All Out in the Open

On this week’s OUT and About episode, Iese Wilson talks with James Grant, a gay, neurodivergent Latter-day Saint from England currently serving on his stake high council. James shares his journey of coming out after years of denial and the role community and connection played in that process.A former missionary leader introduced James to the Questions from the Closet podcast and Gather Conference, which he later attended with his mom and had a deeply spiritual experience. He found hope and direction through resources that showed him a life of authenticity and faith was possible.

On this month’s ALL Together episode, hosts Liz Macdonald and Michael Soto sit down with Landon Phillips. Landon shares his journey of coming out, transitioning, and stepping into the world of LGBTQ+ advocacy. From focusing on faith-based spaces to working with Equality Arizona, Landon has used his voice as a trans person to foster change at both local and national levels. He also talk about building queer joy and community—including the queer Dungeons & Dragons group he helped launch. This is a conversation about identity, courage, and the power of using your story to create a more inclusive world.

In this week’s OPEN Up episode, Ben and Charlie discuss the concept of deliverance, drawing parallels between the ancient Israelites and the LGBTQ+ community. They explore how the Spirit can push us to act, even when the path is difficult, scary or uncertain. They also acknowledge the trailblazers who helped pave the way for our deliverance and how knowing that others will follow in our footsteps influences our choices.

What does it take to build Zion?This week on IN the Scriptures, Clare Dalton sits down with Patrick Mason, professor of religious studies and history at Utah State University, to discuss Doctrine & Covenants 51-70. These sections follow the early Saints as they moved to Missouri to establish Zion.Clare and Patrick explore what Zion really means and the effort required to create it: We must radically change our hearts and become rooted charity, inclusion and abundance to form a community where of all God’s children feel at home. 

OUT and About: Iese Wilson sits down with Icaro Paraguassú, who shares his experiences as a gay Latter-Day Saint from Brazil. They discuss faith, identity, diversity, and the need for resources that reach every language and culture.Icaro reflects on the rainbow as both a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride and a covenant with God, and how we each reflect the light of Christ in our own way. His rainbow pin opens conversations and offers quiet reassurance to those seeking belonging.From a mission in Argentina to a leadership academy in the Czech Republic, Icaro’s story is a reminder that while our paths may differ, we’re all journeying back to the same heavenly home.

In this heartfelt episode of ALL Together, Liz Macdonald and Michael Soto sit down with Bryce and Sara Cook, parents of two gay sons and founding members of ALL (Arizona LDS LGBT). After their sons came out, Bryce and Sara felt called to speak up, build bridges, and foster community. They hosted support groups in their home and organized an annual conference for LGBTQ+ individuals and families navigating faith and identity. Their efforts laid the foundation for many of the other groups and events we’ve highlighted in previous episodes of the podcast. Bryce and Sara share the powerful story of their family’s journey and discuss how parents also have their own “coming out” process—one of unlearning and rediscovering what it means to love like Christ.

This month on OPEN Up, Ben shares a deeply personal story about navigating the reactions of his local Church leadership after he performed a same-sex wedding. Ben and Charlie discuss the scrutiny that LGBTQ+ Latter-Day Saints often face and how others Church members can help them feel seen.

In this special episode of THE Exclusive, Ben Schilaty is joined by Emilee Cutler and Spencer David Smith to talk about the upcoming Gather Conference, taking place this June in Provo, Utah. Now in its third year, the conference creates a Christ-centered space where LGBTQ+ individuals and those who love them can connect, learn, and feel seen.Emilee shares her personal journey from fear to peace as the mother of a gay son, and how listening to LGBTQ+ stories helped transform her heart. Spencer reflects on coming out at 27, navigating faith and identity, and the unexpected healing he found by volunteering at Gather Conference. Together, they explore how the conference fosters belonging, compassion, and hope.To register for Gather Conference, please visit gather-conference.com. 

This month on IN the Scriptures, Clare Dalton and Sean Nicholes—a gay Latter-day Saint, psychiatry resident, and member of the U.S. Air Force—explore Doctrine & Covenants 41-50.In these sections, the early Saints were dealing with rumors both inside and outside the Church. Clare and Sean discuss how these stories help us learn to challenge stereotypes and love those who are different from us. When we discover our non-negotiables, we can live a life of integrity and purpose, relying on the Atonement of Jesus Christ when we fall short. By our fruits, others will know our values and our hearts.

In this month’s episode of OUT and About, Iese Wilson sits down with Liv Mendoza Haynes, a queer, Mexican Latter-Day Saint. Liv shares how her unique intersection of identities shapes her spiritual journey.Liv reflects on joining the Church and serving a full-time mission in Mexico—and the complex emotions of teaching people from her own cultural background. Blessed to be in a mixed-orientation marriage full of mutual love and respect, she reminds our listeners: each and every one of you deserve love, and we’re rooting for you to find it.