Amen! A farewell to the Tribune's print Faith section

Religion • As Faith section bows out, we look to the past before embracing the future.

Rick Egan | Tribune file photo
In 2001, the Dalai Lama spent four days charming and enlightening various groups in Utah, speaking at hospitals, Symphony Hall, the University of Utah and to the state's close-knit Tibetan Buddhist community. His laugh was unforgettable. Here he is at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Salt Lake City.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Long-planned wedding parties scheduled on the lush gardens at the LDS Garden Park Ward in east Salt Lake City were displaced by an oil spill.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a participant in the Opening Ceremony of Salt Lake City's 2002 Winter Olympics, and later preached (as well as talking with The Salt Lake Tribune) on forgiveness. (AP PHOTO/POOL, KEVIN LEE)

Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo
In October 2012, the LDS Church lowered its missionary age for young women from 21 to 19, which triggered a surge in "sister missionaries." We profiled the new missionaries and how the Missionary Training Center in Provo was coping with the female onslaught, among other issues.

Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo
Ethiopian Orthodox believers in Utah transformed a Protestant church into a sanctuary where they might have worshipped in their home country, complete with their language of faith -- Amharic 4.

Rick Egan | Tribune file photo
In 2001, the Dalai Lama spent four days charming and enlightening various groups in Utah, speaking at hospitals, Symphony Hall, the University of Utah and to the state's close-knit Tibetan Buddhist community. His laugh was unforgettable.

Rick Egan | Tribune file photo
Tribune reporters and photographers followed the four-month-long 1997 Mormon Wagon Train re-enactment from Illinois to Salt Lake City, writing about it daily ó and producing special sections periodically.

Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo
In October 2012, the LDS Church lowered its missionary age for young women from 21 to 19, which triggered a surge in ìsister missionaries.î We profiled the new missionaries and how the Missionary Training Center in Provo was coping with the female onslaught, among other issues.

Rick Egan | Tribune file photo
Tribune reporters and photographers followed the four-month-long 1997 Mormon Wagon Train re-enactment from Illinois to Salt Lake City, writing about it daily -- and producing special sections periodically.

Tribune file photo
At a Bahai wedding in Red Butte Garden, no bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls or parents preceded the wedding couple down the aisle. No father of the bride handed her off to her future mate. No white-collared clergy waited at an altar to marry the couple. There are no religious requirements, other than agreeing to a single statement ó "We will all, verily, abide by the will of Godî ó before two witnesses.

†

Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo
In October 2012, the LDS Church lowered its missionary age for young women from 21 to 19 and for young men from 19 to 18. We profiled the new missionaries and how the Missionary Training Center in Provo was coping with the onslaught, among other issues.

Amy Lewis | The Salt Lake Tribune

"Heavenly Mother" illustration

Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo
Ethiopian Orthodox believers in Utah transformed a Protestant church into a sanctuary where they might have worshipped in their home country, complete with their language of faith ó Amharic 4.

Tribune file photo
Jewish High Holy days gave us the opportunity to explore the nature of ritual. Here, two brothers ó who happen to be professional musicians ó blow the shofar to herald the beginning of the sacred time.

Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo
To a Hindu, a 60th birthday is an auspicious time, the end of the gathering, building part of life's journey and the beginning of giving away, shedding material goods. They commemorate the day with a kind of reverse wedding ceremony in which they dress in their finest and then are doused with water as a symbol of rebirth.

