Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
Summary: Welcome to our podcast! My name is Richard Ostler (twitter: twitter.com/Papa_Ostler; FB: facebook.com/richard.ostler.5; IG: instagram.com/papa_ostler/) and am a native of Salt Lake City. I am the author of "Listen Learn and Love: Embracing LGBTQ Latter-day Saints at Amazon (amazon.com/dp/1462135773) and Deseret Book (deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-and-love-embracing-lgbtq-latter-day-saints) I am the author of two recent Ensign articles on ‘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 and ‘7 Tips for Overcoming Pornography Use’ (October, page 72) www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/10/young-adults/7-tips-for-overcoming-pornography-use I have degrees from the University of Utah and Brigham Young University (business). I married my best friend and eternal companion Sheila Juergens of Houston, Texas in 1990 and we are the parents of six children and several grandchildren and live near Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake City. 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. The name ‘Papa Ostler’ resulting from being introduced to Twitter by my High School age son Matt in 2010. I wanted the high school age youth to know I wasn’t their age as I interacted with them … hence the name Papa Ostler. I served as a YSA Bishop in the West Valley City/Magna area of Salt Lake (released in 2016) and met some of the finest people I will ever know. In addition to meeting with wonderful active members of my Ward, I reached out and connected via social media (mostly via the private messaging features of FB and Twitter) with many of our inactive members and their non-member friends. Over time, many felt comfortable meeting with me and sharing their stories. Through hundreds of interviews and ‘listening to understand’, I was able to ‘see’ the church from the eyes of those on the outside. Many feel the church is their ‘spiritual home’ but feel uncomfortable attending for a variety of reasons such as work-in-progress testimonies, concerns about church history, feeling unworthy because of past or current sin, don't fit the cultural mold, role of women, are LGBTQ and/or feel God's LGBTQ childen should be more welcomed in our congregations, etc. This podcast is designed to 'Have a Conversation' about some of the more complicated issues in our church to help all of us 'listen, learn and love' so we can minister in a more effective way to all of Heavenly Father’s children. Most podcasts will be from our LDS LGBTQ friends to give them voice so we can better understand their road, touch their cross, learn from them, and minister to them as directed by President M. Russell Ballard when he said "We need to listen to and understand what our LGBT brothers and sisters are feeling and experiencing. Certainly, we must do better than we have done in the past so that all members feel they have a spiritual home where their brothers and sisters love them and where they have a place to worship and serve the Lord(Nov 2017 BYU Devotional)." Some podcasts will be from LGBTQ allies sharing their experiences and how to be helpful. Other podcasts will be from guests talking about other complicated topics such as mental health, returning from a mission early, overcoming sin, and faith challenges. Are podcast 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. With love, Richard 'Papa' Ostler ❤ richard@ostlergroup.com *I will respond to your e-mails*
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Podcasts:
My friend Eric Kirby shares his journey to love, understand and support God’s LGBTQ children and how that is part of his Mormon beliefs. I became aware of Eric when I saw this Tweet on June 3, 2018 at the beginning of Pride Month https://twitter.com/ericmkirby/status/1003458251059417089. Eric helps us understand how active Mormons can show love, support and respect for God’s LGBTQ children. Please listen as Eric shares his journey.
Lisa Hansen, PhD, LMFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and clinical director of Flourish Counseling Services, PLLC (with an office at Encircle). She has conducted approximately 4,000 LGBTQ therapy sessions. Lisa shares her insights and expertise on our transgender friends to help families, local leaders and our trans friends navigate this road. Thank you, Lisa! You are awesome!
My friend Taylor Christensen (active Mormon, RM, age 24) shares how he maintained his testimony in our Restored Church knowing all the complicated and messy topics in our history. I believe it is members like Taylor that are part of the future. Instead of avoiding these topics, Taylor has learned about and wrestled with these difficult topics. He maintains a strong testimony and can now ‘go there’ with others giving them vision and tools to stay. Taylor also has great empathy and understanding for those who step away. Thank you Taylor for sharing your story.
