Episode 25: "Sacred all the way through" — Owning Her Lesbian Self Part II

Right click here to download the mp3.

Art by Marcia Snedecor

Here is the second half of the interview with Stacey where she tells about coming out as a lesbian, getting her master's degree, continuing her relationship with her husband through their divorce and departure from the church, and finding her feet as a whole self.

To leave comments and for resources, please see Part I of Stacey's story.

As you leave comments, remember that Daughters of Mormonism seeks to provide a safe place for women to share their stories. This is a real story from a real person. Please see the Comment Policy for further details.

Episode 24: "Sacred all the way through" — Owning Her Lesbian Self Part I

Right click here to download the mp3.

Art by Marcia Snedecor

After her mother converted to Mormonism, Stacey was baptized a member of the church at age eight. The church offered her a place of safety and stability in the midst of difficult family life. She went on to attend BYU, serve a mission, marry a returned missionary in the temple, and have four children. But all the while, she knew she was different. No matter how much she threw herself into being the best possible Mormon, there was always something hiding below the surface ... that she was a lesbian.

Stacey will be watching the comments so she can respond to questions and discuss issues brought up in her story. 

As you leave comments, remember that Daughters of Mormonism seeks to provide a safe place for women to share their stories. This is a real story from a real person. Please see the Comment Policy for further details.

Resources from Stacey

Support Groups

• Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons: Women's Links
• Mormon Lesbian Big Tent Support Group
• Mormon Lesbian Yahoo Group

Books & Articles

• Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
• There's Nothing Wrong with You by Cheri Huber
• Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine
• Article on The Key to Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine
• The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris
• Wikipedia article on panopticon tower structure
• Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams and a review of Refuge
• Review of The God We Never Knew by Marcus Borg

TED Talks

• "The Power of Vulnerability" TED Talk by Brene Brown 
• "Suddenly, my body" TED Talk by Eve Ensler, the author of the Vagina Monologues

Religious Exploration

• Belief-O-Matic "What's Your Faith?" Quiz which takes you through about 20 questions to see where your personal beliefs align with various faiths

Episode 23: Every 3rd Sunday — Fasting for the Goddess

Right click here to download the mp3.

Art by Willow Arlenea

A little while ago, Jena contacted me about a project she has started to fast for revelation about Heavenly Mother. In this episode, she tells her story as she grew in her interest and desire to know her Mother God and how she came to start this project. She extends an invitation to fast on the third Sunday of each month for specific and official revelation about Heavenly Mother. For more detail, check out these links:

• Official "Join the Mother Fast" page
• Jena's original post about her project
• Preparing for the July 2011 fast
• Aftermath of the July 2011 fast
• Jena's Blog: Like Unto Eve

Jena will be watching the comments to 
answer questions or discuss issues 
raised in her interview.

Jena's Recommended Resources 
Articles

• "Yes, You Are" by Sarah D. Bunting on Tomato Nation
• "A Mother There" A Survey of Historical Teachings about Mother in Heaven by David L. Paulsen and Martin Pulido
• Nephi and His Asherah by Daniel Peterson 

Books

• Healing Wise by Susan Weed 
• Eve and the Choice Made in Eden by Beverly Campbell
• Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd

Mormon Matters Podcast

• Ritual within Mormonism
• Heavenly Mother in Today's Mormonism
• Mormon Women and Equality
• Mormon Feminism, Women, and Claudia Bushman Part 1
• Mormon Feminism, Women, and Claudia Bushman Part 2
  

Episode 22: "Choices and Options" — Katrina's Story

Right click here to download the mp3.

Art by Brian Kershisnick

Part of the aim of this podcast is to give voice to our stories as Daughters of Mormonism. This episode is an interview with Katrina, one of our panelists. She shares how her story didn't happen the way she had planned, as she married a divorced man with three children.

When they applied for a sealing clearance so they could marry in the temple, they were denied with no explanation. Katrina moved on from this point to create her own script for her life, including how she would bear her children.

Katrina will be watching the comments to answer questions or discuss issues raised in her interview.



Posts from Katrina's Blog: Musings of a Redhead

• The Story of Miriam's Breech Homebirth
• Birth and Breastfeeding Resources
   
   
• Finding My Inner Feminist Part I
• Finding My Inner Feminist Part II
• Finding My Inner Feminist Part III

Katrina's Photography Websites

• At Mother's Breast Photography Project
• Redbean Photography

Recommended Books

• Mother Wove the Morning by Carol Lynn Pearson
• Introduction to Mother Wove the Morning
• Beginnings and Beyond by Carol Lynn Pearson
• Daughters of Light by Carol Lynn Pearson
• The Flight and the Nest by Carol Lynn Pearson
• Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd