Mormon Stories Podcast

Why do people leave the LDS church and how can we help? This is a question I asked myself a few years ago and the answer was not at all what I expected. There is a belief among church members that people who decide to leave the church are doing so because of sin or because they stopped reading their scriptures or because perhaps they just weren't as valiant and strong as other members. There have even been talks by leaders of the church which would point one to think that way as well. I believed this at one time. I do not any longer. In some cases these issues may be valid but for the vast majority, it is not the case.

Host John Dehlin (featured caricature) and others, seek to answer this question in the Mormon Stories Podcast. The show typically consists of John or another host interviewing various mormons and their experiences. The guests range from people who have left the church and have embraced different belief systems like atheism or even evangelical christianity to LDS scholars like Richard Bushman (author of Joseph Smith-Rough Stone Rolling) and Dr. Ted Lyon (retired BYU professor; currently President of Santiago Chile Temple). Some episodes range in content from homosexuality to uncomfortable church history to what to do when one spouse stops believing while the other remains a believer.

I don't want to give the impression that this podcast is negative though. John Dehlin is an active member of the church and in good standing. With the exception of those who have left the church, which seems to be the smallest group, most of his guests are also active members who at least find peace in the church and even believe in the church. What it does, however, is expose members to many of the less comfortable aspects of the church but in a way which does not seek to damage faith but create understanding in a [sometimes brutally] honest and very real way. It also attempts to build a bridge to those who have lost their faith through this understanding.

So, how do we help these "lost sheep"? There is a tendancy in the church to shun people who leave by choice. I think it's almost a tribal instinct. The natural man. Simply put, we love them. We accept them. We don't fear them. Respect their choice to leave if that is what they choose to do. Support them if they wish to stay or return to the fold. In short, don't judge them. Let them know that whatever they choose to do, you will still be there for them. This is the spirit of what John Dehlin and Mormon Stories is about.

So what are some of the issues people deal with which can lead someone to leave the church? This episode gives a pretty good overview if you're willing to go there, as well as a more complete section on how to help:

Why People Leave the LDS Church and How We Can Help

Goodbye Robert Anae

The truth is I'm not a big BYU fan... or a big U of U fan... or a fan of college football in general... or for that matter a fan of football in general... but, in my neighborhood is an assistant athletic trainer for football and baseball at BYU. From what I understand, this means he fixes you if you're an athelete in these sports at BYU.


A few years ago, I twisted up my ankle reeeaaallly bad and at a time I didn't have insurance. He sort of helped me out. Less long ago he came to me asking if I could do a characature of Robert Anae, the then Offensive Coordinator for BYU football, and they were going to put it on a t-shirt as a kind of prank or something (my memory is going already). I could not decline this, given the help he gave me... and in the end I got some pretty cool merchandise out of it. When I finished, I thought I'd put some color on it and put it up here when I get a chance.

Last week I heard of Anae resigning at BYU and thought, well now or never. I'm a week late but these things take time when you have to make money for a living. He'll be heading over to the AZ Wildcats where he'll be the co-offensive coordinator.

Philidelphia sports anchor, Vai Sikahema wrote this tribute to his friend Anae:

The Robert Anae you may not know

I usually have quite a lot of reference when I'm doing a caricature but for some reason the images are somewhat sparse for him. There are images online but they're action shots for the most part or portraits, neither of which give a good view of him three dementionally. There is one video I found which was extremely helpful but he looks a bit different than in the photos. This is a combination of the two looks. Having never seen him before, I hope this looks something like the guy. At very least, it's an excuse to get my blog going again in 2011!