Logan

[GVC]

I know nothing about Logan, but for anyone to answer your question it might be important for you to post what it is you'd like to be doing.

Also, consider the guilt you might feel for leading people toward a life of guilt/shame before deciding to go on a mission. The church isn't all good times for everyone, and plenty of people have had their lives more or less irreparably damaged through membership and indoctrination in the church. If you don't believe the doctrine, find better avenues for helping people improve their lives (there are plenty out there).

 

[The-Joker]

Wha? You could totally go and get lunch at Papa Kelsey's, or maybe say **** it and go bowling at Logan Lanes. Is the owl still around? When I went to USU some dude smashed a full sized glass stein into another guys face, turning it into hamburger instantly. That'd be fun to watch.

Also, if you are worried about someplace being another BYU, I would steer of any school in Idaho not called Boise State.

I would either go U of I or BSU (maybe even UofU, because I love Salt Lake and kind of know the hot spots)... I don't think U of I has the BYU contingency... but I wouldn't know.

 

[The-Joker]

I know nothing about Logan, but for anyone to answer your question it might be important for you to post what it is you'd like to be doing.

I enjoy sports and anything involving competition (I've made most of my current friends through those avenues). The student rec center,here, from what I've seen this summer, is as empty as Greg Miller's efficacy towards the jazz. I'd love to just go somewhere and play a pickup game whenever I wanted.
I'm an amateur guitarist, and I love "jamming". I also write song lyrics.
I don't drink, because my family has the "addiction" gene. But I feel more comfortable around people that do, than like some chick talking about her patriarchal blessing.

Also, consider the guilt you might feel for leading people toward a life of guilt/shame before deciding to go on a mission. The church isn't all good times for everyone, and plenty of people have had their lives more or less irreparably damaged through membership and indoctrination in the church. If you don't believe the doctrine, find better avenues for helping people improve their lives (there are plenty out there).

You definitely have a point, and I believe you. One of my major pros for not going, is I don't want to be responsible for another gay-hating wife-beating child abuser, just because the church told them that sex is bad and that they're sinners, and if they do anything bad ever they'll go to hell.
I kind of take a rational approach to religion. I comprehend that theres a chance that it is all poppy-****, made up by the minions of the Knights Templar and Free Masons, so I try not to get too into anything. However I try to believe it, because I feel better about humanity if the words of religion hold true. I try to incorporate different facets of many religions into what I believe-- Hinduism and Karma, Budhism and self-control, Islam and service, the teachings of Christ (which are, if you read the newspapers, different from christianity)-- I think Mormonism provides answers to a lot of questions, so that's my base. Mormonism portrays a logical basis for why we're here if there is a reason we're supposed to be here. I think Mormons focus too much on dogma and truth, and forget love and the teachings of Christ (the one that lived 2000 years ago, not our board philosopher). Which is why I try to seperate myself from the people, but still ponder the doctrine... because the people get so caught up in gay marriage, abortion, and otther things the government throws at them, just so they'll be distracted when the gov is really screwing them.... that they lose the religion and it just becomes "MORMONISM THE POLITICAL PARTY". So ya I would hate to cause a person a lifetime of anguish if they don't "get it". But I would love to teach people-- principles which can improve their life. Maybe you can't have one without the other... I don't know.

 

[The-Joker]

You should go on a mission just for the chance to learn a foreign language, that's what I did. hehehe, it might not fit your personality though. If you can't stand the mormons around you now, I don't know how you're going to be able to handle the missionary version.

Good plan. Another pro in the "go" category.
I've dealt with Mormons my entire life... I can't stand people telling me what to do, and people telling me what's right and wrong. I can totally handle telling other people what to do, and what's right and wrong.

 

[Safetydan]

It's completely possible to not ruin people's lives while on your mission, obviously it's not what they would want you to teach, however i made it a point to let people know that this (the mormon church) it just one of a million options or paths one could take to become a better person. The mormon church is not the point. The point is to begin a dialogue with people, a dialogue that speaks about improving that persons life, hopefully a more fulfilling life, whatever that may be. I never wanted to decide for them, just to help them in whatever they wanted to accomplish. Most of my companions were pretty chill with how I taught. Needless to say I didn't baptize a ton of people when I started doing it this way, but I didn't care.

