OF THE SAINTS

Dear Spike:

We had some friends over, yesterday morning, for our annual Pioneer Day Parade-watching party.

Here's how it works: We gather some friends together, fill a bunch plastic cups with Mimosas and Bloody Marys, then walk a half-block over to the north entrance of Liberty Park, which also happens to be the end of the parade route. There's just something wacky and fun about the combination of friends, alcohol and a parade marking a state holiday that completely belies the idea that there is ANY such thing as a separation between church and state in Utah.

(Pioneer Day marks the day that Brigham Young led a group of Mormon settlers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. In Utah it rates a bigger parade and fireworks show than Independence Day.)

Barring any sudden and unexpected revelations bringing our family into the fold of this state's Mormon faithful, you're going to be raised as a Gentile in these parts. At the best you'll be considered an outsider. At the worst you'll be called a sinner.

Your mother and I try to meet the unique challenges of living in this state with a grain of salt and a dose of humor. When some of our Mormon friends gave our phone number to the church, (which promptly dispatched a team of missionaries to the case of our eternal salvation,) we handed their info over to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Fair is fair, after all.

You'll figure out your own way to deal with being a religious minority. But here's what I don't want you to do: I don't want you to hate.

Growing up in California, several of my best friends were Mormon. To me, they were no different than my friends who were Catholic, Buddhist or Muslim. They simply worshipped a bit different than my family did.

Here things are a bit different. Being Mormon is not just religious — it's cultural. And like anywhere else where there is a predominant culture, sometimes those in charge have a hard time being nice to those who aren't. That shouldn't be considered a reflection of their religion, which is founded on the same principals of peace, tolerance and human decency as most other religions.

Fact is, I wouldn't be ashamed if you wanted to convert. We all find our way in different ways.

You wouldn't get to come to the annual drunken Parade-watching party, of course, but we'd cheer for you as you marched in the parade with the rest of the Saints.

Love,
dad