Preach My Gospel Podcast

The team welcomes young adults Ayan Giddins and Tanner Linton for a discussion about Preach My Gospel Ch. 4 and the essential role of the Holy Ghost in Missionary Work. Episode Highlights: Introduction of topic and guests Ayan Giddins and Tanner Linton 4:19 The Holy Ghost as your divine companion 6:38 Preach My Gospel cover page- Full title: Preach My Gospel by the Spirit. D&C 50:13-20 12:50 How do you know when you have taught by the Spirit? D&C 50:22 15:27 The importance of listening 19:38 Evaluate your lesson by looking for evidence of growth in those you are teaching toward conversion to Christ 24:38 Teach by the Spirit and then Invite them to act 29:26 Follow up by asking them to describe their experience and then helping them to identify the Spirit 31:00 Definition of the various aspects of the Holy Ghost:  Light of Christ, Power of the Holy Ghost, Gift of the Holy Ghost etc. 39:00 Cautions regarding the Holy Ghost 42:00 Elder Dale Renlund clip: A Framework For Revelation

President Shad Martin (Stake President, Seminaries and Institutes Region Director, Sportlight podcast co-host) joins the podcast to discuss how a young person can prepare for their missions without overlooking the saving ordinances that come at nearly the same time.  The team walks through the significance of saving ordinances and why receiving the Melchizedek priesthood and the temple endowment are so important. As current stake presidents, Sean and Shad talk about the interview process that a young person will go through as they prepare.

Sean, Brian and John discuss the joy of serving as a full-time missionary during the Christmas season.  They then use the scriptures to look at each of the characters in the Nativity story (Joseph, Mary, the Shepherds, the Wisemen and the baby Jesus)  and discuss what can be learned about discipleship from each of them.  The Draper Utah Temple President Stephen Peterson drops in to share his favorite Christmas story. This episode will help to put you in the Christmas spirit and remind you of the importance of having Jesus Christ as the focus of your life!

M'Shelle Dixon re-joins the podcast to join in the discussion about Preach My Gospel Lesson 5 on the Laws and Ordinances of the gospel. The team discusses the importance of helping friends adjust to becoming life-long members of the church and disciples of Jesus Christ. This episode helps prepare you to teach principles of Priesthood and Auxiliaries, Missionary Work, Eternal Marriage, Temple and Family History, Service, Teaching and Learning in the Church, and Enduring to the End.

Steve Barton, Taylor Gunn, and Kayla Greer (Former missionaries and students at the Utah Valley Institute) share important lessons learned from their missions. Highlights :50 Intro to our three guests: Steven, Taylor and Kayla. 4:28 Looking back, what would you have done that would have better prepared you for missionary service? 7:00 The role of the temple in your service & in your life? 8:30 Practical preparation that you found useful for service? 11:00 Thoughts about your Missionary Preparation class 12:08 How you feel about Preach My Gospel as a resource? 15:20 The role of the Book of Mormon in your work and in your life? 24:30 What were your expectations and what surprised you? 28:00 How you dealt with difficult companions? 34:00 How did you deal with homesickness? 40:30 How did you grow in learning how to recognize and follow spiritual promptings? 45:13 What do you love about a mission? 50:00 How did you overcome the fear to talk to people? 55:15 How did your mission prepare you to become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ?

John, Brian and Sean conclude their discussion on lesson 4- "The Commandments" by talking about the Word of Wisdom, Tithing, Fasting and Obeying the Laws of the Land. Highlights Episode 15 Lesson 4 pt 3 1:12 Teach people the importance of Obeying the Word of Wisdom p. 81 PMG (18:93 minutes) 20:05 Inviting people to Keep the Law of Tithing p. 82 PMG (11:95 minutes) 31:00 Observing the Law of the Fast p. 83 PMG (8:40) minutes) 39.40 Obey & Honor the Law p. 84 PMG (6.98 minutes)

John, Brian, and Sean pick up where they left off in Episode 13 by continuing to go through Lesson 4 on the Commandments.  During this episode they focus on: 1. The blessings of following the Prophet  2. Ideas about how to teach the 10 commandments  3. The critical need to teach the Law of Chastity simply and with confidence.   Highlights Episode 14 Lesson 4 pt 2 :50 Teaching people to Follow the Prophet p.78 PMG (17:55 minutes) 18:05 Inviting people to Keep the Ten Commandments p. 79 PMG (14:35) 32P40 Inviting people to Live the Law of Chastity p.80 PMG (13.86 minutes)

