Brigham Young's Promised Land bike tour was 791 miles (1265 km) with 17 travel days and 2 rest days. The weather was cooler than expected, but still pleasant. I prefer cool over hot when in the desert with no shade.

I think the route was a good match for my abilities. The first 5 days were the most difficult. Fortunately the final 2/3 of the route has less steep climbing. 19 days is kind of long for me. Wear and tear takes its toll.

The tour was mostly problem-free. I lost a water bottle on day 11. It pulled out of the cage when the bike fell over. I had 2 flat tires that were easy to repair, both from thorns. No other problems with the bike. No illness or injury. Just the usual tiredness and occasional muscle soreness.

I ate at many restaurants, but tried to be distanced from other people. I carried COVID tests but never used them and never had any symptoms. Utah has a respectable vaccination rate. The LDS church is strongly pro vaccine.

I was pleased with both the scenery and the unique cultural attractions. It was a very successful religious/cultural theme. Many times it really did seem like I was traveling in a foreign country.

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The Theme

I think the journal accurately documents the attitude of this tour. I was relatively successful at suspending disbelief during the tour and when writing about it afterwards. I encountered a wide variety of crazy Mormon beliefs and practices, and did my best to write about the beliefs and practices without mocking or judging them. I was only judgemental about massacres, which I think are wrong no matter the circumstance.

During the tour I was quite successful at staying focused on the here and now. Terrain, weather, scenery, historic sites, etc. I almost never thought about theological details during the tour, but before the tour I did some "opposition research" to be more informed about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Kelly Iniguez was my main consultant. She spent her early years as a gentile in a Mormon farm town. Her insights were valuable. Kelly recommended the book Leaving the Saints which is a harrowing account of abuse by a Mormon "blue blood" who earnestly tried to be a good Mormon, but was overwhelmed by the church's indifference to abuse and rigid adherence to proven lies.

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Same as all other authoritarian churches, the LDS church's number one priority is to defend institutions, even if it comes at the cost of causing grave harm to church members.

Do I think the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a cult? Yes. I think all authoritarian churches are cults.

I also think Mormons are an important part of the diverse fabric of American history and culture. Mormons played a big role in the North American Manifest Destiny project of the 19th century, fulfilling what settlers believed to be God's will to bring Christian white supremacy to the entire continent.

In 1847 Mormons created a new alternate universe in the wilderness. Even now it's surely the largest, fastest growing, and most successful alternate universe in North America. One doesn't have to like or agree with everything to find that it's a fascinating place with a truly unique history.

I want to thank readers for all the thoughtful and interesting comments. Your opinions and insights contributed to a successful theme.

Things I like about Brigham Young's Promised Land

Everything is neat and tidy.
No trash, graffiti, broken glass, or homeless camps.
People are extremely polite, civil, and accommodating.
Modern history is well documented and preserved.
It's freakishly different from most of the U.S.
Urban and suburban areas have excellent bicycle infrastructure.
Cities, the state, and the LDS church promote healthy lifestyles.

Things I don't like about Brigham Young's Promised Land

Far too much green grass in the desert.
No good IPA beer because alcohol limit is 5%.
A general lack of cultural diversity.
Houses all look alike. Shades of brown.
People mostly look alike. No tattoos, piercings, hipster facial hair.
Convenience stores are rare.
Most restaurants are closed on Sunday.

More of Brigham Young's Promised Land in 2023

The first 8 days of my next bike tour are an extension of the Brigham Young's Promised Land tour. The route passes LDS temples in Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, and Rexburg and goes through the campus of Brigham Young University-Idaho. More details can be found here.