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Living in a Mixed-Orientation and a Mixed-Faith Marriage - Jen Parkinson Pt. 3 | Ep. 756

3,378 views · Published 13 June 2017 · 1:21:14 · Indexed 25 October 2026

Channel: Mormon Stories Podcast · 2017 · Education

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We are excited to release an interview with Jen Parkinson that has many fascinating components, including:

*Her devout LDS upbringing and bout with perfectionism while a youth and as a missionary
*Her first marriage to a gay man, unbeknownst to her
*Experiences with LDS Family Services in addressing her husband’s sexual orientation
*Her resulting divorce and intense feelings of guilt and shame
*The experience of seeking a sealing cancellation and how it made her relive the nightmare of her divorce
*Dating and marrying her current husband
*Working for BYU-Idaho and the gender disparity she observed
*Her husband’s faith transition and her reaction to it by “quintupling down” on her beliefs
*How leaving her job at BYU gave her the freedom to learn and question
*Her own faith transition and hope for the future

Jen Parkinson Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0R8OU3JwQ0&list=PLxq5opj6GqODn4RLxTi2l4LIyF45_DnXJ

00:00 Recap
02:52 Jen's hopes that her husband will come back to church if she stays faithful
08:49 She starts hating her job at BYU-I and her mental health takes a dive.
10:02 Keeping up the façade, unsure what real happiness is
14:32 Having to mourn the eternal family. Love her beliefs or love her spouse?
18:31 Jen's advice to the believing spouses in mixed-faith marriages. No quick decisions. Allow yourself to answer questions
23:54 Jen's worries about losing her testimony & job. She is able to find a non-church job which provides some relief to her anxiety.
30:44 Jen decides to start to read the church essays, then the CES letter, No Man Knows My History, Rough Stone Rolling, then finds Mormon Stories. Tom Phillips episode about the Second Anointing is the final straw.
45:55 Jen finds about tithing she paid even while struggling.
47:09 Not taking leaving lightly, being told she was deceived by anti-Mormons
53:53 Leaving the church has left Jen happier and healthier? Jen can breathe again
56:54 How has this affected the relationship with her family. 
1:03:58 Feeling unwelcome in her family, blamed for causing a "family crisis"
1:13:44 Hope her family can acknowledge you can be happy outside of the church. 
1:16:48 Jen has not changed fundamentally. Still want to do good
1:17:05 Final words

ABOUT US:
Mormon Stories Podcast is the longest-running and most successful podcast in Mormonism - hosted by Dr. John Dehlin. At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We also occasionally interview scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1) Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology, 2) Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis, and 3) Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions.

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