Lift+Love STORIES - true stories of LGBTQ+ Latter-day Saint families LGB LGBT LGBTQ Mormon — Lift + Love

The following stories feature the true experiences of Latter-day Saint families with one or more LGBTQ+ family member, as told to Lift+Love storyteller Autumn McAlpin. Stories and photos are published with permission.

A vibrant, colorful painting depicting a crowd gathered in front of a large tent with a rainbow-colored roof. A figure with a glowing halo, dressed in pink, stands in front of the tent, appearing to be addressing the crowd. The scene has a spiritual or religious tone.

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A family of four standing outdoors on a fall day, with trees and a brick building in the background. They are smiling and dressed in fall clothing.

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Group photo of six diverse family members standing outdoors in a field with mountains in the background, smiling at the camera. The overlay text reads 'Kelleen Potter: A Lift + Love Family Story.'

The Baldwin family standing outdoors in front of a field with a fence, smiling at the camera.

A family of seven standing on a grassy area near a beach, with the ocean and cloudy sky in the background, smiling at the camera.

A couple celebrating at an event, with the man kissing the woman's forehead. The woman is smiling and wearing glasses. The background shows a stone fireplace decorated with candles, lanterns, and framed photographs.

The Cooper family poses outdoors in a forested area with autumn foliage. They are smiling and standing close together, dressed in casual clothing including denim jackets and pants.

A smiling couple standing on a city street, with cars, pedestrians, and buildings in the background.

Group of six family members standing outdoors in a desert landscape, smiling, with text overlay that reads 'Maranda Thompson & Family: A Life + Love Family Story'.

The Lesue family, a diverse group of ten with adults and children, standing outdoors in a grassy field with tall brown grass, smiling and hugging. They are dressed casually, and the scene is warm and friendly.

The Crump family sitting on steps outside a building, with a woman in a white jacket, a man in a blue shirt, a young girl, a woman with glasses, a young man, and a dog. Text on the image says, 'The Crump Family - A Lift + Love Family Story.'

Group of eight people, including bride and groom, smiling and posing for a photo at a wedding reception, with a wooden wall background.

A group of family members posing outdoors in front of a fountain and pink flowering trees during daytime. They are dressed in formal attire, with women in dresses and men in suits. Some children are present, one girl holding a small bouquet and a boy in a suit and bow tie. The scene is bright and cheerful, indicating it might be a special occasion such as a wedding.

Group photo of the Sorensen family standing outdoors in fall with trees and a house in the background.

Silhouettes of a family holding hands at sunset near the water.

The Steele family standing together outdoors at a celebration, smiling, with string lights overhead and trees in the background.

A family of three people and a dog taking a selfie outdoors. The woman on the left has long blonde hair, and the woman on the right has short blue hair. The man in the middle has short gray hair. There are pink flowers in the background.

The Carpenter family standing outdoors on a stone wall with a large rock and pine trees in the background, smiling at the camera.

A happy family of nine, including children and adults, posing outdoors with a stone pyramid and green trees in the background.

A family group photo outdoors with eight people, consisting of three adult men and women and five teenagers or children, smiling and posing together on a grassy area with trees in the background.

Family group photo in front of Christmas tree, smiling, wearing masks, celebrating Christmas.

The Elsworth family sitting on rocks in front of a waterfall during a hike, with greenery and sunlight around.

A diverse group of ten people, including young adults and two older adults, posing together at an airport terminal wearing purple lei necklaces, some with face masks around their necks.

A smiling family of eight children and two adults standing outdoors with mountains and greenery in the background, wearing casual summer clothing and hats.

Family photo of Ken Taylor and Lisa Ashton with children outdoors in a park.

A group of seven people, including three women and four men, standing outdoors in a park with green trees in the background, smiling at the camera.

The Cronin family standing on a beach near the ocean, smiling, with children and adults, during sunset.

A smiling young man and woman outdoors with green foliage in the background, promoting Autumn McAlpin's family story 'A Lift + Love Family Story'

A family of five posing together at a celebration. Two men in suits with boutonnieres, a woman in a polka dot dress, and another man in a patterned shirt. They are smiling in front of a decorative backdrop with plants on shelves.

A group of family members posing on red rock formations outdoors during a family trip.

A large, multigenerational family standing outdoors in a wooded area during autumn, posing for a group photo with their dog.

A family of five posing outdoors in a green field with two dogs, smiling at the camera. The family includes a blonde woman, a middle-aged man, two young men, and a young boy.

The Dean family at the beach, with a woman on the left, a young man in the center playing an acoustic guitar, and another young man on the right wearing glasses, all smiling and enjoying a sunny day.

