Lift + Love

In this episode, Allison Dayton, Jenie Hunter, and Darice Auston discuss where they in this journey and the new goals of Lift+Love.  

The goal of Lift and Love is to create a space for BIG heartfelt conversations about faith, family, and the unique journeys of  LGBTQ individuals and their families in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each week, we gather to share insights, resources, and experiences that reflect the beauty and complexity of navigating this journey offering hope and encouragement to others along the way

Episode #52: We're Back!

Overview: After a hiatus, the Lift+Love Podcast returns with heartfelt conversations about faith, family, and the unique journeys of LGBTQ+ individuals and their families in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Episode Hosts:  Allison Dayton (Founder of the Lift+Love organization, original Lift+Love podcast co-host, parent of LGBTQ+ child), Jenie Hunter (original Lift+Love podcast co-host, LCS certified life coach, parent of LGBTQ+ child) and Darice Auston (Lift+Love Director of Getting Stuff Done, Gather Director, Lift+Love Store Manager, parent of a trans child)

Episode Topic Highlights:

Our journey so far as parents of LGBTQ+ kids 

Generational shifts in coming out (kids coming out younger/earlier)

Parents are shifting from "problem to solve" to "person to love”

The ongoing tension of balancing faith, covenants, and loving LGBTQ+ children.

No clear "plan of salvation" for queer individuals in LDS doctrine

Current church policies especially challenging for trans youth

The constant companion of uncertainty

Resources Mentioned:

PFLAG https://pflag.org/find-resources/

Lift and Love monthly online support groups: https://www.liftandlove.org/support

Coaching services available through Jenie @jeniehuntercoaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com

Lift+Love website www.liftandlove.org

"Blessed be God...who comforted us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

 

Connect With Us: Call the Lift+Love voicemail line (801) 382-8420 to share ideas for topics you’d like us to discuss in future episodes.

Tags: #LGBTQ #LDS #Mormon #ParentingLGBTQ #Faith #Family #TransYouth #ChurchOfJesusChrist #QueerFaith #LiftAndLove

 

 

Allison and Jenie sit down with Anita Ervin (host of the Lift and Love non-binary parenting support groups) and how to council with your children in the uncomfortable moments. 

When we don't get a vote but we still want to be a voice in our children's decisions.  For instance, if your transgender child wants to seek medical affirming care but you might not agree with the decision.  How do you best help your child?

1. Create emotional distance when possible (i.e. make sure I'm not speaking from a place of fear)
2. Focus on the underlying questions rather than the specific situation. For example:

• Resolving relationship conflict
• Addressing relationship expectations
• Finding trustworthy medical and psychological care
• Making wise medical decisions

3. Use available (and reliable) resources:

• Reliable medical sources
• Trusted professionals
• Knowledgeable friends (when appropriate)
• Books (use with caution)
• Informative podcasts, especially those with guests who are open about their personal experiences
• Support groups

4. Seek divine inspiration. Heavenly Father understands the position we are in. He will not abandon us when we have the best interests of our loved ones at heart.

5. Don't be afraid to decline the opportunity to give counsel if it's too much for you. Let them know you don't feel like you are in a place that you can share insight with them about it, but that you love them and you're working to overcome your discomfort with the situation because they matter to you.

 

Join us for any of our free monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .

 

If you are looking to learn the tools and to get the coaching that will help your LGBTQ family thrive while gaining access to other families on this journey you can work 1:1 with Jenie at www.jeniehuntercoaching.com

For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching

 

 

Every parent wants to raise a healthy child, no matter what their sexuality is.

When your child comes out this is one of the biggest fears that parents of LGBTQ children have.

Will they be healthy emotionally and spiritually?

In this episode Allison and Jenie talk about how they handled it with their sons and what they have learned helping 100's of families help their child

If you are looking to learn the tools and to get the coaching that will help your LGBTQ family thrive while gaining access to other families on this journey you can work 1:1 with Jenie at www.jeniehuntercoaching.com

Join us for any of our free monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .

For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching

 

 

Have you ever listened to a talk that everybody seems to love and you are left with feeling less hope and more fear?

Allison and Jenie recently experienced this and they discuss in this episode how to process and find peace.

If you are looking to learn the tools and to get the coaching that will help your LGBTQ family thrive while gaining access to other families on this journey than the Lifted Together Community is the place for you.  For details on how to join go to www.liftandlove.org/community

Join us for any of our free monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .

For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching

 

We are back! Jenie and Allison talk about the behind the Gathering Conference.  Sharing their experience, behind the scenes moments and what they have learned.

To listen to the Gathering Speakers go to Gathering Speakers Youtube

If you are looking to learn the tools and to get the coaching that will help your LGBTQ family thrive while gaining access to other families on this journey than the Lifted Together Community is the place for you.  For details on how to join go to www.liftandlove.org/community

Join us for any of our free monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .

For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching

 

Most parent's have great fear on what is going to happen with their testimony when their child comes out.  Can they stay in the church and support their LGBTQ child?  Anita Irvin, Allison and Jenie talk about how they have managed this path and share what they needed to do to protect their testimony and how they grew their faith of Jesus Christ

If you are looking to learn the tools and to get the coaching that will help your LGBTQ family thrive while gaining access to other families on this journey than the Lifted Together Community is the place for you.  For details on how to join go to www.liftandlove.org/community

Join us for any of our free monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .

For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching

 

 

 

Worry is a sneaky emotion.  It feels useful and necessary.  But that is a lie.  When we create worry about our LGBTQ child we are using up our valuable emotional energy in unproductive ways.  Taking action from worry is not where we want to parent from.

This episode Allison and Jenie talk about how to handle your worry, what result your worry is creating and how to thrive and not just survive. 

Link for the Pope's quoteshttps://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250221/at-general-audience-pope-francis-urges-parents-never-condemn-a-child

If you are looking to learn the tools and to get the coaching that will help your LGBTQ family thrive while gaining access to other families on this journey than the Lift and Love Community is the place for you.  For details on how to join go to www.liftandlove.org/community

Join us for any of our free monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .

For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching

 

 

This episode we are sharing the conversation I recorded with Heather Rackman from Latter Day Life Coach  Podcast

We talk about how to you as the mom can be the touchpoint for your LGBTQ child.

If you are looking to learn the tools and to get the coaching that will help your LGBTQ family thrive while gaining access to other families on this journey than the Lift and Love Community is the place for you.  For details on how to join go to www.liftandlove.org/community

Join us for any of our free monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .

For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching

 

 

In this episode Jenie and Allison talk with Julie Spilsbury who serves as a Councilmember for the city of Mesa.  Julie shared with us her story on how supporting the controversial non-discrimination ordinance effected her relationships and her standing in the community.  

Julie was elected to the Mesa City Council in August of 2020, Councilmember Julie Spilsbury began her first term defending her vote on Mesa’s controversial Non-Discrimination Ordinance – passed March 1 2021.

Julie and her husband Jeremy ran a small tree care company for more than 20 years. They have lived in Mesa for almost their entire 24 years of marriage and have six children, five girls and one boy. She attended Brigham Young University.

To contact Councilmember Spilsbury you can reach her on Facebook  or her melissa.hollenbeck@mesaaz.gov.

If you are looking to learn the tools and to get the coaching that will help your LGBTQ family thrive while gaining access to other families on this journey than the Lift and Love Community is the place for you.  For details on how to join go to www.liftandlove.org/community

Join us for any of our free monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .

For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching

 

 

 

 

 

In one week's time,  four mom's told us that their children didn't feel safe at church.  This is not unusual.  We hear this a lot.

We also hear from parent's who don't have LGBTQ children they don't understand why LGBTQ children feel unsafe at church.

In this episode we get vulnerable when we talk about HOW our LGBTQ saints feel emotionally unsafe in our churches.  

It isn't happening intentionally but it is a reality for most LGBTQ LDS members at church.  

Learning what makes them feel emotionally unsafe is the first step for us to become better disciples of our Savior.  

His gospel is not unsafe, so we need to talk to our LGBTQ children and rethink our teaching and how we present it to uncover the answer to what is causing our LGBTQ members to feel disconnected with Him?

We hope you can feel our love and plea for each of you and how we can create a safer environment for ALL of God's children in our church community.

If you are looking to learn the tools and to get the coaching that will help your LGBTQ family thrive while gaining access to other families on this journey than the Lift and Love Community is the place for you.  For details on how to join go to www.liftandlove.org/community

Join us for any of our free monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .

For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching