My friend John Gustav-Wrathall introduces us to Affirmation, a support organization of our LDS LGBTQ friends.   I’m personally supportive of Affirmation and its mission to help our LDS LGBTQ friends.   You can learn more about affirmation at https://affirmation.org/.   You can also listen to John’s personal journey as a gay Latter-day Saint in Episode 49.

Episode 71: John Gustav-Wrathall, Executive Director Affirmation

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-embracing-lgbtq-latter-day-saints 

Amazon:  www.amazon.com/dp/1462135773

Episode 378: Serena Jamison, Transgender Latter-day Saint

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!

Episode 379: Jocelyn Fowler, OCD, Depression, Anxiety and PTSD

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 the podcast Rosie.  You are awesome and have a beautiful and unique life mission.  Keep being you!

Episode 380: Rosie Card, Founder/CEO of Q.NOOR, New Temple Prep Book called “House of Light”

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

Episode 381: Tom Christofferson, Author “A Better Heart: The Impact of Christ's Pure Love”

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-learn-and-love-embracing-lgbtq-latter-day-saints 

Amazon:  www.amazon.com/dp/1462135773

Episode 382: Andy Miller, Gay Latter-Day Saint, RM, Active LDS

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 

Amazon:  www.amazon.com/dp/1462135773

Episode 383:   Clark Morley, RM, Gay Latter-day Saint, BYU Grad

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.

Episode 384:   Gretchen Seamons, PhD candidate, Wants to Interview Early Release Missionaries

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 behind this chapter to reach out and love everyone.
 
I encourage everyone to listen to Bob’s podcast—you will be moved and have more principals to help and support others—and better love like our Savior.
 
Thank you Bob for being on the podcast and your six decades of service to bring others to Christ, feel His love, and bring us together as the same human family.

** 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

Episode 385:   Dr. Bob Rees, Educator, Writer, Disciple, LGBTQ Ally

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!

Episode 386:  Aly Grunander, Early Release Missionary, Emotional Health Challenges

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.

Episode 387: Brian Johnson, RM, Active LDS, Age 23, Solving Porn

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*

Episode 71: John Gustav-Wrathall, Executive Director Affirmation

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