Podcast appearances and mentions of laurie lee hall

“We have direct access to light and knowledge and power, and we have the right—the divinely given right—to take that power, even if it says to us something different from how the authorities or power structures over us may be thinking. If it's the thing that's right and true for ourselves, we are benefited when we follow the dictates of our own conscience,” says Laurie Lee Hall. She joins Susan and Cynthia in Episode 217 for a conversation about trusting ourselves in the journey toward wholeness. Laurie Lee's personal experiences bear out her advice: “We nourish [the Spirit] by hearing it, recognizing it, expressing internal appreciation for it, and acting upon it.”

This week, we're featuring a powerful episode from Family Proclamations, part of the Dialogue Podcast Network! Laurie Lee Hall seemed to have it all: a thriving career as the chief architect for the Church of Jesus… The post DPN Featured Episode: Family Proclamations – Trans in the Latter Days (with Laurie Lee Hall) appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

This week, we're featuring a powerful episode from Family Proclamations, part of the Dialogue Podcast Network! Laurie Lee Hall seemed to have it all: a thriving career as the chief architect for the Church of Jesus… The post DPN Featured Episode: Family Proclamations – Trans in the Latter Days (with Laurie Lee Hall) appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

This week, we're featuring a powerful episode from Family Proclamations, part of the Dialogue Podcast Network! Laurie Lee Hall seemed to have it all: a thriving career as the chief architect for the Church of Jesus… The post DPN Featured Episode: Family Proclamations – Trans in the Latter Days (with Laurie Lee Hall) appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

On this special episode of Mormonish Podcast, Rebecca and Landon are invited to tape an episode from Signature Books headquarters itself as we interview the wonderful Laurie Lee Hall and editor Barbara Jones Brown about Laurie Lee's upcoming memoir, "Dictates of Conscience: From Mormon High Priest to my New Life as a Woman."Laurie Lee delves into her life as the LDS Chief Temple Architect, meetings with upper LDS church leadership, keeping and losing her job, church discipline, finding love, the LDS church's updated trans policy, and more. Make sure to order Laurie Lee's book, you'll love it!https://www.amazon.com/Dictates-Conscience-Mormon-Priest-Woman/dp/1560854790***How to DONATE to Mormonish Podcast: If you would like to help financially support our podcast, you can DONATE to support Mormonish Podcast here:DONATE THROUGH DONORBOXhttps://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcastMormonish Podcast is a 501(c) (3) https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast ****WE HAVE MERCH! **** If you'd like to purchase Mormonish Merch, you can visit our Merch store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mormonishmerch We appreciate our Mormonish viewers and listeners so much! Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to Mormonish Podcast.

“Family Proclamations” is the current podcast by Blair Hodges, host of Fireside. Enjoy this sample episode and be sure to subscribe directly to Family Proclamations now, because this episode will fall out of the Fireside feed next month!

Laurie Lee Hall was a promising college student studying architecture, and she was known to the world as a man. When she encountered The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints she saw a well-defined path that fit the gender she was assigned at birth. So she buried her past to become the perfect Mormon man.  Wearing her male disguise, she married, had children, and rose to the position of chief architect for the LDS Church, overseeing its most sacred building projects. But her past refused to stay buried. Could she become who she really was without risking her family, her career, and her church membership? Her whole world? About the Guest Laurie Lee Hall is author of Dictates of Conscience: From Mormon High Priest to My New Life as a Woman. She was raised in New England and trained in architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Her career included managing design and construction programs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as its chief architect. She simultaneously served in several ecclesiastical leadership positions until her church excommunicated her following her gender transition. Since then she has served on the executive committee of Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families & Friends. In 2023, she became the first transgender recipient of Affirmation's Paul Mortensen Award, for leadership within the LGBTQ/Mormon-­adjacent community. She and her partner, Nancy Beaman, live in Kentucky and have nine children and twenty-­four grandchildren.

My friend Laurie Lee Hall (convert, former Director of LDS Temple Design and Construction, former Stake President, in her early 60s) joins us to share her story. Laurie Lee talks about her lifelong journey to manage her gender dysphoria and eventually “live as the woman I am”. Laurie Lee talks about the impossible choices she faced in this journey as a successful 20-year Church employee (the last part in the physical facilities department—one of her last projects being the expanded Provo MTC) and serving as a Stake President. That led to Laurie Lee's Church employment ending and losing her Church membership. Laurie Lee talks about continuing (for a time) to participate in a new ward and being accepted in Relief Society—and the joy/belonging she felt. She talks about “living as Laurie Lee and the peace it brings me”, the new August 2024 handbook changes restricting transgender members, concerns about a “surveillance culture”—all of which are covered (and more) in her new book. Laurie Lee also talks about two meetings she and I shared around 2016/17 when I was trying to become a better ally by listening to my LGBTQ friends. Thank you, Laurie Lee, for being on the podcast, writing your book, bringing beauty to Latter-day Saint buildings/temples, choosing to stay alive, continuing to make the world a better place, and doing the best you can with impossible choices. This world is a better place because of Laurie Lee Hall. If you are looking to better understand/support our transgender friends, please listen to this episode and read her book. Thank you, Laurie Lee, for being on the podcast. You are awesome! Links: Amazon (kindle and book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHY2YJ6C Signature Books: https://www.signaturebooks.com/books/p/dictates-of-conscience

In this episode, we interview Laurie Lee Hall, a former bishop, stake president, and temple designer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who later came out as transgender while serving as a Stake President. Laurie shares her journey of growing up with a gender identity that didn't match how she felt, her experiences on a church mission, and attending Affirmation for LGBTQ+ Latter-day Saints. She also discusses her work designing temples, her struggles with the 2015 Exclusion Policy for children of gay couples, her excommunication, and the church's evolving policies on transgender individuals. Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

In this amazing comeback episode, Jill sits down with Laurie Lee Hall, a transgender woman, who goes through her experience with gender dysmorphia and how that has created conflict within the confines of faith and the LDS chruch. 

Would you like an inside look at LDS temple building? On this episode of Mormonish Podcast, Rebecca and Landon are so honored to be joined by Laurie Lee Hall to discuss her career building temples for the LDS church.Laurie Lee was the chief LDS temple architect for 15 years, and also served as the director of design and construction for special projects and temples. She oversaw the design and building of 40 LDS temples. She also held several ecclesiastical leadership positions, including bishop and stake president.Laurie Lee is one of the most fascinating guests we have ever had on Mormonish. The information she shares about temple building and her perspectives on the current temple building controversies is invaluable. Laurie Lee Hall's new book "Dictates of Conscience: From Mormon High Priest to My New Life as a Woman" comes out on November 2024 and we hope you will all preorder a copy to learn more about her fascinating and incredible journey.***How to DONATE to Mormonish Podcast:IF YOU"RE WONDERING WHERE TO MAKE THOSE END OF YEAR DONATIONS, DONATE TO MORMONISH THROUGH DONORBOXhttps://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcastMormonish Podcast is a 501(c) (3) https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast ****WE HAVE MERCH! **** If you'd like to purchase Mormonish Merch, you can visit our Merch store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mormonishmerch We appreciate our Mormonish viewers and listeners so much! Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to Mormonish Podcast. You can contact Mormonish Podcast at: mormonishpodcast@gmail.comFAIR USE DISCLAIMER All Media in this video (including the thumbnail) is used for the purpose of review and critique. The images in the thumbnail are used as the primary means of visually identifying the subject matter of the video.

