I'm sorry, but putting off graduate school because "you enjoyed the ward" is not the best thing for your or your family's future. It is down right selfish.

This is why the title "utah mormon" was created... The idea that anywhere outside of Utah is "the mission field" is repulsive to those of us who live there.

I got the impression that they put off graduate school because they had a job, not because they "enjoyed the ward."

Also, grrr, you're the one that called anywhere outside of Utah "the mission field." The message I get from the author of the article is that the best wards in the church are outside of Utah. And that has been my experience.

Tiffany and her husband are amazing and wonderful people. Am glad to know them as a great friend. We were in the same ward in Miami shores before we moved back here in Utah. Her story reminds me of the many wonderful experiences of service and fellowship in the ward. Her husband and her are one of those great example.

Sometimes, you have to hold the good things for a better things and yes the author and her husband are doing exactly what the needed to do at that moment in Miami Shores ward. They have served faithfully and touched lives including my family. And congratulations to Tiffany's husband as you are almost done with your doctorate, way to go guys.

What's the deal with you folks? I've been in a somewhat similar situation with another ward that felt like family, and stayed in the area because of a job that--uh huh!--delayed my education. I'll tell you this much--the Lord didn't disapprove. So it doesn't much matter what anyone else thinks.

All three of you might wish to check out Matthew 7:1-5--which should scare the daylights out of all of us. Don't we all have better things to do than go around finding largely imaginary fault with each other?

OK. I read Matthew 7:1-5.

I'm sorry. I was projecting my own bias when I said that the message from the author is that the best wards are outside of Utah. She did not say that at all. She just described quite eloquently the great experience she had in a ward that happened to be outside of Utah. If there's a message to be taken from what she wrote, it's that we grow the most when we have experiences that are challenging, or that there are wonderful wards all over the church.

guess we just viewed the article different...
I realize they didn't use those exact words, but that's just the feeling I got reading it. I live here in the deep South and have on more than one occaision sat in a testimony meeting where a visitor from Utah has stood up and made a comment about being "out here in the mission field".
guess I'm just too sensitive.. sorry to offend.

I am a Utah Mormon who attends a Utah ward. Oh yeah, so is President Thomas S. Monson. Gordon B. Hinckley was a Utah Mormon as well. By your logic, those two men fall into your "Inferior Mormon" category as well. So much for christian kindness.

Making blanket statements about a group of people based of anecdotal evidence that is called prejudice.

"Not a Utah Mormon," no biggie with your comment, really. I think I got in a tad of a snit--my own judgment, I admit it!--over Gary and grrr's initial post on a quick read of both, sorry to say. So I get to re-read that scripture, too. :)

I live outside of Utah as well and can understand your perspective, though there are plenty of good people in Utah as well as... um, others. Utah is definitely just as much "the mission field" as anywhere else, fully agreed. And yes, there are wonderful wards in Utah, and wonderful wards outside of it, as well as... um, others.

We sometimes overgeneralize too much in the church and fail to see the proverbial forest for the trees! And we sometimes forget we're dealing with people who need our mercy and the benefit of the doubt rather than our judgment and condemnation. A lesson I'm still trying to learn, never fear!

May we all find, enjoy, and perhaps even help make our own "Miami Shores Wards"!

To Utah Mormon:

I attended Utah wards for roughly the first half of my life. I have attended wards outside of Utah for the second half.

I never said that there weren't good people in Utah wards. Nor do I think that. You can't make a blanket statement that Mormons in Utah are better than Mormons outside of Utah or that Mormons outside of Utah are better than Mormons in Utah. That would be absurd.

However, I do think there are general differences between Utah wards and wards outside of Utah, but it's mainly a cultural thing that comes from living in a society where you're the majority vs. living in a society where you're the minority. It has nothing to do with anyone being an "inferior mormon" (your term, not mine).

Let's all try to be kind to each other.

I agree, I think it's cultural.
I used to live in SLC.. my daughter was born at Holy Cross Hospital (am I dating myself?)..
There are many, many good members (including the Brethren.lol)

I guess I was just trying to make the point that "the mission field" is wherever you are. Not just outside Utah, Not just inside Utah..

Granted, there is probably a greater chance that I will talk today with someone who isn't a member of the church than someone living, say, in Logan... but the opportunities still abound.

On what I think might be the genesis of the term "mission field":

I remember being told that it used to be that full-time missionaries did not serve in Utah. Instead, the Seventies that were in ward or stake quorums did the missionary work. (I am old enough to remember there being Seventies at that level.) Full-time missionaries were always sent outside of Utah, thus making that the "mission field." Of course, that changed at some point, and now full-time missionaries serve all over Utah. So clearly now everywhere is the "mission field," both outside of Utah and inside of Utah.

That may or may not be accurate information, but I've been told that at some point and it makes sense to me.

And the lord call his people "zion" as they are of one heart and one mind and dwell in righteousness! i live in a tiny island of the pacific ocean and receive the same church revelation via the prophet as those living in a great country of U.S of A.
I know how hard it is to be humble at times too!!.