A family of seven posing on a wooden bridge outdoors, including four boys, two girls, and an adult man and woman, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

The Frew family, including a man in law enforcement uniform, standing together in a room with wood-paneled walls, smiling at the camera.

A family of seven standing outdoors in a snowy landscape, smiling and embracing, with snow-covered trees in the background.

The Ewing family standing outdoors near a river, smiling at the camera. An adult male, an adult female, and three children are present, with trees in the background.

Family portrait of six members in an outdoor setting with fall foliage, smiling. Text overlay: "The Fogg Family - A Lift + Love Family Story."

The Macdonald family of nine standing together in a warmly lit room, smiling at the camera, with wooden ceiling beams visible above.

Family gathered in front of a fireplace, smiling for the camera, with text overlay reading 'Jarrie Johns & Family: A Lift + Love Family Story'

A wedding photo of the Burton family with the bride, groom, and family members standing on steps, all smiling, with text overlay that reads 'The Burton Family, A Lift + Love Family Story.'

A family of nine people standing together outside in front of a white fence and greenery, smiling at the camera.

A young boy sitting on a brown armchair smiling at the camera, with a wooden side table beside him. The table has a record player, a mug with a cat design, a glass, and a container. Behind him are framed posters on the wall, including one for the musical 'Moss Saigon' and another for 'Cats.' The caption reads, 'The Mackay Family: A Lift + Love Family Story.'

The Priest Family, a diverse group of six people, standing outdoors on a dirt path surrounded by green trees, posing for a photo and smiling, with the caption 'The Priest Family: A Life + Love Family Story' at the bottom.

The Farris-Davis family standing outdoors with desert plants and cactus in the background. The family consists of two adults and seven children, all smiling and dressed in navy and dark-colored clothing.

The Huggard family of seven standing outdoors on a viewing platform with a scenic ocean and lush landscape in the background. They are smiling and posing for a photo, dressed casually in summer clothes.

A diverse family of nine standing outdoors in front of a brick wall and black metal gate, smiling at the camera.

A simple black and white drawing of a family of three holding hands. The image includes a boy, a girl, and an adult, with the girl wearing a bow in her hair. Text overlay says "The UNTOLD Family story" and "A Lift + Love Family Story," with a rainbow-colored love heart.

A family group photo outdoors with ten members, including children, posing in front of greenery and a building. Some members are holding bouquets, and they are dressed in formal and semi-formal attire, celebrating a family event.

A family of seven standing together on a beach, smiling at the camera, with the ocean and a few people walking in the background.

A large family group standing on the beach near the ocean, dressed in casual and semi-formal attire, with some holding children, and a person holding a bouquet of flowers at the center, under clear blue skies.

The Winget family at a wedding, standing outdoors in front of a brick wall with large windows, mountains in the background, everyone dressed in formal attire, some with floral leis, smiling for the photo.

The Colvin family standing outdoors in a grassy field with a hedge and trees in the background, smiling for a group photo.

The Barth family posing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, at sunset.

A large, diverse family with children and a dog standing in a field with mountains in the background

A family of seven dressed in winter gear standing together in the snow with a forest of snow-covered trees in the background, smiling at the camera.

The Von Pingel family standing in a field of lavender, smiling at the camera during sunset.

A family of six standing outdoors in a park with trees and autumn foliage in the background. They are smiling and happily posing for the photo.

The Rowell family standing outdoors in a natural setting, smiling at the camera. Six members, including adults and possibly teenagers, dressed casually.

Family of nine standing outdoors in front of a large tree, smiling at the camera. Text overlay reads "The Hunter Family: A Lift + Love Family Story."

Excerpt from a book titled "Seeing" by Laraine F. Eddington, describing pioneering paths, children, and family growth.

Family of five sitting on a fountain ledge in a park with trees and autumn foliage. The family includes two men, a woman, a boy, and a dog. The image contains the text 'The Hansen Family' and 'A Lift + Love Family Story' with a rainbow heart emoji.

A large multigenerational family group outdoors on stone steps surrounded by greenery, smiling at the camera, with text overlay reading "Pratt Family: A Lift + Love Family Story."

Two women smiling for a photo at a family gathering, with a warm, wooden background. One is wearing a pink jacket and a pink beaded necklace, the other in a red top and a patterned necklace. Text overlay reads: 'Mary Ann Andersen, A Lift + Love Family Story'.

Close-up photo of a smiling man and woman taking a selfie together, with the text overlay 'Margaret Steward: A Life + Love Family Story'.

