Avsnitt
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It's time!
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Woohoo! We made it to 200 episodes! I couldn't be happier with all the support and love shown over the past four years.
In this episode, I have invited four of my former guests to share hang out with me and talk about the Book of Mormon. We talk about how we first got our testimony of the Book of Mormon, some special experiences we've had, some questions we've had answered, and what we want our children to know about the Book of Mormon. This time together was beautiful and precious. We are happy to share this time with you and those you love.
My guests are Charity Fleming, Kwani Winder, Anthony Rivera, Franklin Keel, and Tom Pittman. We hope you feel like you are visiting with us as you might answer these questions in your own head or with your loved ones. And, perhaps you might even share your thoughts with us. -
Saknas det avsnitt?
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Dee was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was eight years old. Ever since then, she has looked for and found purpose in maintaining that membership. She has been so grateful to missionaries from her youth and missionaries she has served alongside as an adult. She reminds us of the story of the "dirty little Irish kid" and how she relates to that story so much--she's so grateful she was found. I think what I draw from Dee's story is tenacity, which she recognizes as strength from her own family tree. Dee is a wonderful example of being a believer.
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We talked multiple times about how each of us walk with Jesus Christ *individually*. Our life stories are all different. But they should all draw us closer to our Savior Jesus Christ and to our Heavenly Father. Shon shares about how he has drawn so close to his ancestors and has had his own testimony strengthened by their lives. That, to me, is why family history is so power. It gives us strength and it also makes life more meaningful. Shon has a beautiful story and you will feel uplifted by it.
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It was such a privilege to have Jenae Nelson come to my home. Jenae is a professor of psychology, so our conversation was definitely unique. Some of the best parts included her analogy of trying to expand our vision and see things like bees' eyes do. Are we looking through a tunnel, or are we looking with compound vision? There is always room to expand our vision. Another thing that really struck home was that she mentions how her relationship with Heavenly Father hasn't always been "good." In fact, there were many years when she didn't even believe that He could be real because of all the hard things she has gone through. But, now she says that she realizes she had to go through things so that He could help shape her character. There are truly so many good things to glean from Jenae in this episode!
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Creativity is a gift of the Spirit. Teaching is another gift of the Spirit. Being able to make connections between concepts is a gift of the Spirit. Michele has been blessed with these gifts and a myriad of others. She uses these gifts in all aspects of her life--especially in parenting and serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Michele begins this conversation with sharing about how Hózhǫ́ means so much to her--and then she just ties that in through her thoughts as we talk about a variety of subjects. She is a beautiful mother in this part of the Lord's vineyard and sees that gift as one of the highest honors. It was really amazing to get to know Michele a little better, I'm so grateful for her example.
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I think artists look more carefully at the world around them. They see the beauty in landscapes, people, and experiences more clearly. Or with more reverence and appreciation for them. Leo Platero is awesome like that. He chose to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Just like an artist purposely chooses colors to get a desired result, Leo has made decisions that have made his life beautiful and helped his family to make their lives beautiful. I even feel like the way Leo shared stories and testimony that he was choosing carefully how to paint the picture we are now privileged to listen to.
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In this episode, Shiloh talks about all the blessings he has found by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He sums up how his life has changed and how he is implementing the Gospel in his daily and weekly routines. He bears testimony again and again of the goodness of the Savior Jesus Christ.
I hope if you haven't yet listened to the first two episodes, that you will now go back and listen to them. This is a testimony that will probably stay with you for the rest of your life. -
In this episode, Shiloh shares about how out of hand his addictions become. It spills into his family life big time. He shares, too, about how he didn't want to be there in the situation. He realizes how addiction has become an actual problem for not only himself but those around him. And then he shares about being ALONE. More empty and alone than he had ever, ever been. And then LIGHT happens. The best light and the best fulness.
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In this episode, Shiloh talks about how he fondly first encountered The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He doesn't talk about a firm testimony of the Gospel, however, because he was only in it superficially. He talks about how his first wife was so kind to him, as was her family. He saw how a family who lives the Gospel looks and acts. But eventually, he ended up back on the outside of the Church. That, to me, is a good takeaway: that an easy in will often lead to an easy out. Because this episode sets up the next two episodes, you'll not want to miss this.
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Way back when I was an undergraduate student, Kristina and I danced together in a performing group. I admired her then. She's become an even more wonderful woman in the years since then. Her heart is with her Savior, her husband, her family, and those she serves in her community. She is a mother of five children, and a teacher to many. But she's humble enough to learn from everyone around her. One of her children has just left to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his siblings are examples to Kristina of how to live a Christ-like life--and she cherishes that blessing. Probably my favorite part of the whole conversation, though, is the end when she talks about "belonging." It sums up all the tidbits we touch on throughout our time together. I hope you know that you "belong" too!