My friend Dexter Beach (from my home Stake) shared his journey as an early release missionary and shares how best to support these great members. Dexter talks about what questions to ask and what questions are less helpful. Dexter is one of the finest men I know and has a great life ahead of him. This podcast is based on his June 20, 2018 Facebook post that deeply touched me https://www.facebook.com/DexterTheStudBeach/posts/2478839285474915
Our family friend Allison Dayton, active married Mormon and mother of three, talks about her gay brother Preston coming out in the 1970’s and how their family loved and supported him. Allison shares the beautify and pain of Preston’s life (who died in May 2017) and wondering insights into Heavenly Father’s love for all of his children
My friend Gail, calling in from the Netherlands, shares valuable insights into how to help others dealing with suicide following decades of clinical visits and the suicide of her dear husband Jon after a life-time of mental illness.
Our close friends Doyle, Kathy and Chelsi Jenkins’ son and brother Riley died by suicide in 2010 at the age of 19. They share faith promoting lessons and insights about God’s love for all of us as they bravely share their family journey which helps all us of better minister and understand. Sheila and I served with Doyle and Kathy in our YSA assignment and Chesli was a member of the Ward. We love and admire the Jenkins family ... one of the finest families we know .... and all they have taught us about love, family and Christlike service.
Active Mormon Millennial, Author, Temple Dress Store Founder, and former Model, Rosemary Card shares her Christlike insights and life experiences to help others. People like Rosie Card are the future of our Church and the World.
Honored to have my friend Jana Riess, noted author and Mormon convert, discuss her research findings on why some of our men, women and our millennials are leaving the church. It is part of her forthcoming book ‘The Next Mormons being released in March 2019 from Oxford University Press. To minister to those that might step away or have stepped away, we need to understand the reasons. Jana provides the research and helpful insight to reach, understand and minister. Thank you Jana for your important work.
Podcast focusing on helping the boys/men in our church develop self-worth and being ‘worthy’ by developing Christlike attributes, honoring their covenants, and being good husbands and fathers. Instead of their self-worth and feelings of being ‘worthy’ defined by their church leadership callings.
Laura Root, in her 40’s, bravely shares her journey as a single gay Mormon woman which eventually led her into a same-sex marriage. She continues to attend her Idaho Ward where she has attended for 16 years and where she once served as the Relief Society President. Laura is no longer able to participate fully in Mormonism. While Laura is living outside of the doctrine of our church she is not living outside of the circle of humanity to extend our love and kindness. Thank you Laura for sharing your story to help us understand how to minister, support and honor our LDS LGBTQ members living outside the doctrine of our church.
Ganel-Lyn Condie noted LDS speaker and author, who just released her 6th book called ‘You are More Than Enough, You Are MAGNIFICIENT”, shares valuable insights to see ourselves as beloved children of Heavenly Parents. She also talks about suicide, being kind to LGBTQ people, how to navigate faith changes within our families, and making our church more inclusive and accepting. Thank you Ganel-Lyn for all you are doing to bless others and help us come unto Christ.
Lisa Hansen, PhD, LMFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and clinical director of Flourish Counseling Services, PLLC (with an office at Encircle). She has conducted approximately 4,000 LGBTQ therapy sessions. Lisa shares her insights and expertise to help families, local leaders and LGBTQ people navigate this road. Thank you, Lisa! You are awesome!
Alyson and George talk about their dear gay son Stockton who died in June 2016 at the age of 17. In bravely continuing to share their story, they teach all of us (parents, local leaders, community) how to better minister to and support our beautiful LGBTQ brothers and sisters (and really everyone). I deeply love and admire Alyson and George. They are two of the strongest and more Christlike people I know and are blessing hundreds. Want to be a better disciple of Christ and better minister? Please listen ❤️ #standingforstockton ❤️ #ichooselove ❤️
Peter is a gay Mormon and Blair is a bisexual Mormon. At April 2018 General Conference, they held signs ‘hug a gay Mormon’ and ‘hug a bisexual Mormon’. Peter and Blair share their story for our listeners so we can better understand and support our LGBTQ members. Thank you, Peter and Blair. You two are awesome!
