Prior to her son’s birth in 2020, Caitlin Bekker didn’t have experience with congenital heart disease. Five years later, being a “heart mom” has become a core part of her identity. On this week’s episode, Caitlin shares how watching her little boy go through multiple open heart surgeries has refined her and have taught her to trust in the Lord, live in gratitude in the present, and she hopes they will ultimately help her become the person and disciple of Jesus Christ she would like to be.

1:45- Receiving and Processing a Diagnosis 7:27- Health Literacy 10:26- Finding a Community 12:09- Living in the Present 14:27- Why? 19:14- Mom Guilt 22:40- Bringing Matthew Home 25:05- Comforting Those Who Stand In Need of Comfort 34:08- Hard Is Hard 38:08- Perspective 40:49- Update 43:00- Living in the Present Pt. 2 45:27- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“Life’s going to pass by no matter what so you might as well let the hard situations help you to become more of what you want to be.”

Episodes References: 

President Jeffrey R. Holland said, “With apologies to Elder Neal A. Maxwell for daring to modify and enlarge something he once said, I too suggest that “one’s life … cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free.” It simply will not work “to glide naively through life,” saying as we sip another glass of lemonade, “Lord, give me all thy choicest virtues, but be certain not to give me grief, nor sorrow, nor pain, nor opposition. Please do not let anyone dislike me or betray me, and above all, do not ever let me feel forsaken by Thee or those I love. In fact, Lord, be careful to keep me from all the experiences that made Thee divine. And then, when the rough sledding by everyone else is over, please let me come and dwell with Thee, where I can boast about how similar our strengths and our characters are as I float along on my cloud of comfortable Christianity.” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/57holland?lang=eng

Morgan’s Interview with Kate Bowler- https://www.deseret.com/2018/5/18/20645268/q-a-duke-divinity-school-s-kate-bowler-explains-how-cancer-has-helped-her-appreciate-life-god-s-love/

Taysom Hill has been called a “Swiss Army knife” because of his ability to play many positions on the football field. And, while he has taken each of these positions seriously, when injuries have kept him from being able to suit up, Hill knows that his identity does not begin and end with playing football. On this week’s episode, Hill shares with us insight into his life as a football player but also as a son, a husband, a father, a brother, and a disciple of Jesus Christ.

2:27- Nature Vs. Nurture? 9:06- What Makes a Great Coach? 14:37- “Taysom Gets Rocked” 18:57- Approaching the Topic of a Mission in Recruiting 24:10- Meant To Be At BYU 27:26- The Weight of the Job 30:16- #7 34:57- Season-ending Injuries 37:59- Drew Brees 42:23- A Disciple and Dad in the NFL 48:59- Infertility 54:56- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“There’s no part of me that ever questions God’s goodness.”

Source information: Another great podcast with Taysom Hill- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh_41cOQATE Taysom on Leading Saints- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31Wpdpuuvdg

In August 2024, Meg Walter, the writer of a humorous Deseret News column, unexpectedly lost her 62-year-old father to a heart attack. Suddenly, her columns, although still funny at times, took on a more somber tone. The humorous journalist was forced to work through something that faces each of us at some point: Grief. On this week’s episode, she shares how that grief helped her settle into her faith.

2:06- Observation and Humor 4:48- Latter-day Saint Culture 7:41- Being Open About Faith 12:50- The Loss of a Father 18:19- What Makes a Life Well-Lived? 23:10- Receiving Service 28:12- Two Things Can Be True 32:08- The Beauty of “The Ward” 38:21- The Value of Faith 42:24- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“I need that hope that my faith offers me. I am getting much more comfortable with what I don’t know and what I hope. And I’m leaning more into what I hope.”

Links: Meg’s columns about her dad’s passing: https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2024/08/22/losing-a-parent-grief/ https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2024/10/12/running-through-grief-st-george-marathon/ https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2024/11/27/grieving-loss-love-holidays/ https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2024/12/28/grief-lessons-learned/

Morgan’s all-time favorite article that makes her laugh every time: https://www.deseret.com/2023/3/8/23627893/new-trader-joes-draper-utah-person-you-want-to-be/

For five years now, Katie Wade-Neser has been sharing suggestions and ideas for helping parents teach Come, Follow Me to even the tiniest children. She does not feel the idea for the Instagram account or even many of the ideas she has shared have come from her, but instead from a loving Heavenly Father who loves His children. She is simply grateful to have been a part of it!

