Some of my closest Mormon friends opened up to me, as I did with them, and we were able to share our beliefs, values and experiences with mutual respect. I eventually grew to understand that not all members of the Church are equally pushy and that the infuriating behavior of one does not equal the behavior of all. My Mormon friends didn’t realize how difficult it was to be a double minority: Black and non-LDS. I even suppressed my own religious beliefs for fear of disrupting the status quo. I changed my vocabulary and altered my dress to coincide with conservative Mormon values. I white-washed my appearance, straightening and toning down my curly hair. When I asked questions about the religion, whether about wards or temple garments, I was regarded with suspicion or ridiculed. I was greeted with gasps and stares, which only made the situation worse. Teachers and classmates seemed appalled upon learning I was non-LDS. I had to blend in, religiously and demographically.
Where I lived, in Plain City (an incredibly convenient name for the type of people who lived there), I couldn’t just go with the flow. Of course, the data might vary in different parts of Utah, but the glaring fact is that Utah is not that diverse - and that the homogeneity of the culture here leads to a conformity of beliefs.
Society here is essentially homogeneous, with 90% of residents being white, 62% being LDS, and 54% being Republican. Practicing Mormons need to do a better job respecting other Utahns’ religious values, and not imposing their own. This behavior is incredibly unwelcome and often tiresome. I am not the only non-LDS person in Utah who has experienced this treatment. Whether it came down to my clothes, my future desires or my dream job, I was constantly bombarded with questions, criticisms and LDS beliefs that were not my own.
Already appalled by the utter lack of diversity, I was extremely disoriented by the fact that a majority of my neighbors, classmates and teachers were LDS members, and that they often pushed their beliefs onto me. In Utah, it seemed like everyone was the same. I was not prepared for the culture shock of living in the heartland of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. after my time in Europe was difficult, moving to Utah was nightmarish. I wasn’t used to such similarities among every person I met. Moving back to the United States was extremely hard. The people I met held various beliefs and came from a range of cultures. Living in Europe for seven years was life-changing. As a military kid, I’ve had some incredible and enlightening experiences.
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