Joseph_Hillstrom [he/him]
The high ranking leadership is mostly made up of the bourgeoisie and the petite bourgeoisie. Most of the higher ranking leaders come from the original settlers who colonized Utah, and therefore have that generational wealth from families who run industries in Utah (think the Romneys and Huntsmans). At the ward level (wards are parishes in Mormon speak), the clergy is unpaid, but it’s generally run by PMCs and small business tyrants who have the time and energy to do it for free. Mormons believe in Prosperity Doctrine, so the guy who has a successful used car dealership is obviously the best pick to be the bishop.
Hmm, I wish I knew more about labor movements in Utah. If you’re Mormon, it’s likely you know a neighbor or friend or member of your ward (parish) who can help get you a job through church connections. Lots of people put their missions on their resumes, it’s a code word that basically says “hire me, fellow Mormon!”
I think a lot of Mormon workers don’t agitate because their boss is part of their community, so when an outsider like Joe Hill comes around, it’s easy to rally the base and nip it in the bud.
Great question. This is something my friends and I have talked about a lot. A million other people grew up in the same conditions but never became atheists, so why me? Personally I think it’s intellectual curiosity. Mormons are raised to obey power structures uncritically (this is one of the reasons why they make such good CIA piggies), so if they come across something that contradicts their leaders or worldview, they turn their brains off. When I came across info like that I just wanted to learn more, which led me here.