All In

When Liz Darger, a senior associate athletic director at BYU, was a young girl, her mother taught a home evening lesson that made a deep impression on her. Liz's mother spoke of creating a home-court advantage for each member of their family. This meant celebrating one another’s successes, being patient when a family member is struggling, and protecting their home from negative influences. On this week’s episode, we talk with Liz about how that concept of home court advantage changed her life and how it extends outside the walls of her home. “These are souls we’re dealing with…precious, precious souls to our Heavenly Parents.”  Show Notes 2:19- Creating Home-Court Advantage for Everyone 5:23- Cultivated in the Home, Carried Into the World 8:43- Finding Identity as a Daughter of God 11:28- A Wonderful Integration 14:48- A Sense of Belonging 17:38- Investing in Relationships—A Two-Way Thing 24:45- Both Sides of the Bridge Together 27:00- Showing Up…With Cake 32:00- Listening—The Bedrock of Respect 36:52- Trusted Receivers of People in Our Path 40:18- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Whitmer, Martin Harris, and Oliver Cowdery. Those are the well-known names of three men whose witnesses of the Book of Mormon stood the test of time, even if their loyalty to the Church sometimes wavered. But who were they? What about these men enabled God to use them in Restoration? Why did they all, at various points, step away from the Church? And why did two of them come back? On this week’s episode, Daniel Peterson, an executive producer of the new movie “Witnesses,” discusses the significance of these men’s roles in Church history and why we should hold gratitude in our hearts for their lives. “The Lord gave us the witnesses—the three and the eight—and I think He expects us to use them and to tell their story.”  Show Notes 3:43- "A Witness to the Witnesses” 8:09- Becoming Converted 9:38- Seer Stones 13:28- Relationships in Church History 17:57- Sidney Rigdon and the Salt Sermon 23:10- Strong Personalities 30:15- All Left, Two Came Back, All Stood By Their Testimonies 40:10- Witnesses of Women 46:58- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could a greater understanding of the physical properties of light allow us to better radiate God's light—spiritual light—to those around us? How can our hope and trust in God increase when we more fully appreciate the ability of God's light to reach us? On this week’s episode, we speak with Aaron Franklin, an engineer, chemist, and a professor at Duke University about how an increased grasp of principles of light could open our eyes to the gospel truths associated with spiritual light.   “How does God working by natural laws make Him any less divine? To me, it doesn’t. If anything, it makes what God has done and continues to do more majestic.”  Show Notes  3:12- A Catalytic Study of Light 5:38- Scientific Light and Spiritual Light 12:02- A Joseph Smith Seed 14:17- What the Doctrine and Covenants Adds 17:35- Why Equations? 22:01- Four Principles of Physics of Light 23:58- Encoded Information 28:00- Influence and Radiating Light 32:34- Samuel the Lamanite 38:42- What God Can Do 43:23- Retention of “An Indelible Impression” 48:26- “Jesus Found Him” 53:34- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In October 2015, President Russell M. Nelson, then-President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, issued a plea to the women of the Church: “We need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices.” Since becoming prophet, President Nelson has reiterated similar pleas and has said that the women of the Church have “the spiritual power to change the world.” So, how do we make space for female voices in today’s world? Ally Isom, former head of global branding for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has a few ideas. “If it’s about my errand on the Lord’s behalf, then I can do it. I get all kinds of confidence and courage knowing God asked me to do this and I will do anything. I put my career and my life on the alter long ago and I will do whatever God asks me to do.” Show Notes 2:06- A Prophet’s Invitation 3:55- Overcoming Hesitancy to Speak Up 6:59- Passion for Women’s Voices 10:36- A Seat at the Table 13:29- Encouraging Women to Speak and Participate 20:34- Increasing Confidence 22:53- Finding Your Message 26:40- Turning Outward 30:00- The Spirit Knows Your Audience 36:27- Coming Into Our Voice 38:03- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harvard recently held a symposium entitled “Faith and Flourishing: Strategies for Preventing and Healing Child Sexual Abuse.” Latter-day Saint Sage Williams was one of the organizers of the symposium. On today's episode, she shares how her faith has influenced her to advocate for the prevention of sexual abuse. She also explains why she believes this work is a sacred one. “God loves His children. Any work caring for them and meeting their needs and nurturing and ministering to them is His work.” Show Notes 3:34- A Witness to Suffering 5:45- Restoration Through Our Advocate 8:54- Repairing the Breach 11:18- Prevalence 13:10- Opening the Conversation at Church 17:38- What to Say and What Not to Say 21:40- Reporting—An Act