All In

Before Ashly Stone started her podcast, two words kept running through her head: "come back." Those two words meant a lot to Ashly, who at one point in her faith journey left the Church but later returned. Recognizing that everyone's faith is unique, Ashly now interviews others about their experiences “coming back” to the gospel of Jesus Christ. On this week’s episode, we talk with Ashly about the transformation that took place as she turned her heart to the Savior and allowed herself to experience the gospel, as well as the power in of each and every person's own “comeback.”    2:18- Road to Addiction 9:26- A Father Who Kept Watching 14:56- A Book of Mormon in the Salvation Army 18:31- A Goal With Power 23:51- Two People With Pasts (Like All Of Us) 31:29- The Origin of the Podcast 37:23- God Is In Charge 41:18- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?    “Questions that we have regarding spiritual matters can only be answered by the Spirit.”   Links: Come Back Podcast  Come Back Podcast Instagram Page Faith Is Not Blind by Bruce and Marie Hafen   If you have a story of coming back, email Ashly at ashly.comebackpodcast@gmail.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Eric Engebretsen and John Pearce returned from serving a mission in South America, they had met many wonderful people and fallen in love with their mission areas. They also had a desire—a desire to somehow help open more doors of opportunity for those they’d met during their service. Their new business, Bloom, is the product of that desire. Through Bloom, returned missionaries and BYU-Pathway Worldwide students based internationally find remote work opportunities with American companies to improve their quality of life. On this week’s episode, we learn how Bloom was started and discuss how it helps people around the world to flourish and grow. 2:55- The Transformative Power of a Mission 6:23- Bloom 12:53- The Ripple Effects of Stable Work 16:41- Quitting Your Day Job 21:00- A Unique Worldwide Talent Pool 24:16- A Vision for the Future 28:26- Feedback and Success Stories 38:02- Raising Awareness 41:32- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?    “The more you give, the more you get and I think the same thing is true when we give ourselves to God.”  Bloom website- https://www.hirebloom.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They are stories that took place thousands of years ago—stories that, at times, feel so removed from our present-day that we feel we just can’t relate. But as she studied the Old Testament in 2022, the same year her world got rocked by a cancer diagnosis, Anne Bednar found that those stories came alive. And the people in them? They weren’t all that different from her. In this week’s episode, Anne helps us see just how applicable the scriptures can be to our unique life circumstances if we take the time to study their pages. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Argentine artist Jorge Cocco Santángelo has long been admired for combining cubism and sacred subjects in his paintings. But Latter-day Saints may not realize that Jorge, a convert who was baptized in 1962, introduced the Church to an entirely new style and forged the path for other artists to portray the sacred in different ways. His paintings, frequently displayed in the Church History Museum and known for their rich colors and angular shapes, are often of Bible scenes or the Savior Himself. On this week's episode, Jorge discusses the responsibility he feels while painting Jesus Christ and why he hopes the style of art he has created allows observers to reflect and draw closer to Him.   2:28- A Lifelong Calling 3:25- Finding the Gospel  5:35- Evolution of a Testimony and Opposition 7:30- First Painting After Baptism 8:46- Growth of the Church in Argentina 9:59- Seeking to Portray Christ 12:32- Sacrocubism 22:00- New Pieces and the Inspiration That Keeps Coming 27:44- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?   "To paint Jesus Christ is to walk into sacred ground."   Links: Jorge Cocco at Deseret Book  Jorge’s website Palo Alto Creche Exhibit Book of Mormon art catalog Salt Lake Tribune Article Queen’s Stamp Collection See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maddie Morris has had a brain tumor three times. In the past, friends and family showed their support by posting pictures of themselves on social media sporting fake mustaches. The pictures brought a smile to young Maddie’s face while she endured treatment, and they even inspired her parents to write a middle-grade novel about the experience. But as now 19-year-old Maddie prepares to have surgery once again this December, she has a bit of a different wish that she’d love your help with this Christmas. 