moving to West Jordan (real estate, buying a house, transfer)

[nyd44]

My wife has been transferred to Utah. We already landed a house in West Jordan, my daughter will be attending West Valley Middle School at the beginning of the new year('07). The new house is very near an LDS church. We are not LDS, but have many friends in Idaho who are..anything I should be aware of??

[chazcrew]

Around here, every house is near an LDS church, lol. Just be friendly and your neighbors will most likely be friendly back. Welcome to Utah!

[nyd44]

Thanks chazcrew. That's the mindset I have. Looking forward to enjoying all that Utah has to offer.

[askslc]

nyd44-

I think you will really like it. We moved here a couple of years ago and it has been great. As for proximity to the ward, we have friends who live right next to one and there are no problems... except of course the walking traffic on Sunday mornings... those crazy LDS. ;-)

As for what to watch out for, just know that religion is a big part of life here (I liken it to football in west Texas). You will probably want to decide how to handle various things ahead of time. It's much easier if you figure out what you're comfortable with for your daughter and family before you encounter it. Examples of this would be if your neighbors invite you to the ward, what do you want to do? Give it a try, say no thanks, etc. Your daughter gets invited to be on a church sports team (or another church activity), how do you feel about it? It's not like you have to have answers tomorrow, but I would give it a little thought. I think it will make life a lot simpler.

I guess the final thing is that I know a lot of people who get really bugged by being non-LDS and the perceptions they feel. I think it is what you make of it. We hang out on our front porch and drink wine, and most of our LDS neighbors are very friendly with us. Neighborhoods are all different and if you run into a few people who aren't friendly b/c of religious choices, that's definitely their problem, not yours. Don't let it get you down!!

Anyhow, good luck with the move. If you need any more answers to questions, we are more than happy to help.

-askslc

[nyd44]

Thanks for the input askslc,
As for closeness to the ward, it's right behind the hacienda(I mean right behind). I'm mostly worried about my daughter being prejudiced against at the school and being excluded from some things. I've heard quite a few horror stories with people having to pull the kids out of public school(not West Valley Middle) and get them into a private school. Of course I have not said anything to her about something like that happening, I just hope it doesn't come down to that. Sad, that I have to concern myself with such matters. Again, I hope it doesn't come to that.
nyd44

[askslc]

nyd44-

On the ward thing, unless you have a walkway through your yard, you shouldn't have any problems. I have also heard from real estate friends about the positive effects on property values, so that is definitely the bright side. If I were buying, I wouldn't hesitate buying a house close to a ward.

On the school front, I have heard those "horror" stories too. It sounds like you have a good approach... wait and see. It is pretty much a fact that your daughter won't have the exact same opportunities as some LDS kids. There are specific activities like youth-groups for kids in the ward, church sports teams, etc. However, there are those same types of activities through other churches, groups, etc. (if you are panning to do another church, I think that definitely provides another avenue). There will be other non-LDS kids who are in the same boat. So, it won't be the exact activities but there should be alternatives available to her.

I guess I look at it from my own perspective growing up in the Midwest. I was an average kid but I didn't get invited to all the parties (you can't be super cool playing in high school band), so I was excluded sometimes. I think its the nature of being a kid. My parents gave me the "everyone's different and not everyone is going to be your friend speech." I would guess I would figure out what makes sense to your kid, so that when she doesn't get invited to that certain birthday party, you can let her know it's not her and that there is a better birthday party coming up.

That probably doesn't do a lot to quell the fears, but I think if you keep involved with her, she will be fine.

-askslc

[nyd44]

Roger that askslc,
I'll play the cards as they are dealt.
nyd44