This podcast is Part 3 of a Mormon Stories and A Thoughtful Faith Collaboration.
Mindy Gledhill is an American indie pop music singer-song writer. She has five albums, the Sum of all Grace, Anchor, Winter Moon and Pocketful of Poetry and has collaborated on many others. Mindy’s music appears in film, television and commercials. Its has been described as ‘tender, emotional, intelligent, and touchingly auto-biographical, fun flirty and heartfelt.’
Her vocal style is warm and rich; each of her songs attest to the tremendous talent she has as both a musician and a lyricist. She’s also innovative and entrepreneurial and in 2012 was recognized as one of “Utah’s 40 Under 40” in the Utah Valley Business Q Magazine.
But Mindy also has a rich life story. Born into a large Mormon family she grew up in a faith tradition that could not keep up with her growing awareness of gender inequality and patriarchy.
Mindy joins Gina to discuss her life, her work, her family and her personal gender politics.
In Parts One and Two of the series John Dehlin interviewed pop artist Mindy Gledhill and classical pianist Dustin Gledhill regarding their new electronic synth-pop project called Hive Riot. In Part 3 A Thoughtful Faith podcast host Gina Colvin interviews Mindy about her faith, women’s issues, and other dimensions of Mindy’s experiences as a woman, mother, wife, pop artist, Mormon, and human.
In Part 1 John explores Mindy and Dustin’s respective stories as Mormons, along with their careers as successful musical performing artists. Dustin also discusses his difficulties as a gay Mormon (including his attempts to change his sexual orientation, driving him to the point of suicide), and Mindy discusses her journey to become an LGBT ally (partially through Dustin’s influence). In Part 2 we discuss the Hive Riot project (which is the perfect Christmas Gift for this holiday season…along with Mindy’s Christmas album).
Mindy’s Albums
It is so refreshing to hear of Mindy and her being so gutsy. I like how she kept trying out for different things in high school and even though she didn’t make it time after time she just kept plugging away. I am glad that success has come her way.
At 1:41:51 in the recording you said something to the effect of, “If all the women in the church would say – men, we are tired of second place – and the church would change overnight.” Have you not done your history work for a better example? One word: Lysistrata 🙂
Aaah! Lysistrata – of course. But I’m not sure if I could tolerate that kind of deprivation myself. Perhaps if women left the lads with the children to take care of that might not feel like chopping off our noses to spite our faces.
What a lovely interview! I love Mindy’s candor and her bravery in sharing her story. Also love Dustin. What fun energy they have. I feel very similar to Mindy about the gender inequality in the church and have had a similar experience with learning about polygamy more in depth. It’s so nice to hear others tell their story and know that I’m not alone. Thanks Gina for a great podcast!
Great interview. So refreshing! Im so glad that these ideas are available to listen to. Thank You
Stroppy women indeed! Ah, but so delightful a pair in this interview.
Should you ever run across the writing of Denver Snuffer, you might find it interesting that he claims to have actually asked the Lord if women could receive the priesthood.
“In my disgust and personal preference, I asked the Lord that priesthood get extended beyond the confines of the men who have continually abused and neglected it. I was told that priesthood is confined to men because of the Fall and the conditions ordained by God at that time.64 Until we reverse things in the Millennium, that is the way it is going to remain, as to the ordinances thus far given in public. I asked the Lord to change that order. It is not going to change. I then asked the Lord that if only men were to hold priesthood for our public ordinances, then could only women vote to sustain them. The saying pleased the Lord, for it was already in His heart. But He said to me: “There shall be a minimum of seven women to sustain the man in any vote, and if the man is married, his wife shall be one of them.” (Preserving the Restoration lecture, Mesa AZ, 9-9-14)
Thank you, Mindy, for being so honest and open about what you’re going through. My husband is having a really hard time coming to church recently and feels “like a fish out of water” for different reasons than your reasons, but it is so reassuring to know that there are other people going through the same thing. I wish you all of the happiness in the world and hope that you can find peace. Thank you for being a strong, independent, woman and for being such an amazing role-model for women and girls! <3
Man Gina! I love that new intro with that lovely child’s voice. Is that your little one? Really did a good job. I could listen to that over and over. If that doesn’t get more people donating I don’t know what will.
Great interview with a great guest. Love the warmth and good heart of Mindy. And her music rocks.
Thanks!
It was indeed Jay. It was Finn – who took his job very seriously! 😉
Add my admiration for young Finn’s introduction.
I enjoyed the podcast but it is always interesting how different we woman navigate the waters of the church. With out seeming to be demeaning I see the Priesthood as a much needed help for men that woman seem to already have been given in a larger portion. For all the Priesthood is, is love and tapping into God. My experience is so vastly different though than the questioning millinials . I never felt discriminated against in the church. In fact it was just the opposite. In my mind it was rather that men needed more help. What do you do in school for those who learn differently, you create a remedial program to help get them up to speed. Personally I thought it a blessing we didn’t have a bigger budget for young womens programs because that produced money for more organized activities we then would have to implement. We’re much better as woman figuring out how to to keep ourselves busy and out of trouble. I hated it when they came up with a “make up” for cub scouts called achievement days because it took me out of my own home where I was already busy teaching my own five girls the skills I now had to teach the 8 or so girls in the ward I was assigned to. One of the main tenants of our church is we believe it is still evolving. This is where the opportunity to exercise faith comes in to play. Because obviously faith is the paramount foundation of all religions. The wheels of progress turn slowly, for great reason. We are trying to move a great body of people, several million, with varied intelligence, faith, talents, culture,ethnics and resources , Have we always gotten it right? Absolutely not. But I get irritated with those who try to compare our life experiences to those in the 1800’s. Now there is a generation gab! Yet that’s what these great minds who think they’ve come up with some great secrets that will now change the whole foundation of the church think they are doing. It’s kind of like throwing out all the wonderful traditions about Christmas the moment you discovered there was no Santa Clause. If Gods idea was to just set up a perfect church where would our personal growth take place. I think he gives us barely enough truth to keep us centered just enough to stay on a growing continuum. The reason for this belief is “proof in the pudding” so to speak. I have observed in my life many who leave the body of the Church for something more and better and as yet I have not seen any of them end up in a better place in the end. What I have witnessed is s slow decline. I’ve wished at times to be pleasantly surprised that some one got out of the constraints of the Church and found something better but time and time again when they climbed out of the life boat and tried to swim to shore faster they sadly ended up sinking. The Church is constraining for a purpose. How else could we learn those greatest of attribute of patience long suffering tolerance and unconditional love? So when the apostles plead with those who choose to leave because they read something in church history that didn’t sit well with them, to instead stay and help us grow together that makes more sence than tearing at the edges of an organized religion with so many great and wonderful opportunities for personal growth. I am grateful for a Mother who understood her role in the Church and never ever was it less than any man, nor anymore. I have lived long enough to observ those who use the limitless opportunities the church offers us to grow through service, practice obedience and faith,produces happy well balanced lives. But it also has great bonus things like well organized youth programs not like anything out there. Where a Ward family loves and assisted me to raise my children. Are there things I struggle with, oh my yes. But what I’ve also found is the minute you start a journey to find fault in the Church or for that matter anything, a marriage, a job, a person, it never bares a good return. “We believe all things,we hope all things” because that opens us up to experience light, truth, knowledge and not just a personal interpretations of history. In 200 years I’m very sure my life will have lots of people asking questions about the way I interpreted it. In short my narrative is vastly different than yours so to woman who find themselves in the struggle I just offer a different voice to consider befor you start down a path that may not in the end yield the fruits for which you hungered.