1:49- No Attempt to Catch an Avocado 6:41- Eight Years Later 8:06- The Red Sea 11:53- When We Don’t Get the Miracle We Want 14:35- The Bigger Dream 18:07- A Window and A Mirror 23:10- What Do Trials Do For Us? 26:51- A Farsighted Approach To Challenges 30:33- Fear Holds Us Back From Each Other 32:21- The Power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ 34:44- Just Showing Up 40:31- This Year’s Christmas Wish 43:02- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? "I remember just praying over and over, ‘This load is getting to me, and I need some help.’ And just the reality that that works—that it's not just for the surgery moment, it can be the weeks before where you wake up, and you think you should feel heavy and dreary, but you don't. It feels like somebody else has the load for now.” -Chad Morris Mustaches for Maddie Character of Christ by Elder David A. Bednar See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gathering during the holidays is supposed to be joyful, and for some of us, it might be. But for others, being with friends or family we haven't seen in ages might make us feel overwhelmed and stressed. Wherever you are on this spectrum, on this week's episode, Katie Hughes, co-author of "The Gathering Home," shares practical tips and much-needed perspective on how to make any gathering special. So as we head into this Christmas season with all of its hustle and bustle, may we invite you to take a few minutes to join us in considering ways to remember that He is the reason for the season. 2:51- The Magic of the Holidays 5:32- Connection Over Perfection 9:05- Planning- The Key to Eliminating Stress 11:23- Thanksgiving 14:10- Christmas Advent 18:34- Light The World 23:51- Traditions Past and Present 33:32- Christmas Music 37:25- Peace, Calm, and Stillness 43:23- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?    "If you think about that star that you're cutting out of your cookie dough or hanging on your tree, all these commercial-type parts of Christmas, if they're not leading us to Jesus in some way—leading us to Bethlehem in some way—then it's a Christmas without Christ.” Episode references: The Gather Home Book Article about The Gathering Home with quote from Emily Belle Freeman about Katie  James E. Faust quote- "No one can measure the effect of an unselfish act of kindness. By small, simple things great things do indeed come to pass. Of course gifts given and gifts received make Christmas special. For many children Christmas Eve is a very long night as they look forward with eager anticipation to the gifts Santa brings, which is why children love Santa Claus. Let me share what someone once said about Santa Claus: First of all, he's a joyous individual. People are attracted to joyous individuals as filings are attracted to a magnet. Next, Santa Claus is interested in making others happy. He increases the happy moments in the life of everyone he meets. He loves his work; he gets fun out of his job. He is childlike, simple, humble, sincere, and forgiving. Finally, he is a giver. His philosophy is to give himself away in service. He is a friend to everyone. He smiles. Perhaps you and I could attain greater happiness if we emulated Santa Claus a little more, for his way is the way of the Infant Jesus also.” James E Faust The Man Who Would Be Santa. First Presidency Christmas Devotional. December 06, 1998 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An artist from a young age, Sarah Jane Wright doesn’t have many memories that don’t include having a pencil or a crayon in her hand, and that trend continues to this day. From her Nutcracker illustrations displayed in Ralph Lauren's New York City flagship store to her “Lola Dutch” picture book series series to her latest project with Emily Belle Freeman and David Butler, Sarah Jane is a believer that God made all of us creators. On this week’s episode, we talk about why creativity of all forms is often messy, and why it's worth cultivating in ourselves and in our children.   1:16- Two Creatives in a Marriage 4:06- A Long-Term Love of Illustration 8:28- Art as a Career 10:54- Lola Dutch 16:32- A Creator Teaching Creation 18:57- “Creativity Thrives on Limitations” 25:11- Ch-ch-changes, Challenges, and the Brother of Jared 34:33- More Than Just a Star 41:18- Glimpses from Christ 44:55- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?    "He's giving me an opportunity to see how it can be done in His way, which is always so much better."   