We will be moving to the Salt Lake City area next month and have heard different things about what to expect?

We are not Mormon and have heard that because we are Christian we will be shunned. We have heard horror stories about how our children will not have friends or be invited to birthday parties etc. We are very open minded and accepting of others and are having a hard time believing this is true. Any thoughts?We will be moving to the Salt Lake City area next month and have heard different things about what to expect?
In general members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are very open and welcoming people. The biggest thing that I would worry about if I were in your shoes would be too many people trying to befriend you, specifically with the idea of trying to convert you. While there are always exceptions, the general population of our members are very friendly and welcoming.



A little bit of info about me to help you know where I am getting this from. I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for my whole life (so for more than 30 years now). I have lived in 5 different states (one of which is Utah) and Germany. And in all the members I have ran into I have seen the same kind of patterns. Now while there are very different, cultures and things like that among the various members in various areas of the world there is also a "Latter-day Saint culture" that exists as well, and it is that culture that I am referring to.
SLC is barely 50% LDS, so you'll have lots of company while being shunned.



It varies wildly by neighborhood. Some parts, like the Avenues, are mostly non Mormon, but other locations are very Mormon.



The culture in rural Utah and in Utah county is very Mormon. In SLC, you just want to check out the neighborhoods, because yes, shunning happens.We will be moving to the Salt Lake City area next month and have heard different things about what to expect?
Kids will be kids; they shun anyone who is different, for any reason at all, no matter where you move. It has nothing to do with the Mormon faith. Mormons are very outgoing and accepting of non-mormons. It is more likely that you will be uncomfortable because the community is so tight-knit. People will introduce themselves, invite you to social functions, bring you cookies... Mormonism isn't one of those hour-a-week churches, where noone knows anyone else. There is very little anonymity.
Oh, there are probably some narrow-minded Mormons who won't have anything to do with you, but I think that SLC is only about half Mormon. so I'm sure you will find friends there.



Mormons don't shun.
That sounds a bit like "sour grapes" to me --

I lived in the Salt Lake - Provo area for many years, and here's what i found:



LDS (Mormons) are mostly very decent, friendly, well-meaning, good folks -- but they do tend to be pretty involved in their own religion, church, and people. Sunday services, for example, take up a while 3 HOURS.



They can be very friendly to "outsiders" -- especially when they think there's a *possibility* that through "friendshipping", one might eventually "convert".



Honestly -- If you and your family truly are "open minded", and make a real effort to at least get acquainted and be friendly, you will most likely be welcomed and treated with good will, respect and neighborliness.



It will go even *better* if you can find you way to (at least) get acquainted with the local LDS Bishop and "Relief Society (Women's Auxiliary) President, and attend a Ward Dinner, picnic, party, or whatever -- which can actually be fun, and will give you a social connection that will be very helpful in settling in.



Good luck and Blessings --

~ Gaia_d@yahoo.com
PLEASE...shunned? Salt Lake is only 50% Mormon these days. Mormons are the nicest bunch on people. Everything will be fine. Do unto others....
Mormons are also Christians, so there's no problem.



Mormons don't shun. Ever.



I didn't grow up in SLC, but I lived in the surrounding area during my junior high years. I had non-Mormon friends. Nobody cared.



If you're accepting of others, they'll be accepting of you. And if not, then they're not worth your time anyway, right?
There use to be a Mormon church on every block but if you google churchs in UT you will find that other Christian churches are there now. There are non-Mormon, ex-Mormon, Anti-mormons, Lighthouse Ministry(ex-Mormons), JackMormons, Christians, cowboys, harley men and women and all kinds of other people there. The Mormons are set up geographically so if you move into an all mormon neighborhood, it could be kind of lonely for you until you join a church and get connected.
The only problms I have found was an actual strip club in UT, holy Moses and a person left a nast gram on my car once when I was having a hard time parking my rental car (so I thought I parked far enough away at the D.I.(Desert Industries=second hand store)) and going to he SLC temple square and being attacked by LDS workers trying to convert me.
When you are known as open-minded to mormons? They love that! Forget all those horror stories about living in the Land of the Morg (mormon organ). They will appear to love you.... right into their church society. If you don't fight against them? They don't fight against you! Very simple people, LDS.



However, IF you are Christian, and you actually live your faith? Well.... there's just so much they can accept, dear.
There is some truth to that, hard to stay in business or hold a decent job in Salt Lake if you aren't in the Mormon Church.