Leading Saints Podcast

A few weeks ago, master coach/facilitator DeAnna Murphy presented at our Gathering Saints women's retreat and an idea was hatched! You may know DeAnna from some of the remarkable interviews she has done on the podcast. She will be leading an online intensive experience for those interested in developing individually in order to be a more-prepared leader in life. In this 3-part conversation, DeAnna and Kurt talk about some of the concepts that will be covered in this upcoming online experience that begins November 1st.  This special offering of the Self-Leadership Masterclass is a holistic learning experience designed especially for followers of Leading Saints—those who are the up-and-coming difference-makers, who have a work to do and are looking for the leadership skills to help them do it. This program involves interactive classroom and peer coaching experiences, in addition to riveting online learning and self-leadership projects to increase mastery of self and strengthen self-leadership. This learning experience will help you and others discover how to use strengths to be more interdependent, create a more purposeful positive impact, and find greater joy at work and in life. If you feel called to grow your leadership, you won't want to miss this opportunity to become more of your best self—and to help others do the same! LEARN MORE HERE. Highlights 04:00 DeAnna’s experience at the Gathering Saints women’s retreat 06:40 DeAnna shares her back story and describes what she does for companies and organizations 08:30 Masterclass on self leadership. What is self leadership? 11:00 Learn to lead yourself. Do the work on yourself. Changed people change the world. 12:50 DeAnna shares an analogy between self leadership and seeing the world through lenses that are distorted. Self leadership teaches people to clear the lenses and respond to people and situations with calmness and wisdom. 15:00 DeAnna shares a personal story and how to manage difficult situations 18:15 We create colored lenses through past experiences. We bring our untrue beliefs into our leadership callings without realizing it. 19:20 We must denounce deception and unravel our limiting beliefs 20:30 The first step in self leadership is to become aware of our limiting beliefs and understand the things that are holding us back 20:50 Awareness activates agency 21:30 Our strengths are our tools to help us make that difference in the world 21:50 Sometimes our strength gets flipped around and turns into a weakness in another situation 22:45 How do I use my strengths to solve my problems, to recover when I’m frustrated, to pull out the lies that I’m holding about myself or others? Links Self-Leadership Masterclass Part 2: The Self-Leadership Online Experience | A Conversation with DeAnna Murphy Gathering Saints Creating Engagement Through Ministering Interviews | An Interview with DeAnna Murphy Teaching the Gospel Virtually | An Interview with DeAnna Murphy Instructing and Edifying Each Other in Meetings | An Interview with DeAnna Murphy Mentoring Relief Society Presidents Through Love | How I Lead: DeAnna Murphy Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Listen on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The Leading Saints Podcast has ranked in the top 20 Christianity podcasts in iTunes, gets over 500,000 listens each month, and has over 10 million total downloads 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, 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,

Murray Meszaros is originally from Saskatchewan, Canada, and joined the Church at age 21 after years of searching for peace and answers. A year later he was serving a mission in Austria. Murray worked in education for 42 years, including in elementary schools, as director/CEO of a YM/YWCA, a college administrator, a consultant, and lastly with the Utah State Board of Education. He has served in the church in most Young Men advisor positions, as Sunday School president and instructor, early morning seminary teacher, elders quorum president, bishop and bishopric member, stake clerk, and high councilor. Murray enjoys inventing board games and is married to Melanie Meszaros. They have four children and nine grandchildren and live in Ogden, Utah, where Murray currently serves both as membership clerk and (for at least the fifth time) ward mission leader. Highlights 01:40 Introduction to the podcast 02:50 Murray’s background and callings 05:00 Murray shares his conversion story and how he created new approaches for sharing the gospel 07:40 The first characteristic of sharing the gospel is to have a Christ-like attitude in all of our connections 09:30 The second characteristic is to be creative. We have to create our own opportunities to share the gospel. 11:00 The third characteristic is to be curious about individuals. What makes them tick? What’s their situation? How can you connect with them through these things? 11:15 The fourth characteristic is to be complementary towards others 11:40 The fifth characteristic to continuously follow up 12:15 You have to go find the sheep. They aren’t going to find you. Very rarely are opportunities just going to fall into your lap. 14:15 Murray shares stories of ways that he has shared the gospel in an easy and natural way 15:20 The first question. Ask permission to share anything with anybody. Would you be willing…? Would you mind if I ask you some off the wall questions? 16:40 The second question. If you could ask God a question right now what would you ask Him? 17:20 The third question. If you could know the answer to your question would you want to know? 17:40 The fourth question. Would you be willing to pay the price to know the answer to your question? 18:15 The fifth question. Could some friends and I come by and answer some of your questions? 19:30 What to do if people say no 20:00 If people don’t have any questions, Murray gives some ideas of questions you can ask them 27:30 We make sharing the gospel too hard! Start talking to people at the gym or grocery store. 29:15 Murray shares what the 5 star is and how it can help you share the gospel 38:00 5 star can help you not only update your records but it’s an opportunity to meet new people and start meaningful conversations with them 41:00 Murray uses his same questions over the phone and over social media too. He shares a story of how he set up zoom calls with a man that was living in another state. 42:00 When to bring the missionaries in 42:30 Going back to the question of do you want to know the answer to your question? Murray will first teach them how to talk to God and get that answer before he gets into answering their question. 43:40 Creating a team in your ward and involving the ward counsel in nurturing and ministering to this new individual that has been found. 50:00 Murray’s questions help us use the love, share, invite model 52:00 Murray shares some quotes from The Power of Everyday Missionaries by Clayton Christensen. 56:00 Being a good follower makes us a good leader Links PDF download: 5-Star Improving Member Missionary Efforts and Engagement Powerpoint download: 5-Star Improving Member Missionary Efforts and Engagement The Power of Everyday Missionaries Following Up, by Elder M. Russell Ballard Sharing the Restored Gospel, by Elder Dallin H. Oaks Fourth Floor, Last Door, by President Dieter F.

Ian Nishimoto’s mother and father were born and raised in Hawaii. His father served in the US Army for 30 years, giving Ian the opportunity to live in many areas and hence his place of birth is Staten Island, New York. Ian completed his master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin–Stout in Training and Development. He began his law enforcement career at the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy sheriff, then worked part-time for the U.S. Marshal Service and other municipalities as a patrol officer. He recently retired from 24 years of teaching at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College as a full-time instructor for the Criminal Justice Department. Ian has served as branch president and bishop of the Oneida Ward, on the high council and as a patriarch, and is now considered a non-functioning patriarch as he serves as first counselor in the Green Bay Wisconsin Stake. He and his wife have been married for 41 years. They have two daughters, two sons, and five grandchildren, and reside in Oneida, Wisconsin. Highlights 02:00 Introduction to Ian Nishimoto 09:00 On being branch president and then bishop of the Oneida Branch. Ian explains why the branch kept opening and closing. 12:30 In 1994 they wanted to open the Oneida Branch once again and were met with a lot of backlash and hurt feelings from when the branch was closed previously. 15:00 The opposition that Ian faced being called to be the branch president of the newly formed reservation branch. His counselors wouldn’t even do it. 18:00 Creating momentum starting the new branch 23:50 The discouraging times and the slow progress of re-creating the branch. Helping people reactivate in the church. 25:10 Dealing with cultural and racial issues in the branch 32:20 Ian’s tips to a bishop or branch president of a reservation branch or ward 33:30 Going about loving people. Ian would look at what they valued as a culture and related it to the Savior. He got to know them, their culture, and past stories of their tribe. 36:00 Ian talks about his father, Arthur K. Nishimoto. He was called to preside over the Japan Fukuoka mission and then at the temple in Tokyo. He also set up the Church office in Japan. 40:30 Story of couple missionaries serving in the Oneida branch and how they learned to love the people there. They had to learn to understand the culture. 43:00 Ian talks about being a patriarch 47:00 Transitioning into the calling of patriarch 52:00 Final thoughts and Ian’s personal testimony of leadership and becoming like Christ Links Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Listen on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The Leading Saints Podcast has ranked in the top 20 Christianity podcasts in iTunes, gets over 500,000 listens each month, and has over 10 million total downloads 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, 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.

