Leading Saints Podcast

Dave Olsen is a husband, father, business owner, and mountain biker. He grew up in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, and married his high school sweetheart, Jacki, soon after his mission to Melbourne, Australia. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a masters in Information Systems, and from University of Virginia with a masters in Accounting. Dave has spent 18 years mostly in youth-focused callings including Young Men president twice, bishopric counselor twice, and recently released as bishop of his ward in South Jordan, Utah. He was thrown into the leadership deep end late in 2017 when he began leadership training through the coaching firm Ontocore and soon after that co-founded a business and was extended the bishop calling on the same day. His business, Nimbl, provides accounting outsourcing services. Highlights 03:00 Introduction to Dave and his experience as a bishop 05:10 Story of getting called as bishop. Demographics of his ward. 07:50 Starting out as a bishop and what Dave really tried to focus on 10:50 In Utah, there are so many people with experience in church leadership. It’s hard to make sure that everyone gets the opportunity to serve when there are only so many callings. 13:40 Principle 1 - Leadership is creating an intentional future that is different from what it would have otherwise been. 15:30 Real life examples of having a vision and leading others to that vision 19:30 Real life examples of creating love and acceptance in the ward and community, especially when it comes to same sex attraction 26:30 What are you doing now to establish a relationship with people in your neighborhood? If you already have a relationship with them then when it comes time to invite them to a temple open house or activity then it won’t be awkward. 28:40 Principle two - One of a leader's most important roles is creating leaders around them. 33:55 Look for opportunities to help the youth lead. They are the future of leadership. 35:10 Principle three - Love is giving people space to show up like they’re perfect, as they are. 38:00 Love and accept first. Then you can take time to teach and figure out how to improve. 41:50 How being a leader has brought Dave closer to Jesus Christ Links Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The 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. 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, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, DeAnna Murphy, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, Ganel-Lyn Condie, and many more in over 500 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.

This is Part 2 of a 2-part conversation. Listen to Part 1 here. Katherine Herrmann lists all things Apple, new wave/alternative music, and fantasy/science fiction among her fandoms. She works as a principal software engineer/architect for a video streaming company, and recently published TransLucent: How I put off my natural man and found a spiritual woman. At church, she has served as secretary for deacons, teachers, and priests quorums, as a Sunday School and elders quorum teacher, elders quorum secretary, ward executive secretary, newsletter editor, and assistant ward clerk—historian. She has also hugged a lot of people at general conference, and bore her testimony in over 40 wards in three years. Highlights 00:20 The argument many are having is whether or not to let young teens transition and have transition surgery. Katherine shares some useful perspectives. 07:45 Katherine’s teenage years, pressure to go on a mission, and being suicidal. 13:30 Does transition help suicide ideation? Some things that help suicide ideation are affirming who people are and using their preferred pronouns. 15:45 Being shunned for being transgender. How can we help transgender individuals? What can leaders do? 20:15 The actual Church handbook and Church policies allow transgender to attend all meetings that they identify with. However, a lot of local leaders are biased and won’t allow them to go. 24:30 Advice for leaders on letting transgender individuals go to Relief Society or priesthood meetings. Many individuals have felt uncomfortable with her going to Eelief Society so she gets kicked out to make others comfortable. 29:20 How would Jesus treat a transgender individual? Where would He let them worship? 33:30 Making tough decisions as a leader. You are never going to make everyone happy. Katherine wasn’t able to have a calling because people would object to it. It was another way she felt rejected. 37:20 People say that being transgender is a trial. The difference is that transgender people don’t have any support from church leaders, ministering sisters, home teachers, or callings. There is no one to lean on in the trials. 39:30 Is being transgender a mental illness and in the after life it will be worked out? 44:30 Our genders are eternal. But how does that relate to our body? Katherine shares a real-world example of genetic issues that occur. 55:00 For the majority of people your eternal gender is the gender that you were assigned at birth but what about transgender individuals? Is it possible that their spirit and body are different genders? 1:04:15 Katherine goes into dating her former wife, getting married, having seven kids, and church callings. 1:11:30 Katherine stands outside general conference with a sign that says, “Hug a transgender Latter-day Saint.” 1:14:30 President Oaks is Katherine’s favorite apostle. 1:17:45 Where does affirming a transgender individual become condoning? What are the lines that we are condoning? 1:29:20 Katherine talks about her book. She wants people to understand her life experiences and what she has gone through as a transgender individual. Links Listen to Part 1 TransLucent: How I put off my natural man and discovered a spiritual woman Facebook page: TransLucent North Star Saints Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The 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. 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, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson,