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Rick Egan | Tribune file photo In 2001, the Dalai Lama spent four days charming and enlightening various groups in Utah, speaking at hospitals, Symphony Hall, the University of Utah and to the state's close-knit Tibetan Buddhist community. His laugh was unforgettable. Here he is at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Salt Lake City. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Long-planned wedding parties scheduled on the lush gardens at the LDS Garden Park Ward in east Salt Lake City were displaced by an oil spill. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a participant in the Opening Ceremony of Salt Lake City's 2002 Winter Olympics, and later preached (as well as talking with The Salt Lake Tribune) on forgiveness. (AP PHOTO/POOL, KEVIN LEE) Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo In October 2012, the LDS Church lowered its missionary age for young women from 21 to 19, which triggered a surge in "sister missionaries." We profiled the new missionaries and how the Missionary Training Center in Provo was coping with the female onslaught, among other issues. Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo Ethiopian Orthodox believers in Utah transformed a Protestant church into a sanctuary where they might have worshipped in their home country, complete with their language of faith -- Amharic 4. Rick Egan | Tribune file photo In 2001, the Dalai Lama spent four days charming and enlightening various groups in Utah, speaking at hospitals, Symphony Hall, the University of Utah and to the state's close-knit Tibetan Buddhist community. His laugh was unforgettable. Rick Egan | Tribune file photo Tribune reporters and photographers followed the four-month-long 1997 Mormon Wagon Train re-enactment from Illinois to Salt Lake City, writing about it daily ó and producing special sections periodically. Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo In October 2012, the LDS Church lowered its missionary age for young women from 21 to 19, which triggered a surge in ìsister missionaries.î We profiled the new missionaries and how the Missionary Training Center in Provo was coping with the female onslaught, among other issues. Rick Egan | Tribune file photo Tribune reporters and photographers followed the four-month-long 1997 Mormon Wagon Train re-enactment from Illinois to Salt Lake City, writing about it daily -- and producing special sections periodically. Tribune file photo At a Bahai wedding in Red Butte Garden, no bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls or parents preceded the wedding couple down the aisle. No father of the bride handed her off to her future mate. No white-collared clergy waited at an altar to marry the couple. There are no religious requirements, other than agreeing to a single statement ó "We will all, verily, abide by the will of Godî ó before two witnesses. † Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo In October 2012, the LDS Church lowered its missionary age for young women from 21 to 19 and for young men from 19 to 18. We profiled the new missionaries and how the Missionary Training Center in Provo was coping with the onslaught, among other issues. Amy Lewis | The Salt Lake Tribune "Heavenly Mother" illustration Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo Ethiopian Orthodox believers in Utah transformed a Protestant church into a sanctuary where they might have worshipped in their home country, complete with their language of faith ó Amharic 4. Tribune file photo Jewish High Holy days gave us the opportunity to explore the nature of ritual. Here, two brothers ó who happen to be professional musicians ó blow the shofar to herald the beginning of the sacred time. Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo To a Hindu, a 60th birthday is an auspicious time, the end of the gathering, building part of life's journey and the beginning of giving away, shedding material goods. They commemorate the day with a kind of reverse wedding ceremony in which they dress in their finest and then are doused with water as a symbol of rebirth.

By Peggy Fletcher Stack The Salt Lake Tribune

· April 17, 2014 11:09 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Every Saturday morning for more than two decades, The Salt Lake Tribune has played host to a conversation about faith.

We asked big questions: Who is God? What is resurrection? Why does Mary keep showing up in unexpected places? How and why do people pray? Are popes and prophets infallible? How do you teach children compassion? What is wisdom? Karma? Heaven? Hell? What does the Bible say about sexuality? Is suicide a sin?

We explored tough topics — the tension between science and religion, divorce among the faithful, the fall and rise of Mormon feminists, why Muslim women wear headscarves, creationism versus Darwinism, nudity in religious art, Latter-day Saints who don't serve missions or who come home early, the relationship between religion and mental illness.

We took readers along for a glimpse of religious rituals — Catholic First Communion, Jewish High Holy Days, Hindu doll celebrations, Jehovah's Witnesses witnessing, Pentecostal speaking in tongues — and explained Mormon-specific language such as Pioneer Day, roadshows, Dear John letters, missionary farewells and CTR rings.

We followed a Mormon missionary through the entire process of putting in his "papers" (application), getting his call, writing home from the Missionary Training Center, and then working the streets of Rio. Later, we observed a Catholic priest-in-the-making from his seminary training to his ordination.

We also had fun with faith, noting spiritual themes from films such as "Star Wars," "Harry Potter" and "Lord of the Rings," television shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The Simpsons," art that described "sugar as Mormon heroin," and whether Elvis really read the Book of Mormon.

You name it, we could find a religion angle to it.

Today marks our final print Faith section, but it is hardly the end of our religion reporting. You'll see stories of spirituality and ethics, belief and nonbelief, on the front page, the Utah cover, in the arts section, even in food. And, of course, faith coverage will continue its digital prominence at sltrib.com.