Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
783 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 812 ratingsWelcome to our podcast!
My name is Richard H. Ostler and I am a native of Salt Lake City, small business owner, married father of six with several grandchildren. I believe in and am deeply committed to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and want it to work for a wider group.
I am the author of three books:
“Listen Learn and Love: Embracing LGBTQ Latter-day Saints” published in 2020 available at Deseret Book (deseretbook.com/product/5248297.html) and Amazon (amazon.com/dp/1462135773)
“Listen Learn and Love: Improving Latter-day Saint Culture” published in 2022. The book explores who we can do better to help all Latter-day Saints feel more welcome, needed and a feeling of belonging in our congregations. Available at Deseret Book (deseretbook.com/product/6003149.html) and Amazon (amazon.com/dp/1462139566)
“Listen Learn and Love: Building the Good Ship Zion” released in Sept 2023. The book explores additional topics to help all Latter-day Saint feel welcome and needed on the Good Ship Zion. Available at Deseret Book (deseretbook.com/product/6026921.html) and Amazon (amazon.com/dp/1462145280)
The purpose of all three books is to help us better create Zion by helping more feel welcome, a sense of belonging, and needed in our congregations.
Proceed from the books go the Stockton Power Memorial Scholarship (www.standingforstockton.com) in honor of Stockton Powers a gay Latter-day Saint teenager who died of suicide in 2016. Everything I do is a self-funded labor of love ❤️
I am the author of two Ensign articles:
‘How the Savior’s Healing Power Applies to Repenting from Sexual Sin’ (August 2020/YSA Digital Only) www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/08/young-adults/how-the-saviors-healing-power-applies-to-repenting-from-sexual-sin
‘7 Tips for Overcoming Pornography Use’ (October, page 72) www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/10/young-adults/7-tips-for-overcoming-pornography-use.
This podcast is designed to discuss some more complicated issues in our church to help all of us better “listen, learn and love” so we can minister in a more effective way to all of our Heavenly Parents’ children.
Podcasts are indexed by category at listenlearnandlove.org/podcasts
Thank you for joining us. You can't donate to this podcast. There are no sponsors. But you can leave a review/rate the podcast on the platform you are listening and/or leave a review at Deseret Book/Amazon on my books.
With love, Richard 'Papa' Ostler ❤
Twitter: twitter.com/Papa_Ostler
IG: www.instagram.com/papa_ostler
Facebook: facebook.com/richard.ostler.5
E-mail: [email protected]
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Episodes
Episode 606: Susan Siddoway, Finding Hope & Peace in my Daughter’s Journey
January 22, 2023 03:04 - 57 minutes - 78.5 MBMy friend Susan Siddoway (active LDS, married, mother of 6 and grandmother to 13) shared story of her daughter Holly who left the church, identified as bisexual, struggled with addiction, was single and pregnant and died at age 33 in 2019. Susan shares gospel principles, doctrinal insights and church leader statements that strengthened her love and support for her daughter. She talks of the light and knowledge that came to her about Holly’s journey here on earth, how she was so much more ...
Episode 605: Zachary Davis, Executive Director of Faith Matters and Editor of Wayfare
January 19, 2023 15:56 - 36 minutes - 50.4 MBMy friend Zach Davis (married father of three, graduate of BYU and Harvard Divinity School) joins us to talk about Wayfare—a new magazine launched by Faith Matters in late 2022. Zach talks about the purpose of and vision for the magazine and how it is a community effort and how individuals can get involved in producing content for Wayfare. Zach also talks about Faith Matters—its purpose and vision and plans for second Restore in October of 2023 (Zach shares the actual dates and location i...
Episode 604: Tammy Hill, New Book: Replenish: Creating Sexual Fulfillment in Marriage
January 13, 2023 04:42 - 1 hour - 89.5 MBMy friend Tammy Hill (Adjunct Faculty BYU, LMFT, Noted Speaker and Author, married mother of 12 in a blended family with her husband Jeff) joins us to talk about her groundbreaking new book for Latter-day Saints called “Replenish: Creating Sexual Fulfillment in Marriage, A Guide for LDS Couples”. In the podcast Tammy talks about how the book “is the answer for anyone who has been frustrated by information that is either too vague, too academic, too spiritual, or too pornographic. Provi...
