Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler Richard Ostler

My good brother David (author of “Bridges: Ministering to Those Who Question”) joins us to talk about his new book which gives readers a gospel-based framework and tools to navigate the increasingly polarized and contentious landscape of modern society.

In the podcast, David talks about why he wrote the book, who is the audience, and how he hopes it helps us better come together as the same human family. David talks in a practical way of the skills and approaches to eliminate contention and become peacemakers.

If you are feeling tensions of conflict with family, friends, fellow church members—or want to better ministering tools to bring people together, I invite you to read/share David’s book. It is a serious book needed in a divisive time—packed with the latest information from the finest minds, research, and scriptural/church leader insights to help heal our divides.

Thank you, Dave, for all your great work in our community to bring us together.

Links:

Dave’s book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/158958774X

Dave’s book on Amazon (Kindle): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ4R7S2T

Dave’s book at Kofford Books: https://gregkofford.com/products/healing-our-divides

Dave’s e-mail: healingourdivides@gmail.com

My friend Arthur Wiseman (who returned from his successful mission in Gilbert Arizona in Dec of 2023, plans to become a therapist, and returned to live in Arizona) shares his mission experience. Arthur (who knew he was gay since age 6 and planned to tell no one) shares what it was like starting his mission and feeling spiritual promptings (many times during his mission) to open up about being gay because of a desire to help others find hope and Christ in their lives.

Arthur talks about a variety of wonderful, spiritual, and sometimes painful experiences only possible because he was open. Arthur talks about developing a strong relationship with Heavenly Father and making Christ the center of his life. He talks about the personal revelation he is receiving. Arthur also talks about how being vulnerable allowed him to be a safe place for his companions to open up about their lives—providing beautiful insights on how to better minister to each other. Arthur talks about his supportive companions and what they proactively did to show their support.

This is a powerful podcast from a brave and faithful gay Latter-day Saint. Arthur (and all those allies who support him) give me hope for the future as we work to build Zion. Thank you for being on the podcast Authur. Honored that more can hear your story. You are a good man.

Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555422532064

Instagram: @arthur.w.wiseman

Facebook Group mentioned in the podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/706348281603277

Facebook Group to Support LGBTQ Latter-day Saints:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1433556613672143

** This podcast mentions suicide. If you are suicidal, please call/text chat 988**

Guest host Tonya Miller interviews Kyle Jones, M.D., who talks about his most recent book, “When All Hope Seems Lost: A Gospel Perspective on Mental Illness in Youth,” which will be released later this month. Kyle is a Family Practice physician who works primarily with neurodivergent individuals and their families. He is active in the Church, and he and his wife are the parents of four children.

Kyle shares his story of first being diagnosed with mental illness as a student, with significant worsening during his medical residency. This is the topic of his first book: “Fallible: A Memoir of a Young Physician’s Struggle with Mental Illness.” He talks about noticing mood disorder symptoms when he was a teenager, but not realizing that he was dealing with mental illness at the time. The cumulative effects of the stress he experienced as a medical student and resident led him to eventually learn that he was living with anxiety and depression, for which he still takes medication and participates in therapy. Kyle describes ways that he started to share his story with other physicians and learned that he was not as alone as he feared. From there, he has continued to develop opportunities for providing outreach and education about mental illness, especially for members of the Church. He began to realize that there are not many resources about mental illness for youth in the Church, along with ongoing myths and stigma about the relation of mental illness to the gospel, which led him to write this book.

Kyle describes the complexities that youth in the Church face, and ways that specific gospel principles can help them heal, even when, in some cases, there is no “cure” for what they are dealing with. He shares stories of teens who have worked though challenges with mental illness that he interviewed for his book. He also interviewed mental health professionals who work with teens and talks about some of the insights they provide. Kyle refers to what he calls the “Broken Record” messages of the gospel that can bolster youth who fear they have done something “wrong” to “cause” their mental illness. They are: 1) Jesus loves you, no matter what, 2) Mental illness is not your fault, and 3) There are people here to help.

I am very grateful for Kyle’s willingness to share his story and perspectives around ways that principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ can ground and empower youth if they are experiencing mental illness while simultaneously navigating the complexities of life.

As a side note, I’m focusing only on sharing stories associated with the Queer-LDS experience now. However, if you would like to share your story about a different Church- or gospel-related topic on Listen, Learn and Love, please contact Tonya about the possibility of working with her as my guest-host (e-mail Tonya at tonya@cottonwood.care).

Links for Kyle’s books and other resources are found below.
www.kylebradfordjones.com
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @kbjones11
Previous books: www.amazon.com/stores/Kyle-Bradford-Jones/author/B082WKSNYY?
When All Hope Seems Lost: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYCXFVB9

My friend Jashon Ray Fabia (Age 33, single, LDS, RM, BYU-H grad in Psychology and Music, finishing Master's in Music Therapy) bravely shares his story as a queer Filipino Latter-day Saint (our first guest from the Philippines) and his new book (see show notes).

