Daughters of Mormonism

Right click here to download the mp3. Click Here to See Complete Instructions on How to Set Up Your Own Podcast Art by Angela Treat Lyon There is solid evidence for the fact that when women speak more than 30 percent of the time, men perceive them as dominating the conversation; well, similarly, if, say, two women in a row get one of the big annual literary awards, masculine voices start talking about feminist cabals, political correctness, and the decline of fairness in judging. The 30 percent rule is really powerful. If more than one woman out of four or five won the Pulitzer, the PEN/Faulkner, the Booker—if more than one woman in ten were to win the Nobel literature prize—the ensuing masculine furore would devalue and might destroy the prize. Apparently, literary guys can only compete with each other. Put on a genuine equal competitive footing with women, they get hysterical. They just have to have their voices heard 70 percent of the time.      —Ursula Le Guin The Wave in the Mind (Off the Page: Loud Cows; pages 119-120). __________________________________________________ RESOURCES FOR HOW TO CREATE A PODCAST Click Here to See the Podcast Tutorial Tab for Complete Instructions Cost: I'm assuming you've got a computer with internet connection, so the only other costs to start up your podcast are a headset with microphone (about $30) and the Pamela software (also about $30), if you want to record multiple voice conversations. Depending on how much your headset costs, you'll spend $55-$70 total to start your podcast. Everything else is FREE. Record & Edit: Audacity: In addition to recording, you can also cut sections out, amplify sound, have multiple tracks that fade in and out of each other, remove noise, etc. Skype: Allows you to interview long-distance for free, as long as you both have a Skype account. You can have regular two-person conversations or whole groups. Pamela ($32.41): Allows you to easily record panels from Skype. They have a free version, but it only allows you to record for 15 minutes at a time. I recommend the Professional version, which also gives you a free trial so you can see if you like it. Levelator: Equalizes the "loudness" of each voice in a conversation. Great for interviews and panel discussions.   Royalty Free Music: Kevin MacLeod: He puts his music in genre groups and allows for free use and modification as long as you attribute. File Share: Dropbox: Lets you collect and share files.  Audio Host: Archive.org: Free public hosting with easy user interface; also increases how you can be found online. There are listeners who found this podcast through Archive.org. Website: Blogger.com: Free and easy to set up quickly. iTunes: iTunes FAQs for Podcasts: As soon as I put up my podcast, it seemed like everyone wanted to know when it would be on iTunes. To set up your podcast on iTunes, you need your feed url. Here's the feed url for this podcast that iTunes finally accepted: http://daughtersofmormonism.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Right click here to download the mp3. There are so many women from all over the world, both in and out of Mormonism who listen to this podcast. Each of you has much to share. Every week I get emails from you, telling me about your life journeys, about your pain and triumphs, about how one of the episodes on the podcast helped you or validated you. Many of you have sent me ideas for podcasts, too. Because, really, for women’s issues in religion, there is endless territory to cover. In these episodes I’ve done, I haven’t even scratched the surface. There is so, so much still to be spoken. I want to hear your voices. I want to hear your stories. And there is more out there than I could ever cover. I’ve known this time was coming, and now it’s finally here. It’s time for me to move on from this podcast. It's time for me to turn my heart energies elsewhere. It’s time for me to pass the torch to you. In the final episode, I’ll give you a tutorial about how to create a podcast.   Art by Jan Morgan Wood

Right click here to download the mp3. In this episode from The Pain of Patriarchy series, Katrina shares her experience. Child's Drawing for a Better and Gender Equal World

Right click here to download the mp3. In this episode from The Pain of Patriarchy series, Tiffany shares her experience. Art by Tertius Alio

Right click here to download the mp3. In this episode from The Pain of Patriarchy series, Sara shares her experience. Image location

Right click here to download the mp3. In this episode from The Pain of Patriarchy series, Courtney shares her experience. Art by James Christensen

Right click here to download the mp3. In this episode from The Pain of Patriarchy series, Amelia shares her experience. Image location

Right click here to download the mp3. Photograph by Jonathan Green About a year ago, I recorded a piece about the pain I feel from being raised under patriarchy. I never had the courage to post it because it felt so vulnerable. It wasn't until a friend of mine expressed her pain at awakening to the crushing weight of patriarchy that I revisited that recording and shared it with her. Together, we decided to create a series about the pain of patriarchy, as this is an experience that is common to many women in the church. This episode contains my original recording. In the following episodes for this series, you will hear the voices of Amelia, Courtney, Sara, Tiffany, and Katrina. Each of these women gives a different perspective and voice to her journey. Below, you can also hear an added male perspective from Gail. The Pain of Patriarchy: "The Men Give the Equality to the Women" — Gail Right click here to download the mp3. *As always, thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the music.

