Episode 115

The Ethical and Moral Dilemma of the Bishop's Mantle

On this episode of Mormonish Podcast, Landon and Rebecca are joined by AASECT Certified Sex Therapist/Supervisor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Natasha Helfer and former LDS bishop, Joel Huntington, to discuss the role of ecclesiastical leaders who are often forced to override their own moral and ethical compass to serve.

Viewed in the framework of a bishop who recently resigned his calling publicly in front of his congregation, stating, "There's just a few things that I've been required to do that I personally cannot morally stand by. I can't. So I need to step down," we felt there was a larger conversation to be had here.

Utilizing the Natasha's expertise, we delve into the harm of invasive sexual questions between a bishop and the youth, as well as adults. We discuss the complete lack of training a bishop receives that makes him totally unqualified to be counseling anyone on these sensitive and complex issues.

We also learn about Joel's time as a bishop and the moral dilemmas he faced before he ultimately asked to be released from his calling. His insights from this perspective are something we don't hear often enough.

This was a really important conversation as each panelist shared details of their own personal experiences and more

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Links to connect to Natasha:

http://Aasect.org

https://worldsexualhealth.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Declaration-of-Sexual-Rights-2014-plain-text.pdf

http://natashahelfer.com

http://symmetrypath.com

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About your hosts

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Rebecca Bibliotheca

Rebecca Bibliotheca is a mother or three boys, co-founder of "The Good Book Club," a virtual reading group for post and nuanced Mormons, cohost of "Mormon Media Reviews," and leader of the "Mormon Stories Book Club." She has a Masters of Library and Information Science from BYU and worked for many years at the BYU Library. She and her husband, Tom, also founded a youth theater program that is in its 19th year. Rebecca loves the theater, reading, film, spending times outdoors, church watching and iced coffee!
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Landon Brophy

Landon Brophy is the proud father of four children, two grandchildren, three ATVs and a boat. He's a former military officer, the co-founder of The Good Book Club, a reading group for post and nuanced Mormons, ann international manager for a global defense contractor, and a worldwide traveler. He and his wife founded "Utah Wanderers," an online travel guide to exploring Utah. Landon loves the outdoors, ATVing, boating, flying, reading, observing the "ongoing restoration" and second Saturdays!