Unleashing Sister Saints

As listeners know, I'm doing a lot of reading, research, and reflection around the issues of violence against women and children in the Church. With this in mind, several mental health professionals who work with members of the Church recommended that I read the book “The Choice to Leave Abuse,” by Dr. Ryan Anderson. I'm still finishing it, but his writings are very connected to my thoughts and personal revelation. I'll share some of the profound statements made in Chapter 1 of this book. I would recommend it for sure! https://www.amazon.com/dp/146214179X

I know I’ve been sharing many editorials that I’ve written on this podcast, and I want to get to some other things, but I do have one more to share because I do think it applies to us as women (and others) in the Church. So, this editorial published in the Utah News Dispatch is titled, “Utah’s Status Quo Problem: Why We Resist Change Even When It Hurts Us.” As I read it, I’m going to pause a few times to add some thoughts—especially about how these cultural patterns show up in Latter‑day Saint communities and what they mean for women of faith.

This piece is about Utah, but the dynamics I describe are not limited to Utah. They show up in families, congregations, institutions, and cultures everywhere. And they matter deeply for women who are trying to live their covenants, strengthentheir communities, and help create safer, more equitable environments for everyone. Thanks for listening and caring!

This is the third episode in my new season, and I’m going to read another editorial. I’m writing on topics that are important to me, so I want them to be part of this podcast too. This one was in the Salt Lake Tribune and titled: Workplace Bullying Is More Common—and More Damaging—Than We Admit. I do think there are applications to our congregations, communities, and homes. This is very personal to me, as I share some of my own recent experiences.

Anywhere there is power, there is the potential for misuse of power. I share connections to our faith in this as well. Here is the Tribune article link: Voices: Workplace bullying is more widespread than we think

This one absolutely applies to religious context, and I hope you'll appreciate it. I think women are socialized to do this more than men. I recently published an editorial in the Deseret News titled: Why Utah’s Passive‑Aggressive Culture Hurts Us More Than We Think. I’m going to read it to you and then make a bunch of comments. I give you lots of examples in the editorial itself and then expand with my comments. I hope you'll listen in!

Article: Passive aggression has a simple antidote | Opinion – Deseret News

In this episode, I turn to an editorial I published in June in the Utah News Dispatch—a piece that speaks directly to the lived experience of Latter‑day Saint women. We are disciples of Jesus Christ, and our discipleship requires ethical steadiness, moral courage, and the willingness to speak truth with love. As I read the editorial, I’ll pause after some chunks to share the spiritual impressions and gospel‑centered reflections that feel important for covenant women today. Why ethical grounding still matters in a world that feels upside down • Utah News Dispatch

After a refreshing summer break, I’m back and ready to launch Season Four of Unleashing Sister Saints. And I’m starting this season with an episode centered around an editorial I published in June in the Deseret News titled “Why Moral Clarity Still Matters.” I’ve felt strongly—especially in recent months—that Latter‑day Saint women (and men) are called to stay deeply ethical, rooted in moral values, and willing to speak up and speak out with courage. This episode is my invitation for all of us to reclaim that clarity and use it to strengthen our discipleship. In this show I’ll begin by reading the editorial and then I’ll share some of the thoughts and impressions as I revisit the message with fresh eyes and a gospel lens. Welcome back!

As I wrap up for the summer, I talk about a research study I'm conducting (with the help of a qualitative research team) titled "Building Faith Communities Where Women in Crisis Find Safety, Support, and Belonging. I thought you would be interested in this.

The purpose of this in-depth qualitative study is to examine how faith communities influence the experiences of women who are navigating crisis, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and divorce. Specifically, the study seeks to identify the congregational characteristics, cultural norms, leadership practices, and theological messages that function as protective factors—and, conversely, risk factors—for women’s safety, support, belonging, and well‑being. By documenting both supportive and harmful congregational dynamics, this research aims to generate insights that can help faith communities strengthen their capacity to respond to women in crisis in trauma‑informed, inclusive, and healing‑centered ways.

I'm spending lots of time this summer on this and will be taking a rest from this podcast until fall. I hope you all have a wonderful summer and find time to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ. I'm going to do that as well. Peace.

I’m going to take a break for the summer, but felt like I didn’t have an episode that closes the loop on the year, so I’ll do that in this episode, but now I’m thinking I’ll do one more as I’ve been mentioning the Church related research I’ll be doing this summer (and have about 8 qualitative researchers helping with interviews) that I know you’ll be interested in. But for this episode I want to talk about where things are at with some of the challenges I’m facing with trying to ensure the more women, girls, and families in our state of Utah are thriving, and there are applications beyond as well. I talk about an editorial I wrote and then pulled applications out of a book I read and how they apply to this work.

In this episode, I explore a principle that has the power to soften your heart, reshape your relationships, and dramatically shift how you experience both the miraclesand the messes of mortality.

It’s the principle of stewardship versus ownership, beautifully taught by Ganel‑Lyn Condie in her recent book: The Stewardship Principle: Reframing Your Life. In this episode, I share my insights on the concepts that connected most deeply with me.

Decades of research shows that language doesn’t simply describe reality—it actively shapes it. The words we choose influence perception, identity, and behavior, particularly around gender. Everyday phrases, often spoken without awareness, can reinforce stereotypes or subtly erode girls’ and women’s confidence. Several years ago, I published an article titled “Why Calling Women ‘Girls’ Is a Bigger Deal Than You May Think,” which explored one facet of this issue. In this episode I examine six additional communication habits that can unintentionally weaken women’s impact.

I wrote the content of this for a Forbes article a few months ago, but I also think it relates beyond the workplace to home, community, and church. I read sections and then share my thoughts in this episode of Unleashing Sister Saints!