Question about Utah (Logan, Cove, Cache: house, dorms, high school)

[Shinedown]

I was born and raised in Texas, and have lived in the same city, and same house all of my life. I graduated High school this past May, and I decided that I wanted to attend college out of state. I figured that if I went to college in Texas, I would never really get to see what's outside of it during the prime years of my life. So, I am attending Utah State in Logan this fall, and I will be moving very soon into the Freshman dorms.

I have a few questions...

I know that Utah has a high LDS population. I am a non-denomonational Christian, but I am not interested in organized religion. Religion itself has not been a large part of my life. My parents always used references to God, and the Bible and it's message, but my Dad went by this philosophy on Church: "I am not interested in what man says about God." I know that Church is very important to members of the LDS, and they have strict moral guidelines. I myself am not "immoral", or a party-type person, but I have shaggy hair, three tattoos, facial hair, and I typically wear "darker" clothing. I also love my frappucinos and I have heard somewhere that LDS members view the consumption coffee as a sin of some sort. This coupled with my disinterest in Church, would I face a heavy ammount of Scrutiny in Logan, Utah State University, or the State of Utah in general? I also have generally liberal social views, but I know that if I keep those to myself, I won't run into any trouble.

Any information regarding this topic would be extremely useful to me.

Thanks

[irman]

Originally Posted by Shinedown

I was born and raised in Texas, and have lived in the same city, and same house all of my life. I graduated High school this past May, and I decided that I wanted to attend college out of state. I figured that if I went to college in Texas, I would never really get to see what's outside of it during the prime years of my life. So, I am attending Utah State in Logan this fall, and I will be moving very soon into the Freshman dorms.

I have a few questions...

I know that Utah has a high LDS population. I am a non-denomonational Christian, but I am not interested in organized religion. Religion itself has not been a large part of my life. My parents always used references to God, and the Bible and it's message, but my Dad went by this philosophy on Church: "I am not interested in what man says about God." I know that Church is very important to members of the LDS, and they have strict moral guidelines. I myself am not "immoral", or a party-type person, but I have shaggy hair, three tattoos, facial hair, and I typically wear "darker" clothing. I also love my frappucinos and I have heard somewhere that LDS members view the consumption coffee as a sin of some sort. This coupled with my disinterest in Church, would I face a heavy ammount of Scrutiny in Logan, Utah State University, or the State of Utah in general? I also have generally liberal social views, but I know that if I keep those to myself, I won't run into any trouble.

Any information regarding this topic would be extremely useful to me.

Thanks

Somewhere, it is too bad that some LDS people do not even believe their own beliefs, and thus put their own ideas in.
As always it is just a few of them who make it *obnoxious* to *other* people.
There is an *Article of Faith*, akin like the *planks of a belief*, that goes as follows:

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

My opinion, and I am LDS, is that we should really put, especially the last section of this article of Faith, into REAL practice !!!

So this being stated, just be yourself when you start to attend that wonderfull school. My daughter went there and had a wonderful time.

heard somewhere that LDS members view the consumption coffee as a sin of some sort.

If this becomes an issue with you, because *the others* are looking at you cross-eyed, then tell them that you drink yours hot and they drink theirs cold. It is not well known that the amount of junk in a soft drink, is worse then one cup of coffee you like so much.
Just do not become like one of them, *the others*, if htey waht to share their ideas, just listen, and then politely state that you are not interested. On the other hand do not push your ideas either, but share your beliefs with them.

Welcome to Utah and do have a great time here !!!

[Shinedown]

Just to clarify, I did not mean to insult any members of the Church of LDS. The main idea of my post was to formulate a way of standing my ground while not offending any members of the LDS. I have had really bad experiences with religious Christians attempting to get me to attend Church, condemning me to hell, and etc. I just want a fresh start in this gorgeous state.

[ebreezy]

shinedown the best thing is too be yourself and stay true to your self if people don't like you for you f'em that about easy as it can get.

[cj7]

Welcome to Utah. You will encounter many, many religions here. many are not Mormon. My recommendation would be to not associate with sour x Mormons, they seem to carry negative spirits about them for one reason or another. Chill with practicing or neutral Mormons, and other people who have mutual respect for their brethren whether of any religion or not. I once had a friend who smoke and taught Sunday school to the children. She was trying to quit smoking and she was not ostracised but welcomed to participate. Were all her just trying to work out our lives and because some of us have convented with our God to not participate in certain things does not make us think we are better than anyone else. We chose to make those promises to our God. Use good judgement in making any friends, stay out of the drug and porno gang related scenes and you'll do well here. I say that for your own protection and not to appear as a holy person, because I have problems as everyone does. I guess that would go for anywhere you end up.
Best to you, Logan is a beautiful place, I suspect you'll have a good experience. lucky you.

[cj7]

Originally Posted by Shinedown

Just to clarify, I did not mean to insult any members of the Church of LDS. The main idea of my post was to formulate a way of standing my ground while not offending any members of the LDS. I have had really bad experiences with religious Christians attempting to get me to attend Church, condemning me to hell, and etc. I just want a fresh start in this gorgeous state.

