My friend Nikki Andreasky (BYU-I grad, lives in AZ, they/them) joins us to share their story including:

* Long-term gender dysphoria/chest dysphoria—and prayerful decision to have top surgery

* Love of the temple

* Learning of the handbook changes (Aug 2024) for transgender members weeks before the surgery leading to feelings of “being stabbed in the gut”, “betrayed” and “really hurt”

* Meeting with local leaders

* Proceeding with the top surgery—feelings of gender euphoria

Pain of not being able to attend the temple and no chance of temple sealing

* How North Star gave them a spiritual boost

* Why they stay in the Church

* Supportive mothers—grandma’s scriptures

Nikki is one of my heroes—for their spiritual/emotional maturity and navigating an incredible complex road as a non-binary Latter-day Saint. I encourage everyone to listen to and share this episode so we can better understand, love and support non-binary/transgender Latter-day Saints. I believe they are needed members of the Body of Christ.

Thank you for being on the podcast, Nikki. You are awesome.

Links:

North Star Voices of Hope: www.northstarsaints.org/voh-nikki-2022

Earlier Listen Learn and Love Podcast: soundcloud.com/user-818501778/episode-320-lynsie-andreasky-active-lds-asexual-aromantic-and-gender-queer/sets

Nikki’s Tic Tok: www.tiktok.com/@scattering_sunshine?_t=ZT-8w1g82Dlqsl&_r=1

Nikki’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/share/16HB8rwVrQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr