My friend Brent Edwards (active LDS, lives in Joplin Missouri, married) joins us to share his story in hopes that is helps other bisexual Latter-day Saints to not feel alone, don’t have shame, and that God loves them. Brent shares:

Pre-mission experiences around being attracted to boys

Serving a mission (belated confession to his Mission President—great experience)

Getting married—30+ years of not feeling bi-sexual

How being bi-sexual gradually became something he needed to address—came out to his wife (good experience) and then his church community

Learning how to deal with being bi-sexual in a more healthy way

How Brent and his wife concluded he needed to tell his story

Powerful spiritual experiences—experience that help other queer Latter-day Saints know God loves them

Thank you, Brent, for being on the podcast. Your brave and unique story will help others. Thank you for your courage. You are a good man.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brent.edwards.71066700

Instagram: @brentedwards505

E-mail: [email protected]

My friend Scott Mena (lives in Deltona Florida, mid-30s) joins us to share his amazing story:

* Growing up closeted in a world and shame—being gay meant AIDS

* Hiding and trying to change

* Gaining a testimony

* Coming out to his mom and Bishop

* Working to solve pornography use

* His friend Mickeal

* Serving a mission to Denver (positive experience)

* Going to Pulse (before the massacre in 2016)

* Working through suicidal thoughts

* Coming out publicly and getting involved with LGBTQ community (PFLAG, etc)

* Living between two worlds (LDS community and LGBTQ community)

* Being “Mr. DeLand Pride”, being a drag entertainer, Ward Mission Leader

* Help start Volusia Gathering and how it helped his dad

* Final testimony

Thank you, Scott, for being on the podcast. You story is super powerful and hopeful. You are a great man who was walked a difficult road with courage, faith, and hope. Honored to have you on the podcast.

Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottymena/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/scottmenaactor

YouTube Channel info - https://www.youtube.com/@scottythetheaterguy

Website - http://www.scottmena.com

Extra info - https://linktr.ee/thetheaterguy

My friend Alisha Anderson (graduate degrees in Environmental Humanities and Masters of Fine Arts, Artist, Writer, Adjunct Professor, mid-30s), joins us to share her queer story center around four main themes:

Love is easy when it's based on sameness. The true test of love is difference.

Time is one of God’s greatest tools.

I've come to believe in a God who does not wish to sacrifice me, but grow me.

We need each other—in both our suffering and our joy.

As part of these themes, Alisha shares unique and powerful insights are deeply moving—and even after 900+ episodes are unique. Insights that I believe will help other queer Latter-day Saints find hope as they bravely move forward—and insights that help allies/parents better support/love our queer friends.

Thank you, Alisha, for being on the podcast. I learned so much from you! You are so emotional/spiritual/intellectually mature and thoughtful. You are a gift to our community. Honored to have you on the podcast!

Links:

Instagram: @_a_anderson

Website: alishaanderson.org

My friend and mentor Robert A. Rees (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Rees), age 90, who loved and supported his gay/lesbian members while serving as a singles ward bishop in Los Angeles from 1986-1992, joins us talk about his new book called “Imagining and Reimaging the Restoration”. Bob talks about how Joseph Smith creative mind allowed him to imagine the impossible leading to the first vision and subsequent revelations—and how we should continue to use his example to imagine and reimagine what is possible for LGBTQ Latter-day Saints. Super powerful imagery.

Bob also talks about:

Why he is a “Matthew 25 Latter-day Saint and Christian”

Why is heart is broken for our LGBTQ friends

Why he stays in the Church

Bob (along with Carol Lynn Pearson, Greg Prince, William Bradshaw, and others) are some of the earliest and most impactful LGBTQ allies. Their brave work and helped so many of our LGBTQ friends and has given new allies (like me) vision to join their LGBTQ ally discipleship.

Thank you, Bob, for all your many contributions over many decades. You are a treasure to our community and beyond. Honored to have you on the podcast. You also give vision of what is possible at age 90!

Links:

Bob’s new book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/158958824X

Bob’s Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Rees

My friend and mentor Kim Puzey (age 75) lives in Oregon, joins us to share his story:

* Growing up in a blue-color world

* Dad dying at age 12

* Friends dying at age 17

* Surprise decision to serve an LDS mission

* 50 years of Church service—but a feeling that he worshipped the Church and callings

* Less active, “steeple chaser” looking for the beauty in all faiths

* Stroke—going from age 45 to age 75

In some of the most moving segments of any podcast, Kim shares powerful stories of ministering to “the one” including:

* Why Walmart is sacred to me

* The Chicago L

* Importance of names

* Waitresses are angels

* Workers in the fields

I was so moved listening to Kim’s discipleship focused on “the one” with powerful stories of making a difference in people’s lives—the core of our discipleship at followers of Jesus.

Thank you Kim of being on the podcast. Thank you for your example to me over these many years. You are a good man. Honored to have you on the podcast.

Links :

Kim on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kim.b.puzey

This episode is a re-release of Episode 385 with Bob Rees (orginally released in 2019). See Episode 913 for his newest episode.

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

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 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 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.

My friend Eric Chaffey (talented organist and director, grew up in Oregon/Northern California, lives in Salt Lake City) joins us to share some of this story including:

Realizing his was gay during his teenage years (in the 80s).

