The Ubiquity of Utah Ties Among American Mormons

Is it common for Mormons from outside of Utah to have some sort of personal ties to Utah? This question, although not straightforward, is often marveled at by many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Personal connections to Utah, in terms of family, friends, ancestry, or visits, are indeed prevalent among American Latter-day Saints who do not live in the Beehive State. Let's explore the reasons behind these connections and how they manifest in various aspects of life.

Personal Experiences and Connections

From personal experience, it can be observed that the level of connection to Utah varies among American Latter-day Saints. The older members, having spent more time within the Church, are more likely to have familial ties to Utah. In the Seattle area, I have found that about half of multi-generation Latter-day Saints have a connection to Utah, either through themselves, a parent, or a grandparent who grew up there and moved for employment reasons. However, this ratio can vary significantly in other parts of the country.

Typical Connections Among Multigenerational Members

Looking into the types of connections, multi-generational members of the Church have a larger number of family members from Utah, Southeastern Idaho, or Arizona. In contrast, first-generation members were often taught by missionaries who either came from these areas or within the first year of their membership. These missionaries continued to influence their lives and form connections.

The Ecclesiastical and Educational Influence

Let's delve deeper into the ecclesiastical and educational influence of Utah within the Church. The Church puts a high degree of emphasis on education, and Utah, Idaho, and Arizona, especially the rural areas, have exported a substantial number of their citizens worldwide. This is not due to a desire to explore new lands, but rather because the Church encourages its members to pursue higher education in these regions. Once these individuals complete their education, they often find that there are no jobs back home that can support their new education. Therefore, they seek out opportunities in other parts of the world where they can find jobs that value their education.

Personal Adventures and Connections

Let me illustrate this with my own experience. I was born in a small rural town of about 250 people today, it is close to 350. I went on a mission to South America, attended college and grad school in Southern Utah, and then moved around the United States. In every state I lived in and every major city, I discovered either distant relatives, second or third cousins, or bishops or high councilors who were from Southern Utah.

For example, the current stake president in Illinois was from a town with a population of 500, and he was the son of a sheepherder. He became one of the foremost physicists in the world and worked at Fermi Labs. Another high councilor was from a town with a population of 2,000 and was a VP-level Agriculture Loan Officer for Harris Bank. Twenty years earlier, he was responsible for the singles' program in Atlanta, where I met my wife. Another stake president was from a small town with a population of only 1000, and he was a law professor at a famous law school in Chicago.

Searching for Connections

Even when searching for singles activities, I found family connections. In Washington D.C., where I was a college intern, I visited a family for singles activities, and their mother ended up being my mother's roommate in Washington D.C. 25 years earlier.

Conclusion

While everyone in the world is typically six degrees of separation from each other, for Mormons in the USA, the saying goes that it tends to be only three or four degrees of separation. This is due to the strong ecclesiastical ties and the emphasis on education, which lead many to move away from their original communities and form new connections.

Therefore, the ties to Utah among American Mormons are not just familial but a result of the Church's influence and the desire for education. These connections play a significant role in the lives of many Latter-day Saints, regardless of where they live.