The truth is though, I received a lot of pressure from people above me to do it a certain way. If you can handle that you'll be fine

 

[VINYLONE]

It's completely possible to not ruin people's lives while on your mission, obviously it's not what they would want you to teach, however i made it a point to let people know that this (the mormon church) it just one of a million options or paths one could take to become a better person. The mormon church is not the point. The point is to begin a dialogue with people, a dialogue that speaks about improving that persons life, hopefully a more fulfilling life, whatever that may be. I never wanted to decide for them, just to help them in whatever they wanted to accomplish. Most of my companions were pretty chill with how I taught. Needless to say I didn't baptize a ton of people when I started doing it this way, but I didn't care.

The truth is though, I received a lot of pressure from people above me to do it a certain way. If you can handle that you'll be fine

Did you ever offer Atheism has an option to a good and moral life?

 

[Safetydan]

yes, of course

 

[Stifle Tower]

Personally, I feel diversity is the answer.

 

[larryselbows]

Went there for my undergrad. Logan's a bore and the culture is overwhelming. On the brightside, it's where I grew into the person I am today (a stud muffin).

My suggestion, there is a counter-cultural, albeit small, crowd in Logan. To seek it out, you probably will have to hit cafe' ibis and that sandwich shop across the street from the white owl, I forget what it's called. Oh yeah, and that place that has concerts right near ibis too.

To put it bluntly, Logan's pretty much what you've experienced so far, you're probably not going to discover many exciting new places if you remain there. But I made it through by assembling some really great lifetime friends. You're probably going to have to do that to keep some semblance of sanity if you are the person you describe yourself to be. To be clear though, you can make lifetime friends anywhere so maybe you ought to check your options if you are truly miserable. I feel your pain, I really do.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

.... And I'm going to be seriously upset with myself, if I end up screwing myself and not nurturing my beliefs......

Maybe you should go back to step 1 first and actually figure out what your beliefs are. In your initial post, you talk about how you may consider going on a mission, then you come back with "let's not throw the "m" word around when I refered to you as a mormon.

Seems like you've got a lot of conflict inside you young Skywalker.

 

[Beantown]

Joker, have you grown up in Utah your whole life?

I ask this because it seems that you are striving to be unique. Which as a white mormon in Logan is very hard to do. I did not move to Utah until I was 17. I was the only Mormon kid in my high school and then I all the sudden I was in SLC and everyone was Mormon and white. Which is totally fine but I had been known as the unique one for my religion and people talked about that with me all the time. Everyone was Baptist.

Anyway I think you can get a better understanding of your beliefs about the church when sometimes you have to stand up for them. You also see what makes you unique is a good thing and people around you notice it too. So if you can leave Utah for awhile I would. Go to a school in Cali or Texas or whatever, then you will know for sure if the church is really for you. Because I have seen it alot in Utah with LDS young people that have lived here their whole lives. They strive so hard to be different that they think going against the Church or its beliefs will give them the uniqueness that they want.

 

[moevillini]

... And I'm going to be seriously upset with myself, if I end up screwing myself and not nurturing my beliefs......

Maybe you should go back to step 1 first and actually figure out what your beliefs are. In your initial post, you talk about how you may consider going on a mission, then you come back with "let's not throw the "m" word around when I refered to you as a mormon.

Seems like you've got a lot of conflict inside you young Skywalker.

speaking of going back to step 1 to figure out your beliefs, if your mind is open and you'd like to explore a range of beliefs, it might be beneficial to consider going someplace where you'll have the opportunity to mix with a diversity of viewpoints and have serious interactions with people from a variety of backgrounds. It doesn't sound as though the places you mentioned are necessarily that type of place.

(sorry to throw the "diversity" word out there like it's yesterday's trash, but I can't think of an alternative)