Right click here to download the mp3. Art by Jarosław Kubick In the final segment of our discussion, we talk about ways we hid our depression or magnified our depression (what made things worse) and ways we helped our depression (what made things better). The panelists will be watching the comments to respond to questions. Here is a summary of the resources and other things that helped us. Process: Name the problem Identify root causes (often things from the past) and work through them Figure out what triggers depressive episodes Remove triggers (get out of situations that make things worse) Build relationship spaces where you can find happiness and peace and emotional strength ("family" by choice) Choose your spirituality and interaction with the church Get out of overly-stressful or abusive situations and take care of yourself Become an advocate, speak up Techniques: Journal writing and blogging Writing in supportive communities (online forums) Creating: Art, music (eg. playing piano), dance (eg. choreography), crochet, etc. Therapy, working through the past Movement Breathing Focusing on sensory input from the five senses to come to the present moment Yoga Energy healing: BodyTalk Getting out to the things that are "elementally you" (eg. hike the petroglyphs) Spend time outdoors, get outside when the spiral down starts Using prayer as contemplative reflection Identifying the good and the beautiful Massage and chiropractic Hot showers Light therapy and vitamin D Reading books on topics that pertain to your hurt Food Related GAPS diet Candida Cleanse Eating potatoes before bed (with no protein) to help to raise serotonin levels Books, Audio, and Online Resources "The Soul in Depression" from On Being with Krista Tippett (audio) Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner The Dance of Intimacy by Harriet Lerner Mood Cure by Julia Ross The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen Come to Your Senses by Stanley Block and Carolyn Block Move Your Body Tone Your Mood by Kate F. Hays Eating in the Light of the Moon by Anita Johnston Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Solomon Women who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés  Solace for Mothers online forum

Right click here to download the mp3. Art by Karim Fakhoury In the second part of this panel discussion, Sybil, Amelia, Jenne A, Lisa, and Kendhal discuss situational vs chemical depression, accepting and owning their depression, and vivid dreams that lead to understanding aspects of the self. We also talk about the mentality of "there's one right way to deal with this" and how that doesn't work with depression; how there is a need to find what works for you, moment to moment. We then discuss medication and depression and the stigmas attached both to taking it and not taking it, trying to find medication that works, weaning off medications. We also talk about therapy. To comment and for resources, please see Part III.

Right click here to download the mp3. Art by Adam Martinakis Despite how common depression is, there is a lot of denial and secrecy attached to it. In this panel, Sybil is joined by panelists Amelia and Jenne A, and guests Lisa and Kendahl to discuss their experiences in living with depression. In this first part, we discuss depression in Utah and how  the idea of being a perfect Mormon woman can contribute to depression. We also talk about our own symptoms of depression. Here is a list of those symptoms: Symptoms of Depression apathy and detachment; difficulty connecting with the living world and being a part of what is happening a sense of powerlessness inward blaming, self-faulting, feeling worthless excessive sleeping; also insomnia or difficulty sleeping; being highly self-critical physical numbness or pain asthma and breathing problems mental darkness; feeling under a low ceiling difficulty getting out of bed self isolation; being tense and withdrawn irritable bowel syndrome migraines feeling like the body is falling apart; feeling old and in pain constant hopelessness; feeling unable to make life feel worthwhile eating too much or too little disrupted daily living being mean/angry at people you love helpless crying absence of appetite (for food, sex, things that usually bring pleasure) escaping (into food, television, books, etc.) inability to concentrate or focus; inability to "get things done" (normal, daily things) being emotionally numb or overly dramatic (no middle ground or normal functioning) being an appendage to someone else, not able to be the main character in own life (things happening to you rather than being an active agent) feeling suicidal  To comment and for resources, please see Part III.

Right click here to download the mp3. Image location In the second part of the discussion, Sybil, Amy, and Shelby talk about how they've thought being mothers and alternatives to bearing children. * By having this conversation, we are in no way saying that motherhood or children are wrong or undesirable. We are only expressing our own experiences. For resources and references, and to comment on this panel discussion, please see Part I.

