“Peanuts,” Charles M. Schulz, and the Mormon Connection You Didn’t Know About

This article was originally written by Danielle Beckstrom for LDS Living. The following is an excerpt.

“There are three things that I’ve learned never to discuss with people,”says the endearing Peanuts character Linus Van Pelt. “Religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.”

In classic Peanuts style, this quote shows a maturity and insight beyond Linus’ limited years, speaking of a truth its creator, Charles M. Schulz, knew from experience.

“He always said, ‘If you want to know me, read my strip,’” Amy Schulz Johnson says, speaking of her father, Charles Schulz. “You could tell the things he believed in by reading Peanuts.”

Yet, many fans and critics of Schulz’s work disagree on his religious views, labeling him as everything from a fundamentalist Christian to an atheist. But those closest to Schulz and his work understand that, though complex and highly personal, his faith and belief in the Savior fueled every decision in his life. In fact, it was this deeply ingrained personal conviction that led him to go against Linus’ wise counsel and share his beliefs across the nation through the characters in his comic strip.

Read the full article at ldsliving.com.