Main Street Water Park

Not from the area, but my guess is the women who shot you looks probably thought a bikini was inappropriate attire. They may also just have been jealous of your confidence in wearing one, perhaps they have some stretch marks or have a bit of weight they're trying to lose. And being a conservative, religious town also sounds like a big factor. Regardless of the reason women can be very catty, and I would say wear what you are comfortable in. If the looks make you really uncomfortable it might be better to make the switch to a one piece, but it sounds like they have the problem- not you.

I would say since it's not a regular pool that you should wear a big tee shirt over your swim suit. Just because it's on main street and in open view of the main line of traffic.

Geez, you might distract someone from their driving and make them have a wreck...have you seen that commercial for car insurance where "mayhem" is jogging and causing wrecks? I sit here giggling thinking about it being in a commercial.

I understand what you are going through. St. George is probably very modest and none of those people staring would ever even own a bikini even if it looked good on them. They have been taught to cover their bodies and to be modest from birth. I know when my 3 yr. old wore a sleeveless dress to church and someone said something about her not being dressed appropriately I started thinking about how life long church members were raised.

It's not big deal to me to see someone at the pool in a swimsuit but at a community park? That's different to me.
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As for the tattoos...my little one again went to church and had one of those silly little temporary tattoos on her arm and it showed. The same teacher said something again about how the Prophet said tattoos were a sin and should not be done. Well, I decided to read the talk.

In the talk, which was aimed at the youth of the church, it encouraged them to not get tattoos because they were sometimes a spur of the moment thing, an impulse that might be regretted in their future. Since they are permanent and hard to remove without scars he simply was cautioning them to think about not doing it. He did not say they were a sin or anything like that.

There are so many cultures too that find body art offensive that it limits where a youth can serve a mission. The Prophet had very good intentions in this talk.

Gordon B. Hinkley said "The practice is growing among young people of tattooing and piercing their bodies. The time will come when they will regret it, but it will then be too late." Again referring to them being permanent and once done can't be taken away.

If your tattoos show they are for people to look at and enjoy. I know some very fine upstanding people with tattoos who are LDS and they don't have issues with others having them too.

My reference comes from"
http://mormonmission.blogspot.com/2008/05/tattoos-and-mis...

I grew up in an even smaller and more conservative small town in Utah than St George. My guess is the stares were more for the tattoos than the bikini (or they may be envious that you can still pull off wearing a bikini after having a baby! ). I'd just return the "looks" with one of those wonderful, friendly southern smiles, and start up a conversation.

Probably the tattoos. If you had one little one, probably no one would look much, but a lot of tattoos, especially on a mom, definitely draws look, even in a big city outside of Utah.

Hello Cori!

I am from So. California but I happen to be LDS. I am trying to figure out the right way to word this answer. I hope people don't judge you for being different (since we're taught not to judge and to accept everyone even those who are different from us) but I know that for us as Latter-Day Saints we are taught not to wear bikinis and not to get tattoos so that might be the reason. I am sure that your bikini was more modest than those that I see out here in California but to girls who have never worn bikinis, even a tasteful bikini would draw attention. I don't know if it would be offensive unless your body parts were hanging out (like some that I see here and even as a 32 year old woman I don't want to see their breasts hanging out or the majority of their bottom exposed!) Anyway...I have never lived in Utah but I think that in a bikini (or even in a tank top or short shorts, etc) you will stick out in a conservative (especially in dressing) society. I think though, if you just smile and wave you should be fine!

Good luck!! :)

Like Allison I am a so cal LDS so this would not bother me personally. I do know that in certain areas in Utah (ok most of it) there are not many non LDS and therefore someone who is not will stand out. I think it stems from living in an environment where you only know what has been forever and then seeing something from outside that environment. It can be shocking. This goes for any circumstance too. Whenever I go somewhere in which dress code may be an issue I check to see what the status quo is and try to appropriately comply. As long as I am still comfortable. To avoid the staring (some women may have never seen a bikini in person before) you may want to cover up a bit more. Dirty looks are not right and I am sorry if you received any. Have a wonderful summer. I know it gets super hot there.

I chuckled a bit reading your question. :) Anywhere there is a high percentage of Mormons - meaning anywhere in Utah - you will see very few bikinis. Church standards are for one piece suits or two piece that still cover the tummy. It's not unusual to see young, thin, pretty women in full swim shirts with high collars and short sleeves and knee length bottoms (think "rash guard" surfing clothes) at the pool or water park. Since the LDS Church does not encourage tattoos or body piercing, you won't see much of either. Most LDS members won't find it offensive, but will find it distracting if you're wearing a bikini. The same goes for kids' suits. If you want to avoid stepping on toes, buy a one piece suit and be prepared to wear shorts or a wrap when you're out of the water. Enjoy St. George - it's a beautiful part of the country!