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As a recent convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jon has found so many things that align between our teachings and practices and that of his Makah heritage. Especially the Potlatch. As he learns more about both, he wishes that his people could see that value in each. He feels like the traditional potlatch is going away--and wishes that he knew how to revive it. But he also sees that by learning the Gospel, he really is living a potlatch-life. He wishes he could share the Good News of Jesus Christ with everyone so everyone can live a potlatch-life!
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When Sonny returned from his mission, he wooed and married a good, strong woman. Sonny tried taking care of his body through exercise and weights--but that ended up in disaster. Of course, taking care of your body is good and healthy. But when Sonny got hurt lifting weights one day, the physician who should have been watching out and caring for Sonny gave bad advice and an addictive prescription. Sonny became an addict. This addiction went on to cause havoc in his and his family's lives. Add to that alcohol. Years of their lives have been marred by drugs, alcohol, and the lifestyle that accompanied. And then other poor life choices. Sonny is working on returning to the temple. He has achieved the restoration of his priesthood. But he is mending things that have been broken--and these will still take time. Thankfully, the Savior has all the time and all the grace and mercy needed.
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Sonny LaFontaine was loved as a child. He was raised by two loving parents and extended family. He had a particular affinity towards his maternal grandmother (Navajo). He learned through her passing, that Heavenly Father was aware of him and that the Plan we so often talk about as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. Sonny is also a natural-born leader. This is a blessing and a curse, he has found. As a missionary, he used this gift in a negative manner--resulting in hard lessons. But those lessons also helped him grow up.
This interview was so long that I broke it into two parts. The second half will be posted next week. -
Life is not easy. It's not supposed to be. And some of the challenges we bring upon ourselves. Valerie has had challenges in her life that were from other people's decision. And she has also taken challenges, like major hikes. She is planning on hiking Mount Everest someday soon. How amazing will that be!?! She loves to volunteer. It adds to her simple life. She volunteers her talents, like photography and videography. And she just loves to be involved. Those kinds of challenges are fulfilling and sometimes exciting. She has learned to be grateful about all things in life, a quality worth emulating.
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There is a part in this conversation when Maribeth talks about her time in the temple. She said that the temple became more precious to her through the following steps: (1) Just going. Just being there. Giving it time. (2) Listening to the ordinances. She said that it didn't make sense to her at first. But she listened anyway. (3) Then she started memorizing the ordinances. They became something she looked forward to reciting in her mind as she attended. (4) This is where she really began learning. She put the effort into learning more about what she was participating in. (5) Understanding the meaning. She says that she doesn't understand everything--but what she does understand has blessed her and has given her light and knowledge. I love this process she talks about. And she gives so many more tidbits of advice.
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Heavenly Father prepares us for different things. Harriet Whitmer was prepared for her educational career here and there. And then she was blessed by being willing to step into the Indian Education program in her community. She loved learning the children. She loved learning the people. She loved learning the history. She loved learning how things connected in her life. She was blessed by temple and family history opportunities as well. Harriet has learned so much about her family's history and the way it has made her who she is--though most importantly she is a child of God.
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Recently we read and talked about the Stripling Warriors in the war chapters in the book of Alma. We talked about the parents, actually, more than the youth. Why? Because the parents were the ones that we are more like right now. We have the youth--but we're the parents. Bartley Harris talked about his sacred roles of husband and father and how those are so precious to him because his family is so precious to him. He loves them so dearly. We talk about some of his career moves--but always he saw how those opportunities and locations could teach, strengthen, and provide for his family. It was a wonderful conversation.
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It is definitely interesting how some people come to the careers that they do. I read a book by one of my MPA professors who described that process--it isn't a straight line. Gordon Limb's career has not followed a "straight line." But he has been led to do what he does now. During our conversation, he talks about how he's so grateful for the matriarchs in his line who have gone through so many hard things to bring him into this world and put him where he is now. I can feel that same emotion. He talks about how he has seen probably generational trauma manifest itself in his line and how he is working to combat the ill effects of that. It's pretty interesting. But, most importantly, he's trying to help people recognize their divine heritage of which we all share.
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The honesty and pure testimony that Gayle shares in this episode is real and powerful. She just talks about her relationships with family and how God has always been a part of those relationships. She talks about how she has used prayer for personal strength and to bless the lives of those she loves and served. Gayle talks matter-of-factly about how having the Holy Ghost in your life with strengthen you and me in these latter-days, just as our prophet has told us. There are just so many good things that Gayle shares; both she and I hope that many people will be able to listen and receive their own witness of the love of our Savior Jesus Christ through these words.
- Visa fler
