Magnify

In this engaging conversation, Mary Alice McCann, daughter of the late Patricia T. Holland, reflects on her mother’s immense legacy of love and faith. Mary Alice discusses the deeply personal journey of compiling her mother’s teachings into a book. She shares heartfelt anecdotes about embracing individuality and the importance of self-worth, especially for women. The dialogue also touches on the simplicity of the gospel and the significant impact of maternal wisdom, celebrating how Patricia's life continues to inspire future generations.

In this enlightening discussion, Melinda Brown, a gospel thought leader and author of 'An Endowment of Love,' shares her fresh insights on temple experiences. She emphasizes viewing the temple as a starting point for spiritual growth rather than a finish line. Melinda explores how covenants can deepen our relationships and be seen as expressions of divine love. She also discusses the transformative power of sacrificial love in human connections and encourages young generations to engage in practices that strengthen their bond with God and community.

This episode features Maria Eckersley and Brooke Walker as they discuss five questions to ask in our gospel study to learn from the examples of women in the scripture. They discuss how we can better understand how God values and empowers His daughters. How He loves and trusts them to do His work.   Maria's five questions: How does her story illuminate the Plan of Salvation? How does her story illuminate the power of covenants? How does her story illuminate surrounding stories? How does her story illuminate teh gift of agency? How does her story illuminate the Savior's character?   Scriptural references: The Story of Eve - Moses 4:12 Mary when the angel appeared - Luke 1:38 Mary when Simeon told her a sword would pierce her soul - Luke 2:35 Sarah's story - Genesis 17 (see verses 15-16) Hannah's story - 1 Samuel 1 (see verses 10-11 and 17-18) Abish and King Lamoni's wife - Alma 19 (see verses 8-10 and 16) The widow with the empty vessels - 2 Kings 4 (see verses 5-6) Emma Smith - D&C 25 (see verses 5-6 and 10) The woman with the issue of blood - Luke 8 (see verses 43 and 47) Mary Magdalene seeing the risen Lord - John 20 (see verses 10-13 and 14-16)   Head to magnifythegood.com for event details!

Janiece Johnson, a church historian and acquisition director at Deseret Book, dives into the profound topic of personal revelation. She explains how individuals can cultivate a relationship with God by understanding the doctrines of revelation found in the Doctrine and Covenants. The discussion emphasizes balancing intellect and emotion in spiritual experiences, as well as the importance of patience when divine answers seem silent. Janiece also encourages documenting spiritual encounters to enhance one's ability to receive guidance from the divine.

In his talk entitled, "Spiritual Treasures" given in 2019, President Nelson stated, "The heavens are.. open to women who are endowed with God’s power flowing from their priesthood covenants." We might read this and wonder, how? As women, we sincerely want to understand how we can better draw upon God's power. And perhaps, we'd like to know what we might be misunderstanding and where we can grow.  Today's guest, Kaylen Nelson, has wondered this question as well. In this episode, she comes studying President Emily Belle Freeman's "Live Up to Your Privileges" and the Doctrine and Covenants section 25 as a basis to this discussion. Kaylen is a contributor to the magnify podcast, a mom, and a visiting instructor at the BYU religion faculty.   President Nelson's "Spiritual Treasures" President Freeman's "Live Up to Your Privileges" Elder Anderson's quote: "We sometimes overly associate the power of the priesthood with men in the Church. The priesthood is the power and authority of God given for the salvation and blessing of all—men, women, and children. A man may open the drapes so the warm sunlight comes into the room, but the man does not own the sun or the light or the warmth it brings. The blessings of the priesthood are infinitely greater than the one who is asked to administer the gift." - Power in the Priesthood Sheri Dew's quote: “What does it mean to have access to priesthood power? It means that we can receive revelation, be blessed and aided by the ministering of angels, learn to part the veil that separates us from our Heavenly Father, be strengthened to resist temptation, be protected, and be enlightened, and made smarter than we are—all without any mortal intermediary.” - Women and the Priesthood   Follow us on Instagram!   Subscribe to the newsletter!   Head to our website for book club!

In this episode, Jenny Guthrie shares about her life's motto for spreading the gospel: Feed His Sheep and how she came to this conclusion when she felt prompted to answer the question, "Do I love Him?" She shares three different experiences about how this has become her life's mission: her husband's time in the MLB where she would interact with people of all different faiths and congregations, her time spent as a mission leader in Texas where she worked with missionaries and also helped her own growing family come closer to Christ, and her time teaching teenagers seminary.   If you want to find more Magnify goodness, follow us on Instagram!

Rosemary Wixom, former General Primary President and temple matron, shares her deep insights on temple worship and its transformative power. She discusses three spiritual guideposts that can help seekers draw closer to Jesus Christ. Wixom emphasizes the emotional significance of the Salt Lake Temple and personal experiences of faith. The conversation touches on the importance of prayer, the role of the Holy Ghost, and the continuous journey of personal growth through temple visits, inviting all to embrace this sacred space.

In this engaging discussion, Carrie Skarda, author of 'The Practice of Stillness', shares her insights on mindfulness and its transformative role in spiritual growth. She highlights how stillness can nurture our relationship with God, emphasizing the dangers of overstimulation. Listeners enjoy a humorous story illustrating the importance of presence, alongside a guided mindfulness exercise aimed at enhancing self-compassion. The conversation closes with reflections on meditation across faith traditions and an exciting announcement for the next literary adventure.

When President Nelson shared his conference address, “Joy and Spiritual Survival,” in October 2016, he said, “each of us has likely had times when distress, anguish, and despair almost consumed us,” and then he asked, “yet we are here to have joy? YES! The answer is a resounding yes!” indicating that we are built for it. In fact, today’s guest Lisa Valentine Clark even commented that it’s our birthright. But it can sometimes feel out of reach, especially if we are feeling nearly consumed by our trials. So how do we set our sights on it? Lisa puts it this way: “Joy is a creative act. Not a formula.”   Join our Book Club on Thursday, February 27 at 7pm MST! Sign up with this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/MbD0gEldSDWhgRX2WYqhwA   Follow us on Instagram!

Shauna Wilson-Manuel shares her transformative journey after losing her home in the devastating Camp Fire. She discusses the chaos of evacuation and the unexpected strength found within community bonds. Shauna reveals how her faith played a pivotal role in overcoming grief and depression, alongside the power of spiritual practices. Emphasizing the importance of connection, she illustrates how serving others can foster hope and resilience, ultimately showcasing a story of rising from the ashes, both physically and metaphorically.