Expanding the Borders of Zion

A Latter-Day Saint Perspective on LGBTQ Inclusion

By: Charlie Bird

Narrated by: Charlie Bird, Richie Steadman

Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Many people want to offer love and support to their LGBTQ friends and neighbors, but aren't sure how. Bird’s unique position as a gay Latter-day Saint has given him valuable insight. In this audiobook, he authentically details the blessings and challenges faced by gay members of the church, and provides listeners with the perspective, understanding, and tools they need to more effectively minister to those who identity as LGBTQ.

Expanding the Borders of Zion bridges the gap between religion and the LGBTQ community in a way that is both bold and inviting. It will undoubtedly inspire you to love deeper, grow closer to Christ, and expand your heart to more fully embrace all of God’s children.

©2022 Charles Bird (P)2023 Charles Bird

The most impactful read for me this year!

Charlie has poured his heart and soul into this book and it shows. It’s engaging, informative, thought provoking, and uplifting. He does a great job reading it too.

So real, and needed right now.

I loved how this teaches me how to be, and do better. I now see ways that I can improve to show love to, and provide inclusion to all of God’s children.

An incredible and inspiring book!

Thank you Charlie Bird! For me, the keys to this book are the insights, experiences, and thought provoking questions and invitations Charlie offers. While Charlie invited the world to be better from an LGBTQ perspective, his message is valid and applicable to seeing and extending love - and especially God’s love - to just about anyone. Expanding the Borders of Zion helped me grow for good. My last point you don’t need to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be inspired by or understand this book and it’s goal is not to pursued a person to join that religion. Rather the goal - as I see it - is to help us see past our differences and love each other as children of God. Thanks again Charlie Bird. We’ll done!

Inspirational

I have felt a pull to be a better advocate for the LGBTQ individuals and have often wondered how to do that and this book makes it so clear that love is the answer. Sit with them, walk with them, bring them in. Thank you Charlie for your testimony and willingness to pioneer this type of Christlike love!

THANK YOU

I feel like this was such an important book for me to read. Thank you for writing this. Yours is a perspective that is so important. You ARE welcome and loved and needed.

This book was clearly so lovingly and thoughtfully written. I plan to buy a hard copy and make notes and highlights, which I NEVER do. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. 🤍🌈

Excellent!

Charlie is a great story teller. I learned so much from Charlie’s life experiences. The way he used his stories to teach about Christ’s gospel and His love for every child of God is perfect.

Thank you!

There is a need for love and inclusion for all of God’s children! Beautifully written. Thank you Charlie, for your honesty and courage.

Thank you, Charlie

Thank you Charlie, for sharing your experience, and for narrating it yourself in a way that no one else could. Exceptional!

Beautifully Done and Endlessly Courageous

Cannot recommend this book enough. Charlie so beautifully navigates the space between religion and being gay with humility and love and is such a good teacher to those seeking to navigate it themselves or seeking to understand and empathize with those who are. I admire his endless courage, and his steel like faith.

Happy Tears

This book should be required reading for every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I found myself on multiple occasions with tears streaming down my face as I listened to Charlie’s efforts to bridge the gap between faith and those who are queer. What he is doing is SUCH important work. I’m so grateful he was guided to share his story and help so many. This book was written in a way that illustrates a much more hopeful and deliriously beautiful version of how the church could be. I am not gay but vow to be better at seeing and making space for anyone around me that could be. Charlie explains the importance of being a safe space for everyone, because you never know what someone is going through. Charlie, I hope this isn’t your last book!