Episode 753: Arthur Wiseman, Recently Returned Gay LDS Missionary

Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler

Richard Ostler

Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 839 Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2024

⏱️ 71 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

My friend Arthur Wiseman (who returned from his successful mission in Gilbert Arizona in Dec of 2023, plans to become a therapist, and returned to live in Arizona) shares his mission experience. Arthur (who knew he was gay since age 6 and planned to tell no one) shares what it was like starting his mission and feeling spiritual promptings (many times during his mission) to open up about being gay because of a desire to help others find hope and Christ in their lives. Arthur talks about a variety of wonderful, spiritual, and sometimes painful experiences only possible because he was open. Arthur talks about developing a strong relationship with Heavenly Father and making Christ the center of his life. He talks about the personal revelation he is receiving. Arthur also talks about how being vulnerable allowed him to be a safe place for his companions to open up about their lives—providing beautiful insights on how to better minister to each other. Arthur talks about his supportive companions and what they proactively did to show their support. This is a powerful podcast from a brave and faithful gay Latter-day Saint. Arthur (and all those allies who support him) give me hope for the future as we work to build Zion. Thank you for being on the podcast Authur. Honored that more can hear your story. You are a good man. Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555422532064 Instagram: @arthur.w.wiseman Facebook Group mentioned in the podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/706348281603277 Facebook Group to Support LGBTQ Latter-day Saints: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1433556613672143

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome listeners to another episode of Listen, Learn, and Love, hosted by Richard Osler.
0:09.9	My guest on today's podcast, joining me via Zoom from Arizona, I think Gilbert, Arizona, is my new friend, Arthur Wiseman.
0:18.9	Welcome to the podcast, Arthur.
0:21.3	Hi.
0:23.2	We've had a couple recently returned gay missionaries on the podcast.
0:29.9	We had other Jacob Troxel on episode 740, Elder James Smart, episode 747, he got named after a plane, 747.
0:42.0	And now we have Elder Arthur Wiseman who returned from a mission in Arizona in December of
0:47.8	2023. So he's been home a few months, and he has sent me his outline, and it's a really remarkable story. He grew up in
0:57.8	Arizona, sorry, in California, in Oregon. His mother has since passed away. His father is alive.
1:03.8	I think he's the youngest of five. He's looking for a career potentially in social work.
1:10.0	I don't want to tell a story.
1:11.9	I just want to give you a little bit of the 30,000 foot level.
1:14.5	When he was called on his mission, he knew he was gay, but he wasn't ever going to tell
1:18.9	anybody that.
1:20.5	But then every story is different listeners.
1:22.9	As you know, he felt impressed during his mission to come out at times.
1:27.4	And that was a really good
1:28.9	experience at times and a really painful experience at times. And then he also just had the
1:34.3	challenges that all missionaries have that aren't related to sexual orientation, just the journey
1:39.3	of being an LDS missionary. But I think his story will help you if you're considering serving a mission,
1:46.5	if you're an ally or parent wondering how this would work about your queer kids serving a
1:52.0	mission. There's more, obviously, that are open about this, either before their mission or
	...

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