Utah Mormons

Why do Utah Mormons always get a bad rap? This is one of my pet peeves: people who diss Mormons from Utah for no valid reason. Sure, I agree there are advantages and disadvantages to living in Utah. I loved growing up in Utah, and I'm glad to be in Iowa now.

Here are some conversations I've had with people about "Utah Mormons". The thing that boggles my mind the most is that all these people who've said these things are generally awesome people.

Matt and me talking to a woman in our ward in Idaho:
Woman: Mormons are just not the same in Utah. My sister lives there and everyone is always trying to keep up with the Jones's. Etc. etc. etc. (I won't bore you with the entire conversation.) 

Matt: Erin, you grew up in Utah. Did you notice that a lot?
Erin: No, I never noticed that people acted like that.
Woman: Oh, but you grew up in the country--not in the Salt Lake Valley.
Erin: (in my head) Since when is Heber not part of Utah?

At Church when I attended BYU-Hawaii:
Senior Missionary: Where are you from?
Erin: I grew up in Utah, but most recently I've been at BYU-Idaho.
Senior Missionary: Oh, so you had to come here (Laie, Hawaii) to learn the gospel.
Erin: Umm, I think I learned the gospel there, too.
Erin: (in my head) Does he think it's impossible to learn the gospel in Utah?

In a meeting for Church:
Gertrude (name changed): When my sons were in the MTC all the Utah missionaries thought they were better than everyone else because they were from Utah. It wasn't until the Utah guys learned that these boys from Iowa lived really close to places like Nauvoo and Winter Quarters that the playing ground became even, per say.
Erin: Silence and a little smile (I wasn't going to waste my breathe on something like this and I didn't really think it was appropriate to get in a "Utah Mormons" debate in a meeting for Church…not that her comment was really appropriate, but…what can ya do.)
Gertrude: Now don't judge me. This is just what my sons all said.
Erin: Half smile and "Oh, don't worry."
Matt (later, after I'd related the conversation): That is probably the dumbest thing I've heard. There is no way that the fact that someone lives close to Nauvoo would be the thing to change a person's attitude about another missionary.

Please, no one get offended by my little ranting. I've never taken real offense to anything anyone's ever said about Utah Mormons. I just think sometimes people categorize others using unfair sweeping generalizations. I'm sure there's Utahans who are materialistic, who don't learn the gospel until they leave Utah, and who think they're better missionaries than everyone else. But I'd say that's the exception, not the rule. Besides, President Hinckley and President Monson were and are "Utah Mormons". Are they so bad?

To further digress and emphasize that I do think there are unique blessings both in Utah and in the "mission field", here's some of the blessings I've noticed from living in Utah and also outside of the Mormon Bubble.

Blessings from living in Utah:
1. Growing up with lots of friends who share your values
2. Attending general conference and other general Church meetings in person on a regular basis
3. Going to release time seminary
4. Accessing Church records, including genealogy records, more easily
5. Finding modest prom dresses
6. Worshipping at the temple more regularly
7. The mountains! (Okay, that's not really a Mormon thing, but I'm missing them right now!)

Blessings from living outside of the Mormon Bubble:
1. Growing up where you have to defend your values with your peers
2. Relying on ward members more and perhaps forming stronger bonds
3. Attending early morning seminary
4. Possibly appreciating your faith to a different level
5. Having more opportunities to share the gospel
6. Gaining greater understanding for people who do not share your faith