Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
783 episodes - English - Latest episode: 24 days 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 556: Dr. Matthew Wickman, BYU Professor, Wonderful New Book
August 20, 2022 02:17 - 1 hour - 102 MBMy friend Dr. Matthew Wickman (BYU Professor of English and Founding Director, Emeritus, of the BYU Humanities Center) joins us to talk about his new book called “Life to the Whole Being, The Spiritual Memoir of a Literature Professor”. The great book (published by the BYU Maxwell Institute) is available at: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Whole-Being-Spiritual-Literature/dp/0842500618/ In the podcast, Dr. Wickman tells us why he wrote the book, who is hopes will read it and how he hopes it...
Episode 555: Renee Davis, Convert, Returning to Being Active
August 17, 2022 05:11 - 56 minutes - 77.7 MBMy friend Renee Davis (married mother of two, CPA, lives in Knoxville TN) joins us to share her story. Renee starts with her remarkable conversation story into the Church about 30 years ago—with many people in her life against her decision. Renee also talks about her Patriarchal blessing helping her to better understand her future. Renee shares being kind and supportive to gay people in her life and their impact for good in society and in her life. At the end of the podcast, she shares...
Episode 554: Gene Grant, Life-Long Liberal Latter-day Saint
August 14, 2022 16:54 - 1 hour - 95.3 MBMy friend Gene Grant (late 60s, served two missions, married father of four, former Mayor, Attorney ) shares his sometimes-painful journey as a liberal Latter-day Saint. Gene has the long view of being on this road and has seen a lot of positive change and improvements. He has also had some very difficult experiences—including the threat (after his second mission) of having his temple privileges removed. If you are a liberal Latter-day Saint looking for tools, perspectives, and reasons...
Episode 553: Dr. Scott Baldwin, BYU Professor, Early-Release Missionary
August 11, 2022 08:08 - 1 hour - 137 MBMy friend Scott Baldwin (BYU Professor, Clinical Psychology, Married Father of 5) shares the experience of his mission in 1997 ending after 8 days. Scott talks about the shame and sadness he felt leaving the MTC and not completing a mission. Now 25 years from that experience, Scott shares insights, principles, and perspectives to help other early-release missionaries feel hope in the moment and for their future. Scott’s wife Autumn joins us to share why she married Scott and loves this ...
Episode 552: Deeanna Chappell Price, Gay High School Boyfriend Ryan, Died May 2022
August 08, 2022 02:57 - 1 hour - 110 MBMy friend Deeanna (divorced, mother of 4, active LDS) joins us to share growing up in a rural community in the 1990s with her dear best friend/boyfriend Ryan. It is a beautiful high school romance—but one that Ryan seemed to know wouldn’t work long-term and Deeanna came to understand and accept. Deeanna talks about Ryan’s support during High School and her mission—but how they started to separate when Ryan stepped away from the Church. Deeanna talks about learning Ryan was gay and how their ...
Episode 551: Justin Traasdahl, Gay, Age 34, Conversion/Reparative Therapy
August 05, 2022 04:01 - 1 hour - 94.4 MBMy friend Justin Traasdahl (Ukraine RM, BYU Grad) joins us to bravely share his story. Justin starts with opening up at age 13 to his parents about possibly being gay which led to a long and painful road with conversion therapy that lasted around 15 years. Justin’s hope in sharing his story helps “change hearts and trajectories”. Around age 29, Justin went to a new LDS therapist who told him “Justin, you know reparative therapy doesn’t work, right?” Justin shares questioning conversion t...
Episode 550: Kathryn Knight Sonntag, Author “The Mother Tree”
August 02, 2022 02:37 - 1 hour - 88 MBMy friend Kathryn Sonntag joins us to talk about her new book called “The Mother Tree: Discovering the Love and Wisdom of Our Divine Mother” (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XG49WH8/) published by our friends at https://faithmatters.org/. Kathryn (active LDS, mother of two, MLA in landscape architecture and environmental planning) shares her spiritual insights about “The Mother Tree” and the hope, perspective and meaning this brings into her life. I was deeply moved listening to an...
