papaostler.com
Welcome!
This website is a central location with links to articles, social media posts, and other information.
My name is Richard Ostler and I am a native of Salt Lake City. I attended the University of Utah and Brigham Young University (business focus). I married my best friend and eternal companion Sheila Juergens of Houston, Texas in 1990 and we are the parents of six great children, several grandchildren, and live near Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake City. I believe deeply in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and want it to work for a wider group of our friends.
The name Papa Ostler resulted from being introduced to Twitter by my high school aged son Matt in 2010. I wanted the high school kids to know I wasn’t one of their peers as I interacted with them—hence the name Papa Ostler.
The name Papa Ostler resulted from being introduced to Twitter by my high school aged son Matt in 2010. I wanted the high school kids to know I wasn’t one of their peers as I interacted with them—hence the name Papa Ostler.
About Richard
I am a former bishop of a Young Single Adult ward, and speak at firesides and conferences about how to better create Zion by more fully embracing members walking a unique road (such as LGBTQ Latter-day Saints) to better see their gifts and contributions, provide more support, and help them feel they belong.
I am the host of the Listen, Learn and Love podcast which provides a platform for Latter-day Saints to share their stories to better create Zion. The podcast includes stories from those who are LGBTQ, those sharing their experience with repentance, being an early-release missionaries, solving porn, emotional illness, death, faith crisis and many other topics. My podcast guests are some of my heroes.
1. Listen, Learn & Love: Embracing LGBTQ Latter-day Saints (September 2020) available at Deseret Book (in-store and online), and Amazon. You can read individual sections for free at Listen Learn and Love.
2. Listen, Learn and Love: Improving Latter-day Culture (March 2022) available at Deseret Book (in-store and online) and Amazon. You can read individual chapters for free here.
I am the host of the Listen, Learn and Love podcast which provides a platform for Latter-day Saints to share their stories to better create Zion. The podcast includes stories from those who are LGBTQ, those sharing their experience with repentance, being an early-release missionaries, solving porn, emotional illness, death, faith crisis and many other topics. My podcast guests are some of my heroes.
I am deeply committed to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to creating more understanding and support for LGBTQ members—a goal started during my service as a YSA bishop where I learned to set aside past assumptions to better fulfill my stewardship responsibility to meet the spiritual needs of LGBTQ ward members.
I am the author of three books:
I am the author of three books:
1. Listen, Learn & Love: Embracing LGBTQ Latter-day Saints (September 2020) available at Deseret Book (in-store and online), and Amazon. You can read individual sections for free at Listen Learn and Love.
2. Listen, Learn and Love: Improving Latter-day Culture (March 2022) available at Deseret Book (in-store and online) and Amazon. You can read individual chapters for free here.
3. Learn, Learn and Love: Building the Good Ship Zion (September 2023) available at Deseret Book
(in-store and online) and Amazon. You can read the introdcution here. You can read Chapter 4 (How Should We Treat Those Who Leave the Church?) for free here.
Proceed from the books go the Stockton Power Memorial Scholarship in honor of Stockton Powers a gay Latter-day Saint teenager who died of suicide in 2016. Everything I do is a self-funded labor of love ❤️
Proceed from the books go the Stockton Power Memorial Scholarship in honor of Stockton Powers a gay Latter-day Saint teenager who died of suicide in 2016. Everything I do is a self-funded labor of love ❤️
If you'd like to better support LGBTQ Latter-day Saints in your local area of influence, you are welcome to join our Facebook Group
where others are working to do the same.
I am also the author of two Ensign/Liahona articles:
I am also the author of two Ensign/Liahona articles:
“How the Savior's Healing Power Applies to Repenting from Sexual Sin” (August 2020, YSA digital only)
“7 Tips for Overcoming Pornography Use” (October 2020, page 72)
In addition to serving as a YSA bishop, I have served as a stake Young Men president, high councilor, and ward mission leader. I currently serve as a primary activity day leader.
You can contact me at richard@ostlergroup.com or via direct message at Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (links in top right corner).