Lee Van Dam served as a missionary in Hong Kong and Singapore where he taught the gospel in Cantonese, later returning as president of the China Hong Kong mission. He has also served as a branch president, bishop, high councilor, stake presidency counselor, and assistant director of Church Hosting. He is currently an elders quorum instructor. Lee has an MBA from the University of Utah and worked first for Ford Motor Company, then in real estate management, consulting, and sales, and was the owner and principal broker of Van Dam & Associates. Lee and his wife Holly are the parents of two daughters and seven grandchildren. He is the author of four books. Highlights 01:45 Introduction to Lee Van Dam and his new book, The Sacrament: A Historical View 03:15 Being called as a Mission President 04:30 Books that Lee has written 11:00 Writing his book on the sacrament. It’s about the historical evolution of the sacrament. 11:45 The first sacrament passed was on April 6, 1830. The sacrament in the early days was passed on any day that they could, not necessarily every Sunday. 13:00 What the scriptures say about the sacrament and the changes that have been made 14:00 Changing the practice of everyone drinking from a goblet to individual cups. This change came about in 1911. 21:30 There was not a general handbook for the church till 1898. Lee explains the evolution of the church’s handbook. 23:15 In the absence of a handbook, the saints did things as they saw fit. They used to kneel and sometimes hold their hands up during the sacrament prayers. 24:15 The changes that have been made to General Conference 25:50 Sunday school and the sacrament. From 1877-1980 the sacrament was also served in Sunday school. 28:00 What are sacrament gems? 29:30 How Sunday meetings used to be and how the names of callings and meetings have changed 31:30 Interesting places where the sacrament has been administered 35:00 Do you have to wear a white shirt to pass the sacrament or is it tradition? 38:50 The presiding authority taking the sacrament first 46:00 Worthiness and the sacrament 50:40 What covenants are renewed when taking the sacrament? Just baptism covenants or all of them? 53:45 The history of preparing, blessing, and passing the sacrament. It wasn’t always clearly defined. 57:20 Will there be a sacrament meeting someday where Jesus Christ presides? Links The Sacrament: A Historical View Because it is on a Church-related subject, Lee is happy to provide a free copy to anyone who wishes to have one, while supplies last. Send your name and U.S. mailing address via the Leading Saints contact form and we will forward it on to him. Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Listen on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The Leading Saints Podcast has ranked in the top 20 Christianity podcasts in iTunes, gets over 500,000 listens each month, and has over 10 million total downloads 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, 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.

Mike Novakovich currently serves as elders quorum president in his ward in Orem, Utah. He has served in the bishopric, as a gospel doctrine teacher "more times than I have fingers on my hand", and has taught Seminary and Institute for many years. He claims to have been fired as a membership clerk after the bishop realized his talent was in teaching and not keeping records. Mike is originally from Alaska and works as a consultant for commercial roofing systems and enjoys marching to the beat of a different drummer in entrepreneurial endeavors. He has served as president of various school boards on local, county, and state levels, and has a passion for finding what doesn’t work and thinking outside the box to make it function. He believes change always requires someone to stand up and face the headwinds—usually alone—until others see the positive results and rise to join them. Highlights 02:15 Introduction and Mike’s background 04:30 How Leading Saints has impacted Mike and helped him in his calling. 08:10 Mike explains and shares his experience of how he implemented what he learned from Leading Saints in elders quorum. He was able to create unity and provide Priesthood blessings to men right in elders quorum meeting. 16:50 Creating unity in elders quorum. 19:00 Implementing new things and uncomfortable changes. 20:20 Elders quorum is not another Sunday school class. Making it different. 21:30 Mike shares a personal experience. He teaches us about using the church’s tools but with our own flavor. 26:10 Do you know what your gift of the spirit is? Find your gift and use it. 27:00 Mike shares more on giving blessings during elders quorum 29:00 Mike starts elders quorum every time with 30 seconds of introspection and the opportunity for anyone to receive a blessing and share what they are going through 31:00 Let’s get rid of the concept of oversharing in our faith. It’s not a bad thing. 33:00 In Mike’s quorum there are no instructors and never have a lesson planned. The meeting is more discussion based. 34:50 We’ve been given this Ferrari of priesthood power but many don’t know exactly how to drive it 36:00 Mike’s tips for starting a discussion in elders quorum instead of a very structured lesson. Ways to teach a conference talk without just rereading it. 40:15 Discussion creates a brotherhood and a quorum feeling rather than a formal instruction. Plan topics and some questions to start a discussion. 