Laurie Lee Hall's growing-up years were defined by the conflict between her physical condition as a boy and her inherent identity as a girl. Unable to explain or resolve her gender dysphoria, she committed to living her adult life as... The post 859 Laurie Lee Hall appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Laurie Lee Hall was the Chief Architect for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Designing and overseeing some of Mormonism's most sacred spaces, this former Stake President and bishop made one of the most profound decisions of her life: authenticity. Laurie sits down with Latter Gay Stories in a follow up to her last interview (episode 168) and she shares with us her just published memoir, “Dictates of Conscience: From Mormon High Priest to My New Life as a Woman.” In this interview, Laurie pulls back the curtain to share a “behind the scene” look at how the First Presidency and other top church leaders govern the affairs of the church. She discusses her transition, excommunication, and restrictions placed on her because of her power to live her “eternal identity.” Through the power of lived experience, this interview affirms the reality of gender identity and the strength and joy of self-acceptance. Pick up Laurie Lee's book on Amazon or directly through Signature Books. #LatterGayStories #LaurieLeeHall #DictatesOfConscience

Chosen Path, a memoir by D. Michael Quinn is a story of self-denial and inner struggle, while Michael strove to follow through on his personal commitments faithfully. The memoir, published by Signature Books is an intimate look into the life of one of Mormonism's most prolific historians of church governance and LGBTQ intersections. Moshe Quinn, son of Michael Quinn and Barbara Jones Brown sit down to share a story of truth, struggle, excommunication, and honor. The book is available at your local bookstore, or available online through Signature Books and Amazon. Moshe is the youngest son of Mormon historian, D Michael Quinn. In some ways intersecting between them, Moshe has pursued the humanities and the arts through his life, with more emphasis than his father on the arts. He lives in the Bay Area where he teaches photography, digital art and filmmaking with high school students. Barbara Jones Brown is a historian and the director of Signature Books Publishing. She is excited that Signature has just published D. Michael Quinn's memoir, Chosen Path, and will be also be publishing the memoir of Laurie Lee Hall, a leader in the transgender community. In May 2024, Signature will also publish The Book of Queer Mormon Joy, an anthology of personal stories from across the LGBTQ spectrum.

It is Pride Month, and given the current and intense politicalization of the rights of transgender individuals, we are pleased to present here an encore of a conversation between Laurie Lee Hall and LDF host Dan Wotherspoon. Originally presented under the umbrella of how different people view God as gendered or not, Laurie Lee shares her experiences as a transgender woman and Latter-day Saint. She shares her story of presenting as a man for the first fifty years of her life, all the while feeling her spirit is female. During this time, she became an architect who worked for the LDS church for many years designing temples, meeting houses, and other church buildings. She was also married with children and served a full term as a stake president.  She eventually knew that she could no longer live with her outside presentation being at odds with her true self and shared her truth with her family, general authorities, and those with whom she served in her stake. This led to many upheavals, including divorce, losing her job with the church, as well as her church membership. All along the way, Laurie Lee had very powerful experiences with God that she touches on here. She also shares the outline of her life and relationships today. This is a powerful episode--one that would be good to share with those who do not understand transgender experience. So many people follow along with the political attacks on these persons, as well using their religious beliefs as weapons and excuses for not truly trying to understand transgender individuals and the violence that is being done to these fellow children of God through their rhetoric and actions.  Listen in!

Join Jill and Laurie Lee Hall for the first episode of 2023. Laurie Lee gracously shares her expereince as a transgender woman and her relationship with the LDS church.

At age five Laurie Lee Hall knew she was different, but she didn't have words for what the “difference” was. For her, language—and better understanding wouldn't come until many decades later. Few transgender people have had more influence on Mormonism than Laurie Lee Hall. Prior to (and sometimes during) her process of transition she served as a Bishop, Stake President, and Chief Architect for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She designed numerous temples, chapels, designed the rebuilding of the Provo City Center Temple, and the design of the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. Did the First Presidency and other Church officials know she was transgender? Yes! And how they interacted and treated her is part of this interview. Laurie's story is fascinating look at Mormonism, the inner workings of the church, and how honesty and authenticity create incredibly beautiful and resilient people. #LaurieLeeHall #LDSChurch #Transgender #FirstPresidency #ProvoTemple #LatterGayStories

Launched in the 1970s, Affirmation is the oldest support group for LGBTQ members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The mission, according to Affirmation's website is to create “worldwide communities of safety, love and hope” and to promote “understanding, acceptance and self-determination of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions” as members define “their individual spirituality and intersection with [the church.]” Just as the Utah-based faith has evolved in its understanding of and approach to its LGBTQ members, Affirmation has expanded as well — across the country and around the world. It hosts annual meetings in several nations. Affirmation recently gathered in Utah for its first in-person conference in three years. On this week's show, President Nathan Kitchen, Vice President Laurie Lee Hall and board member Melissa Malcolm King talk about the 45-year-old group, its expectations for the future, and how it has changed through the years.

For many, Latter-day Saint teachings about God as consisting of embodied beings and being a literal Divine Couple have been very empowering as it carves out space for the divine feminine. But descriptions of God fall short—trying to use words for what is indescribable. But even more vital than how we “think” about God is how we “experience” God. Even if we are taught that God is gendered, do we experience God that way? As we seek God and feel we've connected with the Divine, is the element of gender part of it? Some say they do and it is while others report it that they don't. Several weeks ago, Latter-day Faith hosted two “virtual firesides” on this very topic. In preparation for a larger discussion those evenings, we asked four thoughtful people to prepare a few thoughts about God and the question of gender, and then we had them lead off in these firesides. All provided powerful glimpses into their own thinking about God as well as wonderful framings for the discussions. And most shared personal details about how their thinking and experiencing of God changed in their lives. Because we do not record our virtual firesides (as we want all who participate to feel safe should they choose to share things so close to their hearts), we have decided to release two episodes featuring their presentations along with some discussion with LDF host Dan Wotherspoon. Part 1 (released a week ago) features conversations with Derek Knox and Kajsa Berlin-Kaufusi. Part 2 (this episode) features Susan Hinckley and Laurie Lee Hall. You will be so glad you experienced these conversations!

For many, Latter-day Saint teachings about God as consisting of embodied beings and being a literal Divine Couple have been very empowering as it carves out space for the divine feminine. But descriptions of God fall short—trying to use words for what is indescribable. But even more vital than how we “think” about God is how we "experience" God. Even if we are taught that God is gendered, do we experience God that way? As we seek God and feel we've connected with the Divine, is the element of gender part of it? Some say they do and it is while others report it that they don't. Several weeks ago, Latter-day Faith hosted two "virtual firesides" on this very topic. In preparation for a larger discussion those evenings, we asked four thoughtful people to prepare a few thoughts about God and the question of gender, and then we had them lead off in these firesides. All provided powerful glimpses into their own thinking about God as well as wonderful framings for the discussions. And most shared personal details about how their thinking and experiencing of God changed in their lives. Because we do not record our virtual firesides (as we want all who participate to feel safe should they choose to share things so close to their hearts), we have decided to release two episodes featuring their presentations along with some discussion with LDF host Dan Wotherspoon. Part 1 features these conversations with Derek Knox and Kajsa Berlin-Kaufusi. Part 2 features Laurie Lee Hall and Susan Hinckley. Tune in this week and next! You will discover great insight and wisdom, and you will be moved by the courage of the presenters in sharing elements of their very personal journeys.