Episode 603: Valerie Barton, Finding Worth While Single and Childless
January 10, 2023 05:42 - 1 hour - 110 MBMy friend Valerie Barton (active Latter-day Saint, in her 40s, married for 6 years) bravely shares her story believing her worth and purpose were in being married and having children—and having neither happen for nearly two decades. Valerie talks about things being typical and normal though her youth—but then things becoming more difficult during her 20s as she tried to move forward not being married. She talks about decided to attend college, receive her endowment and serving a missi...
Episode 602: Carol Lynn Pearson
January 06, 2023 04:21 - 1 hour - 97.6 MBMy friend Carol Lynn Pearson joins us to talk about the subject of love in five of the books she has written. These books are: Good-bye, I Love You (1986) No More Goodbyes (2007) I’ll Walk with You (2020) Finding Mother God (2020) The Love Map (2022) To order personally autographed copies of these books or see a complete list of Carol Lynn’s work, please visit: https://carollynnpearson.com/ The first two groundbreaking books are about how to better love and support LGBTQ Latter-day Sain...
Episode 601: Conversation with My Trans Friends and Those Supporting Them
January 03, 2023 04:02 - 1 hour - 86.5 MBThis is a solo podcast where I talk about why someone feels transgender, how to understand and best support them, and church resources. I also talk to those who experience gender dysphonia and principles for making thoughtful and informed decisions. My hope and prayer is this episode will bring more support to and understanding of our transgender friends—and better bring us together as the same human family. Links mentioned in the podcast: Church’s web site: https://www.churchofjesus...
Episode 600: Josh Yordy, Age 20, Queer Latter-day Saint
December 31, 2022 15:44 - 1 hour - 116 MBMy friend Josh Yordy joins us to bravely share his story. Josh talks about how mental health challenges ended his mission early and the positive support he received from his mission therapist, mission leaders, parents, and leaders back home in Flagstaff, Arizona. If you have returned home early or are supporting someone walking this road, Josh’s story will help you. Once home, Josh decided to address his sexual orientation, which he had avoided his whole life prior. Part of his journey was ...
Episode 599: Sara Brewer, Shame-Free Principles to End Porn Use
December 28, 2022 02:00 - 1 hour - 93 MBMy friend Sara Brewer, certified life coach, shares powerful insights to end porn use. Sara talks about the “roots” of porn use and a framework to address these roots in a hopeful and positive way to end porn use. I became aware of Sara after several mentioned to me how Sara helped them end porn use (including Koji Aoki who told his story on episode 544). Sara is part of a growing group of experts in this field who are bring a completely new paradigm to understand and solve porn use. ...
Episode 598: Emma Edwins, Convert, Transgender Latter-day Saint
December 25, 2022 03:54 - 1 hour - 103 MBMy friend Emma Edwins (Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy; Licensed Clinical Counselor) shares her remarkable story. Emma starts with her decision to join the Church while in college in Colorado. Emma then talks about why she left the church (for about ten years) and then talks about addressing her gender dysphoria—which led Emma to legally, socially, and medically transition to a woman. Emma talks about how much happier she is since transitioning—and how she longed to return to th...
Episode 597: Jay Griffith, Life Story, Loving Like Jesus, Why Still an Active Latter-Day Saint
December 22, 2022 15:52 - 1 hour - 110 MBMy friend Jay Griffith (married father of 3) joins us to share his story of why he stays a Latter-day Saint, how he manages the complexity of being in the church, and why he loves/supports/respects his family and friends who are no longer Latter-day Saints, and lives without fear for their salvation. Jay also briefly talks about his monthly gathering, ThinkAgain-FaithAgain (begun nearly 10 years ago), and his association with Faith Matters. Jay is one of the most spiritual and thoughtful ...
Episode 596: Alicia Hall, Certified Life Coach & LDS Mother of a 17-Year-Old Lesbian Daughter
December 19, 2022 07:50 - 58 minutes - 80.6 MBMy friend Alicia Hall (lives in Georgia, with husband & five children) joins us to share how she is using gospel principals and parenting skills to walk with and support her 17-year-old lesbian daughter McKenna (who came out at age 15). Alicia focuses on what we can do as parents to operate from a position of trust, love, acceptance—instead of a position fear, shame and looking backward in self-doubt. All this helping us as parents be in a better position to love and support an LGBTQ chil...
