We returned from Las Vegas. I have an assortment of observations:
They didn’t have a law school there just a few years ago, and lawyers were scarce. They’ve been able to make up for the shortage I can tell from the billboards. Lawyers do traffic tickets for $50 and DUI’s for $700. They get catchy phone numbers like 444-4444; and if you want a “half-priced” one he’s 400-4000. Not sure what a half-priced lawyer amounts to.
Sex still sells, apparently. At least the advertisers think so. I wonder if Lot would live in Las Vegas were he alive today.
I walked through the casino to the hotel elevator carrying my scriptures, baggage and in company with my wife and four daughters. I assume we were as much a spectacle to the patrons as the patrons were to us.
While there must be a few folks for whom gambling offers some sort of glamor, I did not detect much of that. Mostly you could see boredom or desperation on the faces of the typical patron.
They don’t pay the girls who deal on the blackjack tables enough to dress properly. Poor things only have a tiny remnant of a pair of levis on, not enough to cover their underwear. Their exposed garters and fishnet stockings betray a style dating back to the 1960’s. They were practically unclad on top, as well. I assume these hallmarks of poverty betray an employer who is exploiting their labor without appropriate remuneration.
The baseball was fun, but Alta went 2-2. Still searching for the right combination in the batting lineup and trying to fill a gap at 3rd base still, too. They’ll get there. Now we’re back in Salt Lake for some more ‘snowball.
General Conference was broadcast live on the TV, but I couldn’t find either an AM or FM station carrying it on the radio. I wondered why that was.
The LDS Temple is pointed out on the top of the Stratosphere Hotel as a point of interest. I thought that was interesting.
I noticed an older couple wearing newly-wed attire. They both had enough miles on them to make them either eternal optimists about the state of matrimony or habitual about their marital affairs. I like to think them optimists.
I served a mission in Las Vegas. Here is an assortment of my observations:
When I arrived in June 1998 I was happy I was in the dry desert air (I was from Houston)
I was surprised how flaking the people were there (maybe this is a common behavior that missionaries experience but I grew up expecting people to keep there commitments).
Most people were friendly and would offer water to us and were respectful of that we were trying serving the Lord.
Most of the people were able feel the Spirit when we share our testimonies with them.
The Church members had a strong and powerful testimony of the gospel.
Every Sunday night the young single adults would gather at the Temple and socialize and they would bring their non member friends to feel the Spirit that setting provided.
I thought it was weird that some of the people in local Church leadership worked in casinos and were even in upper management and work to increase the casinos revenue and still be able to hold a temple recommend. I know was judging but it was weird to me.
I thought the casinos were the large and spacious buildings in Lehi’s Dream.
Missionaries had very little time to track because the members were always preparing people for the missionaries to teach and would be constantly providing us with people to visit. The members were the most missionary minded people I have ever known even to this day.
The Spirit of the Lord is in Las Vegas.
The Lord makes opportunities for people to move to Las Vegas to hear the gospel and have their families to sealed in the Temple there.
By the way, my first reaction to my call was “What did I do so wrong that the Lord wanted me to go to Sin City to fulfill my mission!”…..Yes I was extremely naivie and had no idea what Las Vegas was like and I soon regretted even thinking that thought. Needless to say I love Las Vegas and the people there.
Denver, I know your post was in part satirical but I have been reading Nibley’s Approaching Zion and have been comparing his remarks in the chapter Zion, A Distant View to our current society. I recall in your writings that we must continue to work in order to support ourselves but recall feeling distinctly that “financial success” (my term not yours) didn’t seem that important. As I study these things more I feel like I’ve been trapped by Satan regarding Babylon and dressing it up to not only be acceptable but desired by otherwise saints. It hasn’t been much of a topic on your blog, but to Brigham Young was a major point of emphasis. Wondering if you wouldn’t share what you can regarding these thoughts and preparation for the second comforter.
JM