In this episode, we interview Laurie Lee Hall. Laurie Lee was raised in New England and was trained in architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in upstate New York. A practicing architect for over thirty years, her career has included managing worldwide construction programs and many of the largest projects of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including being the Chief Architect for the LDS Church and Director of Design and/or Construction for around 40 LDS temples. She has served as both a bishop and stake president in Utah before coming out as a trans woman and later being excommunicated. Laurie Lee has also served as Vice President of Affirmation and is a fierce advocate for queer people.Some things Laurie Lee talks about in this episode includes:Realizing her gender incongruence at the age of 5Being a church employee for over 20 years and serving in many ecclesiastical rolesWorking with Affirmation to help make it more inclusive and welcoming for trans and gender diverse individualsTo hear Laurie Lee Hall talk further about her experiences working for the church, you can check out the following videos on YouTube:Laurie Lee Hall, 2019 Affirmation International ConferenceCreating Sacred Spaces | Laurie Lee HallFor episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nathan Kitchen, President of Affirmations, and Laurie Lee Hall, SVP, join Natasha on this episode of Mormon Mental Health. They join and discuss the impact of the reversal of the “exclusion policy”. They focus on the approach that Affirmations uses: Name what is hurting you and what is wounding you Feel safe to name your beliefs or non beliefs Do so in a supportive and civil way Does your community allow for you to be happy right now For more on Affirmations, please go here: https://affirmation.org Kevin is a father of 5, dentist in Arizona, engaged to his fiancé. Laurie Lee is a previous bishop and stake president which ended when the brethren found out she was transgender. She is an architect with a private practice in Salt lake City and Tennessee. Several things were referenced in the podcast including: John Bonner’s essay on the policy and what the church could have said: https://www.facebook.com/john.bonner1/posts/10158390319904942?hc_location=ufi Affirmations Reaction to the policy: https://affirmation.org/reversal-of-the-november-2015-policy-on-gay-families/?fbclid=IwAR35l859YDWDpOjozGj60KrSbocX6Kmyt7dNXJ9gwuEukG93KgfDbrLTc-s Stories and Reactions of the November 2015 Policy Reversal https://affirmation.org/tag/nov-15-policy-gay-families-reversal/?fbclid=IwAR3gRKw3tBTHSfknnUHGA71rrGDSViUhu5avSB6vwnRMogEuB3pJJg7Ccg4 Local Chapters of Affirmations: https://affirmation.org/chapters/?fbclid=IwAR3CAV7YzUgTQhSlMSAYmbD4RNs3dNokAeAE8Xj8T6hqHGU0QTS05JD9BY4 Upcoming Affirmation Conferences and Events: https://affirmation.org/upcoming-conferences-and-featured-events/?fbclid=IwAR32LP81Zk-jEjoJ4h11jovqX1jOnjAsUnW2rieJgbDO1IsxLlFwdat-7f4 To keep the podcast alive past 2019, please donate at https://www.mormonmentalhealth.org

103 | The Latter Gay Stories Podcast rebroadcasts An Evening With Affirmation, featuring speakers Nathan Kitchen and Laurie Lee Hall. Nathan Kitchen is the current President of Affirmation and Laurie Lee Hall serves as the Senior Vice President of Affirmation. In this episode, Nathan Kitchen and Laurie Lee Hall discuss their vision for Affirmation and their hope for the future of LGBT people. Laurie Lee Hall, the former Chief Architect for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a modern day miracle. The spaces she created for the LDS church include the newly constructed Provo, Utah MTC, the historic Tabernacle at Temple Square, many chapels, exquisite temples, local meeting houses and even the famed Provo City Center Temple. Listen as Laurie tells her story of building sacred spaces, while building authenticity within herself.

A state lawmaker is proposing a measure that would prevent Utahns from changing the sex designated on their birth certificates. Such a move would set a “very dangerous” precedent, argues Laurie Lee Hall, a former stake president and temple architect who was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for living as a transgender woman. “ … It would ultimately wind up, without hyperbole at all, erasing transgender people from existence.” Hall, who appears on this week’s “Mormon Land” podcast, also notes that she has no issue with the faith’s so-called family proclamation, which declares that “gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." She “relates” to it. After all, Hall says, she always has been — and forever will be — a woman. “But I don't seem to relate to that in the way that most in the church interpret it,” she adds. “What they're really thinking, I think, when they read that is that biological sex determines who you are and that at the end of the day you will always be whatever your biological sex was.” Hall shares her thoughts on the proposed bill, President Dallin H. Oaks' October sermon on gender issues and more.