Episode 549: Heidi Bartle, Author “When Mommy Feels Sad”
July 30, 2022 14:56 - 1 hour - 103 MBMy friend Heidi Bartle (Active LDS, Mother of 5, BYU Grad) shares her story of waves of unexplained sadness which led to a diagnosis of depression and a further diagnosis in 2012 of bipolar. With the encouragement of a therapist, Heidi opened up to her children (ages 5 – 15 at the time) about her mental illness. That helped reduce the shame and sigma and normalized having a mental illness (just like having an allergy or asthma). That led to Heidi to write a groundbreaking children’s boo...
Episode 548: Joe Horton, Dear Wife Ann Died of MS After 43 Years of Marriage
July 27, 2022 02:03 - 58 minutes - 79.9 MBMy friend Joe Horton shares the story of falling in love in 1978 with his wife Ann concurrent with her MS diagnosis. Joe talks about healing blessings, advice to not marry someone with MS, and his personal revelation to marry Ann. It is a beautiful and deeply moving love story. Joe (who was President/CEO of Primary Children’s Hospital from 1994-2007 and currently is Professor in the MHA Program at the David Eccles School of Business) talks about the deep rewards and challenges of the...
Episode 547: Allison Dayton, Founder Lift and Love
July 24, 2022 02:30 - 1 hour - 97.5 MBMy friend Allison Dayton (Active LDS, Mother of Three Including a Gay Son) joins us to share her latest thoughts on the intersection of being LDS and LGBTQ. Allison has been on this road for 4 decades with her gay brother Preston (who died in 2017) and her gay son Jake (currently at BYU) and has a unique and needed perspective. Allison started Lift and Love (check out liftandlove.org and @liftandlove on IG) which is a support group for LDS parents with LGBTQ kids. It also helps give loca...
Episode 546: Evie Jimenez, Eating Disorder
July 21, 2022 06:21 - 1 hour - 109 MBMy friend Evie Jimenez (BYU Student, RM, Age 21) joins us to bravely talk about her eating disorder (anorexia nervosa). She discusses personal daily battles with the disorder since her diagnosis at age 11 and the difficulty of those years on a personal, family, and social level. Evie then talks about her road to hope and healing (family support, accepting her disorder, therapy, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ). She offers honest and vulnerable stories about the mental dialogue of her d...
Episode 545: Lauren Harrigian, New Covert, Transgender Latter-day Saint, Part 2
July 19, 2022 14:22 - 37 minutes - 52 MBMy friend Lauren Harrigian (who was on Episode 540) joins us to answer questions and give more insights following her original podcast episode. Thank you, Lauren, for being on the podcast and share more about your journey. You are awesome. ** Please Check Out My LGBTQ Book At: ** Deseret Book: www.deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-and-love-embracing-lgbtq-latter-day-saints Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1462135773 ** Want to develop church-supported LGBTQ activities in your local area? Please j...
Episode 544: Koji Aoki, Solving Pornography
July 16, 2022 17:09 - 1 hour - 112 MBMy friend Koji Aoki (Age 27, RM, Married, Grad School) joins us to talk about his 10+ year journey to understand and then solve his porn use. Koji (who is a long-time family friend) talks about how his porn use started, how it became a habit and then how he stopped using porn to serve a mission (Lima, Peru North). Yes, Koji got clean for his mission but lacked the tools to see and solve the root of his porn use. Koji talks about life after his mission and how porn came back into his lif...
Episode 543: Dr. Shawn Tucker, New Book Called “Humility: A Practical Approach”
July 13, 2022 05:39 - 1 hour - 103 MBMy friend Shawn Tucker (Humanities Professor Elon University, Married Father of 4, Active LDS) joins us to talk about his new book about humility. The book explores qualities like devotion to God, meekness, vulnerability, seeing your weakness, respect, modesty, friendship. The book gives practical insights into what it means to be humble in your relationship with God and with others. I learned so much listening to Shawn’s insights about humility. It helps me see some of my blind spots ...
