Mormons and Wyoming? (Evanston, Cody, Basin: sales, house, dorm)

[PsykoKustomz]

Star Valley is actually on the west side of the state and yes it has a very strong LDS influence. Religious beliefs are kind of like people's personal beliefs, this being said you will always have your radicals that take it too far and try to push their beliefs on you. I always felt that they can believe in whatever they feel like believing in just don't push it onto me. It is these radical you USUALLY ruin it for other people who share their same ideas and give the whole culture as a whole a bad Image, i.e... Poachers give hunters bad names, some truck drivers give all the truck drivers bad names, some oilfield workers give others the stereo type of Oilfield trash, and the list can go on forever.

[emeraldsky]

I do wonder what people mean by Mormon influence. And is it all bad?

Prejudism goes both ways I guess. But it gets old. No matter what direction it comes from. We can all live better than that.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I think I'm not such a bad person or neighbor to have around.

I don't preach to anybody, don't talk religion to any of my neighbors, help out where I'm needed. I have friends of lots of different religions, non religions, don't know their religions, races, skin colors, political affiliations, ages...

I only spent time in UT when I was at BYU, but I have family there who I know are fair and friends with people of diverse backgrounds. In fact my grandparents, professed athiests, are 2 of the most generous and good people I know, and they live smack dab in the middle of UT and are happy to be there. (moved there several years ago from the east to be closer to my mom). They go out to lunch and dinner with neighbors and don't feel threatened in anyway. (wow, huh, don't fall out of your seats )

Anyway, just had to add my 2 cents. I appreciate Psykokustomz's fair perspective. I don't care for radical either, in any group. Live and let live...

[Dangerous Dave]

Originally Posted by lisan23

Sorry, I've been reading through and I've seen a few people post about areas of Wyoming being run by Mormons, including Evanston. Um... coming from Utah to Wyoming that is definitely NOT the case. You guys don't have state run liquor stores and can buy alcohol on Sunday.

Before you say Wyoming is run by mormons, try Utah. You'll feel like Wyoming is a liberal state.

Uhh, isn't Evanston near the Utah line? C'mon. Mormonism isn't contained within the state of Utah. Their values spread over into the surrounding states... they are known for farming, so wherever there's fertile ground. Arizona, Colorado, Idaho.... all heavily Mormon once you leave the big city.

[wyoman]

Originally Posted by lisan23

I am Mormon, but I'm a Democrat so I tend to view things a little more differenlty than the average Mormon. My parents moved our family to Utah when I was 13. I didn't like it so much that when I was 16 I choose to move out to California to live with family out there. I moved back when I was 18 due to family problems and couldn't get back out.

I guess it's just really hard to see a Mormon influence when it seems like there's a lot more freedoms in Wyoming than in Utah. And honestly, I don't even see that much of a difference (besides the lack of traffic, people, and Hispanics) from Southern California.

So! How you doin now? Still have a morman connection or not? Found your perfect place where you have the best of both? Still wanna look down on other races? Expect us old wyo boy"s to say ya? Figure this-we have all had a point in time where things were a little confused-but like we like to say in wyo-Get off your high horse an look around- we don't care about your religion-we don't care what your party choice is-all we are lookin for is good neighbors! By the way,no one will ever change our hospitality!

[wyoman]

Originally Posted by emeraldsky

I do wonder what people mean by Mormon influence. And is it all bad?

Prejudism goes both ways I guess. But it gets old. No matter what direction it comes from. We can all live better than that.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I think I'm not such a bad person or neighbor to have around.

I don't preach to anybody, don't talk religion to any of my neighbors, help out where I'm needed. I have friends of lots of different religions, non religions, don't know their religions, races, skin colors, political affiliations, ages...

I only spent time in UT when I was at BYU, but I have family there who I know are fair and friends with people of diverse backgrounds. In fact my grandparents, professed athiests, are 2 of the most generous and good people I know, and they live smack dab in the middle of UT and are happy to be there. (moved there several years ago from the east to be closer to my mom). They go out to lunch and dinner with neighbors and don't feel threatened in anyway. (wow, huh, don't fall out of your seats )

Anyway, just had to add my 2 cents. I appreciate Psykokustomz's fair perspective. I don't care for radical either, in any group. Live and let live...

