The Lift+Love podcast is rooted in faith, family, and the conviction that all are alike unto God and that loving LGBTQ+ people is a calling to be embraced—not feared. Produced by the Lift+Love team, this podcast features topics relevant to Latter-day Saint LGBTQ+ individuals and their parents, relatives, friends, and others who are navigating this space with faith.
Across episodes, hosts from the Lift+Love team and their guests will address a variety of current topics, offer practical support, and share experiences related to LGBTQ+ issues in faith communities. Each conversation is grounded in compassion, honesty, and a commitment to keeping families connected to each other and Jesus Christ.
Learn more and access free support and resources at www.liftandlove.org
Episodes
Wednesday Jul 07, 2021
Wednesday Jul 07, 2021
Join us today to discuss what to do when you feel spiritually stuck. When we are raising LGBTQ children you can hit some spiritual pit falls or road blocks. It is important to learn to recognize when you hit those times and how to get unstuck. Allison and Jenie discuss 3 ways to get spiritually unstuck.
Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
This conversation Allison and Jenie talk with Ben and Charlie about their journey as podcast hosts of Questions from the Closet. Charlie and Ben's podcast discuss questions they are commonly asked as gay members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each week they are joined by a guest to talk about a question as it relates to LGBTQ+ topics within the context of faith.
In this episode they share with Allison and Jenie their story about their friendship and how their podcast got started. Some of their favorite moments and episodes, what they have learned, and how people have reacted to their podcast.
Ben Schilaty is an administrator and adjunct professor at Brigham Young University. He has also written the book A Walk In My Shoes
Charlie BirdI was Cosmo the Cougar at BYU. You may have seen his viral dance videos. He is currently back at BYU pursuing a Masters degree in Social Work. Charlie has also written Without the Mask
Jenie and Allison host free support groups for our LGBTQ LDS families. Please Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Saturday Jun 19, 2021
Saturday Jun 19, 2021
Join us today to discuss parenting Transgender children with Lift+Love’s new Trans, Non-binary Parent Group Leader, Anita Ervin. Allison and Jenie talk with Anita about how she balances her testimony and supporting her child. Anita says, "For years I thought the Church had all of the answers to life and its challenges, but I have since learned to get comfortable in the space of “I don’t know”.
I have had to distill the essence of the gospel down to its most important parts, and at the core of everything is Jesus Christ and his Atonement. He is real, and so is His grace. I can move forward with faith in Christ, faith in the restored gospel, and hope for the eternal destiny of ALL of my children because I know that Jesus Christ is big enough to handle all of the messiness of our mortal lives.
Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Wednesday Jun 09, 2021
Wednesday Jun 09, 2021
Jenie and Allison talk with John Gustav-Wrathall about his journey as a LDS gay man. John grew up in a faithful LDS family and served a mission and attended BYU. At the end of his BYU student career he decided to leave the church because he couldn't find a way to honor his sexuality and stay in the church. John's shares his powerful story about his relationship with Christ and his journey back to attending the LDS faith as a man how is in a committed gay marriage.
Since his returning to church with his LDS brother and sisters, John has founded Emmaus LGBTQ Ministry. Emmaus is a community of heterosexual/cisgender and LGBTQ Latter-day Saints who are called to ministry for the safety, well-being and happiness of LGBTQ people in and adjacent to The Church of Jesus Christ
John Gustav-Wrathall is a published scholar and teacher in the fields of LGBTQ history and American religion and a former president and executive director of Affirmation. He is active in the Lake Nokomis Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his husband of almost three decades are parents of a gay foster son and live in south Minneapolis.
While many would insist that he choose between his husband or his Church, Gustav-Wrathall has written, "I could not reject either and remain a person of integrity. I could not be disloyal to either and not feel that at some level I was betraying both myself and God."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/emmauslgbtq/
Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - link sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you need some one-on-one guidance for you and your family. Please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Wednesday May 26, 2021
Wednesday May 26, 2021
Can I support my LGBTQ child and still hold a temple recommend?
We get this question a lot. We tackle this pain point head on and arm you with apostle quotes, handbook references and stake president's views on how you can do both.
This episode will help educate you on why we have temple recommend interviews. It will also help you understand your role and the role of the Bishop/Stake President.
Attending the temple is a right that Heavenly Father wants for all of his children. We feel like our temple attendance helped us parent from our higher self. We want you to have the same confidence and surety in going to the temple and your temple recommend interview.
Join us in our 5 monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - to get the link sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Allison and Jenie talk with Dr. Julie Hanks and get her wisdom on some tough situations that families face raising LGBTQ children.
She shares some great strategies on questions like:
-How do you set boundaries and expectations with your LGTBQ child without them feeling you are not being supportive of them?
-How do you handle your child's ultimatum asking you to leave a church that doesn't support them?
-How do you handle parenting issues when you and your spouse disagree?
-How do you survive spiritually and still support your LGBTQ child?
This episode will teach you some amazing strategies on how to handle tricky situations but still stay connected to your child.
