Listen, Learn & Love Hosted By Richard Ostler

Warren Bittner joins us to share his experiences of living as a gay Latter-day Saint through more than 60 years. In 1976, as a teenager, he found himself in the office of the Presiding Bishop of the Church to get help for being gay, where he was put in contact with a list created by President Spencer W Kimball, which if followed would make him no longer gay. The list changed the direction of his life in surprising ways. Recently, Warren started Sons of Sacrifice. The Sons of Sacrifice training program is for men with same-sex attraction who want to keep their covenants with God, especially of a sexual nature, and remain active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (see: http://sonsofsacrifice.org) Warren shares one of the most honest and vulnerable stories ever shared on the podcast. One behalf of all of our listeners, thank you Warren for the courage to share your story. It helps all of know better know how to come together as the same human family. ** Please Check Out My New

My friend TJ Thomas (age 29, RM, Active LDS, BYU and USC Grad, Therapist) shares his journey as a bisexual Latter-day Saint. TJ shares the peace he has felt since accepting his sexual orientation and sharing this part of him with trusted friends and family. Further, TJ shares how his relationship with Heavenly Father and personal revelation has improved since coming out. You can connect with TJ on Instagram @tjcounseling. Thank you TJ for being on the podcast and your courage to share your story. Each story is unique and different and you are helping us to better understand the road bisexual Latter-day Saints walk. You are a great man with a wonderful life ahead of you! ** Please Check Out My New Book At: ** Deseret Book: www.deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-and-love-embracing-lgbtq-latter-day-saints Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1462135773

My friend Madison Scholes Belnap (active LDS, married mother of two, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor) shares her journey to relearn Intuitive Eating, reject diet culture expectations, and heal her relationship with food and her body. Her story is deeply transformative and inspiring. Madison’s insights will help you (and help others) have better tools for making peace with food. You can learn more about and connect with Madison at https://www.intuitiveeating.org/author/madisonbelnap/ Thank you for being on the podcast Madison. You are courageous, strong, brave, insightful—and your story will help so many.

My friend Jordan Jasmer joins us to share his story as a gay Latter-day Saint. Jordan shares coming out to his Mission President (positive experience) and his parents (positive experience). Jordan shares getting engaged to a woman (Jordan told her he was gay early in the relationship) and how that engagement eventually ended. They remain friends. That experience took Jordan into the most difficult emotional space of his life, filled with self-harm and thoughts of suicide, wondering how he was going find hope and stay an active Latter-day Saint. Jordan shares dating men and how that has brought him more peace and emotional stability. Jordan talks about his hope to marry a man (who also wants to attend the LDS Church). You can watch Jordan’s videos at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4wcZ4L0mpkrCiVkrgbbNcg. His goal with these videos are to help form bridges between the LGBTQ community and the LDS church, raise suicide awareness and to bring more perspective to those wanting to understand those who s

My friend Warren Osborn (married father of six and award-winning Utah entrepreneur) bravely shares his 4 year journey with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Warren, who has been open with his story on Facebook and Instagram, shares all he and his wife Tricia have done to treat this disease. It’s a remarkable story. Warren has shares insights on how to deal with the realities of a potentially fatal disease and advice for others who are on the same road. Thank you Warren for being on the podcast. You are a hero to me and so many. You are walking this road with courage, grace, determination and honestly. You continue to be an inspiration to many.

My friend Brian bravely shares his journey with pornography which started at age 11 and is now largely solved. Brian shares all he has learned in his journey and the role of Dr. Cameron Staley (Episode 345) and the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach as part of the Life After Pornography Program (check out their website https://www.lifeafterpornography.com/ or their Instagram/Facebook @thelifeafterseries) to finally be in a much better place. If you want to better understand why you use pornography and have more mindful and compassionate tools to resolve it, please listen to this podcast. Also, please listen if you want to help others. You can also check out my October 2020 Ensign article https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/10/young-adults/7-tips-for-overcoming-pornography-use Thank you Brian for bravely sharing your story. It takes the shame out of the equation and allows more to find hope and healing. You are one of my new heroes.

My friend Aly Grunander (active LDS, Married, Age 21) shares her journey starting her mission in New Zealand full of hope and determination and having those dreams crushed with serious emotional health challenges leading to her coming home. Aly, who had no history of emotional health challenges before her mission, talks about that dark time in her life and the shame around her mental health and coming home. Aly shares her road to healing and Heavenly Father carefully guiding her life. Aly is bravely sharing her story to bring hope to others. Aly is joined by her husband Keaton. Keaton shares why he feel in love with Aly and is glad he is married to her—and why Keaton sees these difficult chapters in Aly’s life in a positive way that has brought them closer together as a couple with unique tools to help others. Thank you Aly and Keaton for being on the podcast and your courage to talk about your journey. You are a great couple with a wonderful future!