Katherine Herrmann lists all things Apple, new wave/alternative music, and fantasy/science fiction among her fandoms. She works as a principal software engineer/architect for a video streaming company, and recently published TransLucent: How I put off my natural man and found a spiritual woman. At church, she has served as secretary for deacons, teachers, and priests quorums, as a Sunday School and elders quorum teacher, elders quorum secretary, ward executive secretary, newsletter editor, and assistant ward clerk—historian. She has also hugged a lot of people at general conference, and bore her testimony in over 40 wards in three years. This is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation. Listen to Part 2 here. Highlights 02:00 Kurt introduces the topic of transgenderism and what people can expect from this podcast episode. 05:30 Katherine is introduced and she shares her experience with church leaders. 09:15 Katherine shares her background and the beginning of her story. She was born biologically male but since she was a young child she felt female. 14:10 What is gender dysphoria? Katherine describes how it has felt for her. 18:15 Katherine’s teenage years. Always an outsider and having different interests. 22:30 Transgender youth and transition surgeries. 24:50 Is your child really transgender? Based on her personal research and experience, Katherine believes there is a huge difference between kids that come out as transgender when they are 3-4 years old and kids that come out between 10-12 years old. Links Listen to Part 2 TransLucent: How I put off my natural man and discovered a spiritual woman Facebook page: TransLucent North Star Saints Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The 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. 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, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, DeAnna Murphy, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, Ganel-Lyn Condie, and many more in over 600 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.

Ashley Smith is serving her second term as mayor of Cañon City, Colorado, after serving on the city council four years prior. Ashley serves on the Region 15 Opioid Governance Committee, Cañon City Schools Compass Advisory Committee, Cañon City Urban Renewal Authority, Community Solutions for Homelessness, and Fremont’s Exceptional Women Board. She is a member of her local Lion’s and Rotary clubs, has a black belt in women’s self defense, and is a graduate of Brigham Young University. Her current church calling allows her to hang out with her favorite constituents of all time, the 9-11-year-old Primary children. She and her husband, Dr. David Smith, have six children and two grandchildren and enjoy skiing and hiking the Colorado mountains together. Highlights 01:45 Kurt introduces Ashley and the topics of the episode. 03:00 The stake president and Ashley agreed that her calling was to serve in the community and that was just as important as having a calling inside the Church. 07:00 Ashley speaks to being a woman in politics and her experience. 10:30 Ashley felt called by God to serve her community. She ran for city council and then mayor. 13:40 Ashley shares her family’s back story and being raised to be a strong woman. She felt ready and willing to be a leader and get her voice heard. 15:55 Advice to women that feel like their voice isn’t being heard. 18:00 As a leader you have to have a thick skin. Ashley’s tips to have a thick skin. Understand that the issue isn’t personal, it’s more about the topic or issue. Keep the bigger picture in mind. It’s not about you or the other person but about the bigger issue. When you feel attacked, be civil and listen anyway. 20:45 You will always be disliked by some. What do you do with the people that don’t like you? Focus on what you like about them. Remember that sometimes they are right and you are wrong. Take time to listen to their perspective. They need to feel heard. 24:40 Shifting from city council to being mayor. Learning to be a figurehead. 28:50 How do you gain buy-in? As a leader in the church you wouldn’t use this with doctrine but with some aspects of administration. 33:30 Making assumptions is when we tell ourselves that something is true without having any evidence that it is. Make sure that you investigate what is really going on. 39:30 Is there a role in your community that you could step into? Serving the community is a way to take care of God’s people. 41:10 Ashley shares her testimony and what she has learned from being a leader. Links Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The 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. 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, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, DeAnna Murphy, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, Ganel-Lyn Condie, and many more in over 500 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.

Although Riley Jensen enjoys the arts, music, and a good, sappy romantic comedy, he is usually mistaken for a jock. Riley started as a quarterback at Utah State University and currently works full time as a sport psychology consultant, or mental performance coach, addressing the innermost fears of most athletes: failure. He enjoys giving athletes, corporate employees, and young people the tools to handle a stressful and frightening world. Riley went back to school at the over-the-hill age of 40 (it’s the new the new 30, right?) to get his MS in Sport and Performance Psychology at the University of Utah. He is married to the wonderful and talented Georgann Manolis Jensen and they have three beautiful children. Riley served his mission in Marseille, France, and his dream is to serve another mission in France one day, and to enjoy laughing and watching his children make some of the mistakes he made. Highlights 02:20 Kurt introduces Riley and his work. 04:00 Riley shares his background of playing football and serving a mission. 08:30 Riley describes what he does as a mental performance coach. 12:00 What do mental performance skills look like in real life? What are those skills? 18:30 The definition of happiness is improvement. 21:30 What’s the number one way to build confidence? Take small steps out of your confidence everyday. 23:40 As a leader, we want everyone to improve and we want to guide them. However, we have to start with ourselves. It’s not about doing more. Sometimes it’s just about your attitude and enthusiasm about what you are doing. 29:00 Leadership is really about embracing the gospel into ourselves and then using the spirit that is within us to help people with little steps. 30:00 In Greek, enthusiasm means that God is within you. Do you have enthusiasm in your calling? Do you know what your purpose is? 35:30 Measuring confidence. Helping others to have confidence. 46:15 Dealing with anxiety in leadership. Riley shares examples and tips to help calm the anxiety. 53:30 Have you tried singing hymns to erase the bad thoughts and calm anxiety? How else can you get focused on the positive? 58:30 Anxiety is inversely proportional to confidence. So anything that you can do to lower anxiety will also strengthen your confidence and motivation. 59:10 Motivational interviewing or reflective listening. Riley gives examples. 1:10:00 Resources that Riley offers and where you can find him 1:11:30 Riley’s final thoughts and testimony Links Riley Jensen Performance Group Twitter @RileyJensen Mindset Matters Podcast Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The 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. 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, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, DeAnna Murphy, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, Ganel-Lyn Condie, and many more in over 500 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.

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in January 2020. Kim Partridge is originally from West Valley City, Utah, and has lived in Phoenix, Arizona for 20 years. She is a nurse and a life coach for teenage girls, and has served as a Young Women president in her stake Young Women presidency. Kim and her husband are the parents of four children. Since this podcast was originally broadcast, Kim has changed the hike for the young women to be statewide and include the young men as well. She also speaks more in depth with the youth now about how the hike is like the Plan of Salvation, how we are disciples of Christ as we are hiking in the Grand Canyon, and about the names of Christ that we either take upon us as we hike or that we see in the Grand Canyon. Learn more HERE. Highlights 7:40 Young Women are all about relationships 9:50 Conflicts within relationships can play out in the church setting 12:00 Micromanaging relationships seldom works out well; story of two Laurels 17:30 Story of young woman whose grandmother asked that they invite her into Young Womens: grandma was angry that she hadn’t been welcomed like she wanted 23:40 Everyone cannot always have a fantastic time 24:30 She learned that she needed to know what the young women wanted 25:00 They wanted to do activities similar to what the young men were doing 26:45 Target shooting at her first girl’s camp 29:00 Goal to connect with the young women at camp 33:20 Expectation that they will tell her what they want: get interested/pay attention to the clues 36:00 She encourages fun with everything but also balances that with the spiritual aspects 38:15 Admit when you make a mistake: left someone behind 42:00 Making sure the youth are handling their goals without the adults always pushing 45:00 Go back to the basics, help them recognize what they want, and know that they are developing a relationship with Jesus Christ 49:00 Request for a change from physical challenges to an embroidery challenge 51:45 Grand Canyon activity: what the girls learned while doing a hard thing 59:35 Leading young women has developed her relationship with the Savior Links Kim Partridge Coaching Deseret Book SEEK course: How to Help Young Women Be Confident Leaders Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Listen on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The 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. 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, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, DeAnna Murphy, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, Ganel-Lyn Condie, and many more in over 500 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.

