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I was recently in Utah visiting family. Now keep in mind I am Utah born and bred. I am the fourth generation on all sides born in Utah. So I can pick on Utah.

But after my trip I could not help thinking how odd some things are there. The thought "Utah, land of the loon's and home of the strange" kept going through my mind.

Let me give you a quick sample. On my way down I-15 from the airport there tons of signs for LDS movies, missionary items, books and even a lingerie and who knows what else shop for married couples called Between Husband and Wife. About a mile from this sign was another sign for a more "seedy" establishment.

HINCKLEY-A GIANT AMONG MEN was very prominent on billboards as was EMMA-both new movies. I thought it rather tacky that someone made a movie, and I assume will make some money, and President Hinckley has been gone not even a year yet?

Also I listen to a lot of talk radio. The topic that evening on the station I was listening too was environmental issues. WOW! Talk about the ultra conservative calls!! And a number were quoiting scripture on how all this are signs of the last days.

But what really takes the cake is the leader of the state senate is pushing some bill to require restaurants like Chili's to put up some major wall or barrier between where alcoholic drinks are mixed and the customers. I guess there is some strange plastic barrier now but that is not enough. Minors may see the drinks mixed and be corrupted and even may try to sneak a drink my putting their grubby little hands around the plastic barrier and grabbing a glass. The new requirements would seem to totally separate the mixing area from patrons so the kiddies cannot witness booze being prepared. Estimated cost to each establishment is $100,000 to make the modification.

I guess at least for the USA goes this may happen only in Utah. But what nonsense and what a waste of tax payers time and money. The man leading this charge ought to be sent home packing. Really! Are there not more pressing issues in Utah than protecting the eyes of our children from seeing a whiskey sour?

Anyway it was a fun visit. I also stopped by the Draper temple and had I known there was an open house going on I would have dressed for it. But I was in jeans and did not want to go in. But it is a lovely structure and surrounded I am sure by some of the nicest homes in the valley. Also I drove up and over the point of the mountain where there are now houses on top. I have wanted to see what this new development looked like. I was impressed, It is called Suncrest and the views were fantastic on both the SLC and Utah county side. And there are homes that are reasonable there. Ranges are about $280,000 to over $1,000,000. $280,000 is more my speed and I saw some nice hour bedroom homes there. And there is a large LDS chapel on the mountain top there as well.

I suppose every state is quirky in their own way. I don't even notice how weird the LDS billboards are anymore. But, hey, know your market, right? LDS stores do VERY well here.

And I think the Husband and Wife store is brilliant! It makes it feel like an intimate place where a wife can go without feeling like she's in some trashy porn store. Not that other boutiques are trashy... it's just the mindset some Mormon women get.

Scottie wrote:I suppose every state is quirky in their own way. I don't even notice how weird the LDS billboards are anymore. But, hey, know your market, right? LDS stores do VERY well here.

And I think the Husband and Wife store is brilliant! It makes it feel like an intimate place where a wife can go without feeling like she's in some trashy porn store. Not that other boutiques are trashy... it's just the mindset some Mormon women get.

The major oddity is the Liquor issue. The other things were more curiosities.

I have a friend who calls the homes that are on top of the mountain "Recommend Ridge". A more scathing denouncement of the people who live there would be hard to find. His brother and a sister, among them.

He's a descendant of one of the original pioneers... and very proud of his Presbyterian heritage. I guess Brigham pissed off a few people when he told them to not buy the SL Trib.

Jason Bourne wrote:The major oddity is the Liquor issue. The other things were more curiosities.

Indeed, the absolute fear of alcohol in this state is kind of mind boggling. It seems like people here think that you either abstain or you are an alcoholic. There is no such thing as social drinking.

In Utah County, you can buy beer on every day except Sunday. Talk about forcing your religion on others. Other than religion, what earthy reason could there be for locking it down on Sunday?? And if you are a Mormon, you're not going to be buying it anyways, so how does it hurt to sell it on Sunday?

Scottie wrote:It seems like people here think that you either abstain or you are an alcoholic. There is no such thing as social drinking.

So true. I started drinking alcohol when I was in Utah and every trip to the state liquor store felt like a secret CIA mission. Get in, get out, don't be seen. I rarely bought alcohol at the grocery store for fear of exposure.

Scottie wrote:In Utah County, you can buy beer on every day except Sunday. Talk about forcing your religion on others. Other than religion, what earthy reason could there be for locking it down on Sunday?? And if you are a Mormon, you're not going to be buying it anyways, so how does it hurt to sell it on Sunday?

Actually, I think there are dry counties in states other than Utah. Connecticut maybe? It goes back to prohibition. I'll have to Google. But, if you're in Utah County and you need to get a beer on Sunday, drive down to Springville. There's a gas station/convenience store right off of I-15 that sells on Sunday.

Edited to add:

Wikipedia wrote:Connecticut does not allow sales of liquor, beer, wine after 8pm or on Sunday.

For others, just google dry counties. It's pretty surprising.

I think it's strange how the Wal-Marts in Utah look like the Deseret Bookstore near the checkout lines.

Seven wrote:I think it's strange how the Wal-Marts in Utah look like the Deseret Bookstore near the checkout lines.

I've seen Wal-Marts in California that have a "Christian" Book section and an "LDS" Book section right next to each other. It's always fun to put a few Stephen Robinson books in the "Christian" section, just to mess with 'em.

I used to fly radio-controlled gliders off the Point of the Mountain. You had to take these nasty, horribly rutted dirt roads up and over that place. The building up there I fear is displacing some of the best r/c and hang glider flying there is to be found. On most days you could find lift on either the south side, or the north side, and fly forever. I once tossed my glider off the point and flew it for so long, that when I finally landed it (just for practice), intending to launch it again, I looked down at my transmitter and realized I'd flown the entire battery charge in one flight.

What really amuses me in that mormony way are the LDS wedding store billboards down in the Provo area. Some folks may argue that there's no social pressure for young Mormon kids to get married, but there are a bunch of billboard ad buyers who would beg to differ.

Speaking of fear of alcohol, I recall a post on MAD by Juliann one time, and she was telling some "atrocity tale" about a person who had left the church, and for her the last straw in this man's outrageous behavior was that he wanted to "keep alcohol in the home". Keeping a few beers in the fridge, you know, is like almost as bad as serial murder - watch out!

I went from Utah to Tennessee and haven't noticed a whole lot of cultural difference. Both are conservative religiously dominated states, and both have strict alchohol laws. I will say that people in Tennessee are by and large very open and accomodating. However, the people I knew in Utah were friendly as well. I miss the mountains......

Interestingly enough, Moore county, where you'll find the Jack Daniels distillery, is a dry county.

cacheman