Right click here to download the mp3. Image location Because motherhood and having children are such an intrinsic part of the way women are defined in the church, trying to have a conversation among those who have chosen not to have children ... it can be difficult. In some ways, child-free women can feel marginalized and/or invisible in the church because they aren't "fulfilling their purpose" as a mother. In this panel discussion, Sybil is joined by guest panelists Amy and Shelby to talk about their experiences as women who have currently chosen not to have children. They also discuss how they remain childless, their fears and thoughts about motherhood, and more. * By having this conversation, we are in no way saying that motherhood or children are wrong or undesirable. We are only expressing our own experiences. The panelists will be watching the comments to respond to ideas and issues brought up in this discussion.  Resources The Childless By Choice Project The Childfree Life Forum Two Is Enough: A Couple's Guide to Living Childless by Choice Inspiration for Childless and Childfree Women: Big Deal? Things You Should Never Say to a Person Who is Childless by Choice by DefyGravity  Childfree in the Church by Cha Cha from Feminist Mormon Housewives References "One of our family members recently overheard a young couple on an airline flight explaining that they chose to have a dog instead of children. 'Dogs are less trouble,' they declared. 'Dogs don’t talk back, and we never have to ground them.' We rejoice that so many Latter-day Saint couples are among that unselfish group who are willing to surrender their personal priorities and serve the Lord by bearing and rearing the children our Heavenly Father sends to their care. (from "Unselfish Service" by Dallin Oaks) "How can mothers justify their abandonment of home when they are needed so much by their offspring? Rationalization must take over as they justify themselves in leaving home and children." (from Faith Precedes the Miracle by Spencer W. Kimball, pages 116-17.)

Right click here to download the mp3. Art by Mara Berendt Friedman Sometimes our thirst for divine reflection of our gender can lead us to fascinating places. In this panel discussion our panelists Jenne A and Jenni B are joined by their friends Jena and Genevieve to present an interpretation of the garment symbols that includes the Divine Feminine. In addition to the meaning they give the symbols, they have also created daily rituals that help them to connect to their garments in a positive way. The panelists will be watching the comments to respond to ideas and to elaborate on the symbolism and practices they share in the discussion.  Resources and References LDS Endowment (Be advised: This site contains direct wording and description of the Temple Ceremony)  Ephesians 6:11-18 (verse 14 about loins girt with truth, verse 16 about the shield) 4-part Godhead Ideas about Multiple Mortal Probations by Jenne A My Search for the Divine Feminine by Ryan Thomas (Exponent article about why people believe that the Spirit might be female: page 25 in this issue)  Eve as Balance to Christ from Daughters of Mormonism The Sacrament of Birth by Analiesa Leonhardt  The Two Trees by Valerie Hudson How to Worship Our Mother In Heaven (Without Getting Excommunicated) by Kevin Barney Jenne A's blog post on the above article Two Facebook Groups that Happened as a Result of this Panel Discussion Wildly Speculative (Feminist) Mormon Theology  Mormon Moon Circle: Once a month on the new moon this group (which includes the women from the panel discussion) hold a "live" meeting where they explore and enhance their spirituality by sharing experiences or epiphanies they’ve had, and doing a group visualization/meditation and prayer circle.

Right click here to download the mp3. Christ of the Abyss Special Episode for Easter: There are so many of us who hide our wounded souls, fearful that others will see our pain. Often we are drowned in feelings of hopelessness and despair of ever healing. In this short episode, I give my own interpretation of Christ's atonement and resurrection. In my view, he is showing us the path of our own healing. When Christ said, "Come follow me," perhaps he was showing us the way into our own darkness.  Isaiah Reference: Isaiah 61:3 Please share your own experiences of wounding and healing in the comments. Please also feel free to share things that have helped you on your journey.

Right click here to download the mp3. Photo Credit Part of the aim of this podcast is to give voice to our stories as Daughters of Mormonism. This episode is an interview with Jenne, one of our panelists. In this interview she talks about her journey toward finding her voice as an advocate and discovering her personal mode of spirituality. Jenne began as a Unitarian Universalist, later converting to LDS church in the aftermath of her father's death. Now she calls herself a Universalist Mormon Pagan, and she reaches out with her heart and abilities to help women with childbirth and trauma as she connects to this life through her children. For resources and to comment, please see Part I.