Tyler Bastian is an educator, filmmaker, father, and founder of Roots Charter High School. Tyler loves to teach and has a passion for discovering and developing potential in everything around him. For four years, Tyler taught Character Education at a local high school and believes positive character is the greatest indicator of success. In 2012, Tyler began to develop the concepts that have become Roots—Utah’s first farm-based charter high school—where educators work with students who come from risky environments, helping them find and reach their potential. Highlights 02:00 Kurt introduces Tyler Bastian. 03:45 Tyler talks about why started the charter school and his backstory. 08:00 How do you begin to teach character development? 09:30 How Tyler was able to start a charter school 11:20 Tyler shares the mission that he has with Roots. 12:50 The type of students Roots charter school aims to help. Most of the kids are there because their previous school wasn’t working for them. 14:00 How do you run an organization based on hope and love? If you are going to lead someone, you have to love them or it won’t work. 19:30 Tyler shares ways that he instills love in the school. The students need to hear it, see it, and feel it. They have created visuals all over their school. 21:30 Tyler shares a personal experience that he had with a student and how he was able to show love and help a student confess that they wanted to take their life. 23:00 Helping the students feel safe, loved, and protected is more important than trying to fix their behavior. 27:30 If you want a kid to feel safe, call them by name. The number one thing that you can do as a youth leader is learn every kid’s name in your ward. 29:50 Create safety by not having disputes. We have disputes because we are holding on to things and not having hard conversations. Create safety by having hard conversations. 31:45 You have to have a healthy community before you can be a healthy ward. Do you know your neighbor's names? Can you go to them to borrow something? Do your kids play with their kids? 33:15 The ward influences the community and vice versa. Tyler shares a personal story of doing a home visit with a student that was struggling. He lived across from the church but nobody knew about him. 37:00 In order to create a safe place we have to learn to be ok with political differences. Create a space where kids can say anything and by asking loving questions. 40:00 Showing authenticity instead of perfection is what the youth are looking for in an adult they can trust. Let them know that you’ve had to go to the bishop’s office to confess and get help too. 41:30 Tyler’s charter school focuses on a smaller number of kids. Knowing each student. One loving adult can change a kid’s life. 47:45 Tyler knows each student and tries to interact with each one but the students also have an advisor that does one on one meetings with them. 50:00 In our culture we say that you have to receive love to survive. However, the philosopher Andrew de Mello says that you have to give love to survive. It’s not about receiving but about giving. Our job is not to be loved but our job is to love. 53:00 Tyler works with a lot of struggling students that have been through a lot. He describes how he shows them the school is a safe place and builds trust with them. 55:20 How can youth leaders take the principles that Tyler teaches and apply it to their own youth groups? The leader's job is culture. They need to create visuals. 1:02:00 What if the student’s home life isn’t good? What can you do? 1:06:30 Resources that Tyler recommends. Check out his Instagram. 1:08:00 How being a leader has made him a better follower of Jesus Christ. Links Bonds That Make Us Free Roots High School Tyler on Instagram: @teach_243 Tyler's documentary film: Everything is Incredible Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Listen on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library

Originally from Eagle, Idaho, Eric Jenson earned an MBA from Brigham Young University and has built a successful financial services business that has grown to over 100 financial professionals and more than $1 billion in assets placed under management. He now lives in Denver, Colorado, and works as a father-son team with his two oldest sons. Eric served a mission in Santa Rosa, California, and has served as an early morning seminary teacher, a Gospel Doctrine instructor, and in the elders quorum presidency, but his favorite calling was as the priest quorum advisor. He loves to swim with sharks, ski, surf, mountain bike, hike, travel, play tennis and pickleball—but most of all spend time with family creating once-in-a-lifetime memories over and over again. Highlights 02:30 Introduction to Eric Jenson 08:00 Don’t sit around waiting to be picked to be a leader. You are a leader now. Heavenly Father picked you. You were born to lead. 10:00 Eric shares his background. He has had leadership opportunities in his job and in the church. 16:20 Ultimate leadership is helping people achieve their divine potential. It’s about how you serve others and what you do to bring the best out of them. 19:00 Eric shares his personal story of growing up and the culture of perfectionism and the shame and guilt that comes with it. 27:30 How you influence people outside the church, in your job, is just as important as how you influence people in the church 28:00 Make room for everyone in the church. We are all at a different point in our progression and faith journey. 34:00 The gospel and the church are two different things. The gospel is the good news and the atonement of Christ. The church is an entity that helps us come unto Christ and live His gospel. 35:45 Believing vs. knowing. Which is more important? 38:20 Leading those in a faith crisis 46:45 Focus on the doctrine, not the dogma. 47:40 The positive changes in the church and the new strength of youth pamphlet 59:30 Final testimony Links Sheri Dew: "You Were Born to Lead, You Were Born for Glory" Elder Russell M. Nelson: "Perfection Pending" Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The 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. 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, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, DeAnna Murphy, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, Ganel-Lyn Condie, and many more in over 500 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.

