Did you ever struggle with your identity as a Mormon? Did you ever feel like who you were inside didn’t fit the Mormon mold?
Have you ever been estranged from family over religious differences? Are you suffering with the idea that reconciliation will never happen?
Join us now for this epic and inspiring Mormon Stories Podcast episode which covers so many essential topics including:
- Faith, family, commitment.
- Divorce. Estrangement.
- Excommunication and re-baptism.
- Faith crisis issues.
- Family reconciliation after 17 years of estrangement.
These are thoughtful, wise, and inspiring humans – and you will not regret time spent on this episode. It will restore your faith that relationships can be reconciled after estrangement from a faith crisis.
This interview referenced the below past episodes of Mormon Stories for those interested:
770-773: Laurie Lee Hall – Standing in my truth, Walking in my faith
Part 1 – Jennifer describes the first 40 years of her life growing up as a Mormon in Idaho:
Part 2 – Jennifer talks about reconciling her gender identity and her Mormon faith:
Part 3 – Steph shares her perspective of the separation from her parent:
Part 4 – Jennifer talks about her experience rejoining the Mormon Church:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
I am just through part 1 of this podcast. I cannot fathom what goes through the mind of someone who is transgender. If I met Jennifer I would probably want to be her friend. I like her personality and her way of so openly talking. If a person listens to her story with an open mind, I am sure it would help them have empathy for people who struggle with this, just as it did for me. Without knowing her whole story, I get the feeling that she has struggled so much and felt so alone. I am sorry for that. It must have been hard for those close to her to understand that she didn’t hurt anyone on purpose. I wish for healing for all of them – for her and her family. I hope that I would be the kind of friend who could be trusted enough that if someone faced this sort of thing, that they could at least talk to me, even if they didn’t think I’d “get it.” This is what this interview has done for me. It’s making me aware and a chance to be kinder to people that I never really thought much about before. I will listen to the rest of the parts. Thanks for this interview.
Hi Margaret,
Thank you very much for your kind words. The purpose of course of the work that John does is to build bridges of understanding and to help people. I’m glad to hear that our interview has had that effect in your own experience.
The telling of our story has been very healing for us as a family. Some of us are now talking with great respect and understanding who have not spoken in decades, so it is a beautiful thing all around.
By the way, feel free to contact me at:
jenniferblackwell390@gmail.com as I would love to be your friend. :)
All the best,
Jennifer