I got condemned to hell once too roflol.....It wasn't funny at the time but I look back and it is sad to me but I can laugh at it now.
There were about 30+ people standing around a preacher who showed up to the manti pageant (an LDS/Mormon pageant) I walked up through the people and listened. He had nothing positive to say about Jesus the Christ or God at all. Only bashing Mormons. I pushed my way through asking question after question. One by one, people walked away leaving only me the preacher and his I'm assuming daughter. Towards the end I was asking him why he wasn't using this opportunity to teach good things to the people but was bringing the spirit of contention to a spiritual pageant He could have be teaching his religion and the goodness of what ever gospel he had to share. He got soooooooo mad at me stating that my religion was in the way of his and I would be condemned to hell, ..... Oh well.... I got over it. What ever....

[markg91359]

Shinedown,

My personal feeling is that if you come to Utah State University without any chip on your shoulder, you'll do just fine. USU attracts a fairly diverse studentbody although students from Northern Utah/Southern Idaho are heavily represented. Its true a high percentage of the studentbody is LDS, but there will be plenty who are not. And, I think you'll find many of the LDS students will be particularly tolerant.

I wouldn't say coffee drinking is a sin to good Mormons, although there is something many of us try to follow called the "Word of Wisdom" its contained in our Doctrine and Covenants and tells us to avoid hot drinks or "tea and coffee". I'd say coffee drinking is not a sin, but simply advice to help maintain good health. Its personally too hard on my stomach for me to drink it, but it doesn't bother most others.

Now, the surrounding community for USU is the city of Logan. This is a city of perhaps 40,000 people with a metro area of about 100,000. The city and surrounding county are socially conservative areas and a certain dichotomy or division exists with the University (which is seen as more "liberal")

Bottomline: I think you could get a great education at USU, enjoy yourself, and find a group to be accepted within. If you are looking for a place to make your permanent home after school is completed, you'll probably find Logan/Cache County too small, conservative, and a bit stifling.

[irman]

Originally Posted by Shinedown

Just to clarify, I did not mean to insult any members of the Church of LDS. The main idea of my post was to formulate a way of standing my ground while not offending any members of the LDS. I have had really bad experiences with religious Christians attempting to get me to attend Church, condemning me to hell, and etc. I just want a fresh start in this gorgeous state.

I do not think anybody who read your post was insulted at all.
As was mentioned in other posts, you WILL meet some *Nasty Persons*, but then you will find that kind of people, everywhere.

BTW, *The Word of Wisdom*, mentioned above is really an interesting subject to study, and I mean *study*.
In my opinion, not really a *religious* subject at all, but a *Way of Life*.
Most of it (the advice given in there) is a matter of discipline for LDS persons.
OTOH, anybody could learn from it, since it has really good advice *hidden* in it, good for all people.
So if you decide to read up on this subject, for curiosity sake, you will NOT find the word frappucino in it .....

<<< I have shaggy hair, three tattoos, facial hair, and I typically wear "darker" clothing.>>>
So what ????

Again, welcome to the wonderful State of Utah.
I hope you like pretty landscapes, because Utah, is just incredible when you start exploring.
If you do not have a hobby yet, see if you can get interested in *Flying*.
This place is *God's Gift to Mankind for Flying* !!!
Go here to see what some areas look like *from the air*
Ruwet Joey Indo's Photos | Facebook

[Chango]

Originally Posted by Shinedown

I was born and raised in Texas, and have lived in the same city, and same house all of my life. I graduated High school this past May, and I decided that I wanted to attend college out of state. I figured that if I went to college in Texas, I would never really get to see what's outside of it during the prime years of my life. So, I am attending Utah State in Logan this fall, and I will be moving very soon into the Freshman dorms.

I have a few questions...

I know that Utah has a high LDS population. I am a non-denomonational Christian, but I am not interested in organized religion. Religion itself has not been a large part of my life. My parents always used references to God, and the Bible and it's message, but my Dad went by this philosophy on Church: "I am not interested in what man says about God." I know that Church is very important to members of the LDS, and they have strict moral guidelines. I myself am not "immoral", or a party-type person, but I have shaggy hair, three tattoos, facial hair, and I typically wear "darker" clothing. I also love my frappucinos and I have heard somewhere that LDS members view the consumption coffee as a sin of some sort. This coupled with my disinterest in Church, would I face a heavy ammount of Scrutiny in Logan, Utah State University, or the State of Utah in general? I also have generally liberal social views, but I know that if I keep those to myself, I won't run into any trouble.

Any information regarding this topic would be extremely useful to me.

Thanks

The LDS population will probably gore you to death with their horns for your filthy lifestyle

No really, you won't be living in a foreign theocracy. Lots of people have tats here and there are still starbucks on every other street corner. We probably drink more turbodeath energy drinks here than coffee (which is worse for you than a frapuccino), but your fix will be readily available. People party and get drunk at USU on at least a weekly basis like most unversities, and a fair number of students won't be from Utah, just like you.

Relax, as long as you aren't going to BYU your college experience will be pretty damn typical. Enjoy!

[MAtheBanker]

I attended Utah State University, and if you're not LDS, I can tell you from experience that it is the PERFECT place to go. It's a culturally and religiously rich school...you will LOVE it