estate forum has to be subject your bigotry and ignorance.

[NatureCalls]

Originally Posted by Elder_Shawn

That is a very powerful statement that I personally take offense to. The Mormon church has many friendly and respectful people in its congregations. While I don't discount your feelings or if your kids were excluded from certain activities, it doesn't give you the license to label a church of over 10 million members a cult. If you recall history the LDS people did not move to Utah (rocky mountain region) by choice, but rather ended up here because they were forced by mobs to live in a place no one else wanted to.

I've been treated poorly from people of most "organized" religions, but I'm mature enough to understand that a small group rarely represents the whole.

Using your logic all Muslims are suicide bombers and all Catholics are child molesters. It's sad that an innocent real-estate forum has to be subject your bigotry and ignorance.

Now that's a strong statement! But I agree. I am a born again Christian who is a midwestern "whiteboy". If I were to disassociate myself with the "people" who have treated me and my family the worst over the years, I would never set foot into another Christian Church nor would I ever talk to another "white" person again!!

I live in Hawaii and have alot of Hawaiian, Samoan, Japanese friends, but I have also encountered racism here from those same races, but if I would have let that hold me back from moving here I would have missed out on alot of friends whom I will cherish forever!

Aloha!

[Brandon B.]

DP525,

Every neighborhood has bad "neighbors". Normally, every child while growing up at some point will be shunned by certain kids or "clicks". This is life! Don't let these previous replies keep you from moving to Utah. If you have children, and I assume you do, and you end up moving to Utah, I would encourage them to participate with other LDS kids in the neighborhood. Have them get involved. The LDS church teaches great ethics and morals. LDS kids won't use extreme measures to "convert" other non-LDS friends. I'm LDS and found it refreshing and fun to seek out non-LDS friends. Your experience in Utah will only be what you make of it. If anything, it will broaden you child's experience and knowledge of religion and how it may shape a community. Move to Utah with an open mind and have a great time! There is truth in every good religion. Your children will grow up better people.

B.

[coolcats]

Not to say you didn't have a bad experience in Idaho, but I have a feeling some of your difficulties might have been caused by your own attitude toward your neighbors.

As for living in Utah, I think that definitely in the Salt Lake area, there would not be much a problem. Salt Lake City itself is less than 50 percent LDS.

Originally Posted by Elder_Shawn

That is a very powerful statement that I personally take offense to. The Mormon church has many friendly and respectful people in its congregations. While I don't discount your feelings or if your kids were excluded from certain activities, it doesn't give you the license to label a church of over 10 million members a cult. If you recall history the LDS people did not move to Utah (rocky mountain region) by choice, but rather ended up here because they were forced by mobs to live in a place no one else wanted to.

I've been treated poorly from people of most "organized" religions, but I'm mature enough to understand that a small group rarely represents the whole.

Using your logic all Muslims are suicide bombers and all Catholics are child molesters. It's sad that an innocent real-estate forum has to be subject your bigotry and ignorance.