The discussion with my brother-in-law about Steven R. Covey being accused of preistcraft or in words I can only recall: “bottling Mormon doctrine” was quite interesting. I never really agreed with these people. For lack of exact names I said the Utah Mormons said this.
A Utah Mormon isn’t a term I would use much or endorse for that matter. If I were to define one it would be simply a religious fanatic. But I’ve found the same in Louisiana and Idaho too. If I had the time, I could find some every where.
In a follow up email, my brother-in-law stated the following:
When I refer to Utah Mormons I am usually referring to people who pipe up about things that are either none of their business or who make a big deal about things that usually don't matter in the eternal scheme of things. For example: Anyone who would correct someone else in a meeting or in a conversation because the offending person said "Free Agency" instead of "Moral Agency" would probably fit into my classification of a Mormon who needs to calm down. Anyone who spends a lot of time concerned about the moral or other religious shortcomings of people who are in their ward but not under their stewardship is a Mormon who needs to calm down. Anyone who claims that men who are prophets are infallible and will never make an error of any kind is doctrinally incorrect and is also a Mormon who needs to calm down.
There are other things that people do that make them Mormons who need to calm down. I guess this should all be common sense to most people but it isn't. Usually someone who falls into this category that I unfairly label "Utah Mormon" is participating in a behavior that is unbecoming of a Mormon and they don't recognize that they are doing it. No one is perfect and for the most part everyone will fall into this category at one time or another (including me).
This kind of behavior always bothered me but I never associated it with Utah Mormonism until I moved away from Utah. I guess I am wrong to use that term...but it is an easy label that I can apply to people who do things that I think reflect poorly on the church that I am a member of and the belief system it espouses. I'm going to work on a different term.
Am I being too judgmental in applying a derogatory term to others when I see this behavior? I think if I were to take it to the point that I am being excessive then yes...and in fact I'd probably be a Mormon who needs to calm down myself. It is important to remember however that people who participate in unbecoming behavior...especially at church...are acting as an example to non-members and others who could be negatively affected. A new convert who is corrected by someone in an Elders Quorum meeting or Gospel Doctrine class because they said "Free agency" instead of "Moral Agency" probably won't go inactive but will probably think the person who corrected them is jerk. They would be right. I want to identify this behavior and catalog it so I will remember not to participate in it myself.
So, there you have it.
Posted by Michael at August 25, 2003 07:34 PMThat is very funny, Jeremy. Raised in a conservative LDS home in Southern California by a lifelong member father and convert mother, "Utah Mormon" was used by my family and others in my stake with whom I associated to mean the opposite of your usage. In effect, it denoted one who may go to church, but consumes caffeinated beverages, watches R-rated movies, gambles in Vegas, and votes Democratic. In short, a Sunday Mormon. This is of course distinct from the term Jack-Mormon, which has an entirely different history.
Posted by: John Nilsson at December 16, 2003 04:44 PM