Latter-day Saint MissionCast

This episode of the Latter-day Saint MissionCast is a little more on the fun side. Our guest Michael Birkeland (sometimes known as Michael B), is an actor and producer, known for his roles in Singles Ward, Church Ball, The Home Teachers, and the R.M. He comes on the show to talk about his missionary service to Sacramento, California, being a parent and sending off his own children on Missions, as well as how he prayers for missionary experiences everyday. We also talk about General Conference rumors which seem to range from 2-hour church, to missionaries being able to choose their own time lengths for missions. We also talk about missionary behaving badly stories. These are those examples in so many missions where missionaries make some pretty poor decisions that are clearly against the mission rules, It happens, and while its not something we praise or glorify, it is part of what happens with full-time missionary service. To get some additional context on Michael B's life, check out his interview with Shawn Rapier on the Latter-day Lives Podcast. It goes in deep on Michael's life story, his relationship to drug abuse, and being re-baptized. His life story is powerful and a true testament to the healing power of Jesus Christ.

Reflecting on the past 6 years, by host Nick Galieti December 30th 2012 - That was the day I posted my first podcast interview ever. It was for a podcast that I no longer produce called The Good Word Podcast. It featured interviews with authors or writers who were members of the Restored Church. Since that time, I have produced podcasts for that show and for a group called FairMormon, that produces web-based content that aspires to be Faithful Answers to Critical Questions about the church. From there I then did some podcasting for LDS Perspectives, interviewing some great scholars of the Church. For the last couple years I have also done podcasting for Book of Mormon Central (The KnoWhy and Rare Possessions Podcasts). Since that first podcast episode at the end of 2012 till today, I have produced over 700 podcast episodes, a vast majority of which have been done with the hope of promoting the gospel, building faith, and now with Latter-day Saint MissionCast, to educate and inspire in the great cause of missionary work. To do the math on that for you, I have been podcasting for just about 6 years, which leaves me with an average of over 100 podcast episodes per year. This has resulted in over 1.2 million downloads of which I am aware. I don’t share this to brag or to toot my own horn, but to express to you, the listener, my deepest appreciation for your kindness and support over the years. I have received some kind emails over the years from people who have let me know that some of what I have produced helped them stay in the church, find answers to difficult questions about their faith, but this is all done with the hope that people like you can listen come closer to God. I recognize that you are giving of your precious time to listen to this podcast. And while it comes to you free in regards to money, your time has a value, and I hope that listening to this podcast is a fair exchange for your time. I have thought about the goals that I have for this podcast, and I think that it really comes down to this one overarching hope for everything I have tried to do since the beginning. I hope that people finish listening to one of my podcasts and are a better member of the Church for it. One of the benefits of working this long in podcasting is that I was able to develop contacts, and gain the trust of producers and promoters. This would allow me to have the opportunity to interview people that I might not otherwise been given the chance. This was the case with an interview that I had on the LDS Perspectives Podcast. Prior to the 2017 Christmas season I was able to interview American Idol star David Archuleta. He joined the podcast as part of the #LightTheWorld initiative. I was able to ask him many things about his public life, and service to his many communities, but I wanted to share with the listeners here on Latter-day Saint MissionCast the parts of my interview with him that focused on his mission experiences. Some of this audience may not have heard that interview, so I share a segment of that in this episode. It is my hope that listeners to this segment will feel some inspiration in his sacrifice and service. (Click here to listen to the full episode and interview with David Archuleta on LDS Perspectives)   I have interviewed, scholars, film makers, musicians, authors, and the wonderful rank and file members of the Church. I consider myself to be incredibly blessed by the associations that I have made, and the things that I have learned through podcasting. In reflecting on these things, I can see the hand of the Lord. I didn’t go to school for broadcasting, I don’t feel that I have been blessed with some definitive radio voice, perhaps I have been blessed with a face for radio, but this whole experience has come as the result of following simple promptings and putting my trust in the Lord. That was how my two-year service mission came about, that is how my two year service mission with LDS Family S...

