Janene Wawro is married to Bill, a mom to four, “Neena” to two grandbabies, Executive Director of CTMH and LDS. She believes “When we choose to insert ourselves, that’s where the growth happens.”
Connect with Janene through email: janenewawro@verizon.net
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The Beyond the Shadow of Doubt™ podcast is a proud member of the Dialogue Podcast Network found at DialogueJournal.com/podcasts. Part of the Dialogue Journal, the Dialogue Podcast Network was founded by Eugene England, a Mormon writer, teacher and scholar. “My faith encourages my curiosity and awe,” Gene wrote in the very first issue of the journal. “It thrusts me out into relationship with all creation” and “encourages me to enter into dialogue.” My hope is that this podcast is an extension of his vision.
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Meagan Skidmore (Host):
Welcome to Beyond the Shadow of Doubt. I’m your host, Meagan Skidmore. Today I’m excited to welcome Janene Wawro. I’ve been looking forward to this conversation for a while. I met Janene a little over a year ago when she hosted Ben Schilati at her stake, and she was the catalyst for that event. We’ll get into that in a moment.
Thank you for coming on today and sharing your faith journey, Janene.
Janene Wawro:
You’re most welcome. It’s honestly my pleasure. I enjoy talking about this.
Meagan:
Great. Please take a few minutes and tell us about yourself—your family, where you live, your upbringing—anything you feel is pertinent.
Janene:
I live in Denton, Texas. We’ve been here since 1995, so we definitely consider ourselves Texans. My husband and I just celebrated 30 years of marriage this year. We’re actually taking our first free trip in a couple of weeks, which is exciting. We’re parents to four grown kids—all married and wonderful human beings—and our oldest daughter has two girls, so we’re grandparents now, which is really fun.
I grew up in a large blended family. My mother passed away when I was three. My dad remarried and had three more children, so there were five from his first marriage and three from the second—ten kids in all. I truly appreciate that upbringing and I’m still close with my siblings. I love people and I love having them around me.
Meagan:
Were you also born and raised in the LDS faith?
Janene:
Yes—born and raised and still here, still kicking.
Meagan:
I interview people from many faith backgrounds. Sometimes they’re raised in a different faith, sometimes no structured religion at all.
Janene:
Exactly. My thoughts today come from where I’m at as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But I really respect and honor everyone’s journey and everyone’s religion. Individuality is a beautiful thing, and respect is something the world needs more of.
Meagan:
I agree. Greater acceptance of wherever people are at in their life benefits us all. I started this podcast because I love hearing about people’s faith journeys. Mine pivoted a few years back when I learned I was the parent of an LGBTQ+ child. I want to normalize the nuances of having your own individual faith journey. It doesn’t mean anything’s wrong with you; it means you’re human, having a human experience.
Janene:
Absolutely. People often hear “faith journey” and go to a negative place. But for me it’s about constantly learning and moving forward, just like you would on an actual journey.
Meagan:
Could you share the process you went through to invite Ben Schilati to your stake? For context, Ben is a gay LDS member who gives firesides. You’re not a parent yourself of an LGBTQ+ child, right?
Janene:
I’m not, but my brand-new daughter-in-law is in the community, and I feel like Ben really prepared me for that.
This topic wasn’t personal for me at first. Like a lot of us, I grew up where it wasn’t talked about much. One of my first introductions was my younger daughter’s best friend in high school. They hadn’t come out yet, but I knew. I loved having them in my home—their joy, their spirit, their kindness. That was my first pause to consider: I don’t know much about this space, but I know I love this person.
Fast forward—my daughter went to college and kept meeting people in the community. Every one I met was delightful at their core. That challenged the “being gay is a sin” message I’d grown up with. I started bridging that gap in my own heart.
During Pride Month last year, I noticed a lot of people posting about love, kindness, acceptance, and removing judgment. I began sharing things that resonated with me so people would know where I stood. Many reached out, curious how, as Relief Society president—a very faith-based role—I could be posting those things. I welcomed those conversations and shared what I was learning.
Meagan:
Did you feel hesitation at first about how people might react?
Janene:
Not really. I’m confident and true to myself. I was curious how people would respond, but my heart had expanded and I was ready. Because of my position, I felt a responsibility to take it a step further and not keep it to myself.
I also received beautiful messages from people in the community thanking me for my posts. One friend of my kids wrote to say how unusual it was to see kindness from Christians. That meant so much to me. I don’t want to be part of anything hurtful. For me, Christianity is love and kindness—not judgment.
Meagan:
So how did that lead to bringing Ben to your stake?
Janene:
I tried multiple times to start conversations at church. We had at least five families in our congregation with LGBTQ+ children. If they’re dealing with it and we’re not talking about it, we’re missing the mark. Most leaders agreed it was needed but didn’t know how to approach it. Some pushed back. I understand—they hadn’t had the same impressions I had.