Laauli Faamausili serves as bishop in his ward in southeastern Washington state, and has previously served as a Sunday School and Primary teacher. He has a bachelor's degree from Eastern Washington University and works in agriculture. He is a big fan of how Leading Saints has helped him in family, church, employment, and civic service. Highlights 03:10 Introduction to Laauli and his background 05:30 Demographics of the ward Laauli leads 07:15 Getting called as bishop and starting out 10:00 Things he has learned in the last five years of being bishop 12:30 Principle one - Jesus is love 16:10 Balancing administration and ministering 18:45 Principle two - Grace. As leaders we need to ask for grace and give others grace. 24:00 Principle three - The Elias principle. Being a forerunner. You are preparing the way for future leaders. 28:48 Focusing on the youth of the ward 33:00 Using technology and apps as leaders 37:00 Laauli’s testimony Links Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The 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. 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, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, DeAnna Murphy, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, Ganel-Lyn Condie, and many more in over 500 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.

Casey Paul Griffiths is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University. He served a mission in Fort Lauderdale, Florida before returning home to complete a B.A. degree in History at BYU, an M.A. in Religious Education, and a PhD in Educational Leadership and Foundations. Casey served in Seminaries and Institutes for eleven years as a teacher and a curriculum writer. Casey's research focuses on the history of religious education among Latter-day Saints, the history of the Church in the Pacific, and diverse movements associated with the Restoration. He is the author of numerous books and articles on Latter-day Saint history, including Truth Seeker: The Life of Joseph F. Merrill, Scientist, Educator, and Apostle. He is married to Elizabeth Ottley Griffiths and they live in Saratoga Springs with their three children. Highlights 2:00 Introduction to Casey and his new book 5:10 The background of Joseph Merrill 8:50 Joseph Merrill’s faith journey 19:00 Joseph’s wife had very progressive and feminist views. They had a very powerful partnership together. They were both leaders and innovators. 21:20 The Church then and now 22:55 Different political views within the leaders of the church. They were all able to get along. We shouldn’t be afraid of different views. 26:15 The setbacks in Joseph Merrill’s life led him to what he was really supposed to do. He was called by the church to be the church commissioner of education. He created an institute program to help students reconcile their faith with science and other things they were learning at school. 32:15 Joseph’s life didn’t go as he expected but just as God planned it to be. Casey talks about Joseph’s marriages. 37:00 Joseph Merrill was the founding father of the Institute and Seminary programs that we have today. However, in the beginning there were a lot of obstacles and push back to get it started. 48:00 As a leader you have a dynamic vision for something but there's so much pushback from others. It can feel like maybe it’s not meant to be but keep going! Small changes can bring about big results in the end. 50:45 Education is a spiritual activity. Learning and growing are consecrated activities in the church. 52:15 When Joseph was an apostle he was also called as a mission president in Europe. He was very innovative in his church service. 54:20 Joseph Merrill was Gordon B. Hinckley’s mission president. Joseph mentored Gordon. Because of them, the Church started creating new media. 57:00 It’s important to be innovative in the church. How can we use technology to our advantage? Push the possibilities. 59:55 Revelation comes at all levels. Joseph wasn’t an apostle when we came up with the idea for Seminary and Institute. Revelation doesn’t always come from the top down. 1:01:20 The truths of the gospel don’t change but we can go about doing things or teaching things in different ways. President Nelson is a great example of this. He changed up the way we do home teaching and women can now be witnesses. 1:02:30 We are so lucky to have the journals of Joseph Merrill. His writings show his frustrations and inner feelings that really humanize him. 1:04:20 Joseph tried his whole life to find solutions. He always tried to mix science and religion. In the end, after he lost his 2 wives and daughter, he learned that sometimes things are in God’s hands. Faith is vital and reason cannot fix everything. 1:07:30 Faith is the first principle of the gospel because there are so many things that are beyond our control. 1:08:30 The story of Richard Lyman. He was the last apostle to get excommunicated in our dispensation. Joseph was a great friend of Richard. 1:18:30 The messiness of our history makes it genuine instead of manufactured. Sincerity is more important than eloquence. Links Truth Seeker: The Life of Joseph F. Merrill, Scientist, Educator, and Apostle Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader ...