Many years ago, while attending Stanford, about the time the journal "Dialogue" was created there, I learned for the first time that I was an "MOT (member of the tribe)." I believe that my Jewish friends first used this acronym long before Mormons picked it up, but it had a powerful resonance for me and a number of my friends who used it in conversations around campus, a convenient way to refer to our common faith without mentioning LDS or Mormon in the process. Your article on "tribe" brought back all those old feelings, particularly the idea, unspoken, of the special subset of tribe: Mormons at Stanford. It was a wonderful time, when my dear friend Eugene England would hold Sunday evening firesides at his home, with kids racing all over the house and 25-30 graduate student friends gathered together to talk freely about our "Mormonness" and its wonders and challenges. Some of my good friends at that time have since left the Church. Others have remained faithful and committed Latter-day Saints. We are all, however, MOTs, with wonderful memories of our association and continued bonds.

we have moved a few times and know exactly what you mean. Even though we have good memories of each place most of those memories are tied to the church and our relationships there. Utah and for us Nevada and Southern Cal. are where home is, where we long for, where we go to see family where we follow the news from and read their web sites like this one to stay connected to our tribe.

Honestly I don't know how others move away from home without the church. It provides us with an instant foundation, accepting people, and common values that give us instant friendships for those willing to reach out. People at work are surprised to learn how active I am and how many "friends" I seem to have after being in a new place. It's the same everywhere I have moved our family. We have tribe connections in many states and in each place we look to our mecca in the west for direction, comfort, and longing even though we too will likely never live there again. It still is our home.

I have had the opposite experiance - I belive home is where you make it. We lived for twenty years in Arizona and Connecticut. We have now moved back to Utah - Doesnt feel like home - we are outsiders as far as our LDS Ward is concerned they do not want anything to do with missionary field Mormons we are to liberal - Liberal No ! We just learned to love all people and respect all beliefs. Nope this used to be home where I grew up, but no longer

The first half of the article is completely unrelated to the second half. I feel no connection to Utah even though both of my parents were raised there and we were up there each summer on vacation while growing up. On the other hand, I feel a tangible connection to the Church and its members wherever I go. Quite frankly, I wish more members would consider "home" the areas where they live. Until that happens, the Church won't truly become integrated with those communities. Being members of the "tribe" has nothing to do with Utah roots...it has everything to do with being members of the church.