She worked on a regular basis with the highest levels of priesthood leadership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served 15 years in ecclesiastical callings as a bishop and then stake president.

As top architect for the church, it was her talents that designed more than 40 temples and other church buildings; the new addition of the Provo Missionary Training Center being her last before transitioning from male priesthood holder to female Relief Society member.

Affirmation Conference

On Sunday, Laurie Lee Hall will tell of her lifetime journey of self-acceptance and authenticity at the 40th anniversary of the Affirmation International Conference for LGBT Mormons, Families and Friends. The theme is “Many Paths, One Heart.”

The event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and continues Sunday at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Saturday’s schedule features a variety of workshops, panel discussions, and special instruction on issues of interest to the LDS LGBT community.

Hall chose her Sunday devotional theme as “Each according to the dictates of their own conscience.”

Hall’s story

Hall was excommunicated in June. Those she once led and counseled together with in leadership positions were part of her disciplinary council.

Her excommunication was in part for having served as a prominent church leader. Her actions were upsetting to some members of the stake and she said this hurt some of the beliefs of members.

“I know just as many who applaud me being true to myself,” Hall said.

“As my disciplinary council was coming to conclusion, I was asked what my desired outcome would be,” Hall said. “I answered, ‘To live and worship according to the dictates of my own conscience.'”

She would also like to be rebaptized, but as a woman.

Hall continued, “I believe very strongly in the validity of personal revelation. In an undeniable, unmistakable way the Spirit told me I was this way and that God knows me.”

Although she was once close to many general authorities of the church, as of yet, no one has reached out to her. She also says she has no interest to fight against the church.

“I was extremely inhibited and socially a real enigma,” Hall said. “I was so uncomfortable and afraid of affecting my own identity.”

From her first memories, Hall notes she experienced internal responses that were contrary to her exterior life and appearance.

“As a child, I didn’t have a vocabulary to describe it,” Hall said. “From my earliest childhood and teen years, there was a distinct incongruence between my spirit and body.”

It continued with her through her entire life. Hall is 56.

“I have learned to love myself in ways I never could before,” Hall said.

Hall added, “There were times of extremely dark depression and anxiety. At several points in my life, suicide was almost ever present. That kind of hopelessness and self-destruction seemed like an option.”

During her most recent, most excruciating struggle, she decided to make the drastic change in her life while also working on the Provo City Center Temple and serving as a stake president.

“I was shifted off temples when the brethren knew I felt myself to be transgender,” Hall said.

Hall said she has had many LDS women ask her what it was like as a woman to experience being a priesthood leader and being a woman in an LDS man’s world. It involved hours-long conversations.

Personal life

Hall said she is moving forward and continues to be an architect at her architectural practice. She also does business consulting.

Hall is married and she and her wife have chosen to stay together. They have five children and 11 grandchildren.

She refrains from speaking too openly about her family, saying her wife’s experience is her story to tell. Not all of her family is accepting of Hall. All of her children identify on various levels with the LDS church.

Hall has chosen to not have sex reassignment surgery.

“We’re all here on this journey together,” she said. “This is not the path I would have chosen.”

Affirmation Conference begins with at breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Utah Valley Convention Center, 200 West Center Street, Provo. Classes and workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A Sunday devotional and testimony meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and end with a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. 

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