Praise for A Sacred Journey 

FINALLY — a guide for LDS parents raising transgender children. . . . A Sacred Journey gives voice to families walking this same road. Woven with real parent voices, science, and theological grounding, it refuses to make parents choose between love and faith. This book is sacred, not because the stories are easy, but because they tell of love, refusing to let go.

-              Allison Dayton (she/her), President and Founder of Lift and Love 

I recommend this book not only to parents but also to spouses of transgender people and to adult children of transgender parents. With light, faith, and clarity, Julia Campbell Bernards shares her personal experience [and] insights from other parents, reassuring readers that they are not alone and validating their fears, feelings, and grief. Emphasizing love, she provides clear principles. . . . Well-researched, practical, and doctrinally connected, this guide offers reassurance and support to parents facing something they never expected.

-              Laurie Lee Hall (she/her), author of Dictates of Conscience: From Mormon High Priest to My New Life as a Woman and Founder of the Families and Gender Variance Project

I deeply love my transgender daughter, but I wanted her to FEEL LOVED by me. Learning to trust God's guidance in this quest was a sacred experience. Julia's research masterfully distills this complex process. She shares what other parents have experienced and invites us into spiritual growth. I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

-              Becky Belnap (she/her), CSW, Presenter, Mother of a trans daughter 

No one in the LDS space has written a book like this focusing on supporting transgender folks. There is a big unmet need that this book meets. Julia brings her expertise to the topic as a parent of a trans kids, a researcher and a therapist. . . . Super powerful . . . [and] so well done. I will send people to this book.

-              Richard “Papa” Ostler (he/him), Founder and Host of the Listen, Learn and Love podcast; author of Listen, Learn, and Love: Embracing LGBTQ Latter-day Saints

Many families who come to Flourish Therapy are seeking help in understanding their trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive children. This book is the resource I can't wait to give them. Julia Bernards' insight into what families can do to stay connected is SO needed!

-              Lisa Hansen (she/her), PhD, LMFT, Founder and Clinical Director of Flourish Therapy

Find hope, perspective, and guidance to move forward faithfully.

About A Sacred Journey

Many Latter-day Saint families find themselves seeking understanding and direction when a child comes out as transgender or gender-diverse.

In A Sacred Journey, Julia Bernards, PhD, LMFT, offers hope-filled guidance, research-backed perspectives, answers to frequently asked questions, and a wealth of resources. Drawing on Dr. Bernards’ personal experience and groundbreaking research with nearly 150 Latter-day Saint parents of transgender children, this book illuminates the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual terrain of a life-altering experience.

Inside, you will find:

·       Gospel-informed guidance through complex mental and emotional landscapes.

·       Practical suggestions at the end of each chapter for immediate, real-world application.

·       Hundreds of quotes and stories from real parents who have walked this path before you.

Whether you are at the very beginning of your journey or years into it, A Sacred Journey reminds you that you are not alone. Many have walked this path and their collective wisdom and witness are here to guide you.