Utah is the 4th Happiest State in the USA

[I Have Questions]

A recent

WalletHub report surveyed which states in the U.S. were considered happiest, examining factors such as depression rates, cost-of-living, unemployment and so forth.

https://www.deseret.com/utah/2024/09/09 ... ss-report/

Peterson uses the report to sort of counter the idea that a state full of Mormons isn’t a great place to live.

From some of the online screeds that I’ve read over the years, “Utard” (the home of the “Mor[m]ons” or “Morgbots”) seems to be a kind of Hell on earth, rendered so by the oppressive religious cult that dominates it. The truth, though, may differ just a bit: “Utah ranked 4th among happiest states in America: Why Utah among the top states in the country on the happiness scale”

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeters ... -mars.html

It’s clear that neither Peterson nor the Deseret News journalist have looked below the headlines. Or if they have, they don’t want you to…When you dig a little deeper into Utah’s ranking you see it’s made up of 3 sections - Emotional & Physical Wellbeing, Work Environment, Community & Environment. Utah ranks top for the latter two sections (community ranking is boosted by the misconception that the Church Missionary counts as charitable volunteering), but for Emotional & Physical Wellbeing Utah ranks a very lowly 27th. Link to Data below:
https://wallethub.com/edu/happiest-states/6959

Now how is it that Utah, a Mormon-heavy state that Peterson and the Deseret News reporter are seeking to credit Church involvement with its ranking of 4th happiest, has such a bad record for emotional and physical wellbeing? That ranking certainly ties into the heavy opioid usage in Utah, the prevalence of plastic surgery, and higher suicide rates. I guess Peterson and the Deseret News would similarly lay that ranking at the door of their religion too, right? Can’t have it both ways.

[Kishkumen]

I really like Utah, and sometimes I think I would like to live there. Then there are times I remember the bad parts of my experience in Utah (I did reside there for 8 years), and I think to myself, "Well, maybe SLC."

[Gadianton]

I've seen Utah in the top or number 1 in several "state rankings". It's on my list of places I'd retire for sure. How much of that is due to Mormonism, and how much other factors? The state seems to have a pretty solid secular and 'other' influence. Perhaps there are some things about Utah that put it high on the list that have to do with Mormonism and aren't accidental. Did Dan take the time to research and present his case? It would be a bad waste of his time since his audience already believed everything he's saying before he wrote it and just by associated "Mormons" with "Utah".

Utah has some ranked hospitals and because Utah was founded by Mormons, Mormons likely have contributed, but Mormonism has no distinct role. If BYU had the U of U's hospital, Dan would be talking about it twice a week. The Catholic church, or "the church of the devil" according the Dan's favorite book had more influence on Utah's modern medical history than Mormonism did.

Utah is pretty cool on immigration. It would be hard to believe that has nothing to do with the Church's belief that immigrants south of the border are remnants of the Book of Mormon. At the same time, Romney types are globalists who profit from outsourcing, and selling American jobs to cheaper countries so the wealthy can become wealthier isn't a theme in the Book of Mormon.