Friday, June 6, 2008

Pt. 2: LDS; Lotsa Dang Spires


Yep, lotsa LDS in Utah. We drove past Provo and stopped in Nephi...there's no escaping it. ;) The only thing I didn't expect was how obvious it was. They build their churches, (which I believe they call "wards",) to look exactly the same as the next. Easy to identify, I suppose. And there's tons of em. For some reason this fascinated me and I kept trying to get drive-by pictures of these subdivisions set in the hills, where you see these white spires sticking up. My friend who lives there said her last sub had 5 wards in it. They want it to be very convenient for you. (Most of the houses I saw in SLC were big and beautiful, too.)

I'm no authority, but I think I read that 90% of their government officials are LDS, so the line between church and state seemed blurred. For example, you can't just walk into a bar and have a drink. You need to have a membership to that bar. (Guess they're not into pub crawls.) You can't smoke within 50 feet of a businesses doorway, when you're on the street. If you are drinking in an establishment, you have to have food on your table. (Wouldn't want ya to get tipsy.) And if you go on a beer run? It'll be 2.3% alcohol. Yeahhhh....I'd say the religion is an influence there.

We went to Temple Square which is right downtown. (I had pictured the Temple off somewhere with some land attached to it.) It really was lovely... the gardens and fountains. We went into the Family History Library-(they're big on record keeping.) I found on line the list of passengers on the boat my grandma came over on from Italy, and printed it for her. Tons of information to be had, but you really need more time.


I wanted a Book of Mormon, as I'm told they hand them out all over the place, but they wanted me to pay for it, and I never got around to finding where they were sold. Would have been a nice thing to have from there.

I was trying not to be intimidated by the people, as they were very nice. It's just that they have an agenda, which makes you a little hesitant to really engage.






The way I wrapped it up to my friends was "a cross between warm and fuzzy, and creepy." I think they leaned toward "creepy", but I lean toward "warm and fuzzy", (with a little creepy thrown in. ;))


As pretty as it was, ultimately, I had to walk away....

21 comments:

RecknHavic said...

You're gettn pretty good at this postn stuff.

Nice scenery yet again. There's a LDS temple near us w/ that same darn angel(?) on top.

My guess is it (Mormonland) would be a little Stepfordish. I realize they call themselves Christians, but I don't define them that way. Been doin alittle research on em(cause a your trip and when they came by the house a few weeks back).

I'm surprised and alittle dissappointed that someone as bright as Glenn Beck falls for their teachings (suppose some migth say the same for me, minus the 'bright' thing).

While true Christianity has physical and written (from sources outside the Bible)evidence, the Mormons have none. One of the biggest holes (in M) i've come across is that Joseph Smith met God the Father face to face (actually He, the Father, is Spirit) in 1820; when their teachings specify that only someone who is an ordained priest can see God the Father (others die instantly). Smith was ordained in 1829.

RecknHavic said...

More On Mormons

They don't drink caffeine, and THAT, is just wrong.

Anonymous said...

Thanks...

Just goes to show ya there's something for everybody if you look hard enough. I choose to let it go when it comes to GB. :) Yes, Stepfordish is a good way to describe it. And they all wear Polo shirts. (At least collared shirts.)

Why is Chinese food so expensive?

RecknHavic said...

Hmmm...

Perhaps it's a regional thing. Very affordable here, especially the buffets. Course lots a military round these parts; and where there's military, there's chinese food.

RecknHavic said...

In-laws in town a day early..be here in 10 minutes..ran to store for ribs, charcoal and secret ingrediants...

I dig pressure.

Anonymous said...

Reck's Ribs, eh? Were they wowed? Wowwed? Is that a word?

Stan Rosenthal said...

When you were @ the downtown SLC temple (the headquarters), you were only a couple of blocks from where I protested former President Bush's visit to Utah (he held (announced) secret meetings with the LDS higher brass.)

Stan Rosenthal said...

I guess the correct word is "private" meeting(s). And I blew it when I said "meetings", as I'm certain he held only 1 (private (but announced)) meeting with the LDS brass that visit (which from my recollection was his only visit to Utah during his Presidency.)

Stan Rosenthal said...

Linda, when you were "downtown" SLC, did you happen to check out their new library?

Linda said...

No Stan, I didn't. Did google it tho just now and what a gorgeous building! Course, if I'd gone I'd undoubtedly be running into overdue charges shortly. ;)

Any particular reason you were livin in Salt Lake? Omg...you're Mormon, aren't you? See, that would explain a lot... ;)

Anonymous said...

Hope the Havics have a good party today!

RecknHavic said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
RecknHavic said...

Thanks. S been teary today. They do grow up too fast.

Anonymous said...

Wait till the youngest goes...that'll really be weird. But then it's party time for R and S! Wahooooo!!

Stan Rosenthal said...

Lin, I was there because my broe's there and it it was a WAY to excape Texas and a WAY to 'Learn To Ski' thing for me. Actually at one point I lived, worked and partied (Junior's Pub) across the street from where that library ended up (where the old library existed @ the time I lived there.)

Stan Rosenthal said...

Linda, did you happen to check out their new basketball arena (what *was* the Delta Center, I think it goes under a new pseudo now)? My brother did construction cleanup on it's windows.

Anonymous said...

No Stan, unfortunately I just had a quick afternoon in Salt Lake, so we basically just did Temple Square and walked the streets a bit to find lunch.

Stan Rosenthal said...

If I wouldv'e known you were gonna be in SLC, I would've suggested places to be (like the Zepher club and the Tap Room, if they still exist ... )

Here's a band (or a previous life of this band) that (used to?) play(s) the Zepher -

http://technohippie.com/geeklog/public_html/mediagallery/media.php?s=20070910203915228

Stan Rosenthal said...

Linda, a question: preface: Obviously I'm from Houston and that makes me a Houstonian, and I've lived in Dallas where I quickly learned that they're Dallasites. Did you happen to catch whether they're Salt Lake Citians, or Salt Lake Cityites? (or even Salt Lake Citiots. ;-) )

I livd there for like 12 years, and I still have no clue. :-)

Stan Rosenthal said...

(actually, Dallasians is also as correct as Dallasites)

Is it Detroitians or Detroitites? ;-) This I really have no clue about (since I've never even visited the piston.)

Linda said...

Well, we're Detroiters. I think the Salt Lake folks are called nut jobs. ;)
(I don't know...next time I talk to my friend out there, I'll ask.)