What is it like living in Salt Lake City?

me | 11-20-2001 | me

[freedomcrusader]

I have a potential job opportunity in Salt Lake City, Utah, and I was hoping to get insights on living there from folks who have lived there, or are currently living there.

I don't mean to be biased/bigoted, but I've heard negative things about being Christian (especially Catholic) in Mormon Utah.

Any thoughts, insights, cautions, reassurances, etc. are greatly appreciated!

[kstewskis]

One thing the Mormons did right when they settled was end up in some of God's best ski country. If you are a skier, you will be in (ski)hog heaven. The sky's the limit. Even if you're not, the Wasatch mountains are gorgeous. However, if you want to go anywhere for a drink, head up to Park City ;-)

[Utah Girl]

I was under the impression that Brigham Young helped build the Cathedral of the Madeleine also. I do know that he welcomed other faiths into Utah. Ha, after reading the article, Brigham Young did help with the building of the first Catholic church in Utah, St Mary Magdalene. The Cathedral of the Madleine is a most beautiful building.

[vladog]

You got it Hill AFB. Another funny thing my son-in-law is from Texas and he thought Utah was ugly. I told him I had been to Texas and agreed with William Sherman who said, "If I owned Texas and I owned Hell I would live Hell and rent Texas out". Now I`m really in trouble having said that.

[Utah Girl]

I love to visit Park City, especially during the Sundance film festival. During the festival last years some friends and I went up to Zoom, a restaurant there in Park City. We had the best time just watching the strange people from Hollywood.

[HarryDunne]

Good:
  The mountains
  The public bus system is terrific
  The Family History Library (if you're into genealogy)
  Relatively low crime rate
  The snow

Bad:
  The congestion before/during the Olympics
  Alot of people, not enough jobs (IMO)
  No MLB team
  No NFL team
  The snow

[Utah Girl]

I know what you mean about the snow. I just love the first snowstorm, it is so beautiful. But after that, it is "snow in the mountains, rain in the valleys" for me. I hate driving in snow, with some of the Utah drivers.

[HarryDunne]

The only thing worse than that is driving on ice with Texas drivers.

[PISANO]

Well...I have lived here for 7 months after moving, quite reluctantly, from Sparks, NV. I loved Nevada, being retired Military and a gambler there is no place I'd rather live. I am Catholic and have NOT been subjected to ANY biased behavior. I live ONE block from an LDS church. The neighbors are kind, quiet and after the intial welcoming by several neighbors, there has been only an occasional "Good Morning". I have NO complaints, but miss the tables and the sportsbooks

One MAJOR plus is that this is a VERY patriotic area, flags everywhere and they LOVE the 2nd Amendment. Both big PLUSES for me. All in all a nice place to live. (Until my wife retires and then back to NV)

[Utah Girl]

Well, I say Utah drivers. But I live in Provo, home to BYU, and many out-of-state drivers. Every bad driver in the snow invariably has a license plate from another state, other than Utah.

[jo6pac]

A folk legend states that Brigham Young donated the land where the cathedral stands but the facts are this: when the northwest corner of 1st S and 2nd E was purchased in good faith by Fr. Edward Kelly in November 1866 to build a church, the title was not legally clear. As Father Kelly did want to go through litigation, he asked the contestant to summit to the mediation of BrighamYoung. President Young found that the good faith purchase was valid.

[kstewskis]

I love to visit Park City, especially during the Sundance film festival. During the festival last years some friends and I went up to Zoom, a restaurant there in Park City. We had the best time just watching the strange people from Hollywood

LOL! thank goodness that film fest is only once a year. I'd sure hate to see a beautiful little town like PC get tainted by hollyweirdo's more than a few days out of the year. I like "Scrooges" for Italian food. Great place! And 'ol "Scrooge" is hillarious, too ;-)

[ken21]

i had a 6 month contract to work in phoenix and lived in mesa, az--run by mormons. there's a stake every city block or so. the town is corrupt beyond belief. the city gives out its street and construction contracts to mormon-owned businesses, of course.

one day i walked over to the supermarket nearby. as i passed thru' the parking lot i was hit by a car driven by an elderly woman. i wasn't hurt, but i let the woman know what i thought of her. immediately a young couple came up and demanded to know why i was talking to the woman. she apologized. they did not. from then on, no matter where i went in mesa i was "marked". if i went into a coco's restaurant, the waitresses would not wait on me.

in socal i know many mormons. my apt managers for 5 years were mormon.

expect to be constantly harassed to join their cult. one mormon neighbor here in socal spent 2 years working on me until i finally told her where to go.

if you don't join their cult then they will shun you.

that's my experience, police state-lite.

[Utah Girl]

Thanks! You are a great source of information. I will admit the last time I took Utah History was in the seventh grade, many long years ago.

[Utah Girl]

Sorry, how do we tell you are non-Mormon? By placing little stickies on your forehead? And I make friends for life, Mormon or not. I do not drop my true friends because they don't join the church. That is so counter-productive to being a Christian and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

[Torie]

Is there such a thing as non religious Mormans (jack Mormans) in Utah in any significant numbers, or is the social pressure too great?

Although I have no idea how it is to live in Utah as a non Morman, or for that matter as one who is not religious at all, I know Utah quite well as a tourist. It has the most unique and magnificant scenery on this planet. The red rock country in Capital Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, and Cedar Breaks, is beyond belief, as is going over the moutain ridge near Boulder, and seeing an alpine meadow with aspens in the foreground, and in the distance below a desert land and rock scape of every color of tan, orange, red and purple imaginable. At the end of the afternoon, when the light is rich, it is almost a religious experience. Also, I think the view of the merging of the Colorado and Green Rivers from Dead Horse Point may be the most spectacular view in the United States. Among other things, it is about 5 thousand feet straight down, and I mean straight down, and not like the Grand Canyon. There if you jump off, it looks like you may well hit the water.

[homeschool mama]

***About the only thing Utah lacks is good opera, theatre, etc. ***I haven't found the mormons to be clannish, but I am fairly gregarious and most people are friendly if you give them half a chance. I also think that your attitude is 90% of enjoying where you live. :)***

Actually, SLC has wonderful culture to keep most folks interested and content. The area thrives on it's culture..especially at Christmastime. We've attended many events while visiting family. btw, we're not Mormon.

I do agree with you on attitude. Bloom where you're planted...unless that's in Reno. lol! Sorry for anyone living in Nevada...I think it's an armpit. ;o)

As far as politics go, it's true most Mormons are granted favor over others but SLC boasted a Catholic mayor some years back I think. More non Mormons are moving to Utah..many from California. They've brought new restaurants and egads...coffee houses! lol

We truly enjoy Utah in our visits...even attempted to relocate a few times but obviously it wasn't 'in the plan'.

[homeschool mama]

As with any place, either you love it or hate it. That's how I felt about Nevada. But we love Utah. ;o)

[homeschool mama]

In addition...

There's a wonderful stretch of rolling land between Brigham City and Logan called Sherwood Hills. We always make a trip there in our visits. A lovely brook, gorgeous fall colors, crisp air, fantastic photo ops, meandering paths and good hiking areas...super time...then go home for hot apple crisp. ;o)