Sean, Brian, and John discuss part one of Lesson 4 on the commandments.  They talk about the unique nature of this lesson and focus on the importance of helping others to study the scriptures, pray, and keep the sabbath day holy. Highlights Episode 13: Lesson 4 pt. 1 :50 Different ways to teach Lesson 4: The Commandments p. 74 PMG (18 minutes) 9:35 Obedience p. 75 PMG (7 minutes) The following three Commandments are the Building Blocks of Faith. You will need to understand these thoroughly to help people build faith. 16:35 Pray Often p. 76 PMG (14:95 minutes) 31:30 Study the Scriptures p.76 (14.10 minutes) 45:40 Keep the Sabbath Day Holy p. 77 (18:00 minutes)

Dr. Jonathan Sandberg (former mission president and professor of marriage and family therapy at BYU) re-joins the podcast for part 2 of our discussion on mental health and missionary work.  This episode is focused on how to manage mental health during the mission.  The principles that Dr. Sandberg shares are applicable for anyone desiring to better understand the critical topic of mental health.   Episode Highlights 1:00  What is stress and why are missions stressful? 5:50 Adjusting to Missionary Life pg. 59.  Understanding the 4 levels of stress. 9:25  Transitions in missionary work- Adjusting to change 11:00  Stoplight analogy.  How understanding your purpose makes happy missionaries. 12:25 Three things that will help you to know when you need help 14:00 Coping when you like to be alone 15:50  Music in the mission field 16:30 Struggling with a companion-where is your loyalty? 17:50 2015 Research study on treatment- 80% of all people make progress in the first 6 weeks of receiving treatment. 18:25  Research on exercise and mental health 20:00 Why do missionaries not seek help? 21:25  When you want to go home. 23:00 Mission counselors and other resources available 23:45  Parents as a resource 26:30  What if you have no support on your mission 27:30 Prayer as a resource 30:00 Scriptures as a resource 33:00 Music as a resource- The power of Hymns 34:15 What about when you need to come home? 47:00 Scrupulosity- What is it and what help is available? 51:00 We all have mental health, whether healthy or unhealthy 54:10 Transitioning home and making a plan 57:00 Willing to get help

Dr. Jonathan Sandberg joins the podcast to discuss mental health preparation prior to the mission.  Drawing upon his vast experience as a therapist and former mission president, Dr. Sandberg gives insights that every future missionary and their parents will not want to miss.  The principles in this episode will help anyone better understand mental health issues and how to overcome them with the Saviors help.  You will find yourself wanting to share this with your family and friends! Highlights 1:00  Introduction of Dr. Jonathan G. Sandberg, former Mission Leader 2019-22, Therapist and Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at BYU. 5:10 Understanding Mental Health before serving a mission. 5:50 Overcoming pain and confusion or previous trauma with courage & humility 8:00 Why the Stigma associated with Mental Health?  Battling 2 Untruths: 1. I should do really hard things no matter how I feel-make it through 2. Religious people who are righteous are supposed to be happy. Therefore we are weak and unrighteous if we are not happy all the time. 11:10 How Do I know when I need help? The Resource Adjusting to Missionary Life. 13:30 What is mental health? The components of my emotional and psychological well-being which is equally important to our physical health. 15:05 Unhealthy Coping & Escaping 20:25 Healthy Coping & Addressing the sadness 21:20 Coping resources available and unavailable on the mission and why that matters? 23:00 Parents - What trajectory is your child on? Are you focused on immediate needs or the trajectory that your child is on? Coaching children vs. controlling them. 27:40 Parents - Cocooning vs. Pre-Arming. How to approach mistakes, freedom vs. independence. 36:00 Using Adjusting to Missionary Life & Safeguards for Using Technology to help. 38:10 The 3 Mental Health Groups of pre-missionaries - which group are you in? 40:00 Resources vs. Demands. Challenges often indicate a need for additional tools & support. 41:00 Managing Mental Health in the mission field and Fear of Disclosure 51:00 How do I know if I have mental or emotional challenges that require some help? The Functional Test. 52:40 Releasing the stigma of the the Service Mission Option 54:00 Parental Expectations & Social Pressures 57:30 Nothing you do or do not do, feel or not feel, changes God's love for you. 60:00 The Role of the Savior in mental health & the meaning of suffering.