Right click here to download the mp3. Jenne will be watching the comments to respond to the ideas brought up in her interview. Resources and References What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson, BOOK and FILM The Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes Fighting for Your Marriage by Howard Markman, Scott Stanley, Susan Blumberg Empowering Couples Building on Your Strengths by David Olson and Amy Olson  First Comes Love by Douglas Brinley and Mark Ogletree Women of the Church by Gordon Hinckley How Can I Become the Woman of Whom I Dream? by Gordon Hinckley Words of the Prophet: Seek Learning by Gordon Hinckley (Special Counsel for Girls heading) Mormon Podcast Community Mormon Democrats on Facebook Solace for Mothers Mutual Approbation Fair  How to Worship Our Mother In Heaven (Without Getting Excommunicated) by Kevin Barney Jenne's blog post on the above article Yoga of Christ by Philip McLemore Women and Authority edited by Maxine Hanks Mother Wheel Yo Gabba Gabba Special thanks to Carolyn Erigero for taking care of "cute but determined" during the recording of this interview.

Right click here to download the mp3. 1927 Garment Ad Once you're endowed, wearing garments is meant to be a life-long commitment and is a sign of an active member of the church. Have you ever looked at someone to try to determine if they were wearing garments or caught someone checking you out to see if you were wearing them? Beyond their symbolism, garments come to mean many things to women who wear them. In this short panel discussion, Sybil, Jenni B, and Katrina talk about their experiences with garments.

Right click here to download the mp3. Art by Randi Johns In the recent past, there was only one sexual identity: Heterosexual. It was the norm in such a way that there wasn't really any space in the collective understanding for alternate sexual identities. Today, sexual identity has become a place of discovery, controversy, and question, bringing in terms like gay, lesbian, homosexual, bi-sexual, and transsexual. Julia identifies herself as queer, which is not so much a sexual identity as an approach to sexuality that leaves the "box" wide open. She talks about the freedom that comes from being in a safe place to exist as she is. Julia will be watching the comments to respond to the ideas brought up in her interview. As you leave comments, remember that Daughters of Mormonism seeks to provide a safe place for women to share their stories. This is a real story from a real person. Please see the Comment Policy for further details.  Resources and References Queer and Questioning Blog PDF download of Trans/gender 101: Terms and Explanations Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network PDF download for Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network "Guide to Being an Ally" TransChristians Affirmation Gender Trouble by Judith Butler Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us by Kate Bornstein Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation by Kate Bornstein "Cleansing the Inner Vessel" by Boyd K. Packer RECORDED VIDEO "Cleansing the Inner Vessel" by Boyd K. Packer EDITED TRANSCRIPT ABC News article on the edit   Quote from The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball about masturbation leading to homosexuality: "Thus prophets anciently and today condemn masturbation [...] it too often leads to grievous sin, even to that sin against nature, homosexuality. For, done in private, it evolves often into mutual masturbation--practiced with another person of the same sex and thence into total homosexuality."

Right click here to download the mp3. Image Location Many of us learned to be "good girls," meaning that we understood that our purpose was to please others and not to please ourselves. Layered in with this teaching were messages about sex and sexuality. We didn't want to be chewed gum or a licked cupcake. We wanted to keep ourselves safe from the sexual urges of the opposite sex. And, of course, not to be sexual ourselves; that was associated with sinning. While these messages were likely intended to keep us safe, they did so at a cost, which usually reveals itself in the marriage bed. What does a good girl do with sex? Join Sybil, Amelia, Sara, Heather, and Jenni for the second half of their discussion about their experiences with and the causes and effects of Good Girl Syndrome. For resources and to comment, please see Part I.

Right click here to download the mp3. Image Location Join Sybil, Amelia, Sara, Heather, and Jenni for the first part of their discussion about their experiences with and the causes and effects of Good Girl Syndrome. Resources And They Were Not Ashamed by Laura Brotherson The Mormon Missionary Position Passionate Hearts edited by Wendy Maltz Intimate Kisses edited by Wendy Maltz The Soul of Sex by Thomas Moore Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin Women's Therapy Center on Vulvar Vestibulitis Do Atheists Have Better Sex Lives?  Mormon Stories: 245 Pornography, Masturbation, Sex and Marriage in Mormonism Mormon Stories: 214-216 LDS Female Sexuality with Dr Jennifer Finlayson-Fife Mormon Stories: 300-301: LDS Women and Sexual Desire with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife Mormon Stories: 280: How to Have Better Sex in Your Mormon Marriage Mormon Expression: Episode 120a: Female Sexuality in the LDS Culture Part 1 Mormon Expression: Episode 120b: Female Sexuality in the LDS Culture Part 2