Every time a new temple is announced, especially when it is to be built in the developing world, it's not very long before discussions begin to arise about the priority the LDS Church puts on building temples. Soon after that, some will begin to ask about these (expensive) buildings and if that money used to build and operate them longterm might not be better put toward feeding people and alleviating poverty or seeking to end other social ills. And, finally, the question of tithing will inevitably then arise: Is tithing, as practiced in Mormonism, fair? Is it right to require people who live in dire (by most North American standards) circumstances to pay tithing—sometimes, it will be argued, meaning they will make the choice to be obedient to that law even if it means not eating as well or paying for medicine?    In this episode, the wonderful Laurie Lee Hall and Jim Smithson join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for a goodly wrestle with these questions. Without pre-conceived answers nor the thought that there is only one way to respond to these competing priorities, the two panelists share their experiences within the Church's Temple Department and its Research Division, respectively, as well as perspectives they gained through their extensive travels around the world on behalf of the church. Laurie Lee shares an overview of temple building in the past half-century and what she has gathered through the years as the factors that are considered before they are announced and as leaders determine their size and the costs of building and maintaining them, as well as improving and protecting the area immediately adjacent to them. Jim speaks to his experiences interviewing and interacting with Saints around the world as he spoke with them about various church programs and policies and how they affect their religious lives. And it all gets complicated and more personally affecting as Dan inserts aspects of the issues spoken of above. Do these international Saints, especially those in the developing world, share the same concerns that many here do about temple costs and how the law of tithing may affect them differently? Are we who might make these arguments projecting our feelings and sensibilities about the tragedies of their lives onto them? Is it proper to question, from our perspectives, Church priorities? Are their aspects of temple work and tithing that might lie beyond that which is quantifiable by counting dollars and cents? What good fruits can come into our lives as we wrestle in these areas? Please listen and then share your ideas in the comments section!

Every time a new temple is announced, especially when it is to be built in the developing world, it's not very long before discussions begin to arise about the priority the LDS Church puts on building temples. Soon after that, some will begin to ask about these (expensive) buildings and if that money used to build and operate them longterm might not be better put toward feeding people and alleviating poverty or seeking to end other social ills. And, finally, the question of tithing will inevitably then arise: Is tithing, as practiced in Mormonism, fair? Is it right to require people who live in dire (by most North American standards) circumstances to pay tithing—sometimes, it will be argued, meaning they will make the choice to be obedient to that law even if it means not eating as well or paying for medicine?  In this episode, the wonderful Laurie Lee Hall and Jim Smithson join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for a goodly wrestle with these questions. Without pre-conceived answers nor the thought that there is only one way to respond to these competing priorities, the two panelists share their experiences within the Church's Temple Department and its Research Division, respectively, as well as perspectives they gained through their extensive travels around the world on behalf of the church. Laurie Lee shares an overview of temple building in the past half-century and what she has gathered through the years as the factors that are considered before they are announced and as leaders determine their size and the costs of building and maintaining them, as well as improving and protecting the area immediately adjacent to them. Jim speaks to his experiences interviewing and interacting with Saints around the world as he spoke with them about various church programs and policies and how they affect their religious lives. And it all gets complicated and more personally affecting as Dan inserts aspects of the issues spoken of above. Do these international Saints, especially those in the developing world, share the same concerns that many here do about temple costs and how the law of tithing may affect them differently? Are we who might make these arguments projecting our feelings and sensibilities about the tragedies of their lives onto them? Is it proper to question, from our perspectives, Church priorities? Are their aspects of temple work and tithing that might lie beyond that which is quantifiable by counting dollars and cents? What good fruits can come into our lives as we wrestle in these areas? Please listen and then share your ideas in the comments section!

Laurie Dipadova-Stocks, a former Stake Relief Society President; Royleane Otteson, a former Ward Relief Society President, and Laurie Lee Hall a former Stake President and now an excommunicated transwoman attending Relief Society discuss women's ministry in the LDS Church. They speak candidly about what has gone wrong and how it can be fixed.

Happy New Year, Mormon Matters listeners!  To start 2018, I asked many of my friends if they would consider writing prayers for the new year or share favorite prayers they have gained strength from in the past. More than twenty responded! Recordings of them reading these prayers are included in this three-part episode, along with brief introductions of each person and a bit of background about the prayer they wrote or chose to share. They are diverse, and range from prayers in pretty standard Mormon forms, to prayer-poems, and prose essays. The participants represent a variety of voices and perspectives: women, men, believers, agnostics/atheists, engaged Latter-day Saints, lapsed Mormons, and two women who are attending divinity school. All share one thing, though: They have been on marvelous, integrity-filled journeys with God/Spirit/the Universe. I know you will really enjoy getting to know them and their hearts in this intimate way. Part 1 (Ep. 438) features prayers from: Susan Hinckley, Eric Samuelsen, Lisa Scott, Rick Jepson, Sonja Farnsworth, Tom Kimball, Megan Kjar Christiansen, and Richard Ostler. Part 2 (Ep. 439) features prayers from: Laurie Lee Hall, Scott Turley, Gina Colvin, Scot Denhalter, Jody England Hansen, Stephen Carter, Merrie Smithson, John Gustav-Wrathall, Fiona Givens, and Joseph Stanford Part 3 (Ep. 440) features prayers from: Becky and Shannon Linford, Mark Crego, Katie Langston, Leon Maynard, Sydnie Olsen, Greg Olsen, Carol Lynn Pearson, and Dan Wotherspoon  

Happy New Year, Mormon Matters listeners!  To start 2018, I asked many of my friends if they would consider writing prayers for the new year or share favorite prayers they have gained strength from in the past. More than twenty responded! Recordings of them reading these prayers are included in this three-part episode, along with brief introductions of each person and a bit of background about the prayer they wrote or chose to share. They are diverse, and range from prayers in pretty standard Mormon forms, to prayer-poems, and prose essays. The participants represent a variety of voices and perspectives: women, men, believers, agnostics/atheists, engaged Latter-day Saints, lapsed Mormons, and two women who are attending divinity school. All share one thing, though: They have been on marvelous, integrity-filled journeys with God/Spirit/the Universe. I know you will really enjoy getting to know them and their hearts in this intimate way. Part 1 (Ep. 438) features prayers from: Susan Hinckley, Eric Samuelsen, Lisa Scott, Rick Jepson, Sonja Farnsworth, Tom Kimball, Megan Kjar Christiansen, and Richard Ostler. Part 2 (Ep. 439) features prayers from: Laurie Lee Hall, Scott Turley, Gina Colvin, Scot Denhalter, Jody England Hansen, Stephen Carter, Merrie Smithson, John Gustav-Wrathall, Fiona Givens, and Joseph Stanford Part 3 (Ep. 440) features prayers from: Becky and Shannon Linford, Mark Crego, Katie Langston, Leon Maynard, Sydnie Olsen, Greg Olsen, Carol Lynn Pearson, and Dan Wotherspoon  

Happy New Year, Mormon Matters listeners!  To start 2018, I asked many of my friends if they would consider writing prayers for the new year or share favorite prayers they have gained strength from in the past. More than twenty responded! Recordings of them reading these prayers are included in this three-part episode, along with brief introductions of each person and a bit of background about the prayer they wrote or chose to share. They are diverse, and range from prayers in pretty standard Mormon forms, to prayer-poems, and prose essays. The participants represent a variety of voices and perspectives: women, men, believers, agnostics/atheists, engaged Latter-day Saints, lapsed Mormons, and two women who are attending divinity school. All share one thing, though: They have been on marvelous, integrity-filled journeys with God/Spirit/the Universe. I know you will really enjoy getting to know them and their hearts in this intimate way. Part 1 (Ep. 438) features prayers from: Susan Hinckley, Eric Samuelsen, Lisa Scott, Rick Jepson, Sonja Farnsworth, Tom Kimball, Megan Kjar Christiansen, and Richard Ostler. Part 2 (Ep. 439) features prayers from: Laurie Lee Hall, Scott Turley, Gina Colvin, Scot Denhalter, Jody England Hansen, Stephen Carter, Merrie Smithson, John Gustav-Wrathall, Fiona Givens, and Joseph Stanford Part 3 (Ep. 440) features prayers from: Becky and Shannon Linford, Mark Crego, Katie Langston, Leon Maynard, Sydnie Olsen, Greg Olsen, Carol Lynn Pearson, and Dan Wotherspoon  

Salt Lake Tribune senior religion reporter Peggy Fletcher Stack and managing editor David Noyce talk with Laurie Lee Hall about her transition from a former stake president and LDS temple architect to a transgender woman.