43:15 Besides just talking about gospel topics in quorum, they talk about and bring up other topics that need to be discussed. For example, talking about specific people that need help. 44:30 How to deal with helping move people. Mike’s ward has constant move ins and outs. He has had to come up with solutions so that his quorum doesn’t feel overworked and under pressure to help every single Saturday. 47:00 Mike’s unique approach to ministering and including the quorum in the assignments. His overall goal is to remove the guilt. Everyone needs something different out of ministering and he gives everyone a voice to say what they need and want. 49:45 Mike collects all the information and knowledge about his quorum and then takes it to the Lord. He doesn’t rely solely on getting inspiration without getting to know the members of his quorum first. 53:50 Mike shares his final thoughts and testimony of being a leader Links Is Elders Quorum Working? Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Listen on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The Leading Saints Podcast has ranked in the top 20 Christianity podcasts in iTunes, gets over 500,000 listens each month, and has over 10 million total downloads 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,

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in November 2019. Robert Millet, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and professor of Ancient Scripture and emeritus dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. Author of more than 75 published works, he has been involved in BYU Education Week for many years and is well-known as a commentator on the BYUTV Scripture Discussions program. He is also manager of Outreach and Interfaith Relations for the Church’s Public Affairs department. Brother Millet chose to write his book The Holy Spirit: His Identity, Mission, and Ministry because the Spirit is so frequently referred to and discussed, but we might not appreciate all that it is. Highlights 03:00 Strategy for covering topics: he makes a list and works on it daily, narrowing it down over a period of weeks/months to develop the book. Work on prophetic statements that relate and continue narrowing the information. Also asking “what experiences have I had with this”. He wanted to cover the topics of sons of perdition, the light of Christ, and God's power. 13:00 How, as leaders, can we have a better understanding of the Holy Spirit: having it, losing it, etc. 13:47 What does it mean to “lose the Holy Ghost”? We lose feeling, we withdraw ourselves. You can’t take a vacation from the Spirit – you can’t sit still; you either fall back or move forward 19:45 The Holy Ghost “strives with us”. It “battles with us”. There will always be an element of the Spirit to help you; you can’t “lose it”. All people can have the Spirit. They may not have the gift of the Holy Ghost that comes from baptism, but they certainly can have the Spirit and inspiration. 25:40 How do you know when a sin is forgiven? Study Mosiah 4:1-3 (joy, peace of conscience, larger measure of the Spirit). “Just don’t do things that are offending to the Spirit.” 28:40 Where is “grace” in the doctrine? The Holy Ghost is an act of God's grace to us. We can put ourselves in a position to receive that gift by our actions. “The sun doesn’t stop shining just because I put a bag over my head, it continues to shine”. It is the same with God; He loves us through everything. 32:30 Justification and Sanctification 44:10 Be cautious about “I feel impressed that…” It is good to teach what you feel, but if you announce that it came from the Spirit, it can come across as boastful. 45:35 How about church callings and the Spirit? If you pray to start a meeting and pray for the Spirit to guide decisions, you don’t need to kneel individually about all decisions. As we strive to live our lives to keep the Spirit with us, we will see that the Holy Ghost has been guiding us in all decisions and shaped our lives. Those decisions were inspired, and hopefully good judgement. We don’t need to pray over every decision. “The Spirit prepares us today for decisions we have to make in the future.” 53:00 Joseph McConkie story about calling Stake Presidents: The Lord fits us to our assignments. “God honors the servant”. Difference of being called “by God” or “of God”. 55:00 Final story related again to his friend Joseph McConkie, prior to him leaving to Scotland as a Mission President. Asked him if he had read everything and felt prepared. “What do you think?” He said, “What could cause us not to worry about 63 rules? I will teach my missionaries this: never do anything that would cost you the influence of the Holy Spirit.” That is a great standard to live by. Callings in the Church are not to be superheroes but to live in the way to be directed by the Holy Spirit. It is a solemn responsibility. Mosiah 26: Alma “feared that he would not do right”. As leaders we need to strive to do that. Links The Holy Spirit: His Identity, Mission, and Ministry Grace in the Bishop’s Office | An Interview with Robert Millet Photo of Robert Millet by Richard Crookston Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Listen on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library