Episode 595: Autumn McAlpin, New Book, LDS Mother of a Gay Son
December 16, 2022 04:00 - 1 hour - 89.4 MBMy friend Autumn McAlpin (married mother of 5) shares the story of her 17-year-old son, Gavin, walking into her bedroom at 3:00 am telling her and her husband and he that “he is gay, leaving the church, and really struggling with depression… like, really.” A lot has happened since that night two and a half years ago—which Autumn shares on the podcast and in her new book to support Gavin. It is a beautiful and powerful family love story. Autumn, a noted author and filmmaker, decided to ...
Episode 594: Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife
December 13, 2022 14:03 - 1 hour - 86.8 MBIn this episode, my friend Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife (Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, active LDS) joins us to share details of her professional journey. She tells us more about her time at BYU and how she shifted from following cultural expectations to following her heart and talents, which led to her earning her Master’s Degree, followed by a Ph.D., and eventually, opening her own practice. She shares how her work has grown past her original hopes and expectations and talks about why she ...
Episode 593: Brian Paul, tells the story of his brother Boyd, who was gay and took his own life.
December 10, 2022 05:53 - 1 hour - 97.4 MBMy friend Brian Paul (married, father of 4, active LDS) joins us to share the story of his older brother Boyd dying by suicide at the age of 25 in 1989. It tells a powerful story of hope and the far-reaching promises of the atonement and the power to redeem. Brian, who is about 7 years younger than Boyd, talks about his love for his brother. Boyd changed a few years after returning home from his mission when he went down a difficult road trying to reconcile his sexual orientation. Feel...
Episode 592: Jeralee Renshaw and Peter Ryan, Waters of Mormon Facebook Group
December 07, 2022 04:18 - 1 hour - 90.3 MBMy friends Jeralee Renshaw and Peter Ryan (active Latter-day Saints) talk about a facebook group called Waters of Mormon for Latter-day Saints who need a safe place to process complicated church topics (history, current issues, or difficult experiences). Members of the group are working to stay engaged with the Church. Jeralee and Peter (two of the moderators of the group) talk about vetting criteria to be able to join the group (including being familiar with the Gospel Topic Essays), gr...
Episode 591: Tyler Johnson, Navigating Complicated Church Topics, Extended the Tent of Zion
December 04, 2022 03:00 - 1 hour - 96.4 MBMy friend Tyler Johnson (married father of 3, active LDS, Oncologist and Assistant Professor Stanford Medical School), joins us to talk about principles that can help build a long-term foundation to remain in the Church and process the complicated topics (history, prophetic infallibility, imperfect members, etc) Tyler shares his upbring where his father didn’t create a fairly-tale type narrative of our church history—but on honest discussion about the warts that are part of the beautiful re...
Episode 590: Lynn Patten, Author, Mental Health Journey
December 01, 2022 05:22 - 1 hour - 86.6 MBMy friend Lynn Patten (married mother of 4, active LDS, RM) shares her journey through depression that started when she was on her mission. Lynn talks about how Church became a difficult place for her, mainly because she could no longer feel the Spirit—but how she worked to continue to be an active Latter-day Saint by learning how to hear God’s voice again. Lynn shares how she connects with the Spirit in different ways and how she has found spiritual healing amidst her mental illness and wr...
Episode 589: Joni and Phil Broderick and Their Gay Son Kyle
November 27, 2022 04:06 - 1 hour - 145 MBMy friends Joni and Phil Broderick (parents of four) and their gay son Kyle (recent BYU graduate) join us from their home in Virginia to share their story. Kyle talks about his journey to address and resolve being gay and LDS which reached a crossroads on his mission in Africa where he decided to end his mission and return home. Kyle’s parents learned—in a jolting message—that their son was gay and coming home from his mission. Kyle talks about his experiences at BYU (some good and some...
Episode 588: Bryson Lind, RM, BYU Grad, Gay, Clinical Mental Health Counselor
November 24, 2022 02:00 - 1 hour - 104 MBMy friend Bryson Lind (early 30s, Active LDS, Single, Undergrad in Psychology, Masters in Mental Health Counseling) joins us to share his journey as a gay Latter-day Saint. Bryson talks about the growing up years, his mission, and returning to college. Bryson talks about feeing “monstrous and dark” inside because of his feelings towards men in spite of giving everything on his mission. He talks about coming out to a Bishop and BYU-I (not a good experience) and then being suicidal and th...