Choosing to serve a mission or not serve a mission is a choice that many youth face in the Church today. The change in age from 19 to 18 for young men, and from 21 to 19 for young women has had an impact on the number of missionaries serving. However, many youth still struggle to decide to serve a mission at all. Chase Chesley graduating from High School, with (most of) his family. Chase Chesley is a young man who is challenged by the promising opportunities of a military career and the decision to serve a mission. After spending time as a leader of the Seminary council for his school as well as being of advanced rank in the ROTC program at his High School, Chase feels some conflict as to what path he wants to follow in his life. Many face similar challenges with the opportunities that are made available through University studies, or other avenues. Many wrestle with religious commitment and how the sacrifice the time in service at the risk of lost opportunities choosing some other path. Even for those who have considered a mission part of their life plan for most of their life have found themselves conflicted when the time to choose arrives. Following my interview with Chase, there is a shortened, edited presentation of a devotional given at the MTC in 2011 by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. I have shared this clip with my Elder's quorum in the past and I am simply taking my edit for that class and passed it on to you, the faithful Latter-day Saint MissionCast audience. I hope by sharing it that you are as inspired as I am by its message. I listen to this clip regularly on my phone. It helps me to feel re-engergized in my commitments to the gospel plan and to the Savior. Here is the full presentation of Jeffrey R. Holland's Feed My Sheep Presentation at the MTC in January 2011. (MUST WATCH!) For those that find themselves in a position of struggle with this question, or for those parents or fellow church members being around those who struggle to make this decision, this episode is an important step towards accepting the discomfort that many experience. I hope you are inspired by its message. Listen to the episode in the player above, or subscribe to our podcasts in iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Jaxon Washburn is a remarkable young man that has done a great deal of outreach work as part of being on interfaith councils, and other organizations that support religious practice. His story is unusual in that, while Jaxon was raised for the first 12 years in what he describes as a traditional Latter-day Saint household, following his mother's decision to leave the Church, he began to live a sort of double religious life studying and experiencing two different faith traditions on a regular basis. This unique experience led Jaxon to study many of the worlds religions, and, like Joseph Smith, found himself with the designs of finding out which of all the sects was the one God wanted him to align himself. Through considerable study, including listening to some past podcasts by host Nick Galieti for the FairMormon organization, Jaxon felt that he had gained a testimony of the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel, of its claims to prophetic leadership and the validity of the Book of Mormon as Scripture. Some members of the Arizona Interfaith Council - including Jaxon Washburn Jaxon came to the decision to place on hold his religious studies path in the halls of higher learning to serve a mission. In this episode he announces where he has been called, as well as some of the pilot program that he is involved with regarding language learning through the MTC. This episode features an powerful story of love, the importance of study in coming to a conversion, as well as the remarkable ways that life experience can guide us in the path that leads us back to our Heavenly Father. Jaxon (and other students) in the World Religion and Tolerance Club To learn more about the mission where Jaxon will be serving his mission - click here.

Serving a mission in Salt Lake City comes with some interesting challenges and some unique opportunities. T'Cherise Howard served her mission in the Salt Lake City, West mission, then later came back to live in Salt Lake City to attend LDS Business College. She has stayed active in church after her mission which seems to be a bigger challenge than it "used to be." So she shares some of the ways that she has stayed active and continued to share gospel messages on social media.   Please check out the Latter-day Saint MissionCast blog with weekly letters from missionaries that have been guests on the podcast and are sending back updates on how their missions are going. These letters show the work of the Lord moving forward all over the world. They share their testimonies of the Restored Gospel, stories of baptisms, and we get to see pictures of them in their respective environments. So, click here to view those letters, and stay subscribed to our social media accounts to get notices of when these letters post.

Latter-day Saint Addiction Recovery is a topic that most Missionaries and Ministers are not either comfortable or familiar enough with to suggest it as part of the path of discipleship and repentance. Due to the many misconceptions and even naivety that many have about addiction recovery in general, we continue our two-part podcast episode with Mark Miner. In this episode of the LDS MissionCast podcast, Mark and host Nick Galieti get practical about addiction recovery. Many questions are asked and answered about what to expect in a 12-step meeting, who can go, how missionaries in the field can use the program (or not) as well as other commonly held questions. We also include a definition of what constitutes a compulsive behavior that can and should be addressed in and through the program. This could include anger, codependency, and eating disorders. We also address ways that missionaries preparing to serve a mission can study from the materials provided so as to have this program as an "arrow in the quiver" for their ministering efforts. For missionaries in the field, should the need arise for the services of the Latter-day Saint Addiction Recovery Program, please address your questions to Mission Leadership to discover the best approach with your unique circumstances.

Mark Miner is a missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Addiction Recovery. Now in over 12 years of recovery, Mark's long and troubled past history that includes drugs and related crimes makes for a complex narrative in Latter-day Saint Culture. After experimenting with serious illicit drugs and serving time in prison before entering adulthood, Mark was able to become sober and serve a full-time mission where he learned Spanish. After returning home, Mark attended BYU, and through a series of events, Mark fell back into addiction through prescription pain medication. Eventually Mark hit rock bottom, robbing stores and resorting to a number of illegal choices, Mark turned himself in to authorities and decided to surrender to the mercy of God. Mark's story is a powerful example of the power of the atonement, and a sign that people can do much good in this world after having experienced intense trials. His story has inspired hundreds and was the subject of a short video produced by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (see above). Mark's story is an example for others who have struggled with a number of issues relating to self-mastery. This podcast is a two-part episode with Part 1 being Mark's story, his experience in overcoming addiction and the path that lead him to the Savior. Part 2 is more practical application of the Addiction Recovery Program in missionary work. Mark's experience as a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Addiction Recovery missionary for over 12 years helps clarify ways that full-time missionaries can and should the 12-step-based meetings to help their investigators come unto Christ. Upon leaving prison later in life, Mark was "adopted" by famous Latter-day Saint Songwriter, Janice Kapp Perry and her Husband. They took him under their wing and became supporters of his life and renewed dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Read Janice Kapp Perry's story of her relationship with Mark Miner here.  Mark Miner is now a Real Estate Agent, is married and has a son, Ammon.  Mark Miner - Real Estate Agent For more information on LDS Addiction Recovery Services, click here to visit the official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints addiction recovery program.