Episode 542: Autumn White, Scrupulosity OCD, Active Latter-day Saint
July 10, 2022 06:26 - 1 hour - 107 MBMy friend Autumn Brooke White bravely shares her 20+ year journey with undiagnosed scrupulosity. Autumn (now in her late 30s) shares the intrusive thoughts about worthiness that have been part of her life since her teenage years. Autumn talks about how she best navigated walking this road alone—not feeling safe to open up to others or realizing this was not a spiritual weakness. Autumn then shares, about two years ago, opening up to others (friends, Bishop) which led to a therapist with...
Episode 541: Nicole Herway, Domestic Violence Survivor and Therapist
July 07, 2022 14:56 - 1 hour - 89.3 MBMy friend Nicole Herway (LCSW, Mother of Two, Divorced Survivor of Intimate Partner Abuse, Active LDS) bravely shares her own story to help others. She is not doing this to speak poorly of her former spouse, but to increase knowledge and awareness of abusive patterns and debunk myths. In the podcast Nicole debunks 8 myths using her own story, academic knowledge, and front-line clinical experience. If you feel you might be in an abusive relationship, please listen to this podcast. It...
Episode 540: Lauren Harrigian, New Convert, Transgender Latter-day Saint
July 04, 2022 07:23 - 52 minutes - 72.4 MBMy friend Lauren Harrigian (early 30s, living in AZ, Mental Health Therapist) share her journey to transition and then later connect with and join the Church. Lauren talks about why transitioning helped her be her ‘full-self’ leading to more happiness and peace. Lauren then talks about why she joined the Church to find more peace and feel God’s love. She also talks about the love and support she is receiving as a member of the Church in her Ward and Relief Society. This is a great podc...
Episode 539: Troy Gagon, Lost son Terik to Suicide, Solving Pornography
July 01, 2022 04:19 - 1 hour - 142 MB**Trigger Warning: Podcast talks about Suicide. If you are suicidal please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255** My friend Troy Gagon (age 52, Married Father of 7, Active LDS) bravely shares his long journey to understand and solve pornography—including the effectiveness of the ACT (Acceptance, Commitment, Therapy) approach. Troy also talks about his 17-year-old son Terik who died by suicide in Feb 2015 (you can read more about Terik at www.terikgagon.com). Tr...
Episode 538: Michael Finch, Age 27, Suicide Survivor, RM, BYU Student, Gay
June 28, 2022 05:19 - 1 hour - 123 MB**Trigger Warning: Podcast talks about Suicide. If you are suicidal please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255** My friend Michael Finch bravely shares his story. Michael talks about realizing at BYU that he is gay before his mission, resulting in feelings of “my life is over”. At that time, Michael ignored this realization, and he served a successful mission in New York City speaking Mandarin Chinese. Michael talks about returning home and trying to move...
Episode 537: Taylor Niebergall, Building Bridges Podcast
June 25, 2022 02:40 - 1 hour - 97 MBMy friend Taylor Niebergall (active LDS, Married Mother of Two) joins us to talk about her podcast focus on building bridges between those in the Church and those who have left the Church. Taylor talks about why she started the podcast, the purpose and her hopes to build more understanding between these two groups of people. You can check out Taylor’s podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-bridges/id1585596531. The article she wrote can be found here, http://the-...
Episode 536: Sadi Rogers, Same-Sex Marriage, Believes in Church
June 18, 2022 01:49 - 1 hour - 108 MBMy friend Sadi Rogers (age 32, EMT, mother of 3) shares her story as a gay Latter-day Saint. Sadi talks about growing up in Arizona, realizing she has romantic feelings for women, being honest with her Bishop and eventually marrying a man. Sadi talks about the goodness of that marriage (lasted 11 years) which eventually ended. Sadi then talks about her desire to be single and fully participate in the Church. That changed when Sadi met and then fell in love with her now wife Quinn Kelly...