Right click here to download the mp3. Amber has traveled a path through Mormonism where she tried to follow every commandment, suggestion, and piece of advice that the church had to offer. She married and had two children in short order. What followed were three babies lost within a year after priesthood blessings assuring that they would live. These experiences, combined with other factors in her life, have led Amber on a path of finding what she truly believes, which is to reach out to those around her with compassion. Amber will be watching the comments to respond  to her story. As you leave comments, remember that Daughters of Mormonism seeks to provide a safe place for women to share their stories. This is a real story from a real person. Please see the Comment Policy for further details. Universe Embryo by fresco-child Posts from Amber's Blog First Miscarriage Sudden Loss Second Miscarriage Living On Faith My Ambiguous Loss Moving Forward A Slow Healing Process Repose Third Miscarriage What do you say? The Elephant Resources & ReferencesAntonia Fraser The Feminine Mystique Zelophehad's Daughters Mormon Stories Podcast Feminist Mormon Housewives By Common Consent The Exponent “Parents in Zion will be held responsible for the acts of their children, not only until they become eight years old but, perhaps, throughout all the lives of their children, provided they have neglected their duty to their children while they were under their care and guidance, and the parents were responsible for them.” (Joseph F. Smith quoted by Benson) 

Right click here to download the mp3. The Sistine Madonna by Raphael In many ways, Julene traveled a traditional path through Mormonism as she raised her children, but when her oldest son decided to be done with the church rather than depart on a mission as she was expecting, she began a journey that lead her toward a world of thought filled with the Divine Feminine. From the roots given to her subtly by her mother, Julene built further with the Christ-centered philosophy of anthroposophy created by Rudolf Steiner, as she moved toward re-enthroning Sophia in her spiritual life and seeking for a true balance between the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine. Julene will be watching the comments to respond  to questions and ideas from her story. Resources from Julene Chalice Well at Glastonbury, England Heaven on Earth, a Handbook for Parents of Young Children by Sharifa Oppenheimer  Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne   Radical Homemakers by Shannon Hayes   The Sophia Teachings by Robert Powell   The Most Holy Trinosophia by Robert Powell   Meditations on the Tarot translated by Robert Powell   Understanding Waldorf Education: Teaching from the Inside Out by Jack Petrash The Sophia Foundation “The Deseret Connection,”Abraham in Egypt by Hugh Nibley To contact Julene, email her at abellajulene @ gmail.com

Right click here to download the mp3. Art by Mara Berendt Friedman As a teen, Janice converted to the LDS church as part of an attempt to cure herself of her lesbianism. She served a mission and married in the temple as part of her determination to be "fixed." Her journey to find her whole self — the wild woman, the lesbian, the feminist — led her into the depths of depression and to the brink of taking her own life where she was gifted with a deep realization that God loved her. Janice will be watching the comments so she can respond to questions and issues brought up in her story. As you leave comments, remember that Daughters of Mormonism seeks to provide a safe place for women to share their stories. This is a real story from a real person. Please see the Comment Policy for further details. Janice's Recommended Resources Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes Mormon Stories Podcast hosted by John Delin Mormon Matters Podcast hosted by Dan Wotherspoon Ask Mormon Girl by Joanna Brooks Dialogue: Journal of Mormon Thought Sunstone Magazine Affirmation.org for Gay and Lesbian Mormons Stonewall Center You can contact Janice at outofthewombsinging @ gmail.com

Right click here to download the mp3. "Teach Your Baby about the Birds & the Bees" Mobile What were you taught about sexuality by your parents, in school, and at church? Could you name your genitals correctly as a child? How did you gain your most valuable knowledge about sexuality? Often, sex education fails to empower women about their sexuality and instead makes them feel that they need to be the gatekeepers of chastity and keep the boys in line. In this panel discussion, Sybil, Sara, Juliane, and Heather discuss their experiences with and hopes for sex education. Resources A Parent's Guide Church Manual "Teaching about Procreation and Chastity" in the Family Home Evening Resource Manual  Woman: An Intimate Geography by Natalie Angier Mormon Missionary Position blog If you have ideas, stories, or suggestions for Sara's Mormon Sex Ed project, email her at mormonsexedproject @ gmail.com