Episode 217: Following Your Conscience | A Conversation with Laurie Lee Hall
“We have direct access to light and knowledge and power, and we have the right—the divinely given right—to take that power, even if it says to us something different from how the authorities or power structures over us may be thinking. If it's the thing that's right and true for ourselves, we are benefited when we follow the dictates of our own conscience,” says Laurie Lee Hall. She joins Susan and Cynthia in Episode 217 for a conversation about trusting ourselves in the journey toward wholeness. Laurie Lee’s personal experiences bear out her advice: “We nourish [the Spirit] by hearing it, recognizing it, expressing internal appreciation for it, and acting upon it.”
Notes & Quotes:
Dictates of Conscience: From Mormon High Priest to My New Life as a Woman, by Laurie Lee Hall
She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders, by Jennifer Finney Boylan
“In the midst of hate, I found there was within me an invincible love. In the midst of tears, I found there was within me an invincible smile. In the midst of chaos, I found there was within me an invincible calm. I realized through it all that in the midst of winter, I found there was within me an invincible summer, and that makes me happy for it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger, something better, pushing right back.” —Albert Camus
”Gender identity is real. Gender identity CANNOT be conflated with sex assignment at birth. Feelings of gender incongruence with societal expectations of gendered behavior can cause gender dysphoria. Which is a recognized, real medical and emotional condition, treatable with affirming healthcare following established, proven protocols. Those protocols often allow the individual to live more authentically with their identity, mitigating the crushing pain of dysphoria, and providing the individual a fuller, more peaceful and joyful life.
Transgender people deserve the full measure of civil rights, liberties, dignity, and safety afforded to all other citizens.” —Laurie Lee Hall
I described my unwillingness to "sit on the other side of that desk" to my Stake President in my turning down being a Bishop in 2015. Laurie Lee's mentioning of it brought back those vivid feelings of why I couldn't do that. I also give my wife full credit, love and respect for following her personal revelation and dictates of her conscience. When she went back to school for a Masters and then PhD, many cast their negative opinions of her for doing so. My extended family and children in the Church are the beneficiaries of her doing do. Lastly, I agree with Laurie Lee about our nation following the lead of the Church in disfellowshipping an entire group. I also see the nation now going after Universities in the footsteps of what the Church did with BYU. Thanks Laurie Lee. Your book is amazing! And this discussion was beautifully deep and insightful. I will continue to pay attention.