My friend Bob Rees joins us to share principles and insights to bring our families and congregations together. Bob, who holds a PhD and is the Visiting Professor and Director of Mormon Studies at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley (see his Wikipedia page for more info https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Rees), was a Bishop in a Los Angeles singles ward from 1986-1992 and created a safe place for LGBTQ Latter-day Saints. Bob has been an LGBTQ ally for four decades with a “long-view” perspective that his helpful, hopeful, and insightful for other Latter-day Saints. Bob is co-author of the “Family Acceptance Project “(article #7 at https://www.listenlearnandlove.org/articles) an important document to keep Latter-day Saint families with LGBTQ children united, together and strong. Bob shares deeply moving stories of his work with his LGBTQ friends and asks this question when confronted with a situation “what is the most loving thing I can do”?. Bob also talks about Matthew 25 and the doctrine be

My friend Gretchen Seamons (active LDS, RM, married mother of 4 and one grandchild) is working on her PhD in Clinical Psychology and as part of her dissertation wants to interview early release missionaries who came home because of anxiety related issues. If are an early release missionary (under the age of 30) for anxiety related issues and want to explore being part of her needed research, please contact Gretchen at gseamons@saybrook.edu Thank you Gretchen for this important work and for your efforts to better understand/solve anxiety and help our missionaries. It was great to have you and your husband Brett on the podcast.

My friend Clark Morley (age 27, applying to grad school, high school teacher), shares his journey as a gay Latter-day Saint. Clark shares not accepting this part about him until he realized that he was not going to be able to marry a woman. This sent Clark, for the first time in his life, in to a world without hope and feelings of suicide. Clark talks about the need to find hope which led him to come out to his parents and family—who have been loving and supportive. Clark talks about his decision to date men and stay involved in the Church and his hopes for the future. If you are an LGBTQ Latter-day Saint or a parent/local leader wanting to better understand, please listen to Clark’s powerful story. I was deeply moved and I believe you will also be moved. Thanks for being on the podcast Clark. You are a great man with a wonderful life ahead of you! ** Please Check Out My New Book At: ** Deseret Book: www.deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-and-love-embracing-lgbtq-latter-day-saints Amaz

My friend Andy Miller (Uruguay RM, Westminster Graduate, Mid-Twenties, Works in the Airline Industry) shares his journey as a gay Latter-Day Saint. Some of you may remember Andy's story from the Mormon and Gay website released by the church a few years ago (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/topics/gay/videos/tonyas-story?lang=eng). Andy shares coming out to his parents Tonya and Dylan before his mission, his mission in Uruguay, dealing with his emotional health, and finding his way through life since. Andy shares his hopes to stay as active as possible in the Church and marry a man. Andy talks about the support of his parents and Stake President who are “walking with him” as he makes his way forward. Thank you for being on the podcast my friend Andy. You are a great man with a wonderful future. Thanks for the courage to share your story. Glad you have people in your life that love you, see you, and believe in you. ** Please Check Out My New Book At: ** Deseret Book: www.deseretbook.com/p/listen-le

My friend Tom Christofferson joins us to talk about his new book which invites readers to learn more deeply about the Lord’s supernal gift of charity and shows how understanding that gift can change our very discipleship. We also talk more generally about Tom’s experiences with his former partner, his family, the local church leaders who have influenced him, and his hopes for our young LGBTQ members and their parents. If you want to better follow Christ’s example and better live His teachings, I encourage you to read and share Tom’s excellent book which is available at: Deseret Book (https://deseretbook.com/p/a-better-heart) or Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Better-Heart-Impact-Christs-Pure-ebook/dp/B08MJ3HPZ6) Thank you Tom for being on the podcast and your life ministry to bring us together as the same human family. Richard 'Papa' Ostler https://listenlearnandlove.org/lds-authors https://listenlearnandlove.org/gay-lesbian-same-sex-podcasts

My friend Rosie Card joins us to talk about improving the experience for those attending the temple for the first time with her new online book called “House of Light: Your Guide to the Temple”. Rosie’s book “takes you by the hand” to understand the various stops starting at the recommend desk til leaving the temple. Rosie also, which is consistent with latest Church teachings, talks about understanding and preparing for the five covenants made during the temple and to more fulling engage in the spiritual aspects of the temple. I wish I had Rosie’s book while serving as a YSA Bishop and for my own children’s temple preparation. You can purchase the book (digital download only) at https://qnoor.com/collections/temple-goods/products/house-of-light-your-guide-to-the-temple Rosie also shares her feelings and insights into Heavenly Mother and Her role in her (and our) lives and why Rosie is a committed Latter-day Saint. You can find Rosie on Instagram @Q.Noor and @rosiecard Thanks for being on t

My friend Jocelyn Fowler (active LDS, married mother of three) joins us to share you journey with multiple mental health challenges. All this resulted a deep dark period of time about 2 years ago with feelings of hopelessness, suicidality and, because of emotional triggers, a decreased connection to her Church community. Jocelyn shares her journey to find hope and healing through an accurate diagnosis, better coping skills, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), a supportive husband, and developing better boundaries. If you are in a dark spot or want to help others in a dark spot, please listen to Jocelyn vulnerable and powerful story. Thank you for being on the podcast Jocelyn. You are awesome and your story is helping a lot of others!

