In this episode, we sit down with Scott and Ashley Laneri to hear their remarkable story of two very different adoptions. From an unexpected phone call that led them to consider adoption for the first time to the deliberate effort and patience required for their second adoption, the Laneris share their journey and reflect on the miracles that brought their family together. “Yes, the Lord does love effort. But even if you put in all your effort and it doesn't work out, that doesn't mean it's impossible. It just means that the Lord also has His timing in his way. And true trust means really trusting in His timing, and in His way, and that He really can make it happen.” —Ashley Laneri  Show Notes 1:31- In Vitro Fertilization 5:17- A Life-changing Phone Call 8:19- Being Open to a Different Plan 12:55- A Special Green 15:26- Two Different Stories 18:29- The Social Media Route 23:47- When Things Are Out of Our Control 27:51- A Marriage Strengthened 30:58- The Lesser-Known Challenges of Adoption 33:49- God Eventually Delivers 39:33- Suggestions 42:56- Why Me? 46:47- Air 52:39- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are we the way that we are? This is a question licensed clinical psychologist, author, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur Kimberly Teitter has often explored—both in herself and in others. First, there's our divine identity. Then there is the influence of the generations that have come before us and the culture in which we were raised. As a Black Latter-day Saint who grew up in rural North Carolina, Kimberly shares how her experiences have shaped the way she sees the world. “It’s not about having hot takes. I want to get to heaven. I want Zion to be restored.” —Kimberly Teitter Show Notes 2:26- Coming in Contact with the Church 7:47- Black Latter-day Saint Experience 19:23- Ongoing Challenges 25:57- Embracing Identity 30:42- Family Systems Theory and the Woman Taken in Adultery 39:37- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Links & References: Every Needful Thing LDS Living article See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us on a journey with Astrid Tuminez, President of Utah Valley University, as she shares the two pivotal moments that transformed her life as a little girl growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood in the Philippines. First, an opportunity to enroll in a school run by Catholic nuns allowed Astrid to read and write. Second, a chance to be taught by missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about her divine identity as a daughter of God. This powerful combination of secular and spiritual knowledge opened up a whole new world of possibilities for young Astrid. Today, President Tuminez leads Utah Valley University with the belief that education has the power to transform lives. Show Notes 2:28- A Life That Began in the Slums of the Philippines 7:54- An Power of Education 14:00- When Someone Who Sees Your Potential 18:41- Finding the Gospel of Jesus Christ 21:58- Something Divine 25:18- Coming to America 31:32- The Importance of Who You Marry 35:55- When a Job Isn’t Your Strength 38:12- Coming to UVU 44:27- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Links & References All In Conference Special Every Needful Thing book Wrestling Super Fan article Church News profile on President Tuminez Astrid S. Tuminez: The Power of Dreaming, the Power of Doing video Lecture at BYU Disrupt Yourself interview with President Tuminez See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cameron Smith was just a college student when he happened upon a job listing for a little-known pancake company called Kodiak Cakes. Today, the company is one of the leading pancake brands in the United States. But how did they get there? Recognized as the company's "secret weapon" who helped get Kodiak Cakes on the shelves of retailers like Target and Costco, Cameron shares how great outcomes have come from simply asking the right questions. And more importantly, he marvels at how through it all, the Lord has been able to make more out of his life than he ever could have dreamed of. “I think in that moment what I brought was probably like a little stone…and then together, we built this sling. And then we decided, ‘Alright, let’s start working on this and let’s see what we can do with this.’ We broke a handful windows but then we were like, ‘You know what, maybe we can take on Goliath.’” —Cameron Smith Show Notes 1:47- A Job Listing  7:21- Kodiak Cakes Origin Story 9:03- Not Being Afraid of a No 13:29- Target  22:11- Shark Tank 29:06- The Currant Bush 35:09- Stepping Back 41:36- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  Links: KSL Television Special The Currant Bush story as told by President Hugh B. Brown Shark Tank Zac Efron See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a little girl, Marie Vischer Elliott spent three years in a concentration camp under unimaginable conditions. She remarkably survived but her little brother, Georgie, died shortly after they were released due to what he endured in the camp. Years later, as a young mother, Marie was introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ, which not only helped her heal from what she experienced during the war but also gave her hope of seeing her little brother again. On this week's episode, Marie's story teaches us a powerful lesson about the devastating nature of war, the transformative doctrine of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the blessings of the temple. Show Notes 2:04- Childhood Memories 6:52- Where in the World is Java?  9:40- Religious Background 12:02- The Beginning of the War 19:25- The Camp 21:39- The End of the War 25:21- Georgie 28:21- Forgiving and Forgetting 31:39- Finding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 35:09- Freedom 37:51- No Winners in War 42:38- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March Madness is in full swing and, in 1981, Danny Ainge experienced his "one shining moment” in the NCAA Tournament when he scored with two seconds left on the clock, helping BYU advance to the Elite Eight. It was the highlight of a remarkable college basketball career, but only the beginning of his professional career in sports. Still, Ainge doesn’t take credit for his success. He insists that the Lord has placed angels—ordinary people setting an extraordinary example—along his path to help him every step of the way. In this episode, we talk about the power of positive influences in our lives that guide our paths and why Ainge believes the people we surround ourselves with have the ability to make all the difference.  “There have been angels waiting for me, directing me.” —Danny Ainge Show Notes 2:09- Love of Basketball 3:37- BYU 6:13- Decisions Decisions 8:22- A Great Wife 10:33- A Polarizing Character 18:07- Striving for Balance 21:40- Maintaining Standards 24:03- Taking a Step Back 28:47- Returning to Utah 32:32- “I Do Not Know The Meaning of All Things” 34:23- Angels Among Us 36:34- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  Links & References Danny Ainge's March Madness Buzzer Beater Danny's Twitter profile "I Hate Danny Ainge" t-shirt See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily Robison Adams remembers the feeling well—like she’d been put in a cast iron pot with the lid placed on top, unable to feel God’s presence in her life. Shaken and disoriented, she tried everything she could think of to reach Him, and yet she felt nothing. God was silent. But at her mother’s encouragement, Emily wrote down what she was experiencing through this supposed silence, and in the process she began to believe that God wasn’t silent at all—He was just being quiet, providing the necessary space for Emily to learn and grow. On this week’s episode, Emily shares some of the principles that began to shift her paradigm and renew her belief that God really does know what each of us needs. Show Notes 1:57- The Beginning of the Quiet 5:46- Reframing the Lack of Noise 12:28- People Who Listen Without Freaking Out 19:12- Rethinking Doubt 26:50- Seeking Appropriate Help 31:29- Remembering  33:41- Why Does God Sometimes Disappoint Us? 37:43- Things That Were Helpful 42:25- Likening the Scriptures 45:47- Worth the Wrestle? 49:25- What Does It Mean to Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  “Leading life with an open hand instead of a closed fist has been really helpful to me and it’s led me to a place where I’m not certain about many things at all and astonishingly, that’s the best place to be.” —Emily Robison Adams Links Divine Quietness book See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Leavitt doesn’t know if the new 988 lifeline would’ve made a difference for his sister-in-law Lizzie, whose long battle with mental illness ultimately took her life in 2014. But when Leavitt was given the opportunity to work on the legislation that ultimately led to the new easy-to-remember hotline, he viewed it as a way to not only honor Lizzie’s life but also to hopefully preserve the lives of so many who face the heartbreaking realities of suicidal thoughts. On this week’s episode, Leavitt discusses the hope that comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ, not only through the resurrection but also as we each seek to do all we can to “lift up the heads that hang down.” Show Notes 2:54- What You May Not Know About Congress 11:39- 988 Legislation 15:46- Lizzie 21:30- The Years Since 25:44- No One Size Fits All Approach 28:41- #SmileForLizzie 33:40- Great Expectations  37:02- A Societal Problem 39:32- Gratitude 42:45- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  “It’s for us to be engaged in meaningful work to help those around us.” —Ryan Leavitt Links 988 Lifeline Silent Souls Weeping by Jane Clayson Johnson See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, Liz Wixom Johnsen helped families decorate their homes as a talented interior designer. And for years, Liz dreamed of a home that was like theirs—not because of the decor, but because of the families within those walls. As a single woman, she often longed for a home life that looked different than the one she had. But she also learned that true homes come in many different shapes and sizes. And when she married a man with eight children and her home was instantly dramatically different, that knowledge became invaluable. On this week’s episode, Liz shares what she’s learned about embracing the homes—and the lives—God has prepared for each one of us. Show Notes 1:32- Home of Origin 4:37- Not Dependent on Cost 8:08- Creating a Home Around Our Lives At the Moment 11:01- A Different Blessed Life 15:25- “Our Father and Our Savior Love Broken Things” 21:22- Happiness, Your Heritage 24:35- Creation 30:06-Cheerfully Do All That Lies In Our Power 32:34- Finding a Place in a Different World 34:57- What Does It Mean to Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  “His power plus our divinity creates beauty from unorganized matter.” —Liz Wixom Johnsen Links and References Liz’s interior design company Happiness, Your Heritage “God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth. He left the rivers unbridged and the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt. God gives to man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished things. He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved, that man might know the joys and glories of creation.” —Thomas S. Monson, “In Quest of the Abundant Life” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On March 12, 2003, 15-year-old Elizabeth Smart was found safe nine months after being abducted from her family’s home in Salt Lake City, Utah. This month marks the 20th anniversary of Elizabeth’s return home and on this week’s episode of All In, we speak with Chris Thomas who acted as spokesperson for the Smart Family throughout their entire experience in searching for Elizabeth. Show Notes 2:44- Meeting the Smarts 4:12- High Stakes 5:25- Looking Back 20 Years Later 7:22- A unique Approach 10:06- Discussing Latter-day Saint Doctrine and Culture 13:34- Viewing Media as Children of God 16:42- Acknowledging Mistakes 19:45- The Faith of Two Parents 23:44- Elizabeth’s Reaction to the Manuscript 26:03- A Miracle That Mattered to Millions 31:18- A Responsibility to Set the Record Straight 36:08- The Power of Unity and the Power of Family 41:42- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? “I think when we serve somebody—even somebody that we disagree with—that we learn to understand and respect and appreciate them and have a new love for them that tears down fences and builds bridges and brings us closer to our Heavenly Father.” —Chris Thomas Links Unexpected book link Chris Thomas's Unexpected book trailer Video: Chris and Elizabeth’s recent appearance on Nightline Video: Chris and Elizabeth’s recent appearance on Good Morning America See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.