Kent Carollo | Fulfilling the Measure of My Creation | Episode 142

Premiered Jun 7, 2021 | “I never missed general conference, I held leadership positions, I served a mission, I studied at a church school, I got married. You reach a point where you do all the things you believe are best and true, but when there are no more boxes left to check, and you still feel a certain way, you have to start to ask yourself some really significant and often difficult questions.”

Kent Carollo sits down with Latter Gay Stories to share his journey from the closet, to coming out and navigating a world that to him seemed to be incredibly foreign and inaccessible. His story is a message of hope and love. It is a story of kindness and doing what is right—despite the many voices that encouraged him to “stay true to gospel truths”.

Mormon Parents of a Gay Child: When Dogma and Ignorance Collide | Episode 150

Sep 22, 2021| There isn’t a manual or Sunday school lesson that teaches us how to prepare for our LGBTQ+ child’s coming out experience. For parents (especially Mormon ones), you often feel wholly unprepared for the news.

For many parents, we aren’t trying to understand this topic because we believe it isn’t relevant to us—because something like this doesn’t happen to families like ours. Right?

In this powerfully candid and honest episode, Glen and Sandee Traasdahl share their mistakes, their successes, and the beautiful experiences they’ve learned as they navigate their son’s coming out experience.

** This episode is a must watch for all parents.**


Kyle Ashworth, the interviewer and host of these episodes, does such a great job of interviewing his guests. This series is one of the very best I have found on YouTube on LGBTQ+ issues. That is why I upload so many of them even though I am not a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints. Kyle Ashworth interviews his guests so sensitively too. I hope you enjoy these discussions as much as I do. – Mark

Episode 159 (Part 3): Kris and Kay Packer | Loving, Learning, and Living

Premiered Apr 7, 2022| For the Packer’s, love and connection brought them together—and it was honesty and authenticity that helped their love and connection flourish. In this fascinating story of love and transformation, Kay and Kris share their early dating experiences—and marriage as a lesbian couple. It was later in that marriage that Kris transitioned as a transgender male. As the couple loved, they learned—and as they learned, they lived.

Kay Packer | My Lesbian Mormon Love Story Episode 157 (Part 1)

Kris Packer | From Wife to Husband: A Story of My Journey: Episode 158 (Part 2)

Carol Lynn Pearson | Loving My Gay Husband

Nov 8, 2022 | Carol Lynn Pearson is a Mormon icon. In the early 1960’s two monumental experiences happened in her life: she married Gerald, a gay man—and she published her first book.

From that first publishing—and her relationship with her gay husband—Carol Lynn Pearson forged a path forward for Latter-day Saints to better understand the LGBTQ experience. Her life has been a lesson of love, compassion, understanding and advocacy.

Escaping the gazing eyes of Utah Mormons, the Pearsons left Salt Lake City and settled in California to allow their little family the opportunity to embrace the unknown and to grow in uncertainty.

Through her best-selling book, “Goodbye, I Love You”, Carol Lynn allowed the world too peer into the Pearson family story. For the first time a well known Latter-day Saint family was openly talking about homosexuality, mixed orientation marriage, kindness, advocacy, harmful doctrine and more.

In this episode Carol Lynn sits down with Kyle to dive deeper into that journey, discuss the impact it had on Mormonism, and how marrying a gay man changed her life.

Kyle and Jay | The Big Gay Wedding: Our Story, Drag Queens and I Do’s

Oct 17, 2022 | Kyle and Jay shared their wedding day with their family, friends, and LGBTQ ally community. They invited anyone who wanted to better understand the LGBTQ experience to celebrate with them.

This is a condensed video of their ceremony. It begins with Kyle and Jay’s personal stories, Dolly makes an appearance, and the event concludes with the wedding ceremony (and a special surprise from Kyle and Jay’s kids).

You are not alone.
You are not broken.

There is a whole community of people to support you.
We all deserve to love and be loved.

Kyle was raised Mormon, in Utah. He was married to a woman for nearly 10 years and he’s the father to four kids. He is the host of the LatterGayStories podcast, a resource created to build community, visibility and understanding of the LGBTQ+ community.

Jay is from Minnesota and met Kyle after stalking him on social media. He is a nurse, a Vikings fan, and one of the loudest “cheer moms” at the kids’ dance competitions.

Kyle and Reece | Life, Dating, Marriage and Our Love!

Kyle and Reece Jacobsen join the Latter Gay Stories podcast to share their journey and stories! The married couple share their experiences growing up closeted, serving missions, exploring their sexuality, and life after coming out.

Kyle discusses his experience with the Journey into Manhood reparative therapy program, he gives advice to young men and church leaders, what authenticity feels like and how he’s found happiness.

Reece shares stories about his mission, trying to find his place in life as a closeted teen, dating—and swiping right on Tinder—an experience that would change his life forever.

The Jacobsens are married, they are the happy dads of a cute dog, and their life is likely as normal as yours.


A note to my visitors and followers: I should like to inform you all that I have no connection with the Mormon Church. Because I frequently put videos up about gay ex-Mormons, you might think that I do, or have been associated with the Church at some time in my life. I do not and have not; I have never been associated with the Church. I was, and I suppose technically I still am, a member of the Anglican Church. (For me, living in Wales, the Church in Wales.) Though I must admit that I rarely attend church these days, despite being a choirboy and a stalwart attendee and communicant earlier in my life. I even used to read lessons from the lectern in church from time to time. Imagine that!

I often put up these Mormon videos up because Kyle, the host of the shows, does such a great job of interviewing his guests. Moreover, I find so many of his episodes truly fascinating. I hope and trust that you do too. It’s an excellent series. – Mark

Weston Smith | From Gay Mormon Missionary to Survivor

Oct 11, 2022 | Weston Smith came out as gay while his dad was serving as a bishop in the Mormon church. His parents were understanding, but navigating life a gay Mormon teen, trying to better understand your sexuality, and remain the “best” Mormon possible is often a recipe for disaster.

Weston was no stranger to the turmoil that often comes from being gay and Mormon—a situation, for Wes, that led to serious suicidal ideation.

Wes ultimately decided to serve a mission as an “out” gay Mormon, but even in the mission field the suicidal thoughts persisted. It was there, on his mission, that he resolved to leave the church and live an authentic, happy life.

After leaving his mission early and finding complete familial support, Weston has thrived. He recently published a memoir titled, ”This Body of Water”, detailing his journey and what the future looks like for him.

A copy of Weston’s book is available here.


Related episode here.

Evan Smith | From Stake Presidency to LGBTQ+ Ally and Beyond

Oct 4, 2022 | Evan Smith met the intersection of sexuality and religion while serving as an LDS Bishop and eventually in a Stake Presidency. It didn’t take long before Evan began to better understand the difficult and impossible restraints the Church’s policies and doctrines place on LGBTQ Mormons.

In the midst of these dichotomies, Evan, and his wife Cheryl, learned that their own son, Weston, was gay.

The Smiths learned that understanding and advocating for LGBTQ people takes a sharp turn when someone close to you is directly impacted by this topic. As a result, Evan and Cheryl became allies and advocates for queer Mormons, and Evan used his position in his Stake Presidency to directly discuss this topic with General Authorities and Latter-day Saint congregations.

In this episode, Evan candidly shares his discussions with Church leadership, what his family has learned having a gay son, his current membership status in the Mormon church, and what we can all do to better understand the LGBTQ experience.

Evan Smith is also the author of Gay Latter-day Saint Crossroads, a book he acknowledges was written to explain, and hopefully do something productive with the pain that comes from the church’s teachings about sexual orientation and gender identity. The book also explores whether the church’s current position on gay sexual behavior is more reflective of human prejudice than it is of divine truth. Evan also uses the book to try to make amends for any harm he caused in the past as a leader in the church.

Download the book for FREE by clicking here.

A. Todd Jones | Navigating My Marriage, Coming Out, and Helping Others Thrive!

Jul 25, 2019 | In this interview we sit down with A. Todd Jones as he shares his story of living in a mixed-orientation marriage, dating, coming out, finding authenticity and what he’s doing in his life now to help the LGBTQ community.

A. Todd Jones dives deep into his coming out story—a story very relatable to the many who struggle to understand who and what they are.

Bernie Jessop | From Mormon to Polygamist: How a Gay Man Found His Path | Reupload

Apr 30, 2020 | He was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in a turn of events Bernie was excommunicated. His excommunication didn’t come because he is gay—that would come later—but because he joined a fundamentalist polygamous church. How does someone who knows he is gay, decide to enter into polygamy? Watch this episode to find out.

Sneak Peek: Cooking the Book of Mormon | 60 Minutes Australia

God’s work or downright dodgy? Sunday on #60Mins, why the Mormon Church is accused of ripping off Australian taxpayers to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.

A Gay Mormon Love Story: Elder | Op-Docs | The New York Times

Brandon Spevak | Rearranging Everything Comfortable in My Life

Premiered Aug 11, 2021

Miles and Jim | Giving Ourselves the Permission to Thrive

Sep 4, 2020 • Miles Hunsaker and Jim White sit down with the Latter Gay Stories podcast to share their individual stories of coming out, finding inner peace and thriving as a couple. Both Jim and Miles label themselves as "late-bloomers." They came out later in life: both were married to women, with children. They each held high callings in the LDS Church and both worked to reconcile their religious teachings with what their heart testified to them. In this episode, Jim and Miles take a deep dive into personal experiences, what they did to navigate the rocky waters of uncertainty and what led them to each other.

Recently, I stumbled upon this great series on gays in the Mormon Church. I have already posted a few of these episodes here on this blog for you. I have posted them not because I have any connection to the Mormon Church; I don’t. But the quality of these discussions is excellent and commendable. These are also quality people: sincere, good-living people who simply have come to terms with same-sex attraction.

Further, there is much to be learnt from these discussions, there is much that crosses religious divides. I find that the people that are interviewed are very fascinating and very much to be respected. They are sincere people who have had great difficulty coming to terms with their sexuality. I therefore hope that you enjoy these discussions every bit as as much as I do. Please remember that this blog is open to people of all faiths and none. Hopefully, you will enjoy this discussion as much as I have. – © Mark

Bernie Jessop | From Mormon to Polygamist: How A Gay Man Found His Path

Apr 30, 2020 • He was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in a turn of events Bernie was excommunicated. His excommunication didn’t come because he is gay—that would come later—but because he joined a fundamentalist polygamous church. How does someone who knows he is gay, decide to enter into polygamy? Watch this episode to find out.

Cole Rasmussen | Reconciling My Faith by Accepting My Sexuality

Premiered Jul 8, 2021 • In an office at the Church Office Building—overlooking the angel Moroni atop the Salt Lake Temple, Cole received a blessing from Elder Cook. In that blessing Cole was promised that he would be able to marry a woman, have children, and eventually serve a mission with his wife. Unfortunately for Elder Cook, the priesthood power of a general authority could not make Cole straight. After years of navigating (and trailblazing) a path of authenticity and honesty, Cole has found joy in his journey, and love in his life. In this episode he shares what it took to get him to this point—and what he’s learned along the way.

Jeremy and Randy | Excommunicated for Falling in Love

Being gay and married in the Mormon Church, the Church of Latter Day Saints

Mormon Church Addresses Past Racism

Brigham Young

THE GUARDIAN: Statement rejects previous teachings which banned black people from the lay clergy until 1978

The Mormon church has issued its most comprehensive explanation yet about its past exclusion of black people from the priesthood.

The statement disavowing previous teachings was posted on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' website.

It says an era of great racial divide influenced the early teachings of the church, founded in 1830. The article pins the ban on an announcement in 1852 from Brigham Young, the church's then president.

The church barred men of African descent from the lay clergy until 1978, when church leaders had a revelation. In the 35 years since that landmark moment, however, the church had never explained the reasons behind the ban or addressed the once widely held notion that black people were spiritually inferior, said Matthew Bowman, an author and assistant professor of religion at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia.

In the new article, posted on Friday, the church finally addresses what had become a sensitive topic for current leaders and members.

"The church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavour or curse, or that it reflects actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else," the statement read. "Church leaders today unequivocally condemn all racism, past and present, in any form." » | Associated Press in Salt Lake City | Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Mormons under Siege
THE INDEPENDENT: Gay activists were furious with the Mormons after same-sex unions were banned in California. Now they are venting their anger in the church's spiritual home. Guy Adams reports from Salt Lake City

Sister Sugiyanto's guided teatime tour of Temple Square, the world headquarters of the Mormon Church, was rudely interrupted by the sound of emergency sirens and police helicopters hovering over central Salt Lake City.

A suspicious package containing white powder had been opened by a clerk in the Church Administration Office, prompting FBI agents wearing chemical warfare suits to swiftly evacuate the building. Across town, news was coming in that eight local churches had been vandalised. One, in a family neighbourhood, had obscene graffiti scrawled on its walls. The other seven, in the nearby towns of Layton and Ogden, had windows shot out, apparently with a BB gun.

The brouhaha on Thursday was severely testing the happy demeanour of the sister, a visiting missionary from Indonesia whose informative trips round the Mormon Church's 45-acre HQ culminate in a not-so-subtle attempt to recruit you. "I feel we are being picked on," said Sister Sugiyanto. "We are not the only group that supported this proposition, so why do they only blame us? Last week, thousands came here to protest. It made me sad, more than anything."

The proposition in question is Proposition 8, a ballot measure outlawing same-sex marriage in California that was backed by 52 per cent of voters on 4 November. The "they" refers to gay rights activists upset by the Mormon Church's role in the campaign to push the measure through. Modern morality and religious doctrine have collided in spectacular fashion, and nowhere more so than here in Utah.

To liberal America, the Church of the Latter Day Saints and its 12 million members around the world are suddenly public enemy number one. They stand accused – and, it must be said, it is an accusation they strongly deny – of thinly-veiled homophobia, using their massive financial muscle to help railroad the ballot measure. >>> Guy Adams | November 15, 2008

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