Yeah, for me the whole Mormon thing hasn't been an issue. I think the positives of living in SLC far outweigh the negatives.........unless you're Senior to me......in that case, it's awful. STAY AWAY.

 

You probably are I’m 11.6’s. Sorry for rude response yesterday, but I agree with you.

 

No worries! Not everyone gets my sarcasm / sense of humor. Good discussion.

 

No matter your geographic location in Utah, Mormons will affect your everyday life. They make the rules! Want a beer at a restaurant? You better also want an appetizer. Want a second beer between the appetizer and entree? Be prepared to order another appetizer. That’s after the sigh and judgy eyes for ordering two beers. Oh and don’t even bother ordering a cocktail, Joseph Smith says go easy on the booze…but go ahead and charge full price for the drink.

Like James Bond said, Boy Scouts? You’re going to be meeting at Mormon church. Kids sports? If you’re not Mormon, you better have hands of gold or else you ain’t playing.

Does your teen want a job at a local business? Better be prepared to explain your religious views in the interview…yes, had this happen to me when I was about 20.

IT IS EVERYWHERE. Yes, even Sugarhouse. Oh and if you want to live in Sugarhouse, you better check out East High and Highland High. Bet not too many airline pilot’s kids going to those schools.

I’ve had a handful of Mormon friends living outside of Utah. They’re great, normal people. But once you step foot in the holy land, it’s a different story.

 

Geez. Lighten up Francis....

 

If anyone’s seriously considering suburbs in the SLC area but they’re worried about the dynamic between raising kids there and churchy stuff, feel free to PM and I’d be happy to share my anonymous internet thoughts. Some of the information here is reasonable and some of it is not. Source: 10+ years in Utah County (20 miles south SLC), some time in SL County, family still in the area.

I never had religious affiliation come up in any of my many job interviews in Utah. Religious affiliation affecting the kids sports teams also seems iffy. Alcohol laws different from most other places, yes. Potential trouble with teenagers “fitting in,” maybe, but that can also happen in other places, teenagers. The kids playgroup in the neighborhood being made up of mostly/all Mormon moms and kids, that can be a thing, especially in the suburbs in Utah and Davis Counties, but it doesn’t automatically mean unwelcoming (perhaps in some cases, and it’s a shame when that happens). A lot depends on an individual’s perspective, and not everything about the culture might be perceived as negative. Utah generally ranks near the bottom when states are ranked for high drug abuse rates. It’s also probably the state with the highest percentage of basements full of dried/canned goods, so if “The big one” happens, there will be plenty of rice and beans and rehydrated vegetables in the neighborhood to eat. (Funny, but also not joking)

If it’s a given that a certain percentage of the population anywhere are wackos, then in a place with lots of Mormons a lot of the wackos you’ll meet will be Mormon. There are people you’ll want to hang out with and people you won’t; in Utah a large percentage of both groups will be Mormon.

There’s a lot of amazing things about Utah outside of the topic of religion. Everyone’s different and some people really do not enjoy the culture/religious aspects. Others don’t mind. Suburbs in the valleys north/south are usually a different feel than SLC city. For me, I’d be willing to put up with a lot due to the amazing scenery and outdoors opportunities Utah offers (have you ever driven through southern Utah on a clear day ), but the person I’m married to feels otherwise so we live in a very flat place.

 

I have a feeling I’ll get thrown out the door for asking, but what are the feelings of SLC based pilots who live in base regarding the GSL drying up and the environmental fallout?

Media scare tactic? Actually drying up? Maybe people aren’t talking about it because those who live there know something we folks back east don’t. Just curious as this would play into my calculus if considering uprooting and moving to the SLC base after my old relatives die off and i’m unchained.

 

I know the feeling. As a Mormon growing up outside of Utah, I had school friends whose parents wouldn't let them play with me. After I joined the AF and was stationed in TX/AL/FL, I had neighbors refuse to acknowledge my existence when they found out where I went to church. Wouldn't return my wave/smile/nod. Others gave me pamphlets or straight up told me I was going to hell. Whatevs, that's human nature and humans suck sometimes. Anyhow, Utah has probably changed a bit in the years (decades?) since you lived there. The last mayor of SLC was a lesbian Democrat - so that should tell you something.

To the OP, Mormons are now a minority in Salt Lake County - definitely true in metro SLC or Park City, if you can afford it. Up by Hill AFB (Layton/Ogden/Clearfield) and there's a huge integrated military community that's been established for generations - I've never spoken to an Air Force peep who has been stationed at Hill and felt ostracized by the locals - they all loved it. Like others have said, avoid West Valley City, Magna, Taylorsville, and other parts of the northwest portion of the SL Valley (gang activity, crime, rough schools). Areas around the South Valley have been growing like a wildfire with all the tech companies moving in (Draper, Bluffdale, Herriman, Daybreak, and spilling into northern Utah Valley). Lots of out-of-state transplants. Regardless of where you settle, there's always going to be some sort of LDS influence. I'd say the key to not being miserable is just accepting that there's a different cultural aspect and not getting offended when it doesn't align with your background or beliefs. For example, if you throw a birthday party for your kid on a Sunday morning, expect that a lot of their little Mormon friends are not going to show. Not because they're ostracizing you, but because to Mormon families "the Sabbath" is a big thing. You wouldn't bring bacon jalapeño poppers to a Jewish friend's dinner party, and likewise, you'll get some awkwardly raised eyebrows if you bring a 24 pack of Natty Light to your Mormon neighbor's BBQ. Feel free to DM me if you have other questions or even want to chat on the phone.

 

Huh....the Little America, Whiskey Street and The Beer Hive must be in an LDS-free bubble downtown. None of that is a player in any of those spots when ordering adult beverages.

 

Just be sure to order the bottled / canned beer and not the 4% stuff on draft! And the Beer Hive is great!