Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler

My friends Mark and Emily share their family story raising 5 sons including their 16 year old son Samuel who is gay. They share the story of Samuel coming out as gay, the difficult road he is on (including being bullied), and personal revelation regarding their wonderful son Samuel. Emily talks about the community she found at ‘I’ll Walk With You (LDS parent group with LGBTQ children https://www.facebook.com/groups/WalkWithYouLDSParentsOfLGBTQ/) and Mark shares the talk he gave in Church in early 2019 about the doctrine of Christ and how it is applied to our LGBTQ family members (his talk is at https://www.facebook.com/emily.e.nelson.92/posts/10219436843341822) Thank you Mark and Emily for sharing your story. It will help so many parents of LGBTQ family members know how to navigate this road using the doctrine of family and of Christ. You are all awesome.

Bryan (age 33, married with 3 kids) and Lawrence (age 60, father of 4 kids) share their family story with Lawrence coming out as gay in his 30’s, their marriage ending, Lawrence leaving the church and maintaining ties with his children. Bryan (age 10 when his father came out) talks about how their relationship has evolved over the past 20+ years and how they are close. Bryan (with a Masters in Film) produced a short film talking about their father and son relationship (see https://www.longhaulfilm.com/). It’s a wonderful story of keeping the family circle together.

My friend Ed shares a beautiful and unique story of courageously joining the church in Rhode Island after exploring multiple religions in 2008, serving mission in California in 2009 to 2011, attending Southern Virginia University, resigned from the Church in 2016, finding a wonderful partner (still together after 4 years), attending grad school at Emerson College, and now starting to attend his local LDS congregation because of his deep belief in the Church. It’s a unique story of Ed’s person revelation of his belief in both the Church and his relationship with his partner. Thank you Ed for sharing your story. It doesn’t fit into a nice-tidy box. But I love how you are doing the best you can to stay close and be guided by God. Honored to have you share your story!

My friend Zach Bloxham shares his journey coming home from a successful mission and then dealing with significant curveballs (divorce, not being accepted into Utah law schools, moving out of state to attend law school and being separated from his daughter). Zach later returned to Utah, remarried a wonderful woman and has another child, passed the bar and remains an active Latter-day Saint. Zach has great emotional and spiritual maturity wrestling with complex life events that is helpful or others navigating complex situations. He also has no shame for these difficult life events. I encourage everyone to follow Zach on Twitter (@zblox ) where he strikes a wonderful balance of standing for the teachings of our Restored Church and creating more understanding for those who are struggling to stay or have stepped away. I believe it is members like Zach that are helping more of our members find their spiritual home in our Church and reduce tensions both within the Church and with those who leave. Thanks Zach for sharing your journey. Respect. Appreciate your courage to be honest and vulnerable. I encourage everyone to listen to Zach’s podcast.

My friend Dennis shares his life story including life as a gay man (including appearances of Larry King Live and Sally Jessy Raphel), joining the Church in 2017, and now serving as the Ward Mission Leader and helping missionaries church wide on LGBTQ issues. Dennis’ book ‘Is He Nuts, Why a Gay Man Would Become a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ’ is being released by church book publisher Cedar Fort in August 2019. I encourage everyone to read his book (for more information go to www.DennisSchleicher.net). Thank you Dennis for sharing your story. You are one of the most courageous persons I know. Thanks for blessing 1000s

My friend Bryan Young shares his journey losing a daughter to brain cancer after medical outcomes and priesthood blessings indicating she would survive. It is a faith promoting journey to wrestle with complicated circumstances to understand God’s plan and using the Temple and prayer to understand. Bryan is a frequent fireside speaker and author of ‘Meant for Heaven, A Little Girl’s Journey to Paradise https://deseretbook.com/p/meant-for-heaven-a-little-girls-journey-to-paradise?variant_id=150506-paperback Bryan’s story is very helpful when the hoped for outcome doesn’t occur which is part of our journey in mortality. Bryan also shares helpful insights about our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. Thank you, Bryan for being on the podcast. You story brought many tears to my eyes and increased understanding of the importance of coming unto Christ.

Lance and Tiffany Sweeten share their journey having their oldest child come out as transgender at age 16, navigating this road (new name, pronouns, seeing her leave the church and find a husband who they love as part of the family). Gwen talks about her gender dysphoria, difficult years and how much better she is emotionally now that she has come out and living her ‘truth’. Lance and Tiffany share how church attendance increasingly become difficult and how they ‘had one step out the door’ until a critical conversation with their Bishop where he ‘just listened’. That was followed up with another meeting with their Bishop and Stake President where they ‘just listened’. The Stake President felt inspiration to have the Sweeten help the Stake with better tools to minister to its LGBTQ members. Lance and Tiffany were asked to share their experience and testimony in the Stake Bishops Training. They were also asked to do the same in the Stake Leadership training for High Counselors and Auxiliary Presidents. Lance & Tiffany were asked by their Bishop to lead and conduct the September 2018 5th Sunday lesson of Loving and Accepting God’s LGBTQ children (which included several other guest speakers including their Bishop and Stake President). It was an amazing 2-hour experience. Finally, Lance & Tiffany were also asked to speak in the Adult session of Stake Conference and share their experiences. Thanks to their loving Bishop and Stake President who “just listened”, they are no longer ‘one step out the door’ and stay fully committed members. Lance & Tiffany continue to work with their Bishop & Stake President with finding ways to help LGBTQ members and families in their Ward and Stake.

