Recently I wrote a post asking the question about what being a “Utah Mormon” means. I was surprised by the amount of visitors and controversy it stirred up. As stated in my purpose, it isn’t my intention to hurt anyone of any faith so in order to keep things light-hearted I thought I’d do something fun with the Utah Mormon thing to end the discussion on a positive note.
My father-in-law suggested a top ten list last night and I thought it would be fun. I’m going to have you help me with a top ten list. I have taken ten comments from readers of the post on Utah Mormon culture and will list them in random order. What I ask of you as a reader is to help me rank the top ten comments and in awhile I’ll share the results. In addition if you’d like to share any experiences or comments on any of these items, feel free to do so.
I have tons of relatives in Utah and I was born and have lived in Utah as well so for those of you in Utah I hope you realize that the term “Utah Mormon” is simply a stereotype that I’ve heard floating around out there and thought it would be fun to discuss. It isn’t my intention to hurt anyones feelings because heck, I’m probably a Utah Mormon myself!
O.k……(drum roll)….let’s get started!
What it Means to be a Utah Mormon Top Ten List
– I don’t know how to describe one, but I know one when I see one.
– “Utah Mormons” take Mormonism to the extreme
– “Utah Mormons” are characterized by their explicitives (Gosh!, Darn!, Heck!, and Fetch!)
– “Utah Mormons” think General Authorities are like rock stars (my wife loved this one…she shared with me an experience she had a BYU when some of her friends waited to see Elder Eyring and get their pictures and his autograph. When they came back they were pumped and going crazy…like you’d see at a rock concert 🙂
– “Utah Mormons” love green Jell-o
– Except for being on a mission, a Utah Mormon has never ventured outside of the “Mormon Corridor”
– “Utah Mormons” are nice, kind, and loving people
– “Utah Mormons” may take for granted what they have
– “Utah Mormons” are innocent in their knowledge of other faiths and/or cultures
– A “Utah Mormon” is someone who would be content living in Utah County all of their days
Grace for Grace 
10 comments
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April 28, 2008 at 10:40 pm
REM
So true. But that Mormon innocence is good.
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April 29, 2008 at 3:55 am
hawkgrrrl
On #3 – The expression “Oh my heck!” is exclusively a UT mormon phrase.
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April 29, 2008 at 5:49 am
Jon W
“oh my heck”
stupidiest phrase ever.
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April 30, 2008 at 6:16 am
In The Doghouse
I would have to say that my number one pick would be “I don’t know how to describe one, but I know one when I see one.” ( for girls, I think it is the hairstyles?) Hearing them speak is another dead give-away also, so the exclusive phrases was a really big toss up.
I happen to have tons of family in Utah, and love them beyond measure, so please take no offense at my comments, after all we are all on the same team anyway!
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May 2, 2008 at 8:14 am
Beth
That’s a good list, yes.
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May 4, 2008 at 12:54 am
amybaker
This is so funny. I am not a mormon ( so some of these I don’t get, like green jello? what’s that about), and I have known very few in my life, but it is hilarious to me b/c it is so similiar to sarcasm that I throw on my own religion of Christianity. I literally have written satirically about the same sort of things. It’s interesting how much crossover there can be behaviorally amongst people devoted to a particular faith.
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June 16, 2008 at 11:32 pm
caramia
I am writing a paper for my Cultural Anthropology class on the difference between the culture of Utah Mormons and non-Utah Mormons. I grew up Mormon in Kaysville, Utah and now live in California.
When I was first in college at Weber State (1991), I had a Mormon friend from Pennsylvania that commented all the time about how Utah Mormons are “like this” or “like that. ” I never realized there was a difference until then. I think that’s really the point. In my experience Utah Mormons (and this is my opinion) tend to be much more naiive about the world than non-utah Mormons. People who grow up Mormon in Utah have a different idea of who it is acceptable to be friends with, they tend to live more by mormon culture rather than by Mormon doctrine. Many, dare I saw most, Utah Mormon children have few if any non-Mormon friends and if they do, they believe they are superior to them. Another example of cultural Mormonism is caffeine. The word of wisdom does not mention caffeine at all, but it is a widely held cultural belief that it is forbidden. One last example comes from my own experience where upon attending a community meeting held in a non-LDS church building in my teens, I saw an ashtray out front and coffee makers inside. My understanding of the world was that “church going people” did not drink coffee or smoke cigarettes. People who did were “bad.” Since that was the norm in my community, I believed it to be the way of the world. I think there also tends to be a ‘holier than thou” kind of attitude which is why many non-Utah Mormons dislike, resent, and stereotype Utah Mormons.
As far as ‘green jello” is concerned, I can honestly say that I have never consumed green jello salad outside of Utah, but Oh My Gosh (and I only use the word “gosh” out of cultural sensitivity), it’s good! LOL.
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September 21, 2008 at 4:52 am
Misha
Hey, I’m a seven generation “Utah Mormon”. I moved out of state and back in, I understand. It is something I’ve grown to appreciate being. I really love who I am and have become. I have worked on living with higher integrity as I’ve noticed others not seeming to care and hope to be a better light to the world for those seeking it.
God Bless…
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October 27, 2008 at 1:01 pm
vonrich
I’m a convert Mormons and i believe this religion is Best……..They’re people with high moral and ethical standards.Just like Filipino does we focus more on the importance of family,,,,,more than anything else….
God bless Us…….
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October 27, 2008 at 1:02 pm
vonrich
Thank you for the chance of knowing this religion…..
I,m proud to be LDS….
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