How can you tell a Utahn from a Californian?

Now, I know there are many differences between people who live in Utah and people who live in California. For example, when Californians go to the beach, they head toward the Pacific; when people in Utah go to the beach, they head toward a lake. Any lake. Nevertheless, I recently became aware of another schism.

My friend Donna and I took a road trip to Los Angeles last weekend, and through the course of our trip we traversed several freeways. When I was getting directions from friends, the conversation would often proceed in the following manner:

Emily: "Ok, take the 134 West to the 2 North to the 101 North to the 405 South, and that should get you there."

Me: "Ok. The 134 to the 2 to the 101 to the 405. I think I got it."

Now, Donna grew up in Utah and so she's used to the idea of a freeway. Having to cross many freeways in a single trip was a little less common for her, but still not mind-blowing. However, for her, a conversation about multiple freeways would probably go such:

Donna: "Ok, take I-15 North to I-80 West, and you'll be there."

Angela: "Ok, I-15 North to I-80 West. I think I got it."

Did you notice the difference? After living in Utah for about 6 years, I never had, so don't feel bad if you didn't.

What I discovered with Donna was that Californians tend to use the definite article "the" in front of the names of our freeways. We don't waste time mentioning whether the freeway is an interstate or not; it doesn't really matter, usually, because you won't be on the freeway long enough to change states. You'll be on another freeway--perhaps another two or three--within the next hour.

Utahns, however, have perhaps as many freeways to claim as they have fingers on one hand; therefore, they don't feel the same pressing need to shorten the titles of the freeways; after all, they rarely travel on two different freeways in the same day. Therefore, they ceremoniously refer to their freeways as "I-15" or "I-80." Though they usually don't intend to traverse the freeway long enough to change states, they still must mention that the freeway is an interstate one, so you could visit another state on it, if you'd like to. I think it's very endearing.

As long as you ask a Utahn about directions to I-15 or I-80, you will get very positive results. But start asking about directions to "the 15" and you'll probably get a blank stare or a pause for just a second--long enough for the person you're speaking with to think "Oh, the poor dear...obviously confused and mixed up. Who would ever call I-15, 'the 15'! Well, I won't make her (or him) feel bad...I'll just tell her (or him) how to get to I-15 and maybe someday she'll (or he'll) catch on." After which you'll get your directions.

But for the dear souls hoping to perhaps bridge this syntactic Utah-California gap, "the I-15" is apparently just as painful to hear as "the 15." Feel free to steer clear of both--just call it "I-15" and you'll be fine.

Christlike love

Probably the most amazing and difficult thing for me to comprehend is the love that my Saviour, Jesus Christ, has for each and every person on this earth. He doesn't love us because we are extremely intelligent, because we are incredibly talented, or because we have prominent connections to other people--He loves us because He is our brother, and because He sees the divine potential we have within ourselves to become more like Him. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are filled with examples of Jesus Christ's love as well as Heavenly Father's love, shown in word and deed.

Our Savior came to Earth in part so that he could show us, His brothers and sisters, the sort of life we should live. In His sermon on the mount, he told us, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy ^bneighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you....For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (Matthew 5:43-44,46)

I served a mission for my church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Bolivia, and while I was there, I saw how important it is to love others, and to love them unconditionally. Every time I go somewhere new or talk to someone new, I see how much each person, including me, needs to be loved by others. I know that it can be incredibly difficult sometimes to love someone, especially if we have been hurt by something that someone has done, but I've come to see that loving a person does not mean condoning everything that a person does. It means treating others with the love and respect that our Saviour would treat them if he were in our position. As I set aside differences and grow to love people that have come into my life, I feel a great happiness, whereas if I shut people out and I do not seek to know them and love them, I become miserable. I know that as I try to emulate the Saviour, I will become more and more happy, and I will come to better know my Heavenly Father and my saviour Jesus Christ.