This is absolutely false.

Just *try* opting out as a family of all (non-Sunday) church activities, and you’ll see just how mandatory these socials really are.

Before you know it you’ll be love-bombed back into submission.

No one is really coerced to socialise. It’s like ltbugaf said in all instances (wow I agree with you, ltbugaf!!).

You take the curmudgeons with the angels.

(For example, if I were in Kim and Mary’s ward, I’m sure they’d have to either become amazingly charitable people or just quit coming so they can avoid that one really obnoxious guy.)

If we could just avoid everyone we find unpleasant, it would be far more difficult to develop those Christ-like attributes that we need.

In non-LDS life, if I don’t like the people being clique-ey at my local church, I change churches. If I don’t like my neighbours talking about how much better off the rich people are, I can choose to ignore them.

There is forced socialization in the LDS church and it aggravates any existing or perceived class struggles. Not to mention the fact that the church also enforces another heirarchy based on church standing and sex on people as well.

In my opinion, these types of behaviours require one to develop coping mechanisms such as two-face-edness, apathy and/or hidden resentments.

That’s just my opinion, though.
Your mileage may vary.

I just feel that class issues are a universal problem that are not anything to do with being LDS or not. I do think we have certain class systems within church culture, but again, that is anywhere the church is, not just one place.

However, I do believe that any city has it’s own personality and a system of class. I am not sure what the total implication of the question is… but here in Utah I think that it is based on money, if you are LDS or not, and if you are LDS what you are doing with your life at that time (ie, are you single, married, kids or not, etc). There are also some stereotypes dealing with dress and style, for example it’s really conservative here so even I get strange looks at times because I enjoy all kinds of fashion, not just what comes from the Gap.

So, I don’t know if I answered the question well or not, since I am not sure of the question. But I think there are class issues anywhere you go, and the best way to be happy is to just to be yourself and not worry about it.

K.

K.

K.