Exceptional factors are a small population and low population density, ethnic homogeneity and a very unusual degree of religious homogeneity.
You're right in that this is an exceptional combination of factors among US states. What you're missing though is that this is not what makes the population of Utah exceptional. What makes the population exceptional is that it attaches importance to a set of values. It shares a vision of what the well-lived life would be and pursues it. Interestingly, Utah is only 60% Mormon, and SLC is less than 50%. Nevertheless, it's statistically measurable that the non-Mormon population behaves in very similar consiencious ways....becoming kind of Mormon by osmosis, I guess.
So this could occur in large populations that are ethnically diverse and doesn't even require religion to be in the picture at all. Rules and structure and opportunities to excel at something are the key. Mormon kids do well in school for the same reason kids in the Harlem Zone do well. Rules, structure, and clearly defined expectations.
If you want to argue that the whole world would be better off it turned into Utah, go ahead.
Of course the world would be better off if turned into Utah. There's no argument to be had. No matter how you measure the population of Mormons you come up with exceptionalism. Health, longevity, divorce rates, cancer rates, crime, substance abuse, education levels, etc. Mormons are way outside the averages on these things, i.e. exceptional.
How could the world NOT be a better place if the population of the whole world was aligned with these Mormon statistics?
I can't say it will happen, of course, but you can't say it won't either. It won't and can't come from Government dictate or policy. It could only come as people adopt a different vision of the well-lived life and work hard to achieve it. |
