Leading Saints Podcast

Christopher Blythe, a BYU professor and religious folklorist, explores revelation, mysticism, and lived faith in Latter-day Saint history. They discuss spiritual credibility, priestcraft, personal revelation, prophetic authority, and the risks of coercive or counterfeit claims. The conversation also examines online influencers, energy healing, discernment, and how to share sacred experiences wisely.

Shawn Vanderhoven, author of the USA Today bestseller Pause and an executive development leader who advises companies like Amazon and Microsoft, explores leadership in an always-on world. They discuss breaking cycles of urgency, choosing fewer priorities, protecting deep focus, and measuring meaningful spiritual impact. The conversation also covers clearing emotional distractions, thoughtful calling conversations, effective one-on-ones, and healthier communication boundaries.

Davis Smith, Cotopaxi founder, Yale leadership educator, and author of The Next Ten Years, explores life after missionary service. They discuss turning mission skills into career, relationship, and financial strengths; navigating the crucial first months home; building lifelong discipleship; supporting returned missionaries with compassion; and finding purpose through service, work, and faith.

Dave McCann, veteran sportscaster and BYU broadcaster, joins Mark Ogletree, BYU professor and counselor, to explore LaVell Edwards’s Christlike leadership legacy. They discuss how the legendary coach built belonging, mentored struggling players, recognized unseen potential, encouraged missions, delegated effectively, and shaped lives far beyond football. A thoughtful look at humility, faith, loyalty, and leadership that lasts.

Heidi Lee, a Latter-day Saint communication director and seasoned church leader, shares how “A Walk With Jesus” transformed a Las Vegas chapel into a 17-room Easter journey. She discusses coordinating five stakes, engaging youth, welcoming more than 7,000 visitors, funding and decorating the experience, and creating a replication guide so other communities can bring Christ’s story to life.

Robert Cornilles is an executive, author, and educator with a background in business leadership and community engagement. He serves as the Founder and CEO of Game Face, Inc., an executive training firm that has advised over 400 global brands, including more than 200 professional sports franchises. A bestselling author, he published The Sales Game Changer: How to Become the Salesperson People Love and Preparing Tomorrow’s Missionaries Today. He also shares his expertise as an adjunct professor teaching MBA candidates at the BYU Marriott School of Business. Rob served as a full-time missionary in Japan and has extensive experience in church leadership, having served in high councils, bishoprics, and various ward council roles. He currently serves as the bishop of the Lake Mountain Single Adult 5th Ward in the Saratoga Springs Utah Stake—a mid-singles unit he has led since it began in May 2023. In this role, he oversees a rapidly growing congregation drawn from multiple stakes, focusing on supporting mid-singles through their unique personal and spiritual journeys. Rob and his wife, Allison, oversaw the training of more than 40,000 volunteers for the 12-week long Saratoga Springs Utah Temple open house and dedication, the longest temple open house in Church history. They are the parents of three sons who have blessed them with three daughters-in-law and three granddaughters. Links Game Face, Inc. Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights The conversation focuses on the unique challenges and cultural dynamics faced by mid-singles in the Latter-day Saint community, particularly in Utah, and how leaders can better support this demographic. Key Insights Cultural Dynamics: Mid-singles often feel disconnected in family wards due to the predominance of married members in leadership roles, leading to feelings of exclusion and instability. Out-of-Unit Members: Many mid-singles attend their neighborhood wards while also participating in mid-singles wards, creating a challenge for leaders to maintain engagement and consistency. Family Influence: Family obligations can pull mid-singles away from ward activities, making it difficult for them to build connections within their ward family. Spiritual Focus: Rob emphasizes that the primary role of leaders is to connect members with Christ, rather than solely focusing on helping them get married. Meaningful Activities: Activities should be Christ-centered and relevant to the members’ lives, fostering a sense of community and belonging. Leadership Applications Encourage Engagement: Leaders should create an environment where mid-singles feel valued and included, recognizing their unique challenges and encouraging them to participate in ward activities. Foster Connections: Leaders can facilitate opportunities for mid-singles to connect with each other and with Christ through intentional, spiritually uplifting activities that focus on attributes of Jesus Christ. Communicate with Families: Leaders should engage with the families of mid-singles to help them understand the importance of allowing their loved ones the space to build their own lives and relationships within the ward community. 00:02:30 – Cultural Dynamics in Mid-Singles Wards 00:04:00 – Understanding the Mid-Singles Experience 00:04:30 – Interview with Bishop Robert Cornilles Begins 00:05:00 – Bishop Cornilles’s Calling Story 00:07:00 – Formation of the New Mid-Singles Ward 00:08:30 – Challenges of Serving a Mid-Singles Ward 00:10:00 – Selecting Counselors for the Bishopric 00:12:00 – Current Responsibilities as a Bishop 00:13:00 – Mid-Singles Bishops Councils in Utah 00:15:00 – The Need for Mid-Singles Wards 00:16:00 – Cultural Challenges for Mid-Singles 00:20:00 – Navigating Family Dynamics and Church Involvement 00:22:00 – The Dilemma of Out-of-Unit Members 00:25:00 – Building a Strong Ward Culture 00:28:00 – Encouraging Engagement in the Ward 00:30:00 – The Importance of Personal Relationships 00:32:00 – Respecting the Needs of Mid-Singles 00:34:00 – Connecting Members with Christ 00:37:00 – Creating Meaningful Activities 00:40:00 – Intentionality in Planning Activities 00:46:00 – Monthly Themes and Attributes of Christ The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Adrienne Beck, devoted caregiver and Church leader who helped pioneer a stake-wide mentorship program. Mark A. Beck, seasoned corporate executive and servant-leader with an MBA and years of leadership experience. They discuss launching a YSA branch, building a mentor program that pairs young adults with community mentors, weekly traditions that shape culture, and real examples of practical life and career support.

Discussion covers involving core members in youth callings and creative ways to keep adults connected. Conversation about preparing for the new 25-minute Sunday format and practical training concerns. Exploration of modern YSA dating and marriage challenges across cultures. Stories of informal home study groups that strengthen ward unity and ministering.

Marianne Downing, identity coach and former therapist who leads retreats on personal development, and Alan Downing, former professional singer turned life coach who runs experiential leadership retreats, discuss identity beyond roles. They explore belonging versus fitting in, balancing conformity and questioning, how long callings can erode self, and why retreats speed deep, nonjudgmental growth.

Todd Hilliard, a bishop in Vancouver, Washington who empowers youth to shape worship, shares practical ideas for making sacrament meeting more engaging. He discusses youth feedback, youth-led prelude and special music, short talks and testimonies from many young members. He also covers coaching visiting leaders to connect and clear expectations for meaningful, concise worship.