Comments on: The Ghosts of Modernity in a Rural Mormon Town http://mormonmatters.org/2009/01/05/the-ghosts-of-modernity-in-a-rural-mormon-town/ A weekly podcast exploring Mormon culture and current events. Wed, 23 May 2012 11:40:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Ray http://mormonmatters.org/2009/01/05/the-ghosts-of-modernity-in-a-rural-mormon-town/#comment-53200 Ray Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:34:44 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3651#comment-53200 "For them, these were real men and women who they knew personally or were one generation removed." That really does make a HUGE difference. Caricatures are much easier to make when those being caricatured are not known personally by the one creating the caricature. “For them, these were real men and women who they knew personally or were one generation removed.”

That really does make a HUGE difference. Caricatures are much easier to make when those being caricatured are not known personally by the one creating the caricature.

]]> By: Wyoming http://mormonmatters.org/2009/01/05/the-ghosts-of-modernity-in-a-rural-mormon-town/#comment-53198 Wyoming Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:53:48 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3651#comment-53198 Thanks for the thoughtful post. While Star Valley is experiencing the spillover effect of the Jackson Hole liberal minded, Cokeville (45 miles to the south) remains insulated. These are two communities trending in different directions. Both were established as Mormon colonies and sanctuaries from polygamous persecution. Star Valley remained devout for most of the last century, while the Oregon Spur of the Union Pacific Railroad brought liquor and general hell raising to the community to the south. In the early 1900's, a number of strong LDS families including Minerva Teichert's purchased ranches in Cokeville or Smith's Fork as it was known. The LDS influence grew as industry and the railroad declined. Too far from industry and tourism, and not quite pretty enough for the 2nd home Star Valley crowd, Cokeville has stuck to its agricultural and Mormon roots. Most years, every high school senior boy will go an a mission and sacrament attendance is ~425 of the 500 person population. They say it is what Star Valley use to be. I too enjoyed the influence of parents and grandparents who are both religious and well educated. Sunstone and Dialogue magazines were scattered around the house, primarily because my parents had been friends with an editor or my grandfather had taught one of the authors high school English. However, they didn't spend their time discussing the hypocrisies or intrigues of early church leaders. For them, these were real men and women who they knew personally or were one generation removed. They spoke with great reverence and awe about the sacrifices the early church members made and the conditions they survived. Anyone who has survived a Star Valley winter would understand. Thanks for the thoughtful post. While Star Valley is experiencing the spillover effect of the Jackson Hole liberal minded, Cokeville (45 miles to the south) remains insulated. These are two communities trending in different directions. Both were established as Mormon colonies and sanctuaries from polygamous persecution. Star Valley remained devout for most of the last century, while the Oregon Spur of the Union Pacific Railroad brought liquor and general hell raising to the community to the south. In the early 1900′s, a number of strong LDS families including Minerva Teichert’s purchased ranches in Cokeville or Smith’s Fork as it was known. The LDS influence grew as industry and the railroad declined. Too far from industry and tourism, and not quite pretty enough for the 2nd home Star Valley crowd, Cokeville has stuck to its agricultural and Mormon roots. Most years, every high school senior boy will go an a mission and sacrament attendance is ~425 of the 500 person population. They say it is what Star Valley use to be.

I too enjoyed the influence of parents and grandparents who are both religious and well educated. Sunstone and Dialogue magazines were scattered around the house, primarily because my parents had been friends with an editor or my grandfather had taught one of the authors high school English. However, they didn’t spend their time discussing the hypocrisies or intrigues of early church leaders. For them, these were real men and women who they knew personally or were one generation removed. They spoke with great reverence and awe about the sacrifices the early church members made and the conditions they survived. Anyone who has survived a Star Valley winter would understand.

]]> By: Stephen Marsh http://mormonmatters.org/2009/01/05/the-ghosts-of-modernity-in-a-rural-mormon-town/#comment-53196 Stephen Marsh Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:09:49 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=3651#comment-53196 You make some very interesting points. Too often what we get are the narratives drawn from inferences that touch upon reports of facts. As I look at church history issues, so often what I see are reports of the opinion of someone's grandchild or a statement written for someone of advanced age that they then signed without reading. Heck, I see a lot of that even today (thinking of some cases where the witnesses were asked to read their statements ...). You make some very interesting points. Too often what we get are the narratives drawn from inferences that touch upon reports of facts. As I look at church history issues, so often what I see are reports of the opinion of someone’s grandchild or a statement written for someone of advanced age that they then signed without reading. Heck, I see a lot of that even today (thinking of some cases where the witnesses were asked to read their statements …).

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