KUTV is reporting that Mormons represent a smaller percentage of Utah’s population.
Utah is now less Mormon than ever. An Associated Press review of membership records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints used by state planning officials to develop population estimates shows that Mormons now make up 60.4 percent of the state’s population.
The number is down from 60.7 percent last year. The state’s population estimates were released Thursday.
The percentage has declined every year for nearly two decades and if the trend continues Mormons will make up less than half of Utah’s population by 2030.
At over 60 percent, Mormons still remain the 500-pound gorilla in the state, but as that percentage continues to drop, other voices will be heard. Eventually we may even see some balance politically and socially. And maybe we’ll even have sensible liquor sales laws.
#1 by Jesse Harris - November 21st, 2008 at 08:24
I get kind of fed up with all of the carping about liquor laws. Utah isn’t the only ABC state with weird rules.
#2 by Shane Smith - November 21st, 2008 at 08:40
Wait until the prop 8 fallout and population shift really kick in. Under 50% next 15 years. You wait.
#3 by Becky - November 21st, 2008 at 08:58
Clearly, Jesse, you have not had to navigate the tricky and confusing rules in order to buy a drink in this state. Top among those I would put the private club designation, which for some reason satisfies our legislature that they have done something to reduce liquor consumption, but just frustrates local businesses and makes tourists laugh their heads off.
We may not be the only state, but we may be the weirdest. Besides as my father used to say, “If all your friends jumped off a cliff . . .?”
#4 by Don - November 21st, 2008 at 09:31
Jesse,
Very persuasive my friend.
Do you drink? Do the “weird” liquor laws affect you in any way whatsoever? If we have weird laws that aren’t doing anything to reduce liquor consumption (and in some cases may actually increase consumption) then why don’t we change them to be more rational or get rid of them altogether? Or is carping for less government and more freedom just too tiresome for you?
#5 by Jesse Harris - November 21st, 2008 at 09:35
I’m not saying that tweaks aren’t useful or that Utah doesn’t have unique peculiarities. My point is that at least 20-something other states all have their own peculiarities and singling out our state as being “off” isn’t an accurate portrayal.
#6 by Don - November 21st, 2008 at 09:43
We live in Utah Jesse. If we lived somewhere else then we’d probably be “carping” about the laws there.
#7 by Jeremy - November 21st, 2008 at 09:50
I’ve never had a drink and don’t intend to.
I still think it is incredibly stupid that I can’t go to the grocery store and buy a bottle of wine to cook with.
Sorry Jesse…the liquor laws are arbitrary and stupid. Lets dump the vast majority of them.
#8 by Ken - November 21st, 2008 at 11:40
Isn’t it funny that everywhere else but Utah is discouraging alcohol and tobacco but here in Utah we have politicians and community leaders touting the availability of alcohol?
Not to burst your bubble but even if the church dips below 50% we will still be a plurality so don’t expect to see the LDS people lose their political clout in Utah for a very long time.
Also, Becky I know you don’t hate Mormons but the tone of this post seems to indicate a bit of resentment towards the Church and it’s people. Don’t let that fester too much or it could turn to hate.
#9 by Becky - November 21st, 2008 at 12:05
Hi Ken, good to see you here.
Who is touting the availability of alcohol? I haven’t seen it. I think what we’re calling for is meaningful laws that actually accomplish some sort of purpose. The private club law accomplishes zero. But like most Mormons, Ken, you never saw an alcohol control law you didn’t like. No doubt, you also equate all drinking to drunkenness and alcoholism.
Reminds me of when I worked for South Ogden City and the city council (all Mormon stake officials) refused to grant a liquor license to a local fine restaurant on moral grounds. When advised by the city’s attorney that they couldn’t just deny the license on the principle that they personally didn’t approve of drinking, they finally approved the license nearly unanimously, with the one holdout still saying he would never vote in favor of anything that ended up allowing people to have alcohol.
Thanks for the advice, Ken. But I’m not a hater at heart.