Mormon Family Struggles with Mental Health Issues - Lance and Brandee Heppler Pt. 1

Описание: Content warning: Self-harm

Join Lance and Brandee Heppler as they share their personal journeys in Mormonism and delve into mental health challenges they faced as they tried to be good Mormon parents. Lance talks about his orthodox upbringing in Oregon, his mission in South Carolina, and his panic of finding someone to marry before graduating from BYU. Meanwhile, Brandee struggles with feeling she doesn't "fit in" in at church due in part to her parents being converts and her undiagnosed ADHD, making her wonder why it seemed God made her too "rowdy" as a woman instead of more subdued and "proper".

Together they navigate the traditional gender roles expected of them as a married couple in the church while raising young children and serving in various callings. As they grapple with issues such as feminism and LGBTQ issues in the church, they also confront their own mental health struggles and the lack of support from the Mormon community. They share powerful insights about the often-transactional nature of Mormon relationships and the harmful effects that come from some teachings that associate mental health struggles with sin. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those raised in Mormonism and the impact it can have on mental health.

Episode Show Notes: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast...

Lance & Brandee Playlist:    • Плейлист  

CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 Intro & Intentions
00:04:30 Lance’s orthodox family, incl. a foster sister from the LDS "Indian Placement Program"
00:14:00 Testimony building experience around the Word of Wisdome (Mormon Health Code)
00:18:15 BYU and getting disappointing mission call to South Carolina
00:25:30 Mission experiences
00:27:00 Back at BYU: Bachelor friendships & Senior panic that he wouldn’t marry before graduating
00:29:00 Brandee is raised by convert parents, feels like a 2nd-class Mormon
00:34:30 “Mouthy” women and Mormon patriarchy.
00:47:30 Fear of alcoholism dating outside the Church
00:48:30 Ambitions for College, career & mission
00:50:00 Mission - Manchester England
00:52:10 Elder Holland broke the pulpit on her mission - missionaries “weren’t worth a teaspoon of camel spit”
00:58:00 The idea that you need Mormonism to have morality and happy families
01:08:15 Lance & Brandee meet & marry
01:11:15 Men always want to be high-leaders, women want to be the wives of those positions
01:14:00 Lance & Brandee discuss how women and sex are viewed.
01:20:00 Brandee's concern over potential future daughters to be shamed about sex etc.
01:22:00 The immediately have children w/ Lance in Dental school
01:28:00 Issues over callings, gender roles, LGBTQ, can't speak up
01:38:15 “Softening” of orthodoxy. Cracks developing
01:42:45 Lance keeps up appearances of full church participation
01:44:00 Kids are a reflection of your perfection & parenting skills
01:48:00 Brandee’s mental health declines
01:54:00 Lack of support & other issues for Mormons w/ mental health struggles
02:06:00 Trying to use the gospel to treat bipolar
02:10:00 Self-harm leads to a program that gets Brandee the help she needs

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