Episode 106: Lance & Tiffany Sweeten (active LDS), Gwen Sweeten (23-year-old transgender daughter).




Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler show

Summary: 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.