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Utah May Be One of Fastest-Growing States
AP/Newsday ^ | 4/21/05 | MARK THIESSEN

Posted on 04/21/2005 9:32:00 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim

Utah May Be One of Fastest-Growing States

By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press Writer

April 21, 2005, 7:42 AM EDT

SALT LAKE CITY -- With a big influx of retirees and lots of fertile, family-minded Mormons, Utah is projected to be one of the five fastest-growing states over the next three decades.

The Census Bureau said Thursday that Utah's population is expected to increase 56 percent, or by more than 1.2 million people, between 2000 and 2030. Nevada and Arizona are expected to double in population, and a gain of nearly 80 percent is projected in Florida and almost 60 percent in Texas.

One reason for the boom in Utah is the Mormon church. It is estimated at least 70 percent of the state's 2.2 million residents are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Because of the church's emphasis on big families, Utah's fertility rate is 2.56 children per woman of childbearing age, the highest in the nation. (The national rate was 2.03 in 2001.) The state also has the nation's highest average of people per household, 3.13, and the lowest median age, 27.5.

It also has one of the nation's fastest-growing older populations. Its 65-and-older population has climbed 27 percent in the past 10 years, and will rise an additional 28 percent in the next decade, according to the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services.

Retiring baby boomers -- many of them from California -- are moving to Utah, often drawn by the red-rock beauty of the southern part of the state.

Judy and Steve Merrill moved to St. George, billed unofficially as Utah's retirement capital, last fall from their home in northern Virginia. They previously owned a second home in Arizona.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Utah
KEYWORDS: birthrate; census; ldschurch
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To: concerned about politics
Polygamy rights. Who's to say homosexuals have rights and these folks don't? I'm not Mormon, but if I were I'd definitely speak up! If Utah is growing this fast, they may be the first state to legalize Polygamy. After all, the ball has already started rolling, and there's no stopping it without a federal Marriage amendment.

I, however, am 'Mormon', and I strongly disagree. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka the Mormon church) is a church based on revelation. It does not involve itself in politics. Just because the homosexual lobby (which we strongly disagree with, on moral principle) is pushing for acceptance of gay marriage, doesn't mean we will jump on the bandwagon. There will be no push for polygamy by any LDS anywhere, I guarantee it. And what does being one of the fastest growning states have to do with legalizing polygamy?

21 posted on 04/21/2005 10:10:08 AM PDT by RedBeaconNY (The greatest mystery to man, is man himself.)
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To: cinives

What's great here is that the booze laws slow down the LA types. Not just a red state...

RED

22 posted on 04/21/2005 10:15:43 AM PDT by Utah Binger (Maynard Dixon Country)
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To: Utah Binger

The homeless are packing their bags as we speak.


23 posted on 04/21/2005 10:19:30 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
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To: kiriath_jearim
"Utah's fertility rate is 2.56 children per woman." What a contrast with Europe which has sunk below the replacement rate. What does Utah have that Europe lacks? Two things: strong religious faith, and rejection of socialism in favor of self-reliance. It's the fertile who will inherit the earth.
24 posted on 04/21/2005 10:24:08 AM PDT by Malesherbes
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To: AppyPappy

Oh, and one more thing. Browning Arms is a Utah company

25 posted on 04/21/2005 10:26:25 AM PDT by Utah Binger (Maynard Dixon Country)
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To: AppyPappy

And as I was saying..........

26 posted on 04/21/2005 10:34:28 AM PDT by Utah Binger (Maynard Dixon Country)
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To: concerned about politics; kiriath_jearim

I have a friend who live in Ogden, he and his wife are momon. They have 9 count them 9 kids. Nuff said.


27 posted on 04/21/2005 10:38:08 AM PDT by TXBSAFH (Never underestimate the power of human stupidity--Robert Heinlein)
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To: RedBeaconNY
I, however, am 'Mormon', and I strongly disagree. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka the Mormon church) is a church based on revelation. It does not involve itself in politics.

Uh....so why are you here?

Utah is big on Mormon Polygamy. That's why I suggested it.

28 posted on 04/21/2005 10:43:58 AM PDT by concerned about politics (Vote Republican - Vote morally correct!)
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To: concerned about politics
I, however, am 'Mormon', and I strongly disagree. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka the Mormon church) is a church based on revelation.

BTW, I didn't know that your Church was based on Revelation. No kidding. I'm a HUGE follower of Biblical prophecy. Well, I learn something new here every day.
(I'm Baptist, so we're based on Baptizing with the Holy Spirit).

29 posted on 04/21/2005 10:49:27 AM PDT by concerned about politics (Vote Republican - Vote morally correct!)
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To: ambrose

...like a virus...

We have them coming in droves to BC...not like we need their help with liberal policies up there...


30 posted on 04/21/2005 10:58:49 AM PDT by MD_Willington_1976
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To: concerned about politics
Uhm...what exactly does Polygamy rights have to do with Utah? The LDS Church abandoned the practice in the 1800s. If you are referring to the RLDS factions in the Southern part of the state, they are a definite minority and are not associated with the Mormons in any way.
31 posted on 04/21/2005 11:02:54 AM PDT by KurtAZ (So they've got us surrounded, good! Now we can fire in any direction, those bastards won't get away)
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To: concerned about politics

Spoken like someone who knows nothing of the Mormon Church.


