From Crisis to Connection: Richard "Papa" Ostler - Listening to, learning from, and loving our LGBTQ friends and family - Episode 105

I invited Richard "Papa" Ostler, host of his podcast "Listen, Learn, and Love" to join me on this podcast to talk about how we can stay connected to our LGBTQ friends and family.

We discuss: 
What we can specifically do to better support our LGBTQ friends/family
What he's learned from listening to so many unique voices/experiences on his podcast What does it mean to be an "ally"
How we can view someone who identifies as LGBTQ as more than their sexual activity Why people still have difficulty loving/accepting our LGBTQ friends
How to stay out of judgement when listening to stories different from our own
How to truly see people who are different than us

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Richard Ostler Bio:

Richard H. Ostler, a former YSA bishop, speaks at firesides and conferences about how to more fully embrace LGBTQ Latter-day Saints, see their gifts and contributions, and better understand their unique road. He is the host of the Listen, Learn and Love podcast (listenlearnandlove.org) which provides a platform for Latter-day Saints to share their stores on a number of topics.

He is the author of the book Listen Learn and Love:  Embracing LGBTQ Latter-day Saints available at Deseret Book (Deseret Book:  www.deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-and-love-embracing-lgbtq-latter-day-saints and Amazon (amazon.com/dp/1462135773)

He is also the author of two recent Ensign Articles:

“How the Savior’s Healing Power Applies to Repenting from Sexual Sin” (August 2020; YSA Digital Only https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/08/young-adults/how-the-saviors-healing-power-applies-to-repenting-from-sexual-sin) and “7 Tips for Overcoming Pornography Use” (October 2020; page 72, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/10/young-adults/7-tips-for-overcoming-pornography-use). 

He is deeply committed to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to creating more understanding and support for LGBTQ members—a goal started during his service as a YSA bishop as he learned to set aside past assumptions to better fulfill his stewardship responsibility to meet the spiritual needs of LGBTQ ward members.

In addition to serving as a YSA bishop, stake young men’s president, high counselor, and ward mission leader.  He currently services as a temple ordinance worker and Elder Quorum Secretary.  He has BS from the University of Utah and an MBA from Brigham Young University, and is a small business owner. Richard and his wife Sheila live in Salt Lake City, Utah and have six wonderful children, and several grandchildren.