Episode 587: Al Carraway, Noted LDS Speaker and Author, Two New Books, More Jesus
November 21, 2022 06:06 - 53 minutes - 73.3 MBMy friend Al Carraway (who was on Episode 114, convert, married mother of 3) joins us to talk about her two new #1 Amazon Best Seller books called: My Dear Little One: https://www.amazon.com/My-Dear-Little-One-Carraway/dp/1462143636/ Finding Yourself in the New Testament: https://www.amazon.com/Yourself-Testament-Spiritually-Uplifting-Carraway/dp/146214361X Al shares her insights into our Heavenly Parents and Jesus and Their role in our lives to love, support, and help us. She talks...
Episode 586: Steven Kapp Perry, Gay Latter-day Saint, BYU Employee, Israel Tour Director
November 18, 2022 04:37 - 1 hour - 90.8 MBMy friend Steven Kapp Perry (host on Classical89.org and the “In Good Faith” podcast, married father of four, songwriter, and playwright) joins us to share his story as a gay Latter-day Saint. Steve shares being out for decades to his dear wife Johanne and then recently deciding to come out more broadly to family and close friends. Steve talks about how he has navigated painful church experiences, found his worth/stability in his relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus, and his love f...
Episode 585: Karl Beckstrand, Author, Bisexual Latter-day Saint
November 15, 2022 02:28 - 56 minutes - 78.2 MBMy friend Karl Beckstrand (single, active LDS writer in his mid-50s) shares his story about being exposed to gay sex at a young age and contending for years between God’s will and how he was relating with others. He learned that nothing takes God by surprise, that God can empower us to live our most fulfilling lives, and that everything can be consecrated to our joy—now and forever. Karl discovered that God won’t take our social needs away, but he can help us meet them in profound and lasting...
Episode 584: Suzanne Gardner Stott, Lifetime of Service to Marginalized Groups
November 12, 2022 05:59 - 1 hour - 91.1 MBMy friend Suzanne Stott (mother to ten adopted children, in her 70’s, active Latter-day Saints) shares her lifelong service to marginalized groups of people (homeless, incarcerated, refugees, queer, etc) as an active Latter-day Saint. Suzanne was the Grand Marshall of the Utah Pride Parade in 2022. Suzanne talks about following her heart to reach out to those walking a more difficult road and work to improve their lives. He also talks about her testimony of our restored gospel and her p...
Episode 583: Clare Dalton, Gay Latter-day Saint, Seminary Teacher
November 09, 2022 03:44 - 1 hour - 118 MBMy friend Clare Dalton joins us to bravely share her story. Clare grew up and lives in Arizona, served as a missionary in the Spain Barcelona Mission, earned a Linguistics degree from the University of Arizona, and now teaches high school seminary as a CES employee. Clare talks about her decision to come out in this public Facebook post in October of 2021: https://www.facebook.com/clare.dalton.71/posts/pfbid02QKAncqLVxmKc4fWAfiZkYc86pdzZMJoykaU2FZH94qkvNMBbKL1ej1SofXMgYoa6l Clare talks abou...
Episode 582: Nancy Smith, Mental Health Advisor and Church Service Missionary
November 06, 2022 05:20 - 1 hour - 93.2 MBMy friend Sister Nancy Smith, who is in her 7th year serving in the California Anaheim Mission, shares her story. Nancy (married mother of 4 children, 13 grandchildren, and 4 great-grand children) talks about her own mental health journey during her early years of marriage and her path to healing. Nancy talks about her work to help and support full-time missionaries in her mission with their emotional health. It is a wonderful insight into the vast network of seasoned Latter-day Saints wo...
Episode 581: Char Ahlstrom, LDS Mother of 6, Two Gay Sons
November 03, 2022 04:08 - 1 hour - 83 MBMy friend Char Ahlstrom (active LDS, Married Mother of 6, Grandmother of 6, Convert) shares her story of having three of her six children leave the church. Char and her husband Tom raised their six children teaching the gospel and serving in their Long Beach Ward and Stake—with hope their children would stay active members of the church and raise their children in the Church. But things turned out differently as Char shares having her 4th child (Kyle) come out as gay. Then her 6th c...