Episode 535: Ashley Smith, LDS Mother of a Gay Son, LDS Living Article
June 15, 2022 01:50 - 1 hour - 107 MBMy friend Ashely Smith (Married Mother of Six, Active LDS, Mayor of Cañon City, Colorado) shares the story of raising and supporting their gay son Kyle. This podcast is based on the excellent article that Ashley wrote for LDS Living in June 2022 (https://www.ldsliving.com/what-can-you-say-when-a-family-member-comes-out-as-gay-7-ideas-from-a-latter-day-saint-mom/s/10712). This is a powerful podcast. I encourage everyone to read the LDS Living article and listen to the podcast and then...
Episode 534: Marie Ellis Cook, Narcissistic Abuse Survivor
June 12, 2022 02:47 - 1 hour - 104 MBMy friend Marie Cook (Active LDS, Age 28, Married Mother, Temple Square RM) bravely shares her story growing up in a home with a narcissistic mother. Marie discusses how she gradually realized her unhealthy upbringing and how these behaviors were becoming part of how she treated others. Following a painful breakup, Marie (with the help of friends) walked into BYU-Idaho counseling center to begin her road to healing and to break the cycle in her future family. It is a remarkable story of co...
Episode 533: Isabelle Wheeler, Nonbinary Latter-day Saint
June 09, 2022 03:36 - 1 hour - 105 MBMy friend Isabelle Wheeler (age 23, UVU student, RM) bravely shares their journey as a nonbinary Latter-day Saint. Isabelle talks about their early life, college, serving a mission (Fort Lauderdale, FL), and their experiences following their mission. If you are nonbinary or transgender, Isabelle’s insights and experience will help you. If you are a parent or local leader trying to better support nonbinary or transgender Latter-day Saints, Isabelle’s story will help you. Thank you, Is...
Episode 532: Teresa Myers, Age 24, Bisexual Latter-day Saint
June 06, 2022 04:02 - 1 hour - 109 MBMy friend Teresa Myers (BYU grad, RM, Recently Married, Active LDS) shares her story as a bisexual Latter-day Saint. Teresa starts with difficult years (including suicidal ideation) that has a component in her sexual orientation. Teresa talks about her decision come out to others, importance of therapy and her decision to share her story to help others. Teresa talks about exploring all possible roads and then feeling personal revelation that her path forward was to marry a man and full...
Episode 531: Taryn Hiatt, Suicide Prevention
May 31, 2022 02:30 - 1 hour - 86.7 MBMy friend Taryn Hiatt, Area Director Utah/Nevada American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, joins us to talk about suicide prevention. Taryn (who has been working in this space for over 20 years after her father Terry who died by suicide in 2002) talks about the various organizations available to those considering suicide, those working to prevent suicide, and support for suicide loss survivors. Taryn has great insights into the scope of these organizations and how they all work together...
Episode 530: Dr. Christian Judd - Coping with Loss from Suicide
May 28, 2022 03:00 - 1 hour - 84.8 MBMy friend Christian Judd shares the story of his brother Bryan who died by suicide in April of 2010. I became aware of Christian and his good work and message around this topic with these tweets: https://twitter.com/christianmjudd/status/1513174782723846145 https://twitter.com/christianmjudd/status/1513583004785917957 Dr. Judd, who is a board certified psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner, shares insights on how to help individuals navigate when someone close has died by su...
Episode 529: Craig Jones, Traumatic Brain Injury
May 25, 2022 04:00 - 44 minutes - 60.7 MBMy friend Craig Jones (active LDS, married to his wife Jodi for 36 years, age 58, parents of three) joins us via Zoom from Edmonton, Canada to talk about his life-changing traumatic brain injury that occurred about ten years ago. Craig talks about being in a coma, rehab and then working to heal and move forward. Craig is full of hope and a positive attitude—even with his life permanently changed. If your mortal life has been forever changed because of medical issue in your life or a lo...
