The State of Utah has a reputation; the Mormon State. Rightly so, since the majority of Utah is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This religion, despite being a sect of Christianity, is often considered a pariah. The religion has many seemingly authoritarian expectations on the part of its members, as well as many additions and revisions to the original concept of Christianity. However, in Utah, Mormonism is seen in a different light, like any religion seen from the inside. It is the saving grace, the reason for prosperity, the panacea. When it comes to religions, Mormonism is one of the most close-knit. The issues become close communities, where everyone knows each other; The greatest motto and guideline for Mormons in the Bible is “love your neighbor as yourself.” This sense of family among Church members is incredibly evident in the atmosphere of the state. This is almost an expected characteristic of the Church, given the ridiculed and discriminated history of the saints. However, while their beginnings weren't enough to keep them bonded together for eternity, Mormons found an even stronger sense of unity during the Great Depression. This national and global event struck Utah with particularly intense ferocity. Previously enjoying prosperity thanks to the mining district, Utah actually experienced an economic depression in the 1920s, when most people enjoyed the frivolity of the otherwise roaring '20s. However, due to this economic downturn before the Great Depression, institutions and programs were established for the welfare of the LDS community. As a result, when the Great Depression hit, people no longer really knew what to do to survive. This, however, is by no means an indication that Utah weathered the 1930s easily. The decade saw many struggles, but through it all, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stood together. forces to fight the conflicts of the Great Depression. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay This argument seems to be the general direction of opinion among scholars when it comes to the subject of Mormons during the Great Depression. Some sources are more skeptical of Mormon reactions in the 1930s, but even these perspectives lead to the same conclusion: The Church became a stronger and more influential force in the lives of its members during that decade. Study of this subject revealed a story that could almost have been surmised by anyone with a general knowledge of Mormons; there was a broad rejection of federal aid and federal intervention. Eventually this subsided, as the situation worsened without any prospect or hope of improvement (Bonner 53, 298). The best first source to consult is the Dictionary of American History. An encyclopedia containing a large amount of information, it included an article on the state of Utah and, among the subheadings, a section on the Great Depression; there was also an article based on Latter-day Saints, with an identical subtitle. The author of these articles is Dr. Jeremy Bonner, affiliated with the Catholic University of America. His research focuses on religious interconnections with the New Deal. These articles are preferred sources because of the context and background information they provide on the given topic. It provides the researcher with a stable knowledge base to pursue further studies. Dr. Bonner does not so much give an opinion as.