My friend Serena Jamison shares her journey as a transgender women. Serena is in her early 40’s, a convert to the Church, married with four children. She talks about her long-term journey with gender dysphoria and finally accepting herself in November 2019 as transgender. Serena helps us better understand our transgender friends and how their experience is real, authentic and often difficult (but necessary) in their journey to self-acceptance. Serena's current project is to interview transgender people to hear their voices and she posts these interviews at https://vopserena.medium.com . She can be reached via social media at @SerenaNoelle_ on Twitter, lcbtradesolution@gmail.com by email, and https://www.facebook.com/serena.jamison.22/. Thank you Serena for being on the podcast. You are awesome. Our church and world is a better place because of you and your contributions. Richard "Papa" Ostler ** Please Check Out My New Book At: ** Deseret Book: www.deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-and-love-embr

My friend Wendi Jagerson, married mother of two and one grandson, bravely shares her journey with complicated life challenges that started after her successful mission in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. Wendi starts with her journey with Bipolar II Disorder which was diagnosed in 1994. Wendi talks about how it eventually became very difficult to leave her own home and how she wasn't able to enjoy church or social contact for several years. Wendi talks about her journey to find hope and healing. Wendi continues with her husband John opening up about his unbelief in 2012 (he is an atheist) and her two adult children also leaving the Church. Wendi talks about how she loves and admires John and how she is keeping the family circle strong and together, while leaving all this at the Savior’s feet. It is a remarkable love story including the birth of their grandson. Wendi also shares about her MS diagnosis in 2013. Wendi’s life is very different than she envisioned flying home from her mission in 1994. B

My friends Darcy and Zach Spafford, active LDS and parents of 8, join us to talk about Zach’s 25-year journey to solve porn. Darcy and Zach, who has been clean for 5+ years and serves in his Bishopric, share how they solved unwanted pornography use in their marriage and how they help others do the same. If you would like to learn more about them and their journey check them out at the resources below. The Self Mastery Podcast ttps://self-mastery-podcast.captivate.fm/listen Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zachspafford.selfmasterycoach/ Website https://www.zachspafford.com/ Free Roadmap download https://www.zachspafford.com/roadmap Thank you for being on the podcast and your great efforts to give hope and healing to others!

My friends Sam and Autumn Duke, married parents of 3, share growing up with families affected by addiction, mental illness, and suicide. Autumn’s father Klair died in 2003 from alcoholism and addiction. Sam’s mother Jeannie died of suicide in 2019 after 2 decades of severe depression. Sam and Autumn love their parents deeply. They discuss how the Gospel of Jesus Christ helps them to see their parents the way our Heavenly Parents see them. They share their thoughts on the divine worth of every person, and the love, compassion, and hope they have for their parents and families. They speak directly to suicide and the impact it has had on their lives. If you are suicidal please call the suicide prevention hotline 1-800-273-8255. If you prefer not to call you can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor. I became aware of Autumn with her wonderful post: https://www.facebook.com/autumn.nielson/posts/10157673692127314. You can also follow her on Instagram where she shares similar thoughts:

My friends Nate and Elena share their powerful conversation stories, finding each other at BYU after serving missions, and building a wonderful family together over the next two decades. Nate and Elena share the complexity of having their two oldest children step away from the Church—including their transgender son Glen who they love and support. Nate and Elena, like other LDS parents of LGBTQ children, are in a middle of a faith-crisis trying to figure out how their children fit into the Church that they love and support. Nate and Elena are honest, vulnerable, and faithful as they process these complex issues. Their story is still unfolding (like many stories)—but their insights and work to keep the family circle together is inspiring. I hope and pray our Church is able to receive further light and understanding so that more of our LGBTQ members (and their families) feel a greater sense of belonging—increasing the chance they will feel their path is to stay in our Church and partake of its unique and

My friend Audrey Chugg (RM, BYU Grad in Public Health)joins us to talk about identifying and then solving her eating disorder. If you have an eating disorder and want to find hope and tools for recovery, please listen to Audrey's story. If you want to develop a family culture with positive messages about food and body image, please listen to Audrey’s insights. And if you want to help others walking this road, please listen. Thank you for being on the podcast Audrey! You are brave and courageous. Your story will help so many!