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!

[Poohbah]

I'm a Catholic, and I've visited both St. George, Utah, and Salt Lake City.

St. George was extremely hostile compared to Salt Lake. Salt Lake's enough of a big city that you can associate with those of like mind and not be lonely.

[crystalk]

Lotsa luck, not even Mormons consider Jews to be Gentiles. Mormons are from Joseph tribe, Jews from Judah tribe.

Both to be united again before too awfully long...

[alaskanfan]

I had a friend that was really impressed with the Waschacth, until I showed him where I grew up, Bitteroot range of the Rockies. He moved a month later.

[alaskanfan]

The guy knocking at your door is not delivering pizza.

[Lokibob]

Military families are a community in themselves, and if your kids hated it, it was because they didn't try to participate in the military community, NOT because of Utah. As to your visit, I'd bet their attitude was reflected in your impression. My friends love to visit, even from NYC.

[real saxophonist]

You can hear the Laura Ingraham show twice a day...

[truth_seeker]

All of your wives are belong to us..........

Disclaimer. I don't live in Utah, and am not a Mormon. Having said that, I must add that some ancestors were Mormon "pioneers" (early settlers). My great-great uncle had three wives over his lifetime (two at one time) and fathered 20 children. He saw his father killed by Indians in Indiana (1812), he was close to Brigham Young, he was a "frontier doctor" and he wrote a lifelong journal. Fascinating.

[moonman]

Quick joke ....

What did the telegram say when Joseph Smith wired from Utah to back East when he found a settlement area for his followers to come?

If you bring em ... Brigham Young!" :)

[tracer]

Not to worry. I am LDS and threw out that line for general amusement.

Sounds like you have an interesting family tree -- while your forebearer was being a country doc, mine were herding sheep and goats on the rocky slopes of Greece! All the best, and have a great Thanksgiving......

[SENTINEL]

Quick joke ....

What did the telegram say when Joseph Smith wired from Utah to back East when he found a settlement area for his followers to come?

If you bring em ... Brigham Young!"

No, it would have been Brigham Young who would have sent the telegraph back east...Some bigot slanderers possibly of your faith killed Joseph Smith, and tarred and feathered my Great-Great-Great grandfather after they burned his farm and raped his daughters.

HOW RUDE !

[culpeper]

Whats up with the smog there? Last time I was there it seemed like it was coming from one big smokestack down by the highway. Is that a smelter?

[Timeout]

I lived in SLC (actually Sandy) for two years and I loved it. It's slower than other large cities I've lived in, but the skiing was terrific and that's what I cared about. The snow isn't wet...it's very powdery and fluffy...relatively easy to shovel. I had 3 fireplaces in my house and kept roaring pinion pine fires going all winter. Summers are hot, but low humidity.

I was Catholic and single. I didn't feel uncomfortable not being LDS, but it definitely leaves you feeling isolated at times. And the liquor thing isn't really a problem...if you want a drink, you'll find one. If you have a family, the schools are very good. You may detect some religious elements to the curriculum.

I agree with whoever said the LDS who wears the holy undergarment will likely get promoted before you. This is something to consider.

And one last thing. If you go, even if it's just to visit, you MUST go to La Caille, perhaps the BEST restaurant I've every been to (this from one who's lived all over the country). It's relatively expensive, but take my word, you don't want to miss it. The food is marvelous (get the lamb). But it's the setting that will enchant you. It's nestled up against the mountains on acres of ponds and vineyards . It's like a big private estate. You enter through a large gate, then wander through the woods on a cobblestone drive. The building is a lovely French country chateau for which the owner actually imported ceilings, staircases, etc from old French castles. There are little fireplaces everywhere. When they decorate for the Holidays it will take your breath away. On the other hand, when we dined on the terrace in summer, you could look up and see peacocks strutting on the thatched roof. And the service!...they treat you like visiting royalty. It's incredibly romantic and an experience you will cherish. I was fortunate to have a job which required entertaining, so I got to go there often...lucky me!

Let us know what you decide.

[krb]

I've heard negative things about being Christian (especially Catholic) in Mormon Utah

Do you realize that your statement is one that a jerk would make?

[culpeper]

La Verkin City Utah created a UN free zone, thats a good enough reason to move there in itself.

[Cleburne]

It struck me as the absolutely ugliest city I've ever seen. Barren hillsides, soot, smog, and cloud cover, and a lake that looked like it was filled with toxic sludge. The whole place- roads, interstate, buildings- seemed laided out by drunks. Looked even worse from the air! nasty brown to the west and dust and gray on the east. The mountain ranges to the east are nice though, and the close proximity to the red rock to the south and the Rockies and Yellowstone north and east would balance it out for me should I choose to live there... I would hope the people are nice to contrast with the abject scenery-I didn't really meet any locals, staying on an Air Force base to the north.

[Abigail Adams]

I think being a "Christian" means you believe Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God, our Savior. And that the Bible is the only inspired Word of God. Sorry, I don't think Mormons qualify.

[Utah Girl]

And LaVerkin kicked out the mayor and council members during the last election who decided that LaVerkin was a UN free zone...