A diverse family group of five people standing close together outdoors, smiling, with a cityscape background. The group includes two men and three women, some with colorful hair, dressed casually. Overlay text reads "Case Family - A Lift + Love Family Story."

Jenkins family, consisting of four children and two adults, smiling outdoors with a mountain backdrop, celebrating family love.

A black-and-white close-up photograph of two smiling women, one with long, wavy dark hair and the other with long, straight dark hair. Text overlay reads 'The Campbell Family: A Lift + Love Family Story' with a rainbow heart emoji.

The Bailey Family: a group photo of six family members, including three children, two adults, and a dog outdoors with trees in the background, all dressed in red, beige, and white clothing.

A happy family of six humans with a dog sitting on the steps of a yellow brick house with windows and flower boxes in the background.

A happy family of seven standing outdoors with autumn foliage in the background, smiling at the camera.

The Rogers family standing in front of a backdrop with holiday-themed illustrations, smiling at the camera.

The Wright family standing together indoors, dressed in formal attire, with greenery and a white garden arch backdrop.

A black and white photo of a person in mid-air performing a martial arts or dance move, with text overlay reading "The Davies Family: A Lift + Love Family Story".

A family of eight people, including two adults and six children, standing outdoors in front of a light-colored wall, smiling for a group photo.

Family of ten posing together outdoors in a snowy landscape, smiling at the camera. Title text overlaid reading 'The Hong Family, A Life + Love Family Story'.

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The Gearhart family posing outdoors, celebrating a graduation. The graduate woman is wearing a black cap and gown with a purple sash, holding a diploma. The family members are smiling, standing in front of a green leafy background with stone and brick elements.

The Mackintosh family standing outdoors together, smiling at the camera, with a cloudy sky and trees in the background, celebrating their family story.

The Sharp family, a diverse group of six, smiling and standing outdoors with a rocky landscape in the background, celebrating their love and unity.

A family of eleven in a desert landscape with hills and cacti, smiling and looking at each other.

The Quist/Mumford family taking a selfie outdoors in a forested area with a stone bridge in the background.

The Bair family stands together in front of a white brick wall, smiling and posing for a photo.

Four family members posing outdoors at a graduation ceremony, with one person wearing a graduation cap and gown, under a large tree, in a park-like setting.

The Ence family, a group of six people, standing outdoors in front of green trees, smiling at the camera. The caption reads: "The Ence Family - A Lift + Love Family Story."

A family of six stands on steps outside a brick building, smiling and embracing, dressed in semi-formal attire.

Family portrait of nine people outdoors, standing in front of trees during sunset, smiling at the camera.

A family of four taking a selfie outdoors by a river in an urban area with historic buildings, including two women and two men, smiling at the camera.

A young man and woman standing outdoors near a body of water with houses in the background, smiling at the camera under a clear blue sky.

The Baldwin family stands on their porch with two dogs, smiling at the camera.

A young man in graduation attire is flanked by a smiling older man and woman, both casual, outdoors at a graduation celebration.

The Smith family standing outdoors, smiling, with mountains and trees in the background, dressed in casual attire.

A large group of people, including children and adults, dressed in formal attire, standing outdoors in front of green trees, for a family photo.

A family of eight posing outdoors near trees, including three adults and five children, with a dog in the front left corner.

The Haycock family is gathered together indoors, smiling for a group photo. There are adults, children, and babies, with colorful decorations in the background, including words like 'joy' and 'peace.' The photo is captioned 'The Haycock Family: A Lift + Love Family Story.'

Family photo of multiple generations in front of a large tree, all wearing colorful tie-dye clothing, smiling and happy outdoors.

A family photo of six members standing outdoors in a field of tall, dry grass with rocky terrain and trees in the background, including two adults and four children.

A family of seven standing outdoors among trees, smiling at the camera. They are dressed casually with some wearing plaid patterns. The text overlay reads: "Evan & Cheryl Smith Family - A Lift + Love Family Story."

A woman and a young boy are shown in a close embrace outdoors, with another person walking away in the background.

A family of nine standing outdoors in a field with trees and golden fall foliage in the background, smiling and embracing each other.

The Marcek family outdoors during daytime with trees in the background, five members smiling and holding cats.

Close-up of a small lizard on a textured surface with dark background and light foreground.

The Sais family standing together in a living room, smiling for the camera. There are seven members, dressed in business casual and semi-formal attire, with a large clock on the wall behind them. The caption reads "The Sais Family: A Lift + Love Family Story."

The Rollins family standing outside in front of a building with glass doors. There are seven members, including adults and children, dressed in business and casual attire, smiling at the camera.

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