Stay ConnectedDive into the richness and complexity of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with Lauren Yarro. Through engaging discussions, I take on the taboo and address both the positive and negative aspects of our Mormon culture while firmly rooted in our shared beliefs of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Whether you’re deep-rooted in faith, a dissenting voice, or just starting your journey as a member, join me every Thursday on Blonde Apologist!
Copyright: © Lauren Yarro
When my guest’s child first came out as queer—and later as transgender non-binary—it led her through a deeply personal journey of deconstructing and reconstructing her faith. She wrestled with questions, sought understanding, and ultimately found a way to stay connected to both God and the Church. As a devoted mother and faithful Latter-day Saint, she shares her experience of navigating this intersection of faith and family with love, courage, and trust in the Savior.
https://www.liftandlove.org/
Choosing to convert to the Church is a deeply personal decision, but for many, it comes with significant challenges—especially when family doesn’t support the choice. In this episode, I sit down with a dear friend who joined the Church at 18, despite her parents’ strong opposition. She shares the struggles of standing firm in her faith while navigating family pushback over her baptism, attending BYU, serving a mission, and marrying in the temple. Her story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering trust in God. We also discuss how members can better support converts who face similar challenges. Tune in for an insightful and heartfelt conversation
In this episode, we dive into the missionary experience—sharing personal stories, common struggles, major adjustments, and the powerful ways we found the Lord through service. Whether you're preparing for a mission or simply curious about the journey, this episode is full of insights and encouragement. Send it to anyone considering a mission!
The world constantly tells us how we should look, what we should weigh, and whether we’re enough. But what does God actually teach us about our bodies? In this episode, I sit down with Lexi Walbeck for an honest and powerful conversation about body image, confidence, and divine identity. Together, we explore the doctrine of being created in the image of our Heavenly Parents, the sacred truth that our bodies are temples, and the reality that mortality comes with physical pain and struggles. As we shared our personal experiences, the Spirit taught us so much about how to shift our perspective and keep working toward seeing ourselves the way God does. I can’t wait for you to hear this conversation!
I asked for your Church-related questions, and you did not hold back! In this episode, we are touching on Church history, worthiness, spicy books, and even influencers using the Church to make money. Whether you’re here for the cultural hot takes or to deepen your faith, there’s something for you in this conversation.
In this episode, I explore Shari Franke’s book, The House of My Mother, where she shares her raw and heartbreaking experience growing up as the daughter of Ruby Franke—a YouTube star and an abusive mother. Shari’s story highlights how her mom used control and manipulation, often distorting simple LDS beliefs along the way. While most homes in our community are nothing like Ruby Franke’s, the reality is that some are. In my opinion, rather than dismiss these situations as outliers, it’s important to have conversations about them. By doing so, we can better understand how to prevent harmful teachings and foster healthy, Christ-centered homes and communities.
This week, my husband and I are talking about fence laws—those extra rules many LDS families use to keep their teens on the straight and narrow. We’re sharing hilarious (and eye-opening) submissions from you about the boundaries you grew up with, reflecting on our own experiences, and wondering what we might do as parents (even though we’ve never had teenagers and have no clue what we’re doing yet). Will our generation keep these fence laws alive? Let’s figure it out together!
In this episode, we explore the powerful and sacred role of women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Inspired by President Russell M. Nelson’s talk A Plea to My Sisters, my guest, Sarah Collins, and I have a meaningful conversation about the misconceptions surrounding women’s roles in the Church and the divine call for women to stand up and speak out.
In this heartfelt Christmas episode, I sit down with artist Jenedy Paige to reflect on the Savior’s birth and why His coming brings joy to the world. We read the story of Christ’s birth from Luke and discuss how faith, scripture, prayer, and journaling can bring peace in life’s hardest moments. Jenedy shares her deeply personal story of loss and healing after the passing of her three-year-old son, offering insights that moved me to tears. I hope this episode brings you the strength and spirit you need this season.
In this episode, we reflect on the deeply personal relationship each of us can have with the Savior. We’ll share stories from listeners about the ways Christ has shown up in their lives, performing miracles big and small. It’s all about seeing His hand in our everyday moments and recognizing that He’s not just the Savior—He’s your Savior.
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