Episode 528: Chandler Rogers, Shares His Journey Overcoming Pornography and New App Called Relay
May 22, 2022 16:36 - 1 hour - 95.8 MBMy friend Chandler Rogers (New York City RM, Married, Age 24, BYU Grad) bravely shares his journey with overcoming pornography. Chandler talks about how it came into his life about 10 years ago, opening us to his Bishop and his Mother, leaving on his mission but still having slip-ups and opening up to his mission president, finishing his successful mission, coming home and opening up to his future wife Jade, how they navigated that reality and getting married. Chandler talks about the new...
Episode 527: Jonathan Decker, Active LDS, Navigating Complicated Church Issues
May 19, 2022 06:31 - 1 hour - 105 MBMy friend Jonathan Decker (active LDS, married father of 5, licensed marriage and family therapist) joins us to share his testimony which includes how he handles complicated aspects of church history and challenging current issues. It is beautiful testimony that includes the realities of difficult issues in our Church. I became aware of Jonathan when I read this testimony that was shared broadly on social media and asked him to be on the podcast. Here is a link to that testimony: https...
Episode 526: Angela Hughey and Michael Soto (LDS Supported LGBTQ Legislation)
May 16, 2022 04:51 - 1 hour - 94.2 MBMy friends Angela Hughey (Co-founder and President, One Community of Arizona, gay) and Michael Soto (Chief Executive Officer of Equality Arizona, transgender man) join us to talk about the LDS supported LGBTQ legislation in Mesa, Arizona that was passed in 2021. Elder Neil L. Anderson, in his April 2022 Conference Talk titled Following Jesus: Being a Peacemaker, mentioned this effort (www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/04/15andersen). Thank you to the many Mes...
Episode 525: Benjamin Lee, Author
May 13, 2022 03:00 - 1 hour - 98 MBMy friend Ben Lee (Harvard Law Grad, Age 27) shares the story of feeling deep spiritual impressions to write a book during the rigors of law school to address his own journey to look inward to see pride and work to reduce pride to lift the burdens of others and find more long-term peace. Ben talks about the importance of Christ’s own example of humility and showing grace and love to everyone. This remarkable book is called Pride and Paradox: Exploring Christlike Humility and the Struggle ...
Episode 524: Devorah Stucki, Queer BYU Student
May 10, 2022 03:19 - 1 hour - 93.3 MBMy friend Devorah Stucki (graduates May 2022 in Bioinformatics at the age of 19) joins us to share her story. Devorah focus on two main parts of her story. The first part is becoming aware she is lesbian by the end of High School and the second part is her experience at BYU. Devorah talks honestly about the challenges of being queer at a BYU student. As we hear difficult experiences, it is a chance for us how we can improve things for queer Latter-day Saints in our circle of influence. ...
Episode 523: Dr. Cameron Staley, Solving Pornography through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
May 07, 2022 10:27 - 1 hour - 120 MBMy friend, Dr. Cameron Staley who is a clinical psychologist and was on Episode 345, joins us to share new insights and tools to understand and solve pornography use. Dr. Staley (active Latter-day Saint) discusses the four main reasons some struggle with pornography use and how ACT helps reduce/solve pornography viewing. If you are working to end pornography use or to help others, please listen to this podcast. I promise this podcast and ACT will help you. Thank you, Dr. Staley, for devel...
Episode 522: Sisters Andrea Neahusan and Amber Ayres, Survivors of Abuse
May 03, 2022 02:52 - 1 hour - 115 MBMy friends, Andrea Neahusan (married mother of 6) and Amber Ayres (married mother of 5) bravely share their story of sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse by their father throughout their childhood. Their father’s severe manipulation kept the sisters from talking about the abuse the whole time. It wasn’t until Andrea was 19 that she finally revealed their secret to her Bishop and police got involved. They talk about the residual effects of their depression, anger, and PTSD from the abuse. Aft...
Episode 521: Brent Ebmeyer and Sarrah Groves, North Star Conference Jun 9-11th
April 30, 2022 04:04 - 1 hour - 100 MBMy friends Brent Ebmeyer and Sarrah Groves join us to share some of their story including the role of the Savior in our lives. Brent and Sarrah (leaders at North Star) talk about the upcoming North Star conference—including its goals, who is invited and the role of North Star to help us come unto Christ. The theme of this year’s conference is "One in Christ" based on Galatians 3:28. I encourage everyone to attend. You can learn more about North Star and register for the upcoming conferenc...
