Mormons -- lifetime or convert, Maine to Utah -- appreciate the ties that bind them

By Teresa Eller

December 21, 2004 | Jack, Peter, Molly, Mission Field, Lifetimers, Direct Descendent, Convert, Bashing, Anti-...

What do all of these things have in common? If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or if you live in Utah you may be familiar with these terms. What is life like for Saints in other parts of the United States? What issues do they face compared with the Saints in Utah? Are they really different than "Utah Mormons"? Maybe it is simply a matter of perspective.

There is a mystical impression that somehow living in Utah life takes on an exalted ambiance. The Saints in Utah are very much idealized by Saints in other parts of the country, particularly east of Utah. Utah Mormons are seen as having an ideal opportunities to worship in buildings close to home, attending temples within an hour's drive, and living in neighborhoods surrounded by others of their faith. The General Conferences held in Salt Lake are considered surreal. Even the tree-lighting ceremony in Temple Square is considered a religious experience. Getting to visit Temple Square is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many Saints and only dreamed about.

Patricia Allen, an LDS convert of 16 years living in North Carolina, says she looks to Utah and Utahns alike and feels that life in Utah would be so much more fulfilling and potential-laden. You wouldn't be the only Saint on your block or the only Saint at work. You wouldn't be damned to hell by the Protestants and constantly have others that want to save you from the evil cult you have blindly joined. Allen also says she feels that there are better educational opportunities for children.

Utah is also seen as by easterners as an ideal place to raise a family. Fact or a matter of opinion? It may be a matter of opinion for some, however, in 1998 The Children's Rights Council, a national child advocacy organization, placed Utah in the top 10 places to raise a child. The criteria is based on Lowest Infant Mortality Rate, Lowest Child Death Rate, Lowest Number of Children in Poverty, Lowest Teenage Pregnancy, Rate Lowest Number of Unwed Births, Lowest Divorce Rate, Lowest Number of Single Parents, Highest Graduation Rate, Lowest Crime Rate, Lowest Number of Drug Induced Deaths, Lowest Number of Alcohol Induced Deaths. Wouldn't easterners see this land promising if their state ranked in the 40th national percentile for places best to raise a family?

The active youth ninth through 12th grades in other parts of the United States sometimes rise as early as 5 in the morning to attend Seminary. It is held at a member's home or a local church building. Parents must also rise to see the youth to seminary and then to school afterward. The church buildings can be up to a 45 minute drive in some places. Then the youth goes to school for a full day and where they are the only Saint in their school. The perk is they can share the gospel with their friends and some of those friends eventually join the church.

The youth Saints in Utah have seminary incorporated into their school day but make room in their class schedules to do so. Their sacrifice is they could be taking a school curriculum class they need to graduate on time. They are however surrounded by other youth who are of their faith and have a better support system in place.

Quick Facts: Seminary serves 376,000 high school students aross the world. Although Utah is 50th in spending per pupil, it is first in adults that graduate from high school and attend college.

Carl Samuelson, an LDS convert of 30 years, has lived inside and outside of Utah but currently resides on the East Coast. He feels a sense of uniqueness living on the East Coast that he never felt here in Utah. He felt like one of the group or "one of many" as he put it. He feels he is watched by those around him and scrutinized by some who seek to find fault with Mormonism. If he were to have a cup of coffee he could affect how others view not only him, but the LDS Church as a whole.

Outside of Utah, you may be the only LDS member in your family. There again you are different and called on constantly to explain your beliefs. That can be very intimidating for a new member of the church. The Church's web site can be a resource as well as the fact that almost every ward back east has at least one set of LDS missionaries that you can call upon.

Quick Fact: Overall 56,000 missionaries serve in 165 countries; 93 percent are college-age; 18 percent are female, 75 percent are young men and 7 percent are couples. The missionaries pay their own way, most work 65 hours a week in the mission field for two years, often learning a new language to do so. Membership data from the church's official Web site says as of December 31, 2003 there are nearly 12 million members world wide; Approximately five and one-half million in the U.S. and Non-U.S. membership is approximatly six and one-half million. Females make up 53 percent of the membership while males make up about 47 percent.

Eastern states have low percentage of LDS Church membership. Here are the statistics.

Bill Polhemus, who is a member of a discussion group called Mormons-Only-Speak-Out, says the following about differences between Mormons in and outside of Utah and converts: "So, some people "act differently" if they are "Mormons" raised in Utah vs. "Mormon" converts from "somewhere else." What of it? I grew up in Alabama, Georgia, California, and Wisconsin, and have lived as an adult in Florida, Oklahoma, Maryland and Texas. There are lots and lots and lots of "Mormons" who live in those places, who grew up in the Church, and they act differently from people in Utah--converts or not. I just don't see your point. Why worry about classifying people using these ephemeral criteria? Big deal. Any effort to try to 'classify' Latter-Day Saints based on transient criteria like "did you grow up in the Church or were you a 'convert'?" is sophistry."

Allen says in the east a Mormon is more likely to hear, "Wow! You're a Mormon! I have never seen a Mormon before!" or "You don't look like a Mormon!"

Samuelson says in Utah, a convert is likely to hear, "Wow! You're a convert. I have never met a convert before."

Erin Forsberg, a non-Mormon resident in Utah, appreciates the dedication it takes to live the LDS lifestyle. Forsberg moved from California to Utah for the atmosphere. She likes attending school at Utah State and says her father takes peace in knowing she is in a safe environment.

Conversion seems to carry with it the mystical idealism to Utahns just as the "Utah Mormon" does for those in the east. Wheither you are Jack, Peter, Molly, live in the Mission Field or in Utah, wheither you are a lifetimer, direct descendent, convert or non-member, all can appreciate certain facets of the lifestyle of the other.

So as Tiny Tim, from Charles Dickens Christmans Carol, would say, "God bless us every one!"

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