Would be proud to have you as my neighbor-go fishin an grill etc! I guess a lot of people forget we all a just a small star in a very unique an special place given to us by -what ever your faith is! Good men- an women are jewels! Priceless gems to be enjoyed- not put down because of their faith-God bless wyoming and keep it free!

[RangerDuke08]

Well we all know Mormons have a lot of kids, I'm sure that'll have some effect on WY!

[lisan23]

Originally Posted by wyoman

So! How you doin now? Still have a morman connection or not? Found your perfect place where you have the best of both? Still wanna look down on other races? Expect us old wyo boy"s to say ya? Figure this-we have all had a point in time where things were a little confused-but like we like to say in wyo-Get off your high horse an look around- we don't care about your religion-we don't care what your party choice is-all we are lookin for is good neighbors! By the way,no one will ever change our hospitality!

Holy crap - can we say judgemental?!?! I'm not picking up ANY hospitality at all from your message. I have never ONCE looked down on other races - in fact my dad is from Africa. And like I said before, I didn't grow up in Utah and I have not lived here my whole life. Just because I'm LDS means I look down on other races? WTH!?! So should I base my judgement of people in Wyoming based on your rude, unhospitable, assumptive, and closed minded response?!

As for the rest of the posts - just because the community is majority LDS doesn't mean it's "heavily" influenced. Like one of the previous posters said, a lot of LDS people in Utah (and who are from Utah) have a different view than those outside of Utah, even the ones who live close to the Wyoming border. The laws in Evanston clearly show that it is not, in fact, run by Mormons. They may have an influence on the community, but like any other area that has a large group of people of a certain belief (or race) there will be some level of influence. But I don't think by any means this influence would be considered "heavy", or even moderate.

[MRVphotog]

Originally Posted by PsykoKustomz

Star Valley is actually on the west side of the state

Since I lived in Hoback Junction I guess I knew that.....

[MRVphotog]

Originally Posted by lisan23

Holy crap - can we say judgemental?!?! I'm not picking up ANY hospitality at all from your message. I have never ONCE looked down on other races - in fact my dad is from Africa. And like I said before, I didn't grow up in Utah and I have not lived here my whole life. Just because I'm LDS means I look down on other races? WTH!?! So should I base my judgement of people in Wyoming based on your rude, unhospitable, assumptive, and closed minded response?!

As for the rest of the posts - just because the community is majority LDS doesn't mean it's "heavily" influenced. Like one of the previous posters said, a lot of LDS people in Utah (and who are from Utah) have a different view than those outside of Utah, even the ones who live close to the Wyoming border. The laws in Evanston clearly show that it is not, in fact, run by Mormons. They may have an influence on the community, but like any other area that has a large group of people of a certain belief (or race) there will be some level of influence. But I don't think by any means this influence would be considered "heavy", or even moderate.

Your forgetting one major diference between LDS and the other religions....other religions don't require their young people to knock on every door on the planet trying to convert you to LDS. With their 10% income requirement by all members, another diference, so the church is well funded to put forth their attempt at influence.

[lisan23]

Other religions have missionaries too, not just the LDS church. They may not be young people, but they still have people going door to door trying to convert people to their religion.

Ummm, with the tithing - it's not a requirement. Nothing in the LDS church is required. You make your own choices, and each choice has a consequence, positive or negative. That's where people always get mixed up with religion. You say that people have to do these things. No they don't. A religion has guidelines that they would like their members to follow (almost all religions have them). It's up to the person to decide whether or not they want to. So those paying tithing are CHOOSING to pay it, it is not required. I haven't paid tithing in over 5 years - but I'm still considered a member of the LDS church.

Their money isn't used as an influence. If it was - what happened to Mitt Romney? I mean, of course they'd support a LDS president... where was their money then?