32 posted on 04/21/2005 11:06:49 AM PDT by KurtAZ (So they've got us surrounded, good! Now we can fire in any direction, those bastards won't get away)
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To: Utah Binger
We took a trip thru Utah several years ago and the beauty of the canyons is breathtaking. We travelled off the beaten path and just stayed awed at the natural beauty everywhere. Also, I do believe the people there must rise early in the morning and sweep the streets. It is so clean and the air fresh and the people helpful and nice. We noticed many of the state employees at various welcome stations are women. I hope Utah holds it's ground against dilution of the state's culture by newcomers.
33 posted on 04/21/2005 11:07:45 AM PDT by mountainfolk (God bless President George Bush)
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To: KurtAZ
Spoken like someone who knows nothing of the Mormon Church.

Yeah. All I know is the Mormons in Utah want lots of wives. That's about all I know about Utah. It's not big for news stories, I guess.

I have a friend who's a member of the latter day saints. He's a nice guy. I don't talk to him about it, though. He has his church, and I have mine.

34 posted on 04/21/2005 11:12:25 AM PDT by concerned about politics (Vote Republican - Vote morally correct!)
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To: concerned about politics
Once again...no, the LDS Church does not support polygamy. I would suggest that before you start spouting off about something you have no clue about, you actually do some research. Maybe you should talk to your friend about the Church sometime rather than talking about it with non-members.

The Mormons definitely have their inconsistencies and I find the Book of Mormon interesting...but to just start saying that Mormons are all polygamists is like saying all Catholics torture people for heresy.
35 posted on 04/21/2005 11:19:31 AM PDT by KurtAZ (So they've got us surrounded, good! Now we can fire in any direction, those bastards won't get away)
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To: KurtAZ

Actually the LDS church temporarily abandoned polygamy around 1904 and really started enforcing this ban in 1906 with purges in 1907 that resulted in excommunication and disfellowshipment outcomes in church courts for anyone entering post-1904 polygamous relations. The LDS church issued a Manifesto in 1890 to temporarily stop new polygamous marriages in Utah so they could get statehood. During the Reed Smoot hearings it was exposed that there were still some polygamy marriage happening, including one in 1896 when Wilford Woodruff took another plural wife. Polygamous marriages were being performed on the High Seas, Mexico and out-of-state in small numbers with great secrecy. However, as far as anyone can tell, the LDS First Presidency has been very strong in enforcing the Polygamy ban since 1904.

This temporary ban is still in-force but all honest church members acknowledge that it's just a temporary ban. If Polygamy can be legalized then the LDS church will probably resume it's practice. See http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/132 for the text of the church's doctrine on polygamy.


36 posted on 04/21/2005 11:28:11 AM PDT by Degaston
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To: KurtAZ
Once again...no, the LDS Church does not support polygamy. I would suggest that before you start spouting off about something you have no clue about, you actually do some research. Maybe you should talk to your friend about the Church sometime rather than talking about it with non-members.

Nah. I just checked it out. I'm not that interested. The "Prophet" for their Church supported liberal Gore/Leiberman. That's about all I need to know.
If you disapprove of the Mormons in Utah, talk to them, not me. I'm Baptist. I'm happy with just one spouse! Lord knows that's enough for me!

37 posted on 04/21/2005 11:29:22 AM PDT by concerned about politics (Vote Republican - Vote morally correct!)
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To: mountainfolk
Also, I do believe the people there must rise early in the morning and sweep the streets.

We do work at it, however there are quite a few problems with old cars, tractors, broken down implements and litter. We are trying to implement attitudes that bring the look and feel to this clean look.


38 posted on 04/21/2005 11:30:34 AM PDT by Utah Binger (Maynard Dixon Country)
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To: KurtAZ
The Mormons definitely have their inconsistencies and I find the Book of Mormon interesting...

I read that book out of curiosity once. The Pearl of Great Price, right? The bad guys won in the end. I didn't find it very motivational at all!

39 posted on 04/21/2005 11:32:07 AM PDT by concerned about politics (Vote Republican - Vote morally correct!)
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To: concerned about politics
If Utah is growing this fast, they may be the first state to legalize Polygamy.

Not gonna happen. I just moved here to Utah at the first of the year, and the regular Mormons regard polygamists as freaks. I was even in a store yesterday with an ex-Mormon friend, and she pointed out some polygamists that just came in the store, it was like having someone point out to you a green alien with antennae. The Mormons are sick and tired of the polygamy jokes they endure when they go outside of the state, they now have a knee-jerk reaction to anyone who mentions the subject. I have a "Polygamy Porter" beer T-shirt (their motto, 'Why Have Just One?') that I can only wear to the Elks Club, where smoking and drinking go on.

If you want to know why Utah is growing so fast, there are two causes: There has been an influx from California and a few other states, and the locals still breed like Catholics used to do in the fifties. Whenever I go to the supermarket during the daytime, I usually see women with three kids under five in tow, and you know there are more in school from that family. Houses tend to be quite large in the newer subdivisions, a minimum of four bedrooms. You pass school zones every 1000 feet on the arterials, it can be a problem when you have to get somewhere quickly at closing time.

Utah was solidly behind an anti-gay marriage constitutional provision that was on last November's ballot, voters see no connection between their possibly polygamous ancestors of a century or so ago, and homosexual marriage.

40 posted on 04/21/2005 11:38:33 AM PDT by hunter112 (Total victory at home and in the Middle East!)
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