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!

Back to Normal

Last week, my kids came down with a flu that lasted an entire 7 days! Fever, congestion, caughing and worst of all, totally lethargic. Even doped up on Motrin and Tylenol their fevers never totally broke and neither of them were back to their usual selves. There's a feeling of frustration and worry when your kids are sick like that which just knaws at you until they get better. Towards the end, they started to play a bit and we started to hear them fighting. Normally a parent's first reaction is to break it up and get them to make friends but to us it was a hint that they were finally getting back to their old selves.

Daddy's Consequences

I meant to blog about this at the time but the caricatures took precidence. Well, my daughter Sydney will do just about anything to get out of doing any chores whatsoever. Every single day she complains that she doesn't know how to make her bed, despite the fact that she makes it every single day... eventually. Well Sydney is quite the cuddle bug and Wendi and I both like to cuddle with her so on one particular occasion, she used this against us... or at least tried to. I told her that was just fine and she eventually made her bed anyway... by herself. Did I mention she's just four years old? I thought this kind of psycological warfare didn't begin until adolescence. Boy, am I in for it!

Maverick

Yesterday, John McCain won the New Hampshire Primary which gave him a boost in the arm. Michael Medved made a point that with all the hype of an Obama victory, all the independents decided to give McCain a boost in the arm. New Hampshire allows independents to pick from republican or democratic (or any other party theoretically) ballots.

John McCain is known as being a maverick. He does things his way and doesn't care if it goes against the party line. He is for the war and a staunch supporter of the surge but he was extremely critical of the way the war was being waged under Rumsfeld. There is a freshness to this kind of position taking in that he bucks the trend, even if it makes him unpopular... and it has indeed, at least among republicans. He's supported several bills which are thought to be much more in line with the democrats with regards to campaign funding and immigration so he's kind of a mixed bag for conservatives. Being moderate though may mean he could have a chance in the general election if he makes it. He's a no nonsense kind of guy and that may end up giving him an edge in the end.

His age will definately be a factor at 71 but he doesn't act old at least. Definately an honorable man and I wouldn't hesitate pulling the lever for him if it came down to it.

FOX News Poll: McCain Takes the Lead in South Carolina GOP Primary

UPDATE 1/15/08: McCain Moves Into Lead

In His Sights

Mike Huckabee is one of those candidates you probably would have thought nothing of in the early, and even summer debates, one of the nobodies running for president. He may still have very slim chances at winning the nomination but I don't think anybody could call him a nobody now. With relatively little money, he is giving the guy who's outspent all the republicans, Mitt Romney a run for his.

WSJ:
Populist Message Gets Louder
As Iowa Caucuses Kick Off Race

"A decisive loss for Mr. Romney or Sen. Clinton in Iowa could reshuffle the preferences of voters elsewhere, and upend both candidates' strategies of riding to the nomination on the energy of early victories."

He has a populist message which resonates with many these days. He's also the guy who put the "Fair Tax" out there, which is a national sales tax to replace the IRS and Income tax system. He's much more moderate on Fiscal issues and perhaps his folksy demeanor will be an asset if he does end up with the nomination and is up against Hillary. Perhaps his most important asset is one of his endorsements:

Treading Water

Updated: Didn't have any time for commentary before so here goes. Well things look much different since my post about Obama. It seems that was about the turning point of his campaign and now he's giving Clinton a run for her money. Hey, that's politics. I actually think that Hillary would not be the landslide that the media has predicted. She has a lot of baggage and if I were her republican rival, I'd honestly rather be up against her than Obama. I actually think both can be beaten if the right republican is chosen and his campaign plays it right. She will constantly be in the shadow of her husband, who ironically is the only reason she has a chance at running.

She's actually not bad on national security issues, though pre-primary she's been rather elusive, if not inconsistent about her positions and the right will try and point this out until November. I think the left gives her too much credit.

The primaries are almost here and it's gonna be close for both parties: