Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
Richard Ostler
Welcome to our podcast! My name is Richard H. Ostler and I am a native of Salt Lake City, small business owner, married father of six with several grandchildren. I believe in and am deeply committed to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and want it to work for a wider group. I am the author of three books: “Listen Learn and Love: Embracing LGBTQ Latter-day Saints” published in 2020 available at Deseret Book (deseretbook.com/product/5248297.html) and Amazon (amazon.com/dp/1462135773) “Listen Learn and Love: Improving Latter-day Saint Culture” published in 2022. The book explores who we can do better to help all Latter-day Saints feel more welcome, needed and a feeling of belonging in our congregations. Available at Deseret Book (deseretbook.com/product/6003149.html) and Amazon (amazon.com/dp/1462139566) “Listen Learn and Love: Building the Good Ship Zion” released in Sept 2023. The book explores additional topics to help all Latter-day Saint feel welcome and needed on the Good Ship Zion. Available at Deseret Book (deseretbook.com/product/6026921.html) and Amazon (amazon.com/dp/1462145280) The purpose of all three books is to help us better create Zion by helping more feel welcome, a sense of belonging, and needed in our congregations. Proceed from the books go the Stockton Power Memorial Scholarship (www.standingforstockton.com) in honor of Stockton Powers a gay Latter-day Saint teenager who died of suicide in 2016. Everything I do is a self-funded labor of love ❤️ I am the author of two Ensign articles: ‘How the Savior’s Healing Power Applies to Repenting from Sexual Sin’ (August 2020/YSA Digital Only) www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/08/young-adults/how-the-saviors-healing-power-applies-to-repenting-from-sexual-sin ‘7 Tips for Overcoming Pornography Use’ (October, page 72) www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/10/young-adults/7-tips-for-overcoming-pornography-use. This podcast is designed to discuss some more complicated issues in our church to help all of us better “listen, learn and love” so we can minister in a more effective way to all of our Heavenly Parents’ children. Podcasts are indexed by category at listenlearnandlove.org/podcasts Thank you for joining us. You can't donate to this podcast. There are no sponsors. But you can leave a review/rate the podcast on the platform you are listening and/or leave a review at Deseret Book/Amazon on my books. With love, Richard 'Papa' Ostler ❤ Twitter: twitter.com/Papa_Ostler IG: www.instagram.com/papa_ostler Facebook: facebook.com/richard.ostler.5 E-mail: [email protected]
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Episode 742: Scott Grover, Gay British Latter-day Saint, Left Church for 18 Years, Returned
Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
03/08/24 • 75 min
My friend Scott Gover (late 40’s, lives north of London, left church in his 20’s, returned 18 years later, active for last 11 years) joins us to share his story. Scott starts with his growing up years having a deep testimony of the Church and also realizing his was gay. After many unanswered prayers to change his sexual orientation, Scott concluded “I was so evil, that I was beyond God’s love and the atonement” and was going to end up somewhere between “outer darkness and the telestial kingdom.” It’s heartbreaking to hear Scott’s conclusions—which are logical conclusions for a closeted gay Latter-day Saint. Scott talks about eventually leaving the Church for 18 years—even with a testimony of the Church all those years. Scott talks talking to Elder Murdock and Cuche and deeply spiritual experience including Elder Murdock’s testimony that led Scott back into the Church. Scott talks about a disciplinary council (positive experience) that returned him to full fellowship, a Stake that put him to work (Elder Quorum President, High Councilor, etc), and a loving a supportive Ward family including his lifelong friend Lillian. It is a beautiful story of belonging and creating Zion. Scott talks about living “without all the answers” for queer people in the Church and his hope for more light and understanding. Scott talks about his Stake Conference talk (see show notes) being led by the Spirit to talk about being a gay Latter-day Saint—and all the positive/supportive comments he received. I was so moved listening to Scott. His spiritual maturity, his ability to survive his early years, his journey out and then back into the Church, his support system, and all the good he is going to help others feel God’s love and the healing powerful of the Atonement. Scott is helping expand the boarders of Zion and bring more hope, unity, and healing." Links: Stake Conference Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsM3SvNqFTs&t=3660s E-mail: [email protected] Blog: http://www.thebookofgrover.co.uk/ Facebook Group to Support LGBTQ Latter-day Saints: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1433556613672143
Episode 191: Dr. Debra Theobald McClendon, Anxiety and Scrupulosity
Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
