Magnify

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.

Natalie Hill Jensen, known for her uplifting perspective on life's challenges, shares her insights on cultivating joy. She redefines repentance as a joyful experience that fosters forgiveness and healing. Natalie discusses how gratitude transforms mindset and enhances daily life, encouraging deeper connections through shared joy. She emphasizes creativity's role in personal fulfillment and highlights the spiritual importance of appreciation, urging listeners to engage with their communities and explore joy through personal practices.

In this engaging discussion, social media manager Lyndsi Frandsen joins her sister, Brooke Walker, to explore the importance of expressing joy in daily life. They emphasize how sharing happiness can illuminate the light of Christ in our interactions. Their cheerful banter illustrates the value of genuine connections, alongside the need to combat the decline of face-to-face conversations in a digital age. The duo encourages listeners to embrace vulnerability, recognizing the uplifting power of kindness and the joy that comes from heartfelt communication.

Ashly Stone, host of The Comeback Podcast, shares her powerful story of overcoming heroin addiction and returning to faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She discusses the pivotal moment when a Bible with a Book of Mormon bookmark inspired her recovery. Ashly offers insights into the transformative power of faith, the importance of supportive relationships, and daily spiritual practices. Her journey highlights hope and redemption, proving that connection with the Savior can lead to profound change and renewed joy.

With all that is going on in the world—fires ravaging the country, many lives being lost, and not to mention our own personal struggles that we face every day—we hope this episode will set us up that we can have joy amidst life's realities. And to bring some great perspective to this conversation is author Carrie Skarda. Carrie's book The Practice of Stillness inspired this discussion. Join us for our book club on February 27th at 7pm MT where you can hear Carrie lead out the discussion! Click on this link to sign up: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/MbD0gEldSDWhgRX2WYqhwA#/registration

Shima Baughman, a BYU law professor and gospel scholar, shares her insights on transforming worry into joy, drawing from her personal experiences as a mother. She emphasizes that true joy stems from our relationship with heavenly parents and Jesus Christ, not worldly distractions. The conversation explores the misconception that worry signifies love and advocates for compassion in relationships. Baughman also highlights the importance of empowering children in spiritual discussions, encouraging open communication rooted in faith.

We hope this conversation will set you up well for the new year ahead. The Magnify theme for these next two months is joy and more specifically showing our joy. Harry Emerson Fosdick said, "You can know a real Christian, when you see him [or her], by his buoyancy." As we set out to be women who magnify the Lord, one way we can do that is by living buoyantly and showing by example that God's plan works. As we were thinking about where to start the conversation, we thought of President Nelson's invitation to be women who have a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Jesus Christ, including understanding what the scriptures say about joy. Deseret Book's executive director of content Michelle Torsak hosts this conversation with Tammy Uzelac Hall, host of the Sunday on Monday podcast and adult institute teacher as they dive into how the scriptures define joy. Scriptural references from Tammy: 2 Nephi 25:25-26: Theme for 2025, "we talk of Christ, we rejoice of Christ" Matthew 2:10: The wisemen rejoiced when they saw the star 2 Nephi 2:11, 13: There must be opposition in all things, compound into one, if these things are not, there is no god 2 Nephi 2:25: Men are that they might have joy 1 Nephi 17:1-3: They began to bear their journeyings without murmuring Psalm 16:11: Cause me to know the path of life Zephaniah 3:17: He will hold his peace with you Continue the conversation over on Instagram @magnifycommunity!

We know that everything happens for a reason, and the scriptures tell us that "all things work together for good." But sometimes that isn't a comfort to hear when we're in the thick of it. But ever since we heard BYU Professor Ellen Knell share that accepting the struggle will ultimately bring sweetness and maning to our lives, her ideas have been on our mind. She gave a BYU address called "Look For the Light" and we wanted to amplify this faithful woman's voice. Ellen is an assistant professor for the center of language studies at BYU. She is a mom, a grandmother, and a woman of many talents including speaking Mandarin, figure skating, and all things relaxation!