I lived in Utah all of my life since I was 4, and I agree that your experience is a lot different than mine based on what others have told me about being in Utah versus elsewhere. While the church was not a great fit for me, I stayed active in it until my late 30s and resigned membership in my early 50s. Most of my family is still all in, so it is a part of my life whether I want it to be or not. The teachings of the 60s and 70s, though while not actively taught anymore, are still handed down from generation to generation to a certain extent. I'm glad there is less of an "us vs. them" mentality anymore, and less American exceptionalism taught. Sadly, we are getting that from politics now perhaps more than religion.Maybe so. I also was not in Utah and was somewhere more diverse. There wasn't a race or ethnicity that was a majority, and the diversity of religions or no religion was much greater than Utah. Living in Utah both as a member of the LDS church or not as a member of it is much different than somewhere else. Honestly I think it's a much different experience outside of the core of where most church member historically have been the majority. Much of what we learn in life is reading between the lines to go along with what is in text. While it still exists, I felt that there was less being fake and less hypocrisy outside of Utah. It could have to do with the pressure to conform to a majority, or not wanting to feel different or outside of something. I'm not sure exactly.
Either way, that was just my understanding from my life experience. Maybe it was location, maybe it was times changing and maybe it was an intentional change of rhetoric or focus? I don't know other than to say what I have lived and my communications with those I know.
I do know that there are always things we as individuals or we as groups of people with whatever organizations we have, can do better. I like to think that both try to improve and fix things that need fixed.
I'm going to hold on to my view and hope that church members in whatever country they are in support that country as much as they can, and strive to make a positive difference where they can. I hope people helping people can be a main focus.
I'm sorry your experience was not as positive as mine was. I don't like it when someone or some group tries to pressure me to be something or do something. It has to make sense to me, and on my own timetable.
Great, now I'm rambling. Thanks for your posts. I'll leave it at that.