Links- More Than Just A Star  Lola Dutch- https://www.amazon.com/Lola-Dutch-Kenneth-Wright/dp/1681195518/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YK1FVXSULMJJ&keywords=lola+dutch&qid=1668537258&sprefix=lola+dutch%2Caps%2C243&sr=8-1 Ezra Taft Benson quote- https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/ezra-taft-benson/jesus-christ-gifts-expectations/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With nearly 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube, Simply Three is a string trio known for inventive arrangements of popular music. But they're not just experts at finding unity in sound: one of the three musicians isn't a Latter-day Saint, so when the group set out to record an album of hymns, they approached the project in a beautiful and harmonious way. On this week’s episode, the three musicians share the love they have for music and the beliefs that informed their modern approach to sacred songs as well as why they believe music is a gift when it comes to vulnerability and expression. 1:25- All-State Orchestra Friends  6:03- Glen’s Faith 10:51- Emotion In Music 18:42- Leaving the Music for a Mission 25:48- A Faith-Based Album? 31:56- Secular Influences on Spiritual Music 38:11- Favorite Tracks 49:40- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  "I think we struggle so much with fear and wondering where we're going to be that we forget where we are here and now.” -Glen McDaniel   Product link -https://deseretbook.com/p/all-amazed?queryID=79fc80dc22497ac25e68774b6786e7f5&variant_id=199838-cd-album All Amazed on Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/album/2HhXz1kcs3MEdK4GmnY0JK?si=ZAoiS4POTbiRhwgn27mBTg YouTube channel- https://www.youtube.com/c/Simplythreemusic Be Still, My Soul- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqSihsynIw8 Simply Three music video with Morgan's brother: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOt06STs46g See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Helmuth Hubener’s story is a true tale that reads like a Hollywood movie and that is what Matt Whitaker has been trying to make for over 20 years—a movie about Helmuth’s life. Helmuth was a 16-year-old boy who, after gaining access to British radio channels, became convinced that he had to do something—anything—to stop Adolf Hitler. As the secretary for his local Latter-day Saint congregation he began typing flyers on a church typewriter in hopes of helping others see what he saw in the Nazi regime. On this week’s episode, we talk with Matt Whitaker about what Helmuth’s story can teach us more than 80 years later and why he is so determined to share it.    1:16- A Dream That Has Stretched Over Two Decades 4:51- Persistence 8:42- Lessons Learned From Three Teenage Boys 15:35- A Unique Story of Friendship 20:09- The Branch President 26:08-Latter-day Saints in Nazi Germany 32:27- A Story For Now 35:21- A Movie or A Series? 39:36- Casting 41:29- The Fulfillment of a Dream 44:53- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ "I think that it ties back to the Savior and that premortal connection...and gratitude that we feel for that person who said, 'Send me I'll do it,' and so that idea of self-sacrifice—the ultimate self-sacrifice—I think resonates and echoes throughout humanity." LINKS Truth and Conviction Website- https://invest.angel.com/truth Truth and Conviction YouTube videos- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnOq4gXUJJQ&list=PLN4UzcYI0bdlv3hC-juyzp9n08VhnJ9Dn Documentary- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICswA1YnvA8 E-book about Helmuth, Karl and Rudi: https://deseretbook.com/p/three-against-hitler-jerry-borrowman-259 Book about Helmuth- https://deseretbook.com/p/when-truth-was-treason-german-youth-against-hitler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenedy Paige knows a thing or two about strength. For one, she's competed on American Ninja Warrior—a feat she never thought she could accomplish but that she believes God led her to. But she also knows that strength comes from having a personal relationship with God during challenging times, like when her son died due to a drowning accident, and during beautiful times like when she is alone in her art studio during the early morning hours of the day. What has grounded her through it all? On this week’s episode, Jenedy shares a guarantee that she relies on that gives her strength—she calls it PJs.   2:00- PJS 11:36- Drowning and Grief 28:22- Real Art Ninja 44:23- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  “As you develop that relationship with Jesus Christ, as you come to know Him, He teaches you who you are, and what you're capable of. And I promise, what you're capable of is way more than you currently think.”   Links: Jenedy Paige's website: https://jenedypaige.com/ Jenedy's American Ninja Warrior submission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KvzCagWi-c Let Go painting: https://jenedypaige.com/products/let-go Waiting For Answers painting: https://jenedypaige.com/products/waiting-for-answers See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.