There are many words Farmington resident Alicia Connell might use to describe herself. Mormon. Mother. Realtor. But up until a few years ago, ”environmental activist” didn't seem to fit.
“It's not that it was told to me by the church, that you shouldn't be protesting,” Connell said. “I just never saw myself as a protester. I never saw myself as someone to take a stand and start rallying people.”
It's no secret that environmental activism and Utah's predominant faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, don't always go hand in hand. Even when it comes to small-scale efforts such as taking public transit or organizing a car pool, a recent Salt Lake Tribune-Hinckley Institute of Politics poll found that “very active” Mormons are less likely to participate in environmentally minded behaviors than members of other faiths or less-observant Latter-day Saints.
Read Full Article »