My friend Craig Newsome shares a remarkable story growing up in New Zealand, gay, being part of several different religions, leaving all religion, dealing with drugs, alcohol, porn and sex partly as a way to escape and deal with all the pain, and then finding his way into our Restored Church. It is a remarkable story of God’s love for all his children and the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its ability to heal and give hope. Craig is joined by Elder Alan Thacker who, along with his wife, served as senior missionaries and came to know and love Craig (who is out as gay to everyone in his Ward and Stake as is a needed and valued member). Thank you for sharing your story Craig. It gives all of us more hope and better understanding. You are a great man.

Mikel tells the story of waking up one night and discovered his 16 year old son watching gay porn. If you are a parent, what would you do in that moment? If you were Joe, how would you feel knowing your Dad just found out this about you? Well, it is beautiful parental moment as Mikel and Wendy handled this situation with love which led to more family unity and understanding. Mikel and Joe share that experience as well as their family journey to come to terms with Joe being gay. Joe later come out to his entire early morning seminary class, served a mission and remains an active Latter-day Saint. Joe shares his journey as a gay Latter-day Saint, his strong relationship with Heavenly Father, feels no shame for being gay, and his hopes for the future. Joe is one of the most spiritually mature and gifted men I have met. I often feel that the LGBTQ people I meet are some of Heavenly Father’s most valiant pre-mortal spirits and Joe is one of those spirits. Please listen to the podcast to learn gain wonderful parental insights and how a family grew and became closer by having a gay son.

My friend Tiffany shares the story of growing up in a home with a mother with mental illness (Dissociative identity disorder), bravely sharing this with her Mission President and his inspired response, writing a book called ‘Mother Had a Secret (https://deseretbook.com/p/mother-had-secret-tiffany-fletcher-75034?variant_id=24241-ebook) and now working on a shortfilm to bring more understanding to this topic (you can donate to the shortfilm at @SaltDance via Venmo). Tiffany, a frequent speaker on the Ward/Stake level and Women’s Conferences, has wonderful insights into the Atonement of Jesus Christ to heal and bring hope. Thank you for sharing some of your journey. You are awesome and your voice is helping so many.

My friend Tiffany shares the story of growing up in a home with a mother with mental illness (Dissociative identity disorder), bravely sharing this with her Mission President and his inspired response, writing a book called ‘Mother Had a Secret (https://deseretbook.com/p/mother-had-secret-tiffany-fletcher-75034?variant_id=24241-ebook) and now working on a shortfilm to bring more understanding to this topic (you can donate to the shortfilm at @SaltDance via Venmo). Tiffany, a frequent speaker on the Ward/Stake level and Women’s Conferences, has wonderful insights into the Atonement of Jesus Christ to heal and bring hope. Thank you for sharing some of your journey. You are awesome and your voice is helping so many.

I attended a LDS Family Service leadership training meeting about ministering to our LGBTQ members where Ben Schilaty was the speaker. I wish everyone in the Church could have attended this meeting. Ben joins us on the podcast (not in an official Church capacity) to share what he taught at this meeting and to answer the questions that were asked. I encourage all my LDS friends to listen to the podcast and encourage you to share it with your local leaders. You are a great man Ben. Thanks for your helpful insights for all of us to become better disciples of Christ.

My friend Williamson Sintyl shares his story of being trapped and freed in the Haiti earthquake, becoming a Latter-day Saint, serving a mission, getting married (Sharla and Williamson are expecting their second son), and dedicating his life to bringing hope and vision to the people of Haiti. To accomplish this, Williamson started Arise, Project for Humanity (see https://www.ariseprojectforhumanity.com). Thank you for sharing your story, Williamson. You are a man of great courage and vision. It is someone like you that gives me hope for the future. You are making a huge difference for good in the lives of many and are a wonderful disciple of Christ.

My friend Jane Clayson Johnson shares her journey with clinical depression following a successful career as an American journalist at KSL-TV, ABC News, CBS News and now on the nationally syndicated NPR program On Point. Hers is a remarkable and brave story and is part of her new book published by Deseret Book called ‘Silent Souls Weeping’ (https://deseretbook.com/p/silent-souls-weeping-depression-sharing-stories-finding-hope?variant_id=168585-hardcover). Jane shares the story behind writing the book and her goals to bring voice to others on this road, eliminate stigma around mental illness, overcome toxic perfectionism and bring hope to those who are suicidal. Jane offers guidance for families and local church congregations about how to talk about this mental illness so we can better help others. I encourage everyone to listen to Jane’s story and insights and to read her book, Silent Souls Weeping so that we can better ‘mourn, bear and comfort’ our dear friends dealing with depression. Thank you Jane for sharing your journey and bringing voice to this important topic and hope to those living with depression. You are awesome!

My friend Kayden Carlos bravely shares his story of using/dealing drugs from age 12-18, feelings God’s hand and mercy in his life, finally ending this road because of a desire to serve a mission which happened with his call in 2014 to Baltimore, MD. Kayden shares about the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to save us and heal us. He bears testimony of a loving and merciful Heavenly Father. Kayden is joined by his wife Alexis who talks about why she married someone with such a difficult past and blessings, gifts and perspectives that are part of Kayden’s life that blesses their marriage and future family. I first became aware of Kayden with this story from November 2016. Look at the joy in Kayden’s mom Julie with the return of her son. Thank you Kayden for sharing your story. You bring healing, hope and perspective to our listeners. You and Alexis have great lives ahead of you! https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668341/Meet-a-former-heroin-addict-dealer-who-is-now-a-returned-LDS-missionary.html