For over thirty years, Shawn Moon has worked with clients across the globe, from Fortune 500 to governmental organizations. His deep knowledge and robust experience inspire others to improve their own leadership capabilities and to achieve remarkable results. Shawn is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author and a highly sought-after speaker. He has served in several leadership capacities in the Church, including as a bishop and member of a stake presidency. Highlights 01:45 Introduction 02:50 Shawn talks about why he wrote his book, Learning Leadership from the Scriptures 06:00 Shawn gives tips on studying the scriptures. He has found that studying by topic allows you to go very deep. 08:50 Shawn explains how to study leadership in the scriptures and what topics to look up 11:00 Leadership is a lot of things. It’s a very complex topic. Each one of us has the responsibility to be a leader in our lives. 14:00 “Leadership is a choice, not a position.”—Stephen Covey 15:20 If you are leading a ward then you need to create a vision for that ward 16:00 In our own lives, do we have the vision of who we are? 17:00 The first practice in Shawn’s book is to know who we really are. This is a foundation. 20:50 Being an effective leader has a lot less to do with doing the textbook leadership things and a lot more to do with trusting God and following the spirit 21:55 Sometimes we have just enough light for the next step. We don’t have to have all the answers as a leader, we just have to keep going and trusting in God. 22:30 Leadership and trying to motivate 30:00 Shawn talks about how he organized his book 32:15 Leadership in my calling Practice 1: Organize and manage the work Practice 2: Teaching with power Practice 3: Develop other leaders Practice 4: Lead one by one 34:45 Kurt and Shawn discuss organizing and managing the work and what we can learn from the scriptures 40:30 Teaching with power. Alma 38 is a good example. 43:30 When leaving a great teaching experience like General Conference, there are many things to emulate when we teach: A firm reminder and a firm personal conviction of Jesus Christ I feel His love Committed to doing and being better I feel the Savior’s love for me and also the speaker’s love for me I feel that the speaker is on the Lord’s errand. It’s very clear what their motivation is. 45:00 Should we look to other places, besides the scriptures and handbook, to find leadership resources? 49:20 Shawn’s favorite leadership stories in the scriptures 53:30 Final thoughts and testimony of leadership Links Learning Leadership from the Scriptures: 12 Practices for Building Leadership Effectiveness Based on Timeless and Eternal Principles Spencer W. Kimball: "Jesus the Perfect Leader" Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Listen on YouTube Restore: A Faith Matters Gathering The Leading Saints Podcast has ranked in the top 20 Christianity podcasts in iTunes, gets over 500,000 listens each month, and has over 10 million total downloads 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, 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.

Kathy Marler and her husband Kurt live in Escondido, California. Their family consists of their five children, their spouses, and their 20 grandchildren. Kathy has served as regional director of public affairs for San Diego County, California, as a mission leader with her husband in Trujillo Peru, and as a Relief Society and a Young Women president. Kathy and Kurt currently serve as young service mission leaders in the Newport Beach Service Mission. Highlights 02:15 Introduction and background to Kathy Marler 04:20 How has leadership been a blessing and a sacrifice for your family? 08:40 Kathy describes family and ward dynamics from when her husband was bishop 10:00 Kathy's calling as Director of Public Affairs and what the calling entailed 11:00 Kathy's opportunity taking part in interfaith efforts and taking people to Utah for a three day tour and temple open house 15:10 Taking the opportunity to invite people/neighbors to big events like temple open houses 16:50 Being the bishop’s wife 18:40 Getting called to serve as mission leaders in Peru 20:00 The sacrifices and blessings of being called to serve as a mission leader 24:30 Kathy describes her preparation to become a mission leader and learning Spanish 26:20 Working with the sisters and creating relationships with the missionaries 28:40 Kathy's participation in meetings, conferences, and teaching with the missionaries 32:00 What people need to know about the wife of a church leader 34:30 Kathy's advice to the wife of a leader who is feeling discouraged or overlooked 36:20 Final thoughts and how Kathy feels she has grown closer to the Savior through her leadership Links Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Listen on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The Leading Saints Podcast has ranked in the top 20 Christianity podcasts in iTunes, gets over 500,000 listens each month, and has over 10 million total downloads 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, 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.

