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In this episode, we sit down with Steve Pynakker, the creator behind Mormon Book Reviews. Steve has never joined Mormon church, but he's deeply passionate about exploring the many different branches of the Mormon Restoration movement. On his YouTube channel, he dives into the history, beliefs, and practices of these various groups, offering a fascinating look at a tradition that many people don't fully understand. Steve also opens up about his personal journey as a gay man and an evangelist, and how those experiences shape the way he approaches his own faith and the Mormon Restoration. We talk about how he navigates the intersection of identity and belief, and why he's so committed to making space for honest, open conversations about religion—especially in such a complex, often misunderstood movement. This episode is a mix of history, personal stories, and some honest reflections on what it means to find your place in a world of evolving beliefs.

Trevon Cutler chose the Church for himself as a teenager and gave it everything—priesthood, leadership, a mission, and years of trying to become the person he believed he was supposed to be. But underneath it all, he was quietly fighting the truth about being gay, hoping faith and obedience would somehow change it. They didn't. The pressure built into anxiety, depression, and a mental health crisis that pushed him further than he ever expected to go. When Trevon finally came out, it wasn't a single moment—it was a risk. One message to a friend. One message to his mom. And instead of losing everything, he found the support that helped pull him through one of the darkest nights of his life. This conversation is honest about what it costs to hide, what it takes to face yourself, and how life can begin to open up on the other side of that truth—even while the struggle is still real.

David Chappell is a civil engineer, community organizer, and emerging political voice in Utah County. Raised in Arizona in a traditional Latter-day Saint family, David served a mission in Milan, Italy, where exposure to a wider world—and greater diversity—began shaping the questions that would later define his advocacy. While attending Brigham Young University, David helped co-found the Cougar Pride Center, a grassroots organization dedicated to creating resources, connection, and large-scale events for LGBTQ+ people in Provo and Orem. During that time, he also faced his own personal struggles, including suicidal thoughts as a freshman, experiences that deepened his commitment to making campus and community spaces safer and more supportive for LGBTQ+ students navigating faith and identity. Today, David continues that work as both an advocate and a builder—applying the same drive he brings to engineering toward strengthening his community. He is now stepping into the political arena, running for office in Utah House District 62 in Provo, with the goal of helping shape a more inclusive and compassionate future for Utah. In this conversation, David shares his journey through faith, identity, mental health, and public service — and why he believes community care and representation matter now more than ever. Visit the CougarPrideCenter on Instagram: @CougarPrideCenter Visit David's campaign: DavidForUtah.com

Aaron Koppe knew he was gay when he was just 10 years old. Growing up in the Netherlands, the culture around him was accepting. But inside his LDS faith, the path forward felt far less clear. Aaron tried for years to reconcile his identity with the expectations of the church. He came out to his father at 16, later served in a temple mission, and did everything he could to live the life he believed he was supposed to. But eventually, the weight of living someone else's version of happiness became too heavy. At 25, Aaron made the decision to start dating men. Not long after, his church membership was revoked. And yet, Aaron's story didn't end there. Today, he still attends church and continues to build a life defined by his own choices, his own faith, and the people who love him as he is.

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.

Carmina and Sabrina were called to serve missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Mormon missionaries. What they didn't expect was that they would meet each other--and eventually fall in love. This is a story about two Latter-day Saint women with unique stories of faith, of trial, of frustration, of hiding, and of freedom. Sabrina and Carmina share their stories about family, faith, and the future. #LatterGayStories #Queer #Lesbian #Bisexual #ComingOut

In 1998, the Fisk family faced what some might call a dilemma. A relative of theirs came out. Having been raised orthodox Mormon, Dan and Sara grappled with numerous questions: How should they navigate this news? What would the future of their relationship with their loved one look like? How could they move forward without sacrificing their standing in the Church?   As you listen, you will learn from the Fisk's story. For the Fisk family, Mormonism had always been central to them, then everything changed in 2017 when someone even closer to them came out: their daughter. What happens when you allow yourself to lift, support, and love someone different than you? The Fisks share their story. #LatterGayStories #LGBTQAlly #Parents #LGBTQ #Mormon

Jacob Lambert's story is about finding support from those around you. Raised in an active Latter-Day Saint family, Jacob's world view shifted when he began to figure out that he was gay at 16 years old. Despite his awareness of his sexuality, Jacob felt inspired to serve a mission and attend BYU. Little by little, as he let people in he felt more comfortable and confident in his identity and eventually decided to come out on Instagram in June of 2021. As his religious views began to shift, Jacob decided that part of living authentically and honestly would involve transferring out of BYU and being more open about his beliefs. Throughout his journey, Jacob decided to let people in and received mixed responses, but decided to listen most to those who loved him unconditionally. #LatterGayStories #ComingOut #BYU #GayMormon

Cameron Call grew up in Queen Creek, Arizona. He served a mission in Nashville, Tennessee—the same mission as his father. He married a woman in a Mesa Temple and has three children. He came out to his wife in 2018 after ten years of marriage and they decided to divorce in 2019. He and his ex-wife are helping their kids discover the beauties of life both in and outside of the Mormon church. This is his story of trying to meet the expectations of religion, life and society—and learning that there is happiness and joy in all the places he was promised it didn't exist. #LatterGayStories #Mormonism #ComingOut #EndureToTheEnd

In the final episode of our three-part story, Josh and Richard share the couch as a couple! They talk about dating, separating religion from their reality, family, navigating a vulnerable part of their lives, and MARRIAGE! They reflect on what they have learned through this journey, how their lives have changed, and what they hope for the future. Catch episodes 181 and 182 to hear Josh and Richard's individual stories.

Josh was thriving as a young, out, gay teen in the Philippines, but Mormon missionaries knocked on his door and he and his family ended up joining the Church. Soon after, his mother married a man from Utah, and Josh found himself living in a small religious town in Northern Utah. His life went from being openly gay and accepted to hiding his sexuality and being an ethnic minority in a community of opinionated Mormon farmers. Utah forced him to hide inside a "shell" because he found it impossible to live who he really was. In this interview Josh shares what he experienced as a convert from Catholicism to Mormonism, how he navigated homophobia in a small Utah town, and where he's at today—including his intergenerational, interracial, same sex marriage. This is part two of a three-part series beginning with episode 181. #Philippines #Mormon #Thrive #ComingOut #Marriage

What happens when a former Mormon bishop can no longer stay closeted and hidden? He grabs the door-handle, walks through that door and into a world he's avoided his whole life. Richard Mitchell was a very active, stalwart Latter-day Saint. He married a woman, had children, served in the church (including as Bishop) and tried to use the promises of Mormonism to "change" his sexual orientation. But was the "Mormon Message" sustainable for him? In this three-episode series, Richard shares a candid look into his journey through church leadership, marriage and divorce, navigating life outside of social and religious expectations, and so much more! Part Two of the series is Richard's husband Josh and Part Three will be the couple sharing their stories as married men (including some juicy details about their wedding!) #LatterGayStories #MormonBishop #ComingOut

What started as a dream to paint the Brigham Young University campus in rainbow paint ended up encouraging Bradley Talbot to start a movement that changed the face of BYU and literally lit it up with color. Brad took on Goliath—the Mormon Church and he organized a group of people to light the iconic Y in rainbow colors…not once, but three times. But how did we get here? Who is Bradley Talbot? Why color the campus? And why did he feel compelled to advocate for the LGBTQ community and one of the nation's most orthodox universities?  He is going to tell all.

My husband is gay, now what? In a topic not regularly discussed, Flo Montierth shares her story of dating, marrying and then divorcing a gay Mormon husband. As a lifelong lover of learning and teaching, Flo is an advocate for special needs and the LGBTQIA community. Navigating Mormon life in a mixed-orientation marriage was challenging, but leaning into those challenges opened new opportunities and new insights into Flo's personal journey—and expanded opportunities for her family. Through this journey, it wasn't just Flo's husband that will come out!  #LatterGayStories #MixedOrientationMarriage #ComingOut #Mormon