Incredible supportive dad

Being a sexual assault survivor

While at the MTC, telling Priesthood Leadership about being sexually assaulted which ended his mission (medical release) and put him in conversion therapy (super painful part of his story)

Conversion therapy counselor shifted from conversation therapy to helping his heal from sexual abuse

While active in the Church, he is often frustrated and discourage about the lack of support for LGBTQ members

Very helpful community in his local ward

Eric takes us back into a time we the church and society believe being gay was a choose and when there was no/little support. It’s heartbreaking to hear these stories. Yet with all the headwind Eric has faced, he bravely moves forward with courage and grace.

Thank you Eric for being on the podcast. You are good man. Your story will help others.

Links:

Eric’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echaffey

Our son Jake Ostler (co-founder International Protection Alliance, master’s degree in social work, certificate in anti-human trafficking, LCSW, working with sexual violence survivors worldwide, expert speaker on this subject) joins us talk about online safety for youth/teenagers/young adults.

In this episode (for parents/anyone with responsibility for younger people) Jake talks about:

Creating a safe environment in the home with open discussion about online safety/sextortion, and other online threats kids face

How the bad guys connect with youth, gain their trust—with the goal of extorting teens for money and nude images

How the bad guys isolate the youth for repeated financial gain—often causing the victim to be hopeless and consider suicide

Parents and law enforcements roles before and after sextortion occurs

This is a powerful episode on a critically important subject. I encourage parents, local religious/civic leaders, and concerned citizens to get more educated on topic by listening to this episode and sharing it with others. You may help save a life.

Thank you Jake for your much needed work in our world. Honored to have you on the podcast. Mom and I love you and are proud of you!

Links:

NCMEC Education for parents and teens: https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/sextortion

NCMEC Take it Down: https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/

NCMEC “No Escape Room" Sextortion Experience: https://noescaperoom.org/

International Protection Alliance Web Site: protectall.org

International Protection Alliance Venmo: @protect_all

Jake’s email to request more information or invite a trainer: [email protected]

International Protection Alliance Instagram: @intl.protect.all

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ipa.protectall

Jake’s Utah Clinical Practice: healingandhopeutah.com

Jake’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-ostler-492716116

Jake’s earlier episode (792): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-792-jacob-ostler-lcsw-therapist-founder-international/id1347971725?i=1000677732364

My inspiring friends McArthur Kirishna and Anne Pimentel (authors, BYU grads, advocates for women and others on the margins) join us to talk about the new book (available on Substack—see show notes) which interviews Latter-day Saint women (some famous, some less so) across the world who have great wisdom to help all of us.

Each chapter of the book is a post as part of The Women on the Stand Substack. Examples include:

Ask the Matriarch: Golden Nuggets

Ask the Matriarch: When Life is Hard

Ask the Matriarch: Personal Revelation

And many others.

I believe we need to elevate the voices/vision/insights of women to improve our Church to better create Zion. I continue to learn so much from McArthur and Anne on what I can do to accomplish this goal.

I encourage everyone to listen to the podcast and check out their Substack.

Thank you McArthur and Anne. You two are awesome and give me hope.

Links:

Ask the Matriarch Substack: womenonthestand.substack.com/

Women Quotes:

https://ldswomenproject.com/resources/statements/

www.reliefsocietywomen.com/blog/spiritual-strength/quotes/

www.instagram.com/quotesbychurchofjesuschristwom/

Chieko N. Okazaki October 1995 talk: www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1995/10/a-living-network

“Changemakers: Women Who Boldly Built Zion” book at Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1560855185

Or, it's also available at Deseret Book www.deseretbook.com/product/6085124.html

McArthur IG: @mcarthurkrishna_creates

McArthur FB: www.facebook.com/mcarthur.mcarthurfreeranger

Heavenly Mother Matters IG: @heavenlymothermatters

Anne IG: @the.vision.beautiful

Anne's IG and Podcast @andyetwebelieve (podcast by the same name)

My friend Hunter Knott (UVU grad in computer science, RM) joins us to share his story growing up and starting to hear stuff about gay people (during his high school years), going on a mission (at the start of COVID, getting reassigned), and then after his mission starting to consider “he might not be straight”.

Hunter talks about starting to come to terms with his sexual orientation in 2022 with a powerful journey entrée—the shock he felt—and the answer of comfort. Hunter talks about enrolling in the UVU LGBT Institute class and how helpful/spiritually uplifting it is to connect with other LGBTQ members walking this road. Hunter frames this class as the “restoration of His LGBTQ people”.

Hunter talks about coming out to his parents (great experience) and his family—including his parents attending Gather. Hunter also talks about the parallels between black Latter-day Saints before 1978 and the current plight of LGBTQ members—super insightful.

Hunter talks about dating women and not being able to make that work—and then dating men including his first kiss and involving his family in his dating. Hunter talks about his current steady boyfriend Will and the love/peace he is finding in his life and hopes for their future together—including feeling “called” to continue to attend church as a same-sex married couple.

Thank you Hunter for being on the podcast. You are a bright, articulate, faithful, and brave man—walking a difficult road with integrity, courage, and conviction. You are a good man. You give me hope. I encourage everyone to listen/share Hunter’s podcast.

Links:

Facebook: facebook.com/hunter.knott.2025

Instagram: @hunter_p_knott/