Jashon shares the shame he felt which continued until he came out to himself in his mid-20’s and others allowing Jashon to feel authentic and reduce/eliminate shame. It is a brave story of working through suicidal ideation to find hope and peace. Jashon talks about his focus on service to help other marginalized group, future projects and hopes for other queer Filipinos.

Jashon concludes with reconciliation with his parents including grace with family members along this journey. Thank you, Jashon, for being on the podcast, writing your book, and sharing your story to give hope to others. You are a good man doing much healing in our world. Glad to have you on the podcast.

Links:

Jashon’s book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948218917

Facebook Group to Support LGBTQ Latter-day Saints: www.facebook.com/groups/1433556613672143

**This episode talks about suicide. If you are suicidal, please call/text/chat *988**

My friend Erik Thompson (Age 40, single, active LDS, RM) bravely shares his story with a heart full of desire to give others hope. Erik vulnerable and bravely talks about:

Being a survivor of sexual abuse at age 13.
Spiritual OCD (Scrupulosity).
Porn and masturbation.
Coming home from his mission (after a suicide attempt) at 9 months.
Need for love and belonging.
Becoming sexually active—in unsafe situations—drug use—and more suicidal ideation.
Healing words from a senior Church leader including the “Savior is thrilled with you” and returning to Church activity.
You are here to love.
Upcoming NorthStar Conference.

Erik can authentically teach the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to heal us from pain and to help us repent because Erik has the courage to share his story—helping us all understand that we too can find hope in our story—even the most difficult times of our lives. Part of Erik’s story is on the Church’s YouTube channel (see show notes).

Thank you, Erik, for being on the podcast. You are one of my new heroes. Your story will help so many. You are a good man.

Links:

Erik’s Church YouTube: youtu.be/7avoFnympIg?si=vEBk7_YX709HGqfM

NorthStar Conference: allevents.in/salt%20lake%20city/2024-north-star-conference/10000761893222137

Erik’s e-mail: erikguy@gmail.com

Erik’s cell: 202-595-4747

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@etpiano83?_t=8lNeC55a9hC&_r=1

Scrupulosity Podcasts: listenlearnandlove.org/depression-mental-illness-podcasts

Richard Ostler Free Chapter Links:

Ending Porn Use: www.dropbox.com/s/w2ex40l4se85wku/Chapter%204%20Ending%20Pornography%20Use.%20%20Listen%20Learn%20and%20Love%2C%20Improving%20Latter-day%20Saint%20Culture.pdf?dl=0

Hope Filled Repentance: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1lo38ejspdzwfxngaaotm/Chapter-5-Hope-Filled-Repentance.-Listen-Learn-and-Love-Improving-Lattter-day-Saint-Culture.pdf?rlkey=18kd8tqtmls60b14y7ilc1f2i&dl=0

Overcoming Scrupulosity: www.dropbox.com/s/i314vw5im0khzia/Chapter%207%20Overcoming%20Scrupulosity%20%28Religious%20ODC%29.pdf?dl=0

My friends Cameo and Cooper Johnson (LDS parents of 4 children, live in Flagstaff AZ, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners) join us to share their story from the perspective of both LDS parents of a queer daughter (RM, engaged to another RM woman) and their professional work specializing in supporting LDS LGBTQ individuals and families. In the episode, the Johnsons bring unique and helpful perspectives from their experience as parents and also work as mental health practitioners that help all of us.

Some of the topics covered by the Johnsons include:

1. Why they are excited and supportive of their daughter’s same-sex marriage.
2. Why they stay members of the Church.
3. What gives them hope and peace for their “eternal family”.
4. What gives them hope for the future of the Church.
5. The difference between core values and core beliefs.
6. How to better see and support families who fit “outside of the idealized version”.
7. The parable of the Good Samaritan.
8. How personal growth often occurs “when we look inward and check ourselves.”

This is one of the best podcasts we’ve done as the Johnsons bring their clinical experience and parental experience to help us better love and support our queer family members and friends. I encourage you to listen to this episode and share it with others.

Thank you, Cameo and Cooper Johnson, for being on the podcast and your work to help bring us together as the same human family. Honored to have you on the podcast!

Links:

Cameo Johnson, PMHNP
Ponderosa Psychiatry
https://www.ponderosapsychiatry.com/
info@ponderosapsychiatry.com
Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/737606

Cooper Johnson, PMHNP
Advanced Mental Health and Wellness
https://advancedmhw.com/
support@advancedmhw.com
Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/psychiatrists/advanced-mental-health-wellness-williams-az/441627