Episode 520: Ciera Clayton, Age 26, Gay Latter-day Saint
April 27, 2022 02:00 - 51 minutes - 70.9 MBMy friend Ciera Clayton bravely shares her story. Ciera talks about her love of and testimony of the Church, coming out, and trying to navigate her sexuality. Ciera talks about dating women and getting married and having a son. Ciera talks about that marriage ending but being on good terms with her former wife. Ciera talks about trying to date men and why that doesn’t work for her and why she returned to the Church. Thank you, Ciera for being on the podcast and your courage to share...
Episode 519: Clark Barrow, Understanding and Overcoming Self-Harm
April 24, 2022 14:29 - 1 hour - 105 MBMy friend Clark Barrow (RM, Active LDS, Age 24, Married) bravely shares his journey with self-harm. Clark (who was on episode 398 with his siblings supporting their gay father Alec) talks about returning home from his mission to Utica, New York after 9 months with a knee injury. Clark talks about the anxiety of being home and how that experience led to significant anxiety and stress about when/if to return to his mission. That led Clark to finding a coping mechanism to numb the pain in s...
Episode 518: Susie White, Bravely Shares Her Journey with PMDD
April 21, 2022 02:58 - 1 hour - 105 MBMy friend Susie White (married mother of 4, early 50’s) shares her journey with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) and PME (Premenstrual Exacerbation) which is very different that Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Susie, by bravely sharing her story, helps us understand what this is; how it impacts mental health and can lead to suicidal ideation; how it is not a spiritual weakness; how it is diagnosed; and how to get help. Please check out www.IAPMD.org for more information. Susie m...
Episode 517: Brandon Galli, Gay Latter-day Saint, BYU-Hawaii Student
April 18, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 89.2 MBMy friend Brandon Galli joins us to share his remarkable story as a gay Latter-day Saint. Brandon, who grew up in Draper Utah and is 21 years-old, talks about acting on the impressions he has received that led him to come out, take a job with Disney in Florida, and then attend school at BYU-Hawaii. Brandon talks about his great parents and what they are doing to support him. Brandon talks about the positive experience he had a Disney and then at BYU-Hawaii including excellent experiences ...
Episode 516: Eli McCann, RM, BYU Law School Grad, Same-Sex Marriage
April 15, 2022 03:34 - 1 hour - 119 MBMy friend Eli McCann (age 37, Ukraine RM, Lawyer, Married Skylar in 2019) shares his journey. Eli starts with the pre-mission years, his Ukraine mission (good experience), and his journey following his mission where he was forced to finally face the reality of being gay and how that looks at a Latter-day Saint. Eli shares the terror and anxiety he felt during these years which led to Eli coming out in late 2013 (age 29) and concluding his best path forward is a committed same-sex marriage ...
Episode 515: Ryan Anderson, New Book “The Choice to Leave Abuse”
April 12, 2022 03:20 - 42 minutes - 58.8 MBMy friend Dr. Ryan Anderson (Ph.D., married father of 4, active LDS, was on episode 443) talking about his groundbreaking book “The Choice to Leave Abuse” which is available at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PGKFY59) and Deseret Book (later in April 2022). The book for local leaders, parents and individuals to recognize and then help others (or yourself) out of abusing relationships. It is based on gospel principles and teachings. I encourage everyone to read this book and conn...
Episode 514: David Ostler, Principles for Families to Remain Strong When One Leaves the Church
April 09, 2022 06:10 - 1 hour - 106 MBMy brother and friend David Ostler; Author of Bridges: Ministering to Those Who Question which is available at Deseret Book (https://deseretbook.com/p/bridges-ministering-to-those-who-question?variant_id=181882-paperback) and Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/158958726X); join us to talk about a new chapter in his book. This new chapter discusses how marriages can stay together—and even thrive—when one spouse chooses to step away from the Church. The gospel bases principals in this chapt...
