At Last She Said It

Telling the truth can be complicated for a Latter-day Saint woman, even if we value honesty. It’s hard to say out loud some of what we’re thinking, feeling, or experiencing. At church or even in our families and close relationships we may self-censor with an ‘okayness’ filter: Is it uplifting? Faith promoting? Too negative? Does it cast the Church in an unfavorable light? Sound contentious? Will I look less worthy/valiant/faithful? And how are others likely to react? In Episode 158, Susan and Cynthia are joined by author/columnist Jana Riess for a conversation about potential upsides and downsides of telling it like it is.

Every faith path is walked one step at a time. Every woman’s story is unique. In Episode 157, Cynthia and Susan are joined by Mer Monson to talk about her journey so far, and how the ground she’s traveled informs the way she’s walking now. It’s a conversation that radiates hard-won wisdom, an inspiring glimpse into one Latter-day Saint woman’s spiritual life.

In this podcast, the hosts delve into the complexities of consent in a Latter-day Saint woman's church life, discussing the importance of true consent in various rituals like baptism and temple ordinances. They also explore the challenges of navigating consent within religious covenants, including the impact of early religious choices and the relationship between consent and polygamous relationships. The conversation highlights the need for transparency, understanding, and empowerment in seeking genuine consent in personal interactions and within the church culture.

For Latter-day Saint women in 1987, expectations outlined by the prophet were explicit: “Mothers in Zion,” he said, “Your God-given roles are so vital to your own exaltation and to the salvation and exaltation of your family.” In episode 155, Susan and Cynthia are joined by Susie Augenstein to break down the messaging mothers received then and have raised children in the shadows of since. It’s no wonder shifts in faith cause strain within families. This conversation is aimed at helping children of women who took President Benson’s words to heart understand why their mothers may sometimes fall into the trap of thinking they’re completely in charge of getting the whole family into heaven.

Tamu Smith, a Black Latter-day Saint, shares personal insights on racism and her experiences in 2023. Topics include a Relief Society lesson on racism, being a Black LDS member, and navigating inclusive ward dynamics. The conversation explores challenges of discussing racism and inclusion within the LDS Church, highlighting personal encounters with exclusion and racism.

Embracing our journey means accepting that every individual’s path is different. While some Latter-day Saint women think about why they stay, others will be thinking about why they make the choice not to. In Episode 153, two women who found stepping away from church engagement to be the right choice for them share their personal stories. It's a conversation about why leaving is not as easy as some members may think, and why staying is not always the best option.

For some Latter-day Saint women, embracing the journey may include reckoning with difficult aspects of the church experience that are specific to women. Some may choose to leave when they find their personal cost exceeds their benefit. In Episode 152, Susan and Cynthia muddy the water around the decision to 'stay' with a frank discussion about things a woman may have to accept, ignore, or sacrifice in order to make that choice.

Every Latter-day Saint woman is on her own journey of faith. We describe it using all kinds of language, and some days the path ahead seems a lot clearer than other days. We each carry our own baggage, our own maps, our own stories of how we came to be where and who we are. Learning to relax into change in this part of our lives can be difficult in a religion where we hear phrases like ‘immovable faith,’ ‘knowing with every fiber of our being,’ and ‘unchanging doctrine.’ In Episode 151, Cynthia and Susan are joined by Aubrey Chaves for a conversation about movement. It’s about reclaiming personal authority, following spiritual energy, and embracing our individual path.

The podcast delves into why some women stay in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, exploring diverse spiritual perspectives. Topics include the evolution of listener engagement, LDS perspective on scripture, embracing grace, expanding spiritual horizons, personal challenges within the LDS community, faith and gender identity, and navigating limitations in church service roles.

Where are you turning for peace these days? It can feel elusive on a shifting path! In bonus Episode 149, Cynthia and Susan revisit an earlier conversation to compare notes and discuss things they’re still learning when it comes to the ongoing challenge of ‘making and doing’ personal peace.