Mormon Utah

I week ago I left Nevada for Utah.

For the past week, I've been exploring St. George and the surrounding area.

Utah state history is very much the history of the Mormon Church.

Proselytizing comes with the territory. It's customary for a Mormon tour guide to ask where you are from and to what religion you subscribe.

As an atheist, I'm then asked if I would like to hear more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I offer a polite "No thank you." I'm asked a second time.

A more firm, "No, thank you." To which I'm asked, "Please keep our church in mind."

This is well and good; until visiting Temples and Tabernacles.

I was being given a tour of the St. George Tabernacle by Elder "Smith".

On the Tabernacle tour Elder Smith insisted there was no 'earthly reason' for limestone to occur in southern Utah. (The limestone was mixed with gypsum to make plaster for decorations.)

I immediately offered evidence that a prehistoric inland sea covered the entire area for millions of years. To which Elder Smith simply replied "No". The other Mormons on the tour took a quick step backward. I elaborated that calcium from the bones and shells of sea creatures is compacted into limestone, which is then uplifted due to geological faulting. "NO." the Elder replied.

Whatever...

I left the Tabernacle and headed to the St.George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm.

One of the first exhibits is a geologic timeline. It shows the ancient sea that covered southern Utah.

To which I say, "YES."

The next day I visited the St. George Temple. Who do I see? None other than Elder Smith. (Actually, not much of a coincidence; the Mormon tour guides from the Jacob Hamblin Home & Brigham Young Winter Home were also there.)

I told him what I saw at Johnson Farm. To which he said, "Maybe..."