of Mercy 27:27- Healing and Generational Impact 33:54- A Sacred Work 41:35- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all heard them. There are pre-general conference predictions, rumors about certain celebrities investigating the Church, and sensationalized stories from Church history. How can you discern what is real and what’s rumor? On this week’s episode, Keith Erekson, director of the Church History Library, teaches how historians approach corroboration and how you can do the same in your own life. “If anything, history teaches us to be humble.” Show Notes 2:15- Why This Matters  3:30- History Is Not What You Think  5:51- Myth Vs. Rumor  9:20- “I Heard”  13:48- Assumptions  22:16- Either Or  26:04- Sensationalized Over Time  32:33- What’s the Harm?  44:52- Social Responsibility  50:36- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Keith Meyer met his wife, Brooke, he was not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In fact, the day he first saw her, he had a beer in his hand. Keith had started drinking in his youth, but it wasn't until three years into his marriage that he wondered if he might be an alcoholic. That was when his story of recovery and conversion truly began. And although it's a process that is ongoing—a true fight against an ever-present struggle—they believe it is a story worth telling. “The message that I got was ‘You’re not fighting him. He’s not the battle. You need to battle with him together to fight this addiction.’” Show Notes  2:07- First Impressions 5:58- Drinking and Conversion 11:29- Drawing Upon the Power of the Atonement 13:40- 2020 17:35- Under the Influence 19:05- Heartbroken 21:45- Daily Bread 24:46- Guilt and Shame 28:46- The Hand of God 33:20- Faith Over Fear 37:50- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the time he was a young boy, Bryan Ready felt drawn to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Initially he studied everything he could find about it, determined to prove it wasn't the restored church on the earth today. But while working as a Southern Baptist pastor, he allowed himself to consider that it might actually be true. Over the course of five years, he went from tearing down the Church to joining it. On this week’s episode, we talk with Ready about why he eventually concluded that the Church is where he is meant to be, and why it is now his home. “Stop trying to tear down Mormonism and just lift up Jesus.” Show Notes 1:49- A Simple Child’s Prayer 5:01- Osmondmania and a Lifelong Study 8:40- Thesis 1:21- From Interested to Critic 12:49- Advice to Those With Doubt 15:45- Guided as a Baptist Pastor 18:58- Where People Go When They Leave 22:18- Dialogue and Friendships Across the Aisle 26:10- Dropped 30:50- Unseen Dangers and Timing 33:44- Respect in a Family with Different Beliefs 37:00- “Where I Was Meant To Be” 41:07- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angie Balfour is an adventurer, a cancer survivor, a chief people officer, and a disciple of Christ. After her high school graduation, Balfour learned a valuable lesson when she graduated from high school about involving God in her life decisions and has since documented the defining moments from each year of her life. Today, we talk with Balfour about why she believes that recognizing the influence of people, places, and important moments in our lives is vital to our happiness. “I think we underestimate God...the vast majority of our lives here." Show Notes 1:44- Partnering with God 5:22- To Go or Not To Go 7:25- What People May Not Know About Being Single in the Church 10:53- Value of Diversity and Eliminating Echo Chambers 19:26- Cancer and Being the Beneficiary of a Fast 26:20- The Miracle of Orange Chicken 30:01- The Dream Changes 33:20- You Get Out What You Put In 41:00- Making and Keeping Covenants 43:28- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Latter-day Saints will best recognize Kirby Heyborne for his starring roles in “The R.M.” and “The Best Two Years.” But in the years since those films, Heyborne’s career has had its ups and downs. Although he initially began in finance, Heyborne loved to entertain. His big breaks in the Latter-day Saint film world would suggest he found an opportunity to make a living by following his passion—but the media industry can be brutal, and it wasn't until Heyborne landed a gig as an audiobook narrator that he found a way to provide for his family while also doing something he loves. On this week’s episode, Heyborne explains how embracing the opportunities God has given him has allowed him to find true happiness. “When you realize that this is a divine opportunity and you look at every moment—every interaction—with every person as a beautiful divine opportunity to lift that person, I think that helps you be happy now.” Show Notes 2:06- Golden Age of Latter-day Saint Comedies 6:14- The Impact of Elder Calhoun 8:45- Unanticipated Opportunities 13:29- Narrating “Saints" 15:58- Empty Promises, and Authoring Your Own Joy 24:02- Criticism and Personal Revelation 28:32- “Making Good” on an Opportunity 36:01- One Person’s Ability To Make a Difference 39:16- Seeing the Divinity in a Human Being 42:31- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.