1352: My Father's Death by Suicide as BYU-Idaho Dean - The Brennan and Kip Harris Story

Mormon Stories - LDS

Brennan Harris’ dad, Kip Brower Harris, took his own life on January 9, 2019, while he was employed as Dean of Students at Brigham Young University - Idaho. During his 30 year career at BYU Idaho, Kip Harris had served twice as a Mormon bishop, served in a Mormon Stake Presidency, and was personal friends with LDS Church apostle David Bednar.

In the final years of his second term as bishop, Kip Harris became involved in an extra-marital affair with a neighbor and ward member. Inexplicably, when Kip Harris was found in a car with this neighbor/ward member by a Sugar City police officer, this police officer informed Kip Harris' LDS church leaders (violating the separation of church and state). Kip Harris' church leaders, in turn, notified Harris' employer (BYU Idaho), who then put Kim Harris on leave (threatening to fire him). This horrific sequence of confidentiality violations led Kim Harris to feel like his only option was to take his own life, which he did in January of 2019. Press coverage of Kip Harris' death can be found here and here.

Brennan Harris, Kip's son, believes that the LDS Church, BYU Idaho, and Sugar City police are all partially responsible for his father’s death. Brennan has written publicly about his father's story at these links:

• A brief biography of Kip Harris by his son, Brennan.
• A description of the events leading up Kim Harris' death by suicide, also written by Brennan.

This is Brennan’s story.