Episode 580: Richard Ostler Conversation with Those Wanting to Repent and Those Helping Them
October 30, 2022 03:00 - 55 minutes - 76.3 MBThis is a solo podcast for my friend wanting to repent and for parents/local leaders/friends looking to better help them. It is based on Chapter 5 called “Hope-Filled Repentance” from my book “Listen, Learn and Love: Improving Latter-day Saint Culture”. I hope and pray this podcast is helpful to you. All my love, Richard Links mentioned in the podcast: Richard Ostler Book: Deseret Book: https://deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-love and Amazon: amazon.com/dp/1462139566 Richard ...
Episode 579: Dr. Ryan Gottfredson, Why Members Leave and What We Can Do About It
October 28, 2022 02:30 - 1 hour - 116 MBMy friend Dr. Ryan Gottfredson (active LDS, married father of two, leadership and management professor at the College of Business and Economics at California State University-Fullerton) joins us to talk about his Leading Saints article called “The Root Cause for Why Members Leave the Church and What Leaders Can Do About It”. In this article Ryan shares facts about why people leave the Church and what ministering tools we can use to help people who want to find a way to stay be able to stay....
Episode 578: Crystal Bowman, Education Week Speaker on Shame Free Sex Education
October 25, 2022 04:43 - 1 hour - 102 MBMy friend Crystal Bowman (active LDS, Mother of six, Marriage and Family Therapist) joins us to share some thoughts on how to talk to our kids about sex from a shame-free approach. The podcast provides new perspectives and helpful tools to begin to talk about sex in an age-appropriate way to be intentional and normalize these conversations in our homes. Crystal teaches this is not a one-time conversation—but an ongoing dialogue with our children that continues as they age up into adulthoo...
Episode 577: Amberly Bean, Gay Latter-day Saint
October 22, 2022 06:16 - 1 hour - 90.6 MBMy friend Amberly June Bean (gay, active LDS, lo married mother of one; late 20’s) joins us to bravely share her story. Amberly, who grew up in Idaho Falls, talks about knowing she was gay and eventually coming out to her mother (good experience). She talks about the shame and suicidal ideation she felt during this time and not wanting to disappoint her Heavenly Parents by being gay. Amberly talks about the good experience of serving a mission (Nashville, Tennessee) which included comin...
Episode 576: Liz Kazandzhy, LDS Author “The Holy Ghost from A to Z”
October 20, 2022 08:01 - 58 minutes - 80.3 MBMy friend Liz Kazandzhy (married mother of 3, active LDS, podcaster) joins us to talk about her new book focused on helping us better unlock the power of the Holy Ghost to have more spiritual experiences, make better decisions, and feel more hope. Liz (taking each letter of the alphabet) shares how the Holy Ghost can help and guide us. She also shares some personal stories, including working through depression, anxiety, and self-doubt. If you are looking for better tools to unwrap the pow...
Episode 575: Cassidy Lundgren, Scrupulosity and Depression
October 16, 2022 03:04 - 1 hour - 82.8 MBMy friend Cassidy Lundgren (married mother of four, active LDS) joins us to talk about her three-decade journey dealing with OCD (especially scrupulosity subset) and depression. Cassidy starts with her high school and college years never feeling good enough and being sad all the time—and incorrectly believing that more religious commitment was the key to solve her challenges. Cassidy’s shares how this continued into her college and married years until she was diagnosed with scrupulosity w...
Episode 574: Nathan McLaughlin, Gay Latter-day Saint, Recent RM
October 13, 2022 15:36 - 1 hour - 89.4 MBMy friend Nathan McLaughlin joins us to share his story as a gay Latter-day Saint and recent returned missionary (returned home in August of 2022). Nathan starts the podcast with his years leading up to his mission, why he decided to stay in the church, organize a rally at BYU-I to support LGBTQ students, and then his decision to serve a mission. Nathan then talks about his mission which including coming out to individual people at times during his mission. Nathan then shares his spirit-...
Episode 573: Kory Koontz, Age 60, Life Lessons
October 10, 2022 02:08 - 55 minutes - 76.8 MBMy friend Kory Koontz (married father of 5) joins us to share his story in the hopes that his journey in life will help others. Kory bravely talks about figuring out his sexuality (he is bisexual), serving a mission, getting married and divorced, feeling suicidal, staying active in the Church, dealing with pornography, getting remarried, working through bipolar 2 and using God-given talents. Kory is very brave and vulnerable in sharing his story—which he is doing in hopes that is will help ...