Dr. Julie Hanks, LCSW is the owner and Executive Director of Wasatch Family Therapy. She works on helping you thrive in your personal life and in your family relationships. You can find her on her podcast - Ask Dr. Julie Hanks or Instagram.
Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - ink sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Tuesday May 11, 2021
This is our continued conversation with David Doyle's about the list that he has created to help Bishops/Leadership navigate how to support their LGBTQ membership. He has curated this list through his experience as an LDS LGBTQ member and someone who has had many interactions with Bishops, youth and stake leaders as he has served as a Stake Young Men's President and Stake Executive Secretary for many years.
This will be a great resource to share with any LDS leader.
10 Suggestions for Bishops interacting with LGBTQ members
1) All LGBTQ members need a trusted adult in their life who loves, supports and sustains them, no matter which path they choose.
2) When someone “comes out” they should be greeted with love, validation and hope, not a lecture on repentance or reminder of the Church’s stance on same-sex marriage
3) Create a safe culture for the LGBTQ person. Express your love for a variety of members, including LGBTQ members.
One idea is to share what would happen if someone came to your office and shared they are queer. “I would thank you for trusting me enough to share, and recognize the courage it took to come here. I’d ask you, if you’re comfortable doing so, to share with me some about your journey up to this point. Then I’d ask if it’s alright if I give you a blessing. Then, regardless of if you wanted a blessing or not, I’m a hugger, so I’ll ask if it’s okay to give you a hug.”
4) Don’t use words like “struggling” or say they’ll be “fixed” in the resurrection
5) Our Heavenly Parents love their LGBTQ children, we should give them unconditional love and support and recognize they will bless the lives of others
Even when telling them hard things, marginalized people always felt Jesus' love. Their encounters with Jesus left them with more dignity than when they started. As you interact with queermembers, this would be a worthy goal, to help them feel loved, uplifted and strengthened.
6) LGBTQ individuals are more likely to be the victims of bullying and violence than any other minority group in the USA. Be on the lookout for youth or young adults who may be doing & saying unkind things.
7) Know the signs of suicide and depression. LGBT people are at much higher risk. It’d be a good idea for youth leaders to have some training in this.
8) Encourage them to pray and ask if God loves them as they are
9) Especially before or after lessons about marriage, say something like “I know there are people in this ward who cannot be married because of same-sex attraction or other reasons. I love you, and the Lord has a plan for you.”
10) Know that studies show that being active in the LDS church is often detrimental to the mental health and quality of life for LGBT people. For a person’s well-being, they may decide they need a break. Make sure they know they’re welcome to come back.
Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - ink sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Thursday May 06, 2021
Thursday May 06, 2021
Allison and Jenie talk to Jessica Livier Mendoza De la Vega (Liv). Liv was recently asked to speak at BYU Women's Conference as an LGBTQ LDS member about the importance of creating a safer place in our church. She shares with us her amazing journey as she has personally navigated finding her own place of belonging as an LGBTQ woman in the LDS member. You will be uplifted, entertained and taught by her honesty and vulnerability as she shares her amazing story.
To see Liv's session at BYU 2021 Women's Conference Session BYU 2021 Women's Conference
Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - ink sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Monday May 03, 2021
Monday May 03, 2021
David navigates a unique journey in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as an openly gay man. David is currently serving as the Brandon Stake Executive Secretary. He shares his thoughtful testimony of Jesus Christ with Allison and Jenie and talks about what it was like growing up in the LDS church and gratefully does not sugar-coat the brutally hard parts.There is so much to learn in David's story.
You will walk away, from this conversation, with a changed heart for our LGBTQ members and will learn how Heavenly Father is mindful of all his children.
David Doyle's Blog (https://nerdygaymormon.tumblr.com/post/159164583009/so-do-you-remember-the-guy-in-yesterdays-general)Example of a video that David Doyle made of the stake presidency (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRMDXsobNls)Example of video David Doyle created for Stake Youth Conference: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVhb0HQLGQA).Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - ink sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Monday Apr 26, 2021
We get really real about how marriages can take a hit when your child comes out. Jenie and Allison share how their marriages faired and what they had to do to keep them on track.
The strength of the marriage is as important as the health of your child.
We share six tips that can help protect and grow your marriage into your strongest relationship.
- Stop thinking your spouse is doing it wrong.
2. Focus on each other’s strengths vs. their weaknesses.
- Great a safe place for each other.
- Be mindful of creating time together
- Invest in your marriage - therapist, coach, books. Keep learning and educating to learn new skills and tools to help you.
6. Tag Team - this is a marathon, not a sprint
Join us for any of our monthly Lift+Love Support Groups - ink sign up at Lift+Love Support .
If you would like some personal coaching on how to do this please sign up for a free consult with Jenie at Jenie Hunter Coaching www.jeniehuntercoaching.com.
For additional support and help please reach out to us on our IG accounts at Lift+Love and Jenie Hunter Coaching