3:39- A Generational Passion 6:57- The Origin Story 14:09- What Makes Children Special 19:30- Teaching to the Strengths of Children 27:58- Overcoming Barriers and Establishing Expectations 34:27- A Vessel 38:20- Beauty in the Mess 41:14- Giving Grace 46:04- Questions As a Mother 49:17- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“Little kids deserve to be taught the things of God.”

Jenny Oaks Baker began playing the violin before elementary school and she has not stopped since. Her violin has taken her all around the world and given her opportunities she’d never dreamed of. But there have also been opportunities she has sought that have never come to fruition and other opportunities she didn’t even know to seek that have made her life much richer than it would have been otherwise. On this week’s episode, Jenny shares her witness that sometimes the Lord’s plans are much better than the plans we have for ourselves. 

2:59- The Role of Parents 10:10- Music Education 11:41- Trusting the Lord 16:40- Choices as a Young Mom 27:36- Hard Work and Dreams 30:30- Performances Behind the Scenes 37:32- Identity and Talents 41:55- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

"It's hard to not know the future. I still want what I want and want to know what's going to happen. But the Lord provides" 

Links:

Jenny’s Christmas Tour Dates and Ticket Information: https://www.jennyoaksbaker.com/upcoming-events

Jenny’s album, “The Redeemer”: https://www.deseretbook.com/product/P6002668.html

When she was just 7 years old, Ore Kaffo was abducted from her foster family—the only family she had ever known—by her birth mother. After living her entire life in England, a place that had always been happy for her, she found herself back in her home country of Nigeria. Her entire world was changed, and along with that, she struggled to make sense of her identity. As she wrestled to understand her new existence, she came to realize that she is, first and foremost, a child of God. On this week’s episode, Ore shares her remarkable story and her undeniable light.

2:17- White Nanny, Black Child 15:01- Lessons From Foster Father 18:15- Learning From Missionaries and Becoming One 29:00- Reunited 33:07- No Heroes and No Villains 40:50- Identity as Children of God 44:47- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“It doesn’t matter if somebody is from Zibwabwe or Tokyo or Pakistan or from America, if we all identify as children of God then we are one people.”

Links:  Ore’s website: https://ore-lou.com/

For UK listeners, here’s a link to “White Nanny Black Child,” the documentary that tells Ore’s story on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81789241?s=i&trkid=258593161&vlang=en

“White Nanny Black Child” trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDiilPLxs6k&pp=ygUXd2hpdGUgY2hpbGQgYmxhY2sgbmFubnk%3D

Ore on Good Morning Britain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpZWDzdGoNA&pp=ygUXd2hpdGUgY2hpbGQgYmxhY2sgbmFubnk%3D

Olympic silver medalist Kenneth Rooks shocked the world when he worked his way from the back of the pack to become the second American to medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase since 1984. But those who recognized Rooks’ name know that this isn’t the first time he’s come from behind. In fact, in 2023, Rooks fell in his third lap at the USA Track and Field Nationals but came back to win the race. Both races were a spectacle—incredible athletic feats—and, on today’s episode, we talk with Rooks about what he’s learned from them.

2:13- If Ye Are Prepared 7:10- Gospel Allegories in the Race 13:22- Self-Improvement Vs. Comparison 18:36- The Patience To Stick To The Game Plan 25:25- Being Coached By Ed Eyestone 32:03- Faith and Running 37:02- Pre-game Ritual 40:50- A Large Latter-day Saint Contingent 43:26- Discipline and Consistency 47:19- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“All In doesn’t mean that you’re not going to forget sometimes. You might forget what matters most. Being all in is being able to recognize when you forget and trying to remember. …Those who are all in try to remember quickly.”