Male or Female, young or old, preparing to serve or even serving a mission, the issue of overcoming pornography addiction is becoming more and more common a story. Morgan Bowser wrote an article for her blog, Slightly Sassy Vibes, that resonated with readers for a number of reasons.Morgan Bowser was first exposed to pornography at age 11, the discouraging national average. She spent years feeling as if she was not about to access the atonement, and that she might never go on a mission or enter the temple for fear that she would never be worthy. With the help of an understanding set of Bishops, Morgan was able to find her way onto a mission. Morgan Bowser is LDS. Minimalist. Advocate for Natural Products. Red-lipstick Enthusiast. Disney Lover. Essential Oil User. Homework Procrastinator. Professionaly 80's Music Jammer, and a courageous return missionary for sharing her story with us in this episode.  For anyone struggling with an addiction to pornography, please visit the resource site available from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by clicking here.

In a way, we have all been called to a Social Media Mission. But how does one go about doing that? Our two guests on this episode, Robert Walz and Dr. Jessica Zurcher, run a pilot program for the Church in Utah County. The full name of the callings they hold in the Church are to work with the Utah County Social Media Member Missionary Pilot Project. This is a multi-layered effort to develop curriculum and to test out different methods of helping members, even Return Missionaries with special language skills, the various ways that they can minister to others online and find referrals for the missionaries throughout the world. Robert Walz Bio:Robert Walz is an associate teaching professor. He received a B.A. in broadcast journalism from BYU in 1982. Walz began teaching at BYU in 2002. He started his journalism career as the weekend anchor at KIVI television in Boise, Idaho. Walz moved back to Utah in 1984, working as a reporter and anchor at KSL-Television for 15 years. He has also worked for KTVX Channel 4.  Walz is currently a reporter for Utah’s ABC 4 News. In 2004, Walz spent two days covering the destruction caused by hurricane Ivan in the Cayman Islands and the distribution of relief supplies sent by the LDS church. He did several live reports on irritable bowel syndrome and several more stories when he returned.  He also spent a week in Malawi, Africa collecting material for a project he is doing on the distribution of food to those starving due to drought in Africa. Later that year, Walz spent ten days in Peru during October following the distribution of wheelchairs by a Utah based humanitarian group. They also visited a remote village 75 miles down the Amazon River where the group built desks for a school. Part of the footage they shot aired on ABC 4 News. Dr. Jessica Zurcher Bio:Jessica Zurcher received a M.A. in Mass Communications from Brigham Young University (2011) and a B.S. from Brigham Young University-Idaho in Theatre and Speech Education, minor in English (2008). She has her Ph. D. from the University of Utah in Communications.   Her research interests include issues dealing with new media, education, and family communication—specifically, her dissertation focuses on societal perceptions of adolescent exposure to online pornography and parent-child pornography communication.  Zurcher has also worked as a co-collaborator on several research projects and is a published author in The Journal of Children and Media and Education Gerontology.  She has also presented at national communication conferences. In addition to her work in higher education, Zurcher serves as an influential educator in secondary education.  She instructs students in grades 6-12, developing and implementing curriculum for introductory and advanced theatre classes, English, film, and public speaking.  She has also taught undergraduate-level communication classes through Salt Lake Community College.  She and her husband reside in Lindon, UT and enjoy taking long walks with their two dogs, Max and Molly. Find the Social Media Mission Page on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/socialmediamission/Join up with the Friends In All Languages (you nee to qualify geographically):https://jx338-245941.pages.infusionsoft.net A Sample of the Videos they create for this project, specifically the video that shows the difference between the Scottish and Irish accents.

Hello, this week features a website, a youtube channel, and the creator of those web properties that provide some great resources for missionary work. Alex Balinski (or known online as Alex Ba) created the YouTube channel, Prepare to Serve, and Lifey Missions. He has some fun stories from his mission experiences in Argentina, but that wasn’t where he was first called…here now is my interview with Alex Balinski. I am going to start featuring some information on the missions from our featured guests each week, provided they served a mission. I hope that in so doing we can learn more about the many parts of the world that are apart of this great latter-day legacy of which we are all a part. In the coming weeks we have some great guests lined up to talk about some topics that we haven’t addressed on the show, another guest to talk about a world-wide pilot program being created that will provide missionary tools all around the world in scores of languages. We also have a special episode, maybe even two-part episode on the great work being done in the ARP or Addiction Recovery Program of the Church and how it can and should play a role in ministering and missionary efforts. I am also lining up a number of scholars to help us understand the gospel that we have been called to share with the world with greater power and clarity. There is so much in store for you, the faithful listeners to the LDS MissionCast.