That’s easy to say in a state that has about half the foreign-born population share of the country as a whole (8% versus 15%). Let’s see what they have to say after immigration disrupts their orderly, high trust, cohesive society.

Gross. Anyways: after Jewish people, Mormons are the most pro-immigration religious group in the United States. Consider not using them as an example for the virtues of xenophobia, especially when making appeals to their distinctive culture.

Mormon society is well-functioning for the same reason that Japanese society is well-functioning. People share common values and culture which enables a high-level of social reinforcement of societal rules and norms. The Japanese realize that immigration would destroy their society. The Mormons don't, but that doesn't make it any less true.

I find your use of the term "gross" inexplicable. Are you positing that you can have a high trust, high cohesion, orderly society that accepts lots of immigrants? If so, show me one. Otherwise, your position seems to be that immigration is a moral requirement in and of itself, regardless of the consequences it has for societal order.

I'm really scratching my head at the comparison of Mormon society and Japanese society. Have you tried living in Japan?

I’m neither Mormon nor Japanese, so no. But I have visited Utah and Japan, and know quite a few people from both cultures. They share many common characteristics. (As someone from a different part of Asia, Mormons are the most relatable white people to me in terms of the relationship between individuals and society.)

Isn’t one of the basic tenants of the Mormon community sending their people out to find other people and merging those people into their society?

No, not anymore at least. The church used to in its early days (mid 19th century) encourage immigration to Utah (aka "Zion"), but many years ago they declared that "gathering of Zion" should take place where people already are.

Modern-day missionaries try to build up the local church where they are. Some people do end up wanting to emigrate to Utah, but this is not something the Church encourages.

FWIW, I was Mormon for many years and grew up (partly) in Utah, and I agree with your analysis.

> The Japanese realize that immigration would destroy their society. The Mormons don't, but that doesn't make it any less true.

Go back to the 19th century, and the LDS Church was heavily involved in encouraging people to convert to their religion and immigrate to Utah. Many of their missionaries in Europe were not just seeking converts, but also immigrants.

Nowadays, the LDS Church doesn't put any great emphasis on encouraging their overseas flock to immigrate to Utah. But if they changed their mind about that, I doubt LDS immigrants from Asia or Latin America would destroy the society of Mormon Utah, any more than 19th century European Mormon immigrants did. If anything, I think it would be less destructive than US intrastate migration of non-Mormons into Utah, which has been going on for a long time now.

Do you really think GP is arguing in favor of xenophobia? I'm undecided on this topic, but nothing they've said (that I've seen) suggests xenophobia. GP even indicates in a different area that they've traveled internationally, which is a difficult thing for xenophobes.

Unless you have somethign to point to that gives you confidence that GP is arguing the virtues of xenophobia, it's likely to be counter-productive to ongoing discussion.