Noelle McBride is a professional motivational speaker and teacher with over 20 years of experience counseling and teaching women in groups and individually. She currently leads women in gospel-based workshops that are focused on overcoming the trials and hardships of divorce. She also serves as an ordinance worker in the Seattle Temple and in her stake Relief Society presidency. After having been blessed with three children during a 17-year marriage, Noelle went through a difficult and heartbreaking divorce. Notwithstanding this hardship, she experienced much healing and hope in her personal life, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Desiring to help other women navigate the same trial, Noelle shares the promises and peace of the gospel in her first published book, Beauty for Ashes: Divorce and the Latter-day Saint Woman. Highlights 03:15 Noelle explains why she wrote her book and what led her to write it 04:30 Noelle shares her story of marriage, divorce, being single, and getting remarried 06:40 What was the breaking point in the marriage? 08:00 How do you know you're healed? What does that feel like? 10:30 Divorce is like the death of a marriage. There is a grieving process to go through. 11:15 When you marry someone your hearts are knitted together. Divorce rips them apart. True healing of your heart only comes through Jesus Christ not outside sources. 12:25 Noelle served a mission of sorts after her divorce. When she wasn’t with her children she would go out with the sister missionaries. She followed a routine similar to the missionaries to aid her in her healing. 16:00 Sometimes when we are hurting and grieving we seek for outside sources instead of going to Christ 19:30 Concepts and questions that leaders can ask to help someone going through a divorce 21:30 Noelle shares things that leaders did in her ward that helped her get through her divorce 24:00 The power of being present and just sitting with someone 26:30 As leaders we need to keep members' names safe. Allow people to share the details of their situation that they want to share. 28:45 Noelle shares the dynamics of staying in the same ward as her ex husband and how she navigated it. She always had someone to sit with. 33:10 What a leader should do when a man or woman comes in and says they are getting divorced. Leaders need to respect personal revelation and allow them to have space and silence to receive revelation. 40:20 Kurt shares his experience as a bishop working with divorcees. Bishops should encourage people to get legal counsel and therapy. 44:20 The doctrine of forgiveness when it comes to divorce 50:00 Noelle shares her experience with therapy and the help she received from her bishop 57:20 Use single brothers and sisters in service 1:03:00 How can leaders utilize Noelle’s book? 1:06:45 Noelle shares how her divorce brought her closer to the Savior Links Beauty for Ashes: Divorce and the Latter-day Saint Woman Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The Leading Saints Podcast has ranked in the top 20 Christianity podcasts in iTunes, gets over 5 00,000 listens each month, and has over 10 million total downloads 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, 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,

John Deacon lives in Durham, England with his wife of 23 years, Debbie, and their two teenage children. He runs a finance company based in the UK. John has most recently served for nine years on the Sunderland Stake Presidency and is currently serving on the British Pageant Presidency, a unique and unexpected calling. Highlights 02:30 John’s background and previous callings 11:00 After getting released from the Stake Presidency, John was called to lead in the Pageant Presidency 16:45 What is the purpose and mission of having pageants? The pageant is a vehicle to bring people to Christ. 20:20 Is this something that is going to be transformational? What can we do to make pageants, church meetings, and activities transformational experiences? 22:40 John summarizes what the British pageant is about. The story is taken from the journals of 2 to 3 families. 25:00 John gives behind the scenes details. The cast members apply and are set apart to participate, similarly to a calling. 30:00 Allow people to fulfill their calling without getting in the way. John describes his calling as empowering others to do their part and use their talents. 38:15 About 900 volunteers are involved in making the pageant happen plus other departments of the Church 39:30 John isn’t involved in the creative planning or acting in the pageant. His role is to provide spiritual leadership. He is there to help create a spiritual experience for the cast and the people attending. 44:00 John explains more on the casting. It’s a very competitive process. 47:00 Working together as a pageant presidency is reflective of a Stake Presidency 49:00 This isn’t just a show; it’s a vehicle to greater things 49:00 A key part of any leadership calling is not letting your own feelings and opinions get in the way of hearing the spirit and doing what God wants you to do 50:30 The next pageant is in August 2023 52:50 Protestors at the pageant 54:20 John shares final thoughts and how being a leader has made him a better follower of Jesus Christ Links British Pageant Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Listen on YouTube Gathering Saints: leadingsaints.org/gathering The Leading Saints Podcast has ranked in the top 20 Christianity podcasts in iTunes, gets over 500,000 listens each month, and has over 10 million total downloads 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, 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.