Episode 514: David Ostler, Principals for Families to Remain Strong When One Leaves the Church
April 09, 2022 06:10 - 1 hour - 106 MBMy brother and friend David Ostler; Author of Bridges: Ministering to Those Who Question which is available at Deseret Book (https://deseretbook.com/p/bridges-ministering-to-those-who-question?variant_id=181882-paperback) and Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/158958726X); join us to talk about a new chapter in his book. This new chapter discusses how marriages can stay together—and even thrive—when one spouse chooses to step away from the Church. The gospel bases principals in this chapt...
Episode 513: Gay Latter-day Saint Women, Age 18, Anonymous
April 07, 2022 04:14 - 1 hour - 108 MBMy friend joins us via Zoom to share her story as a gay Latter-day Saint in this anonymous podcast. My friend shares her story to come out to herself, to others, to her parents on this deeply spiritual journey. She talks about the IG account she started @to_all_the_latterday_gays and the associated blog. My friend talks about how her relationship with her Heavenly Father helped her accept being gay and is key to removing shame and bringing peace. This is an excellent podcast from on...
Episode 512: Meghan Decker, New Book: Tender Leaves of Hope
April 03, 2022 02:27 - 1 hour - 115 MBMy friend Meghan Decker joins to talk about her new book (released on April 10, 2022) called “Tender Leaves of Hope. Finding Belonging as a LGBTQ Latter-day Saint Women.” The book is at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/1462143288/ (paper-back and kindle with audiobook coming soon). Meghan (my friend from High School) shared her story as a gay Latter-day Saint in Episode 473. Meghan and her husband David (who recently moved to Provo, Utah) are the parents of 5 daughters and 15 grandchi...
Episode 511: David Bingham, Gay, Left Church in 1980, Returned in 2016
March 30, 2022 01:57 - 1 hour - 93.7 MBMy friend David Bingham (Age 60, Gay Latter-day Saint, Creative Director) shares his remarkable story. David talks about why he left the Church in 1980, his life outside the Church, deeply spiritual experiences, and his journey to return to the Church including receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood and his Endowment. David talks about what he has learned, the wonderful people who love him and support him, his supportive Bishop and Ward, feeling he would be celibate but then dating a wonder...
Episode 510: David Shill, Queer BYU Student, LGBTQ+ Resource Advisor
March 26, 2022 05:19 - 1 hour - 107 MBMy friend David Shill (RM Italy, 3rd-Year BYU Student, AZ native) joins us to share his story as a queer Latter-day Saint and someone who is very involved in the intersection of being at BYU as a queer student. He is co-founder of Cougar Pride Center (IG / FB @cougarpridecenter), an LGBTQ+ resource center for BYU students, and will soon be stepping into the role of Resource Advisor, which he discusses in today’s episode. Please consider following Cougar Pride Center on social media and donati...
Episode 509: Clayton Rasmussen, Gay Latter-day Saint, BYU Student
March 22, 2022 03:29 - 1 hour - 131 MBMy friend Clayton Rasmussen (Age 21, New York City RM) talks about figuring out his sexual orientation during Junior High and High School and then serving a mission. Clayton talks about his successful mission (including effectively using social media during Covid). Clayton talks about coming out to this mother and father after serving 18 months and then his Mission President (very positive experiences). Clayton talks about what led him to come out and they joy/love he felt afterwards. ...
Episode 508: Adam Garrett, Age 29, Gay Latter-day Saint
March 18, 2022 02:28 - 1 hour - 88.5 MBMy friend Adam Garrett (RM, BYU Grad, Physician Assistant, Active LDS) shares his story as a gay Latter-day Saint. Adam came out publicly in June 2021 via this FB post: https://www.facebook.com/agarrett93/posts/10220746190700360 Adam talks about what he is learning, personal revelation he is receiving, scriptures and Church leader quotes that are helpful. Adam also shares great insights on the difference between shame and guilt and how to find hope and purpose. Adam talks about the pos...