Episode 774: John Crane, Late 70s, RM, Believes in Gospel, Same-Sex Marriage

Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler

Richard Ostler

Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 839 Ratings

🗓️ 1 September 2024

⏱️ 77 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

My friend John Crane (lives in Austin TX, grew up in Oregon/Washington, Sweden RM 1966-68, married a woman, has 4 kids and many grandkids, divorced, been with husband Thom for over 35 years, no longer LDS), joins us to share his story being gay and a deep believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. John starts with his growing up years and finding his spiritual home in the Church and then serving a successful mission in Sweden. John talks about getting married to a woman (being more of a “church assignment”) and having 4 kids. John talks about that marriage ending and deciding to date men (which led to being excommunicated—John fulfilled a church assignment the night before). John talks about painful/messy experiences dating men (and being in unhealthy relationships) and continue to pray to God for direction. John talks about finding his husband Thom (also a RM) being the answer to his prayers (and Thom’s prayers) and how they built a life—and beautiful love story—together. John—a deeply emotional and spiritual man—talks about his love of Heavenly Father, the Savior, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and scriptures and the many deeply spiritual experiences that are part of his journey (including baptizing his Dad). John talks about his husband Thom and their deep love and companionship (and being there for each other as they get older) and Thom’s dedicated temple family history work and his support of his kids/grandchildren who have/will serve missions. I’m so grateful for John’s courage to be on the podcast and share his story and his insights into the character of God/our Savior and their constant role in our lives. You are a good man, John. Your story will help so many. Links: John’s e-mail: [email protected] The inspiration for John’s e-mail: John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. John 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome listeners to another episode of Listen, Learn, and Love hosted by Richard Osler.
0:10.2	My guest on a podcast for today is my friend John Crane, joining us from Austin, Texas.
0:16.8	Welcome to the podcast, John.
0:19.0	Thank you.
0:19.7	Glad to be here.
0:21.0	I'll give you a kind of a two or three minute overview of John's story, and then he's
0:25.1	got an outline here.
0:26.3	He's really prepared, and I'll turn it over to John.
0:30.1	John and I have been Facebook friends for a long time, and I knew he was a gay man,
0:34.5	married to another man, and often he would comment on my Facebook posts.
0:39.0	And then finally dawned on me, well, why don't you just have John on the podcast?
0:43.8	He probably has a really powerful story to tell.
0:46.8	And as I've read his outline and we've been visiting, this is something I should have done about three years ago.
0:52.7	So I'm a little late to the game, but I'm just so grateful for John.
0:57.3	John is 78 years old, so he's been on this road as a gay Latter-day Saint, a former
1:03.6	Latterstained in John's case for a long time.
1:06.8	As I mentioned, he lives in Austin.
1:09.1	He served a mission to Sweden in 1966 through 1968 was set apart by my great-grandfather,
1:16.2	Le Grand Richards.
1:17.6	I saw that in your notes, and the grand Richards loves Sweden, as you know well.
1:24.1	He, as I mentioned, was married, I think I haven't mentioned this yet.
1:27.5	He was married 13 years to a woman, has four kids, and they've separated, and he's been with his
	...

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