In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview former LDS Stake President and LDS Chief Architect Laurie Lee Hall. Laurie Lee’s story is fascinating on many levels: Laurie Lee worked for 20 years as Chief Architect for the LDS Church and as Director of Design and/or Construction for around 40 LDS temples. She served as Stake President of the Tooele Utah Valley View Stake in Tooele, Utah for 8 years. While she remembers identifying internally as a woman from a very young age, she began to experience intense pressure to transition to female while serving as an LDS Stake President. This ultimately led to her being released as stake president after 8 years of service. About two months ago Laurie Lee was excommunicated stemming from her decision to transition gender presentation while living in her home ward/stake. Laurie Lee and her spouse have been married 32 years this month and are the parents of five children and 11 grandchildren. Laurie Lee remains a believer in many of the core tenets of Mormonism (e.g., Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the atonement), and reads the Book of Mormon daily.

In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview former LDS Stake President and LDS Chief Architect Laurie Lee Hall. Laurie Lee’s story is fascinating on many levels: Laurie Lee worked for 20 years as Chief Architect for the LDS Church and as Director of Design and/or Construction for around 40 LDS temples. She served as Stake President of the Tooele Utah Valley View Stake in Tooele, Utah for 8 years. While she remembers identifying internally as a woman from a very young age, she began to experience intense pressure to transition to female while serving as an LDS Stake President. This ultimately led to her being released as stake president after 8 years of service. About two months ago Laurie Lee was excommunicated stemming from her decision to transition gender presentation while living in her home ward/stake. Laurie Lee and her spouse have been married 32 years this month and are the parents of five children and 11 grandchildren. Laurie Lee remains a believer in many of the core tenets of Mormonism (e.g., Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the atonement), and reads the Book of Mormon daily.

In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview former LDS Stake President and LDS Chief Architect Laurie Lee Hall. Laurie Lee’s story is fascinating on many levels: Laurie Lee worked for 20 years as Chief Architect for the LDS Church and as Director of Design and/or Construction for around 40 LDS temples. She served as Stake President of the Tooele Utah Valley View Stake in Tooele, Utah for 8 years. While she remembers identifying internally as a woman from a very young age, she began to experience intense pressure to transition to female while serving as an LDS Stake President. This ultimately led to her being released as stake president after 8 years of service. About two months ago Laurie Lee was excommunicated stemming from her decision to transition gender presentation while living in her home ward/stake. Laurie Lee and her spouse have been married 32 years this month and are the parents of five children and 11 grandchildren. Laurie Lee remains a believer in many of the core tenets of Mormonism (e.g., Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the atonement), and reads the Book of Mormon daily.

In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview former LDS Stake President and LDS Chief Architect Laurie Lee Hall. Laurie Lee’s story is fascinating on many levels: Laurie Lee worked for 20 years as Chief Architect for the LDS Church and as Director of Design and/or Construction for around 40 LDS temples. She served as Stake President of the Tooele Utah Valley View Stake in Tooele, Utah for 8 years. While she remembers identifying internally as a woman from a very young age, she began to experience intense pressure to transition to female while serving as an LDS Stake President. This ultimately led to her being released as stake president after 8 years of service. About two months ago Laurie Lee was excommunicated stemming from her decision to transition gender presentation while living in her home ward/stake. Laurie Lee and her spouse have been married 32 years this month and are the parents of five children and 11 grandchildren. Laurie Lee remains a believer in many of the core tenets of Mormonism (e.g., Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the atonement), and reads the Book of Mormon daily.