A Latter-day Saint Identity Crisis, Now What? | An Interview with Alan & Marianne Downing

A Latter-day Saint Identity Crisis, Now What? | An Interview with Alan & Marianne Downing

August 8, 2026 · 56 min

About this episode

The episode features an interview with Marianne and Alan Downing discussing their experiences and insights related to Latter-day Saint identity and personal development.

Marianne Downing has a master’s degree in Education (counseling) and began her career as a therapist before combining it with various roles within the nonprofit sector. She has been an entrepreneur since 2002. Since becoming a Latter-day Saint, Marianne served in the New Zealand Auckland mission, and as Relief Society president, counselor in her stake Primary presidency, stake Relief Society president, early morning Seminary teacher, and Young Women president. While living in Paris, France, she was called as part of a committee by the European Area Presidency to establish LDS Family Services in the French-speaking areas of France, Switzerland, and Belgium. She currently serves as a ward missionary. Alan Downing has a bachelor’s degree in music from the Hartt School of Music. He sang professionally for ten years, including in synagogues and churches, while also working as an IT administrator with IBM, Verizon, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. He left the corporate world to become a life coach and has created several men’s retreats and trainings. He has led or staffed well over 100 experiential retreats in the United States, Europe, and South and Central America. After his conversion as…

People in this episode

Guests: Marianne Downing, Alan Downing

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: LDS Family Services

Places: New Zealand, France, Switzerland, Belgium, United States, Europe, South America, Central America

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