Episode 679: Brandon Cardenaz (Gay) and Elizabeth Cardenaz (Straight); Wonderful Marriage

Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler

Richard Ostler

Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 839 Ratings

🗓️ 6 August 2023

⏱️ 77 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

My friends Brandon and Elizabeth Cardenaz (mid 30s, active LDS, married 12 years, 4 children with twins on the way) join us to share their story. Brandon talks about growing up in conservative communities with unkind and unhelpful things said about gay people and learning to separate that from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Brandon talks about how there were really no resources for a gay Latter-day Saint and doing the best he could to make his way forward concurrent with feelings a deep shame for his sexual orientation. Brandon talks about his decision to serve a mission and his deep testimony of our restored Church. Brandon talks about returning how from his mission and dating women. Brandon talks about coming out to his girlfriend (now his wife Elizabeth) as gay and her prayer to Heavenly Father on if she should marry Brandon. Elizabeth shares her answer to prayer to marry Brandon. Brandon and talk about an “intervention” to call off their marriage—the day before their temple marriage—as some family members became aware of Brandon’s sexual orientation. They share their decision to get married and how we should learn to honor individual personal revelation. They share how they later reconciled with these family members. This is a powerful podcast from a couple in a wonderful, sustainable, and healthy marriage—with a foundation of honestly, communication, and deep peace/no shame around Brandon’s sexuality. It is story that provides principles to help strengthen other marriages. Thank you, Brandon, and Elizabeth, for being on the podcast. I was deeply moved listening to your story. You are both so brave. You have a beautiful family, and your story will help so many! Links: 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?variant_id=189035-paperback Amazon: amazon.com/dp/1462135773 Index of Podcasts: listenlearnandlove.org/podcasts

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome listeners to another episode of Listen, Learn, and Love, hosted by Richard Osler.
0:10.9	We have another brave couple that's stepped forward willing to share their story, my friends, Brandon, and Elizabeth Card.
0:18.7	Dead?
0:19.6	Oh, I didn't do your name, last name right.
0:21.6	Tell us how to say your last name?
0:23.9	Cardinise.
0:24.9	Cardiniz.
0:25.5	I practiced that listeners beforehand.
0:27.3	It's not a hard name, Cardinaz.
0:30.0	And they're joining us via Zoom from their home in Medford, Oregon.
0:34.6	Beautiful place that I've been to a couple times.
0:37.7	They're going to share their story.
0:39.1	Brandon identifies as gay.
0:40.8	Elizabeth is straight.
0:42.0	They're an LDS couple in a wonderful marriage, raising children, committed to the gospel,
0:48.7	committed to each other.
0:51.1	We've done a few of these type of podcasts, and I just think these stories are really helpful
0:55.9	because there are other Latter-day Saints walking this road privately, maybe just out to each other
1:01.2	and others that are sharing it more broadly.
1:03.9	But these stories help other people feel they're not alone and other people to realize
1:08.4	this is a possible path for them.
1:11.9	This is a valid, authentic in spite of what society sometimes says.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Richard Ostler, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Richard Ostler and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.