Episode 572: Jaci Wightman; LDS Author: “Aren’t You Tired”
October 07, 2022 05:38 - 1 hour - 103 MBMy friend Jaci Wightman (married mother of 7, certified wellness coach) joins us to talk about her new book “Aren’t You Tired: Embracing the Lord’s Call to Enter His Rest”. Jaci write how this book focuses “on how worldly worries, juggling Church responsibilities, and managing societal expectations, many Latter-day Saints are tired. They are weary from constantly striving to work hard enough, be good enough, feel worthy enough. But it is important to remember that the Lord has promised us H...
Episode 571: Jeralee Renshaw and David Ostler
October 04, 2022 02:21 - 1 hour - 97.8 MBJeralee Renshaw and David Ostler join us to talk about a Facebook support group for LDS parents who have adult children not participating in the Church. Jeralee and David share their own experience with some of their children leaving the church, the need to community for parents walking this road, what they have learned from other parents, what is helpful, and their goals for their families. If you are an LDS parent with adult children not participating in the Church, this podcast will ...
Episode 570: Elder Shane Carpenter, Gay Missionary, Disciple of Christ.
October 01, 2022 02:37 - 1 hour - 131 MBMy friend, Elder Shane Carpenter, joins us as a full-time missionary from the California, Anaheim Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to share his story as an openly gay missionary. Elder Carpenter states he wanted to be "my authentic self so I could become something better,” and be in a better position to help people come unto Christ. His podcast episode, with approval from his Mission Leaders, was recorded in the final days of his successful mission. Elder Carpenter...
Episode 569: Anne Easton (LDS Mother); Malcolm (Gay Son).
September 28, 2022 05:22 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBMy friend Anne Easton (active LDS mother of four) and Malcolm Easton (age 29, web development, same-sex relationship) join us to share their story. The podcast starts with Anne’s talk in her Latter-day Saint congregation about her gay son Malcolm and what we can do to better support our LGBTQ family members. It is a powerful and needed talk. Anne also talks about all the subsequent needed conversations that resulted from her talk. It is a beautiful example of better creating Zion. Malcolm...
Episode 568: Aubrey and Tim Chaves: Upcoming Faith Matters Conference on Oct 7-8
September 25, 2022 00:00 - 27 minutes - 37.6 MBMy friends Aubrey and Tim Chaves join us to talk about “Restore: A Faith Matters Gathering” on October 7-8 in Salt Lake City. In this episode they talk about the purpose of the conference, who is speaking, who is performing, and who is invited to this groundbreaking inaugural event. For more information and to register, please go to https://faithmatters.regfox.com/restore Also, Faith Matters is offering a discount to Listen, Learn and Love listeners. Please enter LISTEN when regis...
Episode 567: Ben Delmoe, OCD
September 22, 2022 03:18 - 1 hour - 107 MBOur long-time family friend Ben Delmoe (married father of three, active LDS, age 31) joins us to share his story with OCD. Ben starts with how undiagnosed OCD ended his MTC experience causing him to return home. After 13 months, Ben returned and completed his mission pushing through OCD without full understanding of his mental illness. Ben shares several examples of how he coped with OCD—without having the tools (exposure response therapy)—to fully learn how to live with OCD. Ben, who...
Episode 566: Richard Ostler Conversation with Younger Unmarried LGBTQ Latter-Say Saints
September 19, 2022 02:48 - 1 hour - 98.7 MBThis is a solo podcast for my younger unmarried LGBTQ Latter-day Saints friends—including a segment for transgender Latter-day Saints. This recaps the general principles and advice I give to younger unmarried LGBTQ Latter-day Saints. I hope and pray this is helpful. Much love, Richard Links mentioned in the podcast: Facebook Group to Minster to LGBTQ Latter-day Saints: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1433556613672143 Elder Rasband quote on doctine: https://www.thechurchnews.com...
Episode 565: Suzette Halterman, Mixed-Faith Marriages
September 16, 2022 03:28 - 1 hour - 89.7 MBMy friend Suzette Ward Halterman (relationship and couples coach specializing in LDS mixed-faith marriages) joins us to talk about how to keep marriages and families strong and together when different perspectives and beliefs enter the relationship. Suzette shares how those differences can be a good thing as it deepens emotional connection to create a better relationship. If you are in relationships which started out with sameness, but now have differences—please listen to this podcas...