After repeated attempts and no progress, I felt defeated. That night I prayed, “Heavenly Father, help me with this.” The next morning I woke up with a clear impression: reach out to Ben Schilati. I’d followed him for years. I’d already had small exchanges with him online. So I emailed him. I didn’t even know exactly what I was asking—just that I needed to talk to him.
I asked if he’d ever done firesides in Texas and would he be willing. He said yes, absolutely. He gave me guidelines and said the only condition was that the stake president had to approve. I knew in my heart that wouldn’t be a problem. Our leaders are strong, inclusive, and diverse. Our stake president did his due diligence but was supportive from day one.
Eventually, we were able to bring Ben out. He gave a wonderful presentation that was very well attended. Afterward, our area president told me, “Janene, I know hearts and minds were changed because he was here.” That was the whole purpose.
Meagan:
You’ve said several things that strike a chord with me—how you felt called to be a vehicle to ignite these conversations. Acting on that call is important. What advice would you give others who feel something similar but are hesitant?
Janene:
Two things. First, take it to the Lord. This wasn’t about me; it was placed on my heart. Ask for help and direction. Second, make it personal. When I shared my initial thoughts, I named actual families in our ward. If it’s personal for them, it needs to be personal for me. That opens hearts.
I did face negativity too, but because I was so solid in what had been placed on my heart, it didn’t derail me. We each have to be clear on our “why.”
Meagan:
Clearly there was a loving, safe space created that night. What’s your definition of a safe space, and how do you create them?
Janene:
A safe space is personal. It means people know I am a safe place. Even before this topic, I spoke at church on being inclusive. I said church should look different than we think—it should look like jeans and T-shirts, cigarette smoke, people who are hurting, not just Sunday best. Church is a place of healing. No one should get a look of “you don’t fit.” Conversations like these expand minds and create safety.
One scripture that’s meaningful to me is John 12:47—Jesus says, “For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” If Christ says his job is not to judge, then mine isn’t either. I may not save like Jesus does, but I can save someone from loneliness, friendlessness, or judgment. That’s what walking a Christian path looks like to me.
Because I moved so often as a kid, I know what it feels like to be the new person who doesn’t fit. That’s why I go out of my way to welcome newcomers. Choosing proximity—stepping into someone else’s space—is where growth happens. I’m a better person because of this journey.
Meagan:
Do you have other experiences where you’ve witnessed the power of this?
Janene:
One that stands out happened about 15 years ago. I was at CVS with my kids. Ahead of me at the counter was a man dressed as a woman. People were staring or avoiding eye contact. My first thought was, “I’ll bet his life is so hard.” I told my kids, “We’re going to be kind today.”
When it was our turn, I looked him in the eye and said, “Hey, how are you today?” He looked surprised but smiled. We had a lovely conversation about photos and photography. His whole demeanor changed. Later he even found me online to thank me. What did I really do? Nothing big—I just acknowledged him as a person. That’s the power of proximity.
Meagan:
How has your faith journey been different than you expected?
Janene:
It’s made my relationship with God and Jesus more personal—real life, not far-removed scripture. The impressions I’ve received didn’t come from me; they came from a divine place. That’s how I know They’re present in my life. It’s given me clarity on what religion, discipleship, and ministering actually mean.
Meagan:
My podcast is called Beyond the Shadow of Doubt. What does that phrase mean to you?
Janene:
Doubt tends to be seen as negative, but with doubt comes education. It means I need to learn more, dig deeper. Sometimes doubt is removed once you expand your heart and mind. We miss out on the richness of life when we stop at doubt. Moving beyond it means action and growth.
Meagan:
I love that. And I’ll say, you and I wouldn’t have met if you hadn’t followed this prompting. People need to remember—what might they miss out on if they don’t act? Instead of focusing on the discomfort, focus on what blessings might also be ahead.
Favorite books:
I don’t read cover-to-cover often, but two on my nightstand now are Emotional Survival for a Police Officer and Uncuffed (about being married to someone in law enforcement).
Introvert or extrovert:
Very much an extrovert.
Favorite artists:
Any naturally gifted vocalists—Chris Stapleton, Pink, Pentatonix. My family is very musical; my daughter sang with BYU Noteworthy and married someone from Vocal Point.
Night owl or morning lark:
Night owl.
Celebrity crush:
None—my husband is my crush at all times.
Still or sparkling water:
I love Sparkling Ice drinks—grape raspberry is my favorite.
Furthest place traveled:
Tahiti is our favorite. We’ve also been to Thailand.
Bucket list:
More travel!
Best way to contact:
Email: janenewawro@verizon.net (I’m selective on social media but happy to connect via email.)
Meagan:
Janene, thank you for being so open and candid. Your heart, spirit, and commitment are inspiring.
Janene:
Thank you for giving me the opportunity. If one thing touches someone or changes their mind even a little, that’s forward motion.
Meagan:
I appreciate that. And yes—podcasting was not how I pictured myself five years ago either, but it’s been amazing. Thank you, my friend.
Janene:
You’re welcome.