A Light In the Darkness

This is a special Father's Day Episode!  Viet Le shares the story of his dad, who was born and raised in Vietnam.  He talks about what life was like for him there, how he joined the military, and married his mom.  Viet tells Carly about his large family living in a war torn country, and how his dad got his family to safety in the US.  They later found a "host family" in Utah and settled here, where Viet was eventually born.  He talks about what life was like for refugees at that time, and the good and challenging parts of family life.  He also shares his personal conversion story, how he met his wife, and all about his own experiences in fatherhood.

June is PRIDE month for members of the LGBTQ+ community.  Many people choose to celebrate it differently, but the bottom line is that it is important to let people who may be struggling with their identity or orientation know that they are not alone, and to help others know the best way to show love and support to them.  Ben Schilaty has been helping in that space as a gay member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals. Ben talks with Carly about his experiences realizing he was attracted to men as a youth, serving a mission and hoping that it would eventually go away, and ultimately coming out to his friends as a BYU student.  Ben gives us a glimpse into what many of our family and ward members are facing in their lives, and offers a lot of advice about how we can best show them they are loved.

In 2015 Ben began blogging about his experiences as a gay Latter-day Saint. You can read it here.

He cohosts the podcast "Questions from the Closet" with his friend Charlie Bird. It is a GREAT way to learn more about LGBTQ+ individuals.  You can find it here.

Ben wrote a book that answers many of the questions people have about LGBTQ+ issues.  You can find it here.

And finally, one of the BEST ways you can learn more is at the "Gather Conference." It is "Christ-Centered support for Latter Day Saint LGBTQ+ individuals and those that love them."  You can find more info about that here.

This week Carly talks with Noelle McBride about growing up in the Pacific Northwest, getting married at age 20 and later divorced after 17 years together, how she decided to "serve a mission" as a single mom while working 2 jobs and raising 3 boys, how she has learned to set boundaries and found forgiveness, and more!  Noelle also talks about her book entitled "Beauty For Ashes: Divorce and the Latter Day Saint Woman," and Carly shares how much it helped her through her own divorce journey. Noelle is currently remarried and a mother to 6 in her blended family, and they still reside in the PNW.

Divorce is becoming more and more prevalent in the LDS community.  If you haven't experienced it yourself, you definitely know someone who has. This episode will provide strength and hope for those who have been through the divorce process, as well as provide information for those who would like to understand and minister better to those they care for. 

You can buy Noelle's book on Amazon here.

You can access Noelle's Facebook for divorced LDS women here.

You can find other gospel centered resources for those contemplating or who have faced divorce below:

Church of Jesus Christ topic: Divorce

LDS Living articles on divorce

A Leading Saints podcast episode on how leaders and church members can better support their divorced family and friends

Other Leading Saints Podcast episodes about divorce

LDS Divorce Coach Jenn Zingmark

Tanya Hale Podcast (many episodes on divorce)

Join us for a special Mother's Day conversation!  In this episode Emily Cushing shares her about her own motherhood journey and advice, and talks about the difficulties of no longer having her mom here on the Earth with her.  She teaches us a few of the ways she has tried to remember and honor her in the midst of her grief.  Emily and Carly also talk about some really great and under-appreciated women from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Emily spent a long time discovering and learning about 23 women who accomplished amazing things during their lifetime, even in the middle of their own struggles.  She complied their stories in a book she called "She Did: Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Faith."  They talk about four of these remarkable women and the things we can learn from them.

You can purchase Emily's book here.

You can find her Instagram page here.

You can find Melissa Inouye's book "Sacred Struggle" here.

On this episode Carly talks with Taylor Ricks Mele from the "To Cheer and To Bless" Instagram page.  She shares her story of how she felt prompted to be a Foster Parent, and ended up adopting a sweet little boy she named Zane.  She talks about how special he is, how much joy he brings to her family, and how he was diagnosed with Down Syndrome a week after he was born.  Taylor gives us a glimpse into what is like to "have the privilege" to raise a child with special needs, and ways we can help support our friends and families who may be in similar situations.  She also talks about the importance of helping everyone feel loved and included, especially at church.  She also shares her unique way to look at scripture stories, and a little about her book Everyday Disciples.  This was such a great conversation, full of so much information and advice!  

You can find Taylor on Instagram here.

You can find more information about the Ward and Stake Disability Specialist Callings here.

You can find the course that she put together with Deseret Book "Reaching Out to Members With a Disability" here.

You can purchase her AWESOME book "Everyday Disciples" here.

Brigham and Monica Bird stop by the podcast to share the scary experience they have been going through for the past 2 1/2 years.  It all started just after Thanksgiving, when Brigham was trying to study for finals during his first semester away at college.  He wasn't getting much sleep and ended up relying a lot on massive amounts of caffeine to help him get everything done.  They later learned that this, along with a genetic deficiency that can cause blood clots and a small hole he has always had in his heart, caused a life altering stroke to happen at a very young age.  They share the things they have experienced and learned as he has continued to work hard and heal from all of the effects of it.  This is definitely one you won't want to miss!!

In this episode Carly talks with Travis, Becky, and Averi Knudsen.  They share about Averi's journey with Cystic Fibrosis: the hard times, the blessings, the way has affected their family, and the miracles they have seen in her 19 years of living with CF.  Averi started an instagram account called Breathe With Averi where she shares her story, her inspiration, and information about Cystic Fibrosis.  She is an amazing young woman, and the Knudsen Family radiates the light and hope they have found through their faith.

Casey McFarland joins us on the podcast to talk about his own personal faith crisis.  He teaches us things we can do if we are experiencing one ourselves, have a family member who is facing something similar, or would like to show up better for those friends and neighbors who may be feeling the same way.  He gives us a lot of thought provoking insight in an episode I hope every Latter Day Saint would take the time to listen to.

You can find the You Tube interview I mentioned here.

You can see Casey's photography here.

You can find out more about going on tour with Casey here.

Jenny Gunnell stops by the podcast to share her journey with infertility, adoption, living with stage 4 cancer, and losing her mom after a short 7 week cancer journey herself.  Jenny is someone who I have always looked up to.  She radiates the Light of our Savior.  You will be blessed to learn from her through this conversation.

You can read more about Jenny's story, and find the most recent updates on her journey here.

Bostyn Corrigan Moody stops by to share an AMAZING story of resilience and faith through some of the most difficult trials anyone has had to face.  She talks about how the murder of her dad and subsequent emotional abuse by her first step dad played a big part into her developing an eating disorder.  She is only 18 years old, but is wise beyond her years.  She teaches us how to help our teens if we think they may be experiencing something similar, and how turning towards music has helped her heal.

You can find a video of a song Bostyn wrote called "In Your Arms Again" here.

You can watch a video of Bostyn and her twin Bailey singing here.

You can find more information about her story, and her mom Ashlee Boyson here and on her instagram here.

If you or someone you know is suffering with an eating discorder, please reach out to someone you trust.  You can also find some resources here.