Episode 564: Shawn Moon, LDS Author, Leadership
September 14, 2022 02:48 - 1 hour - 89.1 MBMy friend Shawn Moon (noted writer, business leader and community member) joins us to talk about his new book called Learning Leadership From the Scriptures: 12 Practices for Building Leadership Effectiveness Based on Timeless and Eternal Principles. The book is available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Leadership-Scriptures-Effectiveness-Principles/dp/1462142931/ Shawn talks about how to apply principles of leadership in our personal life (chapters 5-8); in our family (cha...
Episode 563: Mark Morgan, Long-Term Recovery From Addiction
September 10, 2022 04:06 - 1 hour - 89 MBMy high school friend Mark “Mini” Morgan joins us to talk about his journey into and then out of addiction. Mark bravely shared his story in this June 8, 2022, Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/mark.morgan.5439/posts/pfbid02ToW5aoKvuKzohpyCMd2CJqhgd3jXWGGu11AmEGWFVJigTxmocEGLueZByd6FjjHil In this post Mark writes: “21 years ago, today my life was at rock bottom. Arrested for a second time with a whopping .62 cents to my name and homeless. Estrangement and despair come to mind. Di...
Episode 562: Jody England Hansen, Navigating Dissonance and Paradox
September 07, 2022 02:13 - 1 hour - 94.9 MBMy friend Jody England Hansen (married mother of three, active Latter-day Saint) shares her story growing up in family that valued critical thinking, activism, looking out for the most marginalized and moving forward with the complexities/beauties of being a Latter-day Saints. Jody also shares insights about her father, Eugene England, who was one of the most influential Latter-day Saints in our lifetime. Two biographies about Eugene England were published in 2021: Eugene England: A Mo...
Episode 561: Affirmation’s International Conference Church Leaders Sessions: October 8th
September 04, 2022 05:02 - 35 minutes - 49.1 MBMy friends Tyler Lefevor, Cynthia and Paul Winward join us to share about and invite listeners to the church leader sessions at Affirmation’s International Conference (attend in-person or virtual). If you register, you view and discuss the church leader sessions later as each session is recorded. Here are links mentioned in the podcast: Affirmation conference overview: https://affirmation.org/events/55412/ Affirmation signup (free for church leaders): https://affirmation.org/event-re...
Episode 560: David Cook, Latter-day Saint Democrat
September 01, 2022 03:35 - 1 hour - 98 MBMy friend David Cook joins us to share his journey as a life-long Democrat. David isn’t on the podcast to recruit for new Democrats, but rather to help create space in our congregations for different political perspectives to be welcomed and valued. David, who has been on this road his whole life, has the long view for younger liberal Latter-day Saints looking for voices and their needed perspectives. David shares his own journey (including a commitment to civil rights for over 35 yea...
Episode 559: David Butler, Co-Host of “Don’t Miss This” Podcast, LDS Speaker and Author
August 29, 2022 03:02 - 1 hour - 99 MBMy friend David Butler joins us to talk about the beautiful doctrine of our restored Church and how it applied to our lives. David also shares a gospel principles framework to manage the complexities of life’s questions. David also shares how our Heavenly Father will always be there to help and support us and the role of Jesus in our lives. If you are looking for a steady gospel voice to give you hope, perspective and more tools to make you way forward as a Latter-day Saint please liste...
Episode 558: Preston Jenkins, New Book “This Boy and His Mother”
August 26, 2022 03:03 - 1 hour - 101 MBMy friend Preston Jenkins (who was on Episode 237) joins us to talk about his new book, “This Boy and His Mother: Healing from Trauma as a Gay Latter-day Saint.” The book talks about how Preston found hope and healing through Christ after sexual and emotional abuse during his mission. The abuse resulted in PTSD and would be triggered by things related to The Church (such as reading scriptures). Preston talks about how he and his mother addressed, worked through, and solved this trauma with gu...
Episode 557: Noah Walker, OCD Subsets
August 23, 2022 02:40 - 1 hour - 93.4 MBMy friend Noah Walker (age 20, active LDS, college student) shares his story with OCD with a focus on some of the “taboo” subsets including harm OCD and pedophilic OCD. Noah talks about egosyntonic (line up with values) and egodystonic (don’t line up with values)—a critical difference in understanding these subsets. Noah also talks about this path to hope and healing—and how he pulled out of feeling suicidal. Noah also talks about Alma’s seed experiment and how this applies to his jo...