Links:

2023 USATF Nationals Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT1ody_cpCA&t=190s

2024 Paris Olympic Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNgzHlE3Hko

Church News article about Kenneth: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/book-of-mormon-kenneth-rooks-byu-steeplechase-olympic-silver-medal

Other links: https://www.deseret.com/sports/2024/08/07/kenneth-rooks-latter-day-saint-silver-medalist/ https://www.deseret.com/sports/2024/08/07/byu-cougars-runner-kenneth-rooks-wins-silver-medal-in-olympics/

Ryan Shupe: Big Dreams and Little Decisions

Ryan Shupe is best-known as the singer of a hit song called “Dream Big” but on today’s episode, Ryan shares with us his take on small decisions and how those small decisions can have big, lasting impacts. Ryan shares that these decisions are often the result of trusting in personal revelation and acting on that inspiration. So, while Ryan’s life has certainly been impacted by a single song, he recognizes that it has been many decisions along the way that have made all the difference.

1:54- The Father of Ryan and Bluegrass in Utah 5:15- 5 A.M. Fiddle Practice 10:16- Changed By a Mission 14:19- The Kind of Hit Dreams Are Made Of 21:15- Decisions for Life 31:53- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“The only thing you can’t buy is time and so you can only spend so much time in your life on any one thing so whenever you’re doing something, you’re just taking time away from something else, right? So it’s just this balancing act of how far do you push something because you know if you keep pushing maybe you could get that but it would be at the expense of something else.”

Links: 

Deseret News articles referenced: https://www.deseret.com/2006/11/24/19987240/the-unique-sounds-of-ryan-shupe/ https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/7/4/22554176/all-eyes-on-wallsburg-utah-as-the-father-of-bluegrass-music-readies-for-a-festival-of-a-lifetime/

Dream Big Music Video- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3KwEuNapzt0&pp=ygUJRHJlYW0gYmln

-----

Join us for Magnify's Lift Up Your Heart coming this fall! Registration is open for Idaho Falls, St. George, and Salt Lake City by heading to magnifythegood.com/events. Remember to use code PODCAST10 at checkout (not as the access code). This discount excludes the already discounted group pricing.

Clay Sheffield’s life is a miracle. Perhaps because of the faith of his three older siblings, the nearly 2-year-old little boy with a million dollar smile is still alive more than a year longer than doctors ever expected. Still, Clay’s life doesn’t look quite the way his family anticipated or hoped. Instead, the Sheffields are learning that sometimes the miracle is in the gift of ordinary days and in knowing that where covenants are made and kept, stories always end in happily ever after. 

1:58- Clay’s Emergency Delivery 8:49- Then To Now 16:09- Redefining the Miracle 19:29- The Power of “And” 22:20- The Faith of Children 29:14- Choose This Day 31:29- Covenants 33:18- Making Intentional Memories 39:45- Ordinary Days 44:43- Being Pruned 47:54- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“I already know the ending of this story and this story is pretty great. We have made covenants that whatever happens this story ends up that we’re going to be together so we’re just going to live.”

As a former Young Single Adult ward bishop and institute teacher, Tyler Johnson has worked with many young adults who have questions and concerns regarding their faith and/or their belief in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has observed that many of these concerns stem not from rebellious desires but rather from a place of integrity and that often where there is a question, there is often an underlying emotion. On today’s episode, Tyler shares his insights into how to approach seasons of life “when church is hard” and how to help others in those seasons. 

1:24- The Questions at the Base of the Iceberg 6:19- A Generation Seeking to Have High Integrity 12:52- Addressing Emotion Before Cognitive Gaps 18:40- Doubt: Good or Bad?  25:23- Wagering Everything on a Belief that the Gospel is True 33:43- People Not Statistics  41:50- Mary Magdalene  50:41- Certainty is Not the Point 57:42- What Does It Mean to Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“To some degree, we have to choose to commit and then make the thing to which we commit beautiful and true by virtue of the way that we are committed to it.”

Links: “When Church is Hard”- https://www.deseretbook.com/product/6020541.html

President Ballard talk mentioned: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org › ...By Study and by Faith - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints