Episode 659: Don and Jenny Hong and Their Gay Son Isaac

Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler

Richard Ostler

Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 839 Ratings

🗓️ 24 June 2023

⏱️ 80 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

My friends Don and Jenny Hong (married parents of 4) and their gay son Isaac (age 30, RM, has boyfriend) join us to share their family story. Isaac starts with his story of coming out to his parents about 8 years ago following his successful mission and doing everything he knew to be straight. Jenny and Don then share their journey to love and support their gay son and his long-term boyfriend Brock. It’s been a journey for the Hong family with some ups and downs—but a beautiful family love story with a foundation in love, curiosity, listening and honest communication. Don (a former Bishop) then shares a talk he gave (that has since gone viral) called "The Gift of Doubt: How doubt and a gay son brought me closer to God." It is a powerful talk based on Brother Jared Halverson’s stages of faith. Don’s talk hits on a key need in our Church community to normalize doubt and learn to develop new models and perspectives to make our way forward as Latter-day Saints. If you are a parent of a queer child or a child who has chosen to step away from the church, please listen to this podcast. Don and Jenny advice/story/principles will help you. If you are in a faith journey (or helping others deciding to stay or step away) and are looking for new tools/perspectives, Don’s talk will help you. Faith journeys are ever evolving and different for everyone, and the Hong family is continually learning to drop unhealthy expectations and better focus on loving and listening to each other. And if you are a queer Latter-day Saint, Isaac’s honest/powerful story will give you hope. Thank you, Don, Jenny and Isaac, for being on the podcast. You are helping so many! Links: Don’s Talk: www.facebook.com/don.hong.56/posts/6563223063728507 Index of Podcasts: listenlearnandlove.org/podcasts Ministering to LGBTQ Latter-day Saints Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/1433556613672143 Richard Ostler Book: Embracing LGBTQ Latter-day Saints: Deseret Book: 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	On the podcast, joining me via Zoom, our two parents, Don and Jenny Hong and their son, Isaac.
0:18.7	Welcome to the podcast.
0:20.8	Thanks, Richard.
0:22.2	Thanks for having this. We appreciate it so much.
0:25.0	We're excited to be here.
0:26.9	I've been aware of this family for a while.
0:30.1	Don has shared some wonderful things.
0:33.5	Church talks in particular about belonging and inclusion
0:36.8	and better supporting everybody that have been deeply pastoral and deeply helpful to me.
0:42.4	And part of this podcast, be Don sharing those words and will also link to his full talk if you want to read it.
0:50.9	It's the kind of talk you might want to run with and adapt to your circle and take some of the principles that Don shares. I've been connected with Jenny for a while too, and I've been aware they've had a have a gay son. They still do. It's not past tense. He's on the podcast with us. Isaac Hong. Isaac is about 30. He lives in American Fork. He's a product
1:13.5	manager. He served a mission with Chile. He is not active in the church. He has a boyfriend. They've
1:19.0	been together about four years. And so this is a story of two active LDS parents. I'm learning
1:24.9	about eight years ago. Their son is gay and navigating that road. So
1:29.9	I'm grateful that Isaac's on the podcast and willing to share his story. This is a beautiful
1:36.9	family love story of just walking this road together and keeping the family relationship
1:42.6	together, which I think is such a key part of being
1:46.9	families.
1:49.4	They really are prepared for this podcast.
1:52.1	I didn't surprise me as I've read Don's words.
1:54.7	He's really thoughtful, and I think Jenny so.
	...

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