Hispanics in the Mormon Zion, 1912-1999

In Utah, unlike most other states, new arrivals can connect with the most powerful institution in the state simply by embracing a set of spiritual beliefs. In Hispanics in the Mormon Zion, 1912-1999, Jorge Iber looks at the history and culture of Hispanics in Utah and examines the impact of their widespread conversion from Catholicism to Mormonism. Hispanics began migrating to Utah in the early 1900s seeking work in the state's thriving sugar beet industry. However, by the end of the twentieth century, Hispanics could be found in all of its major cities working in tourist, industrial, and service occupations. Drawing on University of Utah archives and organizations such as the Salt Lake Catholic Diocese and the Mormon Church, Iber has compiled an informative study that examines Hispanic assimilation and acculturation in a setting vastly different from other states.