Even though the core values and principles are the same for nearly all who attend here, each individual holds their own idea of how to express and live their values. I completely respect that in every person, and I myself try not to judge others for how they choose to live. As I am from Utah, I know that there is a certain stereotype that follows the title of a "Utah Mormon". It comes with derogatory messages like "You've never had to deal with non-mormons, so how would you know?" Or "You've been sheltered your whole life" or "Sorry to break it to you, but the whole world doesn't know about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, they aren't famous" or "You must think ____ because you're from Utah" etc. Or they think that I don't live as devoutly as someone who has had to deal with more persecution and anonymity. Can I just express how obnoxious this is to me??? Of course I'm from Utah, I'm proud to be Utahn! It is a wonderful place to live, not solely because our church is headquartered here. Everyone automatically assumes that I will be judgemental, strict, and snobby to other mormons because they lived somewhere else. I do not believe this in any way, shape, or form. I am glad that our church is a worldwide organization and that people around the world share my values and faith.
Just because I am from Utah does not mean that I have been sheltered and kept away from the evils of the world. Evil is omnipresent. Even though there were many LDS teens at my high school, I had to deal with persecution and disrespect that I am sure everyone who is LDS has had to deal with. The state of Utah is not 100% Mormon. There are bad people, there are people who have no idea what the church is all about. There are even Anti-Mormons who live among us. At my own high school we had protesters stand outside on the curb and pass out pamphlets to the kids as they left school that were all about how "Joseph Smith Lied" and such. It is not a perfect world by any means. And yet people think that I don't know?
I have been blessed to travel to all fifty states in my young 19 years. I have been exposed to all sorts of lifestyles and cultures. I have seen the poverty that prevails in some parts of the country. I visited New Orleans after the hurricane destroyed much of the city. I sat on a city bus in Washington D.C., packed with thugs and scary people. I have walked the streets of New York at night, I've meandered through a packed market in Seattle, I enjoyed most of a cruise in a pub, and what I have seen through all of this is that we are all children of God.
The point of all of this is not to try to get the stigma of "Utah Mormon" off of my own back, but of the backs of all LDS people. I think that any label in our church is against the teachings of our faith. We are taught to love one another as Jesus loves them. Automatically assigning a label to a person quickly blocks your ability to get to know that person for who they are, and what they do. Many times I see people saying that "Oh, she must be from Utah, she's sooo.. Mormon." I am proud to Mormon. I am happy to associate with such an incredible church that is led by Jesus Christ himself, through the mouths of Prophets. What would Jesus do? Would he label a person by "how Mormon" they are? No. He wouldn't. I think this has actually become a widespread problem in our church. Everyone is so worried about comparisons and labels that they miss the good that each person has to offer. I am not exempt from this. I admit that I have been quick to pass judgement on others, I am ashamed of that. It is my goal to treat everyone as a child of God, and to not be jaded by labels or comparisons. It was wonderful to be a Latter-Day Saint in these days, and I am grateful. But let us all try to commit to treating each other with love, kindness, and respect and not judge one another.
*I am so sorry if anything I have written has been taken offensively, it was not intended to do so. I just want to express my views, and thought this would be a good outlet.
