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So, I have been to SLC on three different occasions now — once as a missionary before I entered the MTC. Once with my family as an orthodox Mormon, and now, as an unorthodox Mormon. Impressions:
1. I felt way more “safe” than I normally do in an inner city. Was impressed with the cleanliness compared to the cleanliness I see in my home base.
2. Felt really comfortable when people started chatting me up and we found we had both served a mission (as happened at In and Out Burger with the cashier).
3. Was blown away with how racially homogeneous the place was. Also how everyone spoke English, compared to what I’m used to in my home “base”.
4. Visited City Creek Mall, and all I could think about was Thomas S. Monson opening or dedicating the place, ending with “Let’s go Shopping”.
5. Was impressed with many of the Wikipedia entries (assuming they were reliable) indicating higher well being, less poverty, and a brighter future outlook for Utah compared to other states in the nation.
6. Beauty of the mountains.
7. Didn’t really have any kind of a spiritual reaction to all the religious sites we visited (Seagull monument, Tabernacle, Church History Museum). To me, these places contained emblems of a culture, rather than a religion for which I had deep faith. I found myself looking at many of them with skepticism. Often felt thankful I was no longer giving my retirement savings to the church.
8. Of note was the surround video of the first vision in the Museum of Church HIstory (if that’s what it was called). It was very realistic, although all I could think about was a post I made here a while ago (and which I was asked to edit). About how many religions start with someone creating scripture and claiming to have seen God. Such as the way Mohammed did. I sort of lumped JS’s first vision into that collection of historical religious figures.
9. Was impressed with how JS created a religion that has lasted so many decades and is still around, globally. He created something that is very credible to many people.
Those were my thoughts. They were much less glorious than when I visiting as a missionary (where I was in complete awe). It was more like a tourist visit where I was learning about the history as an observer. And the history wasn’t my own heritage either — it was someone else’s.
Anyone else have these moments where you look at things that formerly left you awestruck, only to find them rather commonplace?
My wife & I went to SLC this summer. We hadn’t been there in about 20+ years. We visited my daughter & my grandson. He graduated HS in Park City. We went to SLC to visit friends. We had a great time. Our impressions were the same as yours. I was impressed with
the amount of construction we saw. We also went to BYU. The campus was crowded with students in the middle of summer.
My wife graduated from there in 1969. We were married in SLC temple in 1972. Every place we went it was crowded with people.
I would love to go there, but I have been to the USA before but I’m not sure I want to return with the way US immigration treats tourists these days (full on interrogation, fingerprinting etc) which is highly offensive. There are plenty of other places I can visit without being treated like a criminal. For as much as the church receives complaints about its real estate activities, I have seen church investments revitalize downtown Ogden (by the temple). Haven’t been in SLC for a few years but I understand that the church has done similar things there – partnering with the city to create revitalized spaces.
My main comment is that I wish I’d had a chance to meet you when you were here. I would have loved to have that opportunity. It’s not often I get to talk to an unorthodox Mormon in real life. 
Chuck-A-Rama. Buffets like that are uncommon in Canada, so we went twice. Katzpur wrote:
My main comment is that I wish I’d had a chance to meet you when you were here. I would have loved to have that opportunity. It’s not often I get to talk to an unorthodox Mormon in real life.
I only thought of it after I got home!!! I would have liked to have talked! It would have been tough explaining what I was doing to my family, all of whom are orthodox….and TBM mostly….my daughter lives up there so perhaps another time.
SilentDawning wrote:
Katzpur wrote:
My main comment is that I wish I’d had a chance to meet you when you were here. I would have loved to have that opportunity. It’s not often I get to talk to an unorthodox Mormon in real life.
I only thought of it after I got home!!! I would have liked to have talked! It would have been tough explaining what I was doing to my family, all of whom are orthodox….and TBM mostly….my daughter lives up there so perhaps another time.
I really hope so. I so seldom get to meet LDS people I can actually relate to.
Roy wrote:
For as much as the church receives complaints about its real estate activities, I have seen church investments revitalize downtown Ogden (by the temple).Haven’t been in SLC for a few years but I understand that the church has done similar things there – partnering with the city to create revitalized spaces.
I don’t think I necessarily disagree with investment in communities and cities that way, but I do think that should be secondary to looking after the needs of members who fund the church. Even if no tithing funds were used for the real estate. For example, my oft quoted inability to get help from LDS Social Services when I needed it after leaving leadership is a case in point. They were simply not enough counselors to handle everything. Expanded services would have been nice, but that would cost money. So when I see investments in real estate, it reminds me of where we, as members, stand in terms of the order of investment.
I happen to know of one place – not in the USA – where the locals were up in arms about an LDS temple being built. Years down the line, when they closed the temple for renovations all the local businesses were up in arms… Because they realised LDS brought a lot of money to the area and didn’t cause trouble (like, say soccer fans)… Temples actually do bring money to the areas they are built in. Central SLC has a lot of visitors it might not have without a temple. Not just LDS but the curious. It might not be the Vatican but it is internationally famous in a way Duluth or Olympia aren’t.
We lived in SLC for many years although I’m not from there, but we’ve lived elsewhere for 15 years now, and when we go back these are some of my thoughts: 1) Holy crap, there are a lot of trashy billboards everywhere! (Our city restricts these)
2) In general, things look dirtier and trashier than where we currently live. Just less uniform and more oddball signage everywhere, on buildings, etc.
3) The downtown area is greatly improved through gentrification. It’s much better than it used to be.
4) There are a lot of homeless people in SLC.
5) People love a very specific style of “big” American furniture and decor there. It’s not to my taste, and it seems very obvious when you go to certain shopping areas, including City Creek.
6) People are very friendly and look you in the eye with a smile.
7) The mountains are so majestic!
You can get some REALLY decent ethnic food in SLC: Brazilian BBQ, Greek, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Nepalese (!), Peruvian, etc.9) Kids. There are a lot of kids–everywhere–even in places that seem like an inappropriate venue for kids (e.g. white tablecloth restaurants).
hawkgrrrl wrote:
You can get some REALLY decent ethnic food in SLC: Brazilian BBQ, Greek, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Nepalese (!), Peruvian, etc.9) Kids. There are a lot of kids–everywhere–even in places that seem like an inappropriate venue for kids (e.g. white tablecloth restaurants).
8 & 9 look like Mormon effect to me. US born LDS are often well traveled and have lived in other countries, so this is a kind of washback.
I get the impression that it is one of the few places in the continental US with a visible Polynesian minority. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Also what’s the deal with rugby? Is it more prominent there than elsewhere in the USA? I’m told some of the better US rugby teams are based there (along with the likes of Ivy League universities)
By the way I used to get taken to such restaurants all the time as a child. My parents didn’t like junk food.
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