“The cultural emphasis in the Mormon Church that equates financial success with spiritual success”
Being far from Utah I can’t speak to the culture, but as far as Mormon doctrines go, members are taught to be honest and honorable, and nothing in our doctrine links financial success to spiritual success
“and an unquestioning allegiance to authority figures”
So why then did Utah so soundly vote against re-electing Clinton? Again this is a great distortion. Members are told not to blindly accept a church leader is called of God but to confirm that by going to God about it prayer themselves. Even after that they are not obligated to give any measure of ‘allegiance’ to that leader outside of the duties of that leader’s calling. Nothing in our doctrine supports any kind of unquestioning allegiance of authority figures outside the church either.
My impression from afar is that Utah Mormons can be a little naive and too trusting, and so they make good targets for wolves in sheep’s clothing out to fleece a few lambs.
I completely understand you here.
In fact, I remember watching a program on serial killers and one topic was why so many prolific ones came from Washington state like Ted Bundy or the Green River Killer. Since I moved out here, I can tell you why... Most people out here are very trusting and believe in the best of others. For psychopaths, it is like being a kid in the candy store...