Episode 637: Dr. Jordon and Liz Sharp, LDS Parents of a Gay Son

Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler

Richard Ostler

Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 839 Ratings

🗓️ 26 April 2023

⏱️ 76 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

My friends Dr. Jordon and Liz Sharp (LDS parents of five children) join us from St George, Utah to share their story of hope and healing. Jordon (VP of Marketing at Utah Tech University) and Liz (Registered Hospice Nurse) share their unexpected journey as a traditional LDS family who experienced everything from trauma, confusion, and loss to miracles, enlightenment, and overwhelming joy as they became a LDS/LQBTQ family through their gay son Sam (who turns 18 in 2023 and is the oldest). Jordon and Liz start their experience when Jordon served as a Bishop to a closeted gay young woman in their ward who attempted suicide and they were the first-responders on the scene; but describe how this terrible situation helped them more fully understand our Heavenly Parents love for all their children. It’s a powerful part of their story. Jordon and Liz then talk about the text they received years later from their then 13-year-old-son Sam letting them know he is gay. They intimately and powerfully share their roadmap of making mistakes, learning, loving, healing, and ultimately understanding this isn’t a phase or mistake, but a unique, meaningful, and wonderful part of their lives. They talk about how Sam is thriving because of the love he feels from family and friends—and his great heart, maturity, and soul. They talk about how they wish every parent could have a Sam. It is a beautiful family love story. Jordon and Liz shared their thoughts in a viral Facebook post (see show notes for link) about Sam, our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, and what we can do to be better. It’s a beautiful Facebook post that I encourage us as a Latter-day Saint community to read and discuss how we can do better. Thank you, Jordon and Liz, for being on the podcast. I was deeply moved listening to you—it is a sacred place to hear your story. I encourage everyone to listen to and share this podcast. Their story helps better Gather Israel and create Zion. Podcast Link: Facebook Post: https://www.facebook.com/jordon.sharp/posts/pfbid02SUkPEQbASdBW47pSi368meXdTHWbRLAw9U7op31SKLC29H16ayVeyGyxnjSKQejjl Ministering to LGBTQ Latter-day Saints Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1433556613672143 Richard Ostler Book: Embracing LGBTQ Latter-day Saints: Deseret Book: www.deseretbook.com/p/listen-learn-and-love-embracing-lgbtq-latter-day-saints Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1462135773

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome listeners to another episode of Listen, Learn, and Love, hosted by Richard Osler.
0:09.5	My guests on today's podcast are two wonderful parents of a gay son.
0:16.5	Jordan and Liz Sharp, welcome to the podcast.
0:19.9	Thank you.
0:21.5	They are joining us from St. George, and they'll talk about what they do professionally.
0:27.6	I read a Facebook post in February 2023 that Jordan and Liz wrote about their gay son, Sam.
0:35.9	And it's one of the very best parent posts I've ever read.
0:40.8	And it was shared by 137 shares, 324 comments, 600 likes,
0:49.0	and it just is a wonderful post to help bring understanding to LGBTQ youth and what parents can do to help them feel
0:57.8	love, supported, and understood.
0:59.6	And I reached out to Jordan and Liz and asked them to be on the podcast, and they agreed.
1:04.5	And so they are joining us from St. George.
1:07.2	And our joint prayer is that this will be helpful especially to you as parents you as
1:12.4	local leaders or you that are LGBTQ out or closeted that the things Jordan and and Liz share
1:19.0	will be helpful for you they're the parents of five kids their oldest is turning 18 that's Sam
1:25.0	who's gay um and um they'll talk. And at this point, I'll probably just,
1:32.1	maybe you could first just introduce what you do. I know what you both do career-wise,
1:37.0	but Liz, why don't you share our listeners with our listeners what you do for a career? And then
1:41.6	Jordan, you. I am a registered nurse right now,
1:46.1	and I work for a hospice company, which I love so much. It keeps me centered in life. It
1:52.0	helps me serve my fellow men. But it's just a really rewarding job. Great job for our family,
2:00.5	for me. And I'm the vice president of marketing and communication
	...

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