In modern public discourse, there are largely two contrasting depictions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, colloquially known as the Mormon Church: satirical takes on the cultural oddities (such as The Book of Mormon broadway play or South Park) and polygamist fundamentalists, with little in between except for Mitt Romney and the Osmonds. I left the faith at 16 and have had to deal with the rift it caused in my family for the better part of half my life. I began photograph the culture I was raised in at the end of 2021 as a way to try to bridge this gap in understanding. All of the people in these images are my immediate and extended family and have eagerly agreed to participate in my endeavor. Most are devout, some are wavering, and few—if any—have left. While I do not partake of the sacrament, nor did I go on a mission, I will inevitably always be at least some part Mormon. With these images I aim to be neither Mormon apologist nor critic. The project is about 80% complete, and with sufficient funding I anticipate I can finish principal photography by the end of 2025. My primary goals are to: finish photographing (approx. 20 final images); sequence, edit, and design the final book; secure a publishing deal for the book; secure the inaugural institutional exhibition; and to publish an excerpt in a major periodical. I plan to use the scholarship money to pay for film, processing, and printing of the remaining images.