10/30/19 • 69 min
My friend Dr. McClendon, licensed psychologist and frequent speaker at Education Week, joins us to talk about two articles she has written for the Ensign on anxiety and scrupulosity. Anxiety: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2019/04/young-adults/discerning-your-feelings-anxiety-or-the-spirit Scrupulosity: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2019/09/young-adults/understanding-scrupulosity-religious-ocd Scrupulosity, or religious OCD, is something every LDS parent and local leader should understand. Instead of OCD that manifests itself in something like hand washing, it is spiritual OCD that manifests itself in toxic/tormenting guilt, continued confessions, feelings of never being worthy, loss of the spirit, and such. Like other mental illnesses, it needs to be treated by someone with expertise in this area. It can’t be solved with increased religious behaviors because it is not a spiritual weakness. I wish I understood scrupulosity before my YSA assignment. It would have helped me better meet the needs of some of my YSAs. I encourage parents, local leaders and those of you that feel anxiety interferes with your ability to feel the Spirit or feel you are always unworthy to listen to this podcast. Thank you, Dr. McClendon, for your great work and being on the podcast. I’m glad the Ensign published your articles. If you’d like to contact Dr. McClendon to speak on anxiety or scrupulosity (which I encourage), you can contact her www.debramcclendon.com Also, Debra and her husband Richard have written the book: ‘Commitment to the Covenant: Strengthening the Me, We, and Thee of Marriage.’ It is available at Deseret Book: https://deseretbook.com/p/rsc-commitment-to-the-covenant?variant_id=157152-hardcover. It is also available on the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites. Please check out their book. They give presentations on marriage at Education Week and may also be available to speak for your group.
Episode 802: Ben Schilaty, Clare Dalton, Liz Macdonald: “All Out In the Open” Podcast
Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
12/29/24 • 72 min
My friends Dr. Ben Schilaty, Clare Dalton, and Liz Macdonald join us to talk about the rebranding of the powerful podcast “Questions From The Closet” to “All Out in the Open.” They share how the expanded scope includes once-a-month hosts including Iese Wilson focusing on international queer Latter-day Saints, Clare Dalton on how the scriptures provide principles to help queer Latter-day Saints, Liz Macdonald and Michael Soto talking about community building, and Ben Schilaty and Charlie Bird talking about how to be more open with ourselves and others. They also talk about the Gather/All Arizona conference in Mesa (March 29, 2025), the Gatherings monthly scripture curriculum, the annual Gather Conference in Provo (June 26-28, 2025), and a new conference called Belong (a conference for queer youth and youth allies—born out of the successful Gather track at the 2024 conference). If you want to feel hope in the LDS/LGBTQ space, please listen to this episode and (more importantly) listen to “All Out in the Open” podcast. Ben, Clare, and Liz are doing such great work and represent the hundreds of people in this space working to “expand the borders” of Zion where more feel loved, needed, and true belonging. Their principled approach gives us all better ideas on what we can do in our circle of influence to better support queer Latter-day Saints. Thank you, Ben, Clare, Liz for being on the podcast and all your great work! Links: All Out in the Open Podcast: alloutintheopen.org/ Gather curriculum: gather-conference.com/gatherings Gather Arizona March 29, 2025: www.allarizona.org/conferences (registration not live yet) Belong Youth Conference June 26-28, 2025: www.belongyouthconference.org to receive registration info as it becomes available. Follow @belongyouthconf on Instagram. Gather June 26-28, 2025: www.gather-conference.com/ (registration not live yet)
Episode 113: Taylor and Kasey Cordova, Newly Married, Active LDS
Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
04/20/19 • 81 min
Episode 113: Taylor and Kasey Cordova, Newly Married, Active LDS by Richard Ostler
Episode 108: Dennis Schleicher, Gay LDS Convert, Author, National Personality
Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
04/10/19 • 70 min
My friend Dennis shares his life story including life as a gay man (including appearances of Larry King Live and Sally Jessy Raphel), joining the Church in 2017, and now serving as the Ward Mission Leader and helping missionaries church wide on LGBTQ issues. Dennis’ book ‘Is He Nuts, Why a Gay Man Would Become a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ’ is being released by church book publisher Cedar Fort in August 2019. I encourage everyone to read his book (for more information go to www.DennisSchleicher.net). Thank you Dennis for sharing your story. You are one of the most courageous persons I know. Thanks for blessing 1000s
Episode 107: Bryan Young, Married & LDS, Daughter Holland died of Brain Cancer at age 4.
Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
04/07/19 • 90 min
My friend Bryan Young shares his journey losing a daughter to brain cancer after medical outcomes and priesthood blessings indicating she would survive. It is a faith promoting journey to wrestle with complicated circumstances to understand God’s plan and using the Temple and prayer to understand. Bryan is a frequent fireside speaker and author of ‘Meant for Heaven, A Little Girl’s Journey to Paradise https://deseretbook.com/p/meant-for-heaven-a-little-girls-journey-to-paradise?variant_id=150506-paperback Bryan’s story is very helpful when the hoped for outcome doesn’t occur which is part of our journey in mortality. Bryan also shares helpful insights about our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. Thank you, Bryan for being on the podcast. You story brought many tears to my eyes and increased understanding of the importance of coming unto Christ.
Episode 120: Lee Liston, RM, Less Active, Former YSA Ward Member, Gifted Man
Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
05/02/19 • 82 min
My dear friend Lee Liston shares his journey serving a mission in the Philippines, returning home and being in our YSA Ward, his journey as a little person including being on the TLC TV show My Little Life (https://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/my-little-life/), commitment to personal fitness (/www.instagram.com/lee_liston), and why staying active in the Church has been difficult. I put on my former ‘YSA Bishop Hat’ and gently offer up some suggestions to Lee to consider to possibly return to full activity and some thoughts about his future. It’s a vulnerable, honest and real podcast. Lee is also part of this FB post about labels that was picked up by LDS Living for a story https://www.facebook.com/richard.ostler.5/posts/10214214874518955 Thank you Lee for the chance to catch up and for sharing some of your journey. You are a great man and friend. Love you, brother.
Episode 112: Mark and Emily Nelson, Active LDS, Gay Son
Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
04/18/19 • 80 min
My friends Mark and Emily share their family story raising 5 sons including their 16 year old son Samuel who is gay. They share the story of Samuel coming out as gay, the difficult road he is on (including being bullied), and personal revelation regarding their wonderful son Samuel. Emily talks about the community she found at ‘I’ll Walk With You (LDS parent group with LGBTQ children https://www.facebook.com/groups/WalkWithYouLDSParentsOfLGBTQ/) and Mark shares the talk he gave in Church in early 2019 about the doctrine of Christ and how it is applied to our LGBTQ family members (his talk is at https://www.facebook.com/emily.e.nelson.92/posts/10219436843341822) Thank you Mark and Emily for sharing your story. It will help so many parents of LGBTQ family members know how to navigate this road using the doctrine of family and of Christ. You are all awesome.
Episode 115: Dr. Julie de Azevedo Hanks, Active LDS, Therapist & Owner Wasatch Family Therapy
Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
04/23/19 • 84 min
My friend Dr. Julie Hanks, married mother of 4 and 2 grandchildren, brings decades of clinical therapy expertise and first-hand experience to share insights to better understand and minister to those with a fixed-faith marriage and those in a faith crisis. Julie also has great insights into how women feel in our church and how to improve their overall experience. I encourage everyone to listen to this podcast for better insights on how to bear, mourn and comfort helping us all better come unto Christ.
Episode 736: Zak Hazlett, The Outdoor Therapist
Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler
02/14/24 • 66 min
My friend Zak Hazlett (Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from BYU) joins us from his home in Moab, Utah to talk about his life mission to bring more kindness, love, understanding into our community. Zak (who grew up running rivers in Southern Utah) talks about merging this love of the outdoors and his desire to help others into a career as a therapist and relationship coach—which is captured in his fast-growing Instagram Account called @the_outdoor_therapist. In the podcast, Zak talks about how to better love and accept ourselves, love others, learn to forgive ourselves/others, find hope/healing and be a better people. Zak also talks about working as a student therapist in the BYU Comprehensive Clinic—where he had many visits with queer BYU students. He talks about what he learned, how to better listen, how we don’t always have the answer, how his heart changed, and how he loves this group of people. I was deeply moved listening to Zak—his great heart—his work—and his ability to communicate principles in an effective and practical way to bless others/help ourselves. Zak represents a rising generation focused on love, understanding, inclusion and healing. Zak—and thousands more like him—give me hope for the future. Honored to have you on the podcast. I encourage everyone to listen to the episode and follow your Instagram account. Links: Zak’s Instagram Account: @the_outdoor_therapist
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FAQ
How many episodes does Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler have?
Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler currently has 813 episodes available.
What topics does Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler cover?
The podcast is about Religion & Spirituality and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler?
The episode title 'Episode 285: Diahan Southard, Active LDS, Founder and CEO of Your DNA Guide' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler?
The average episode length on Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler is 73 minutes.
How often are episodes of Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler released?
Episodes of Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler are typically released every 2 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler?
The first episode of Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler was released on Feb 10, 2018.
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