Changing

In this episode, Donald takes us through the miracle when Jesus healed a man suffering from palsy (Mark 2:1). You’ll hear how Jesus cured this man of his affliction, and how it was the faith of the man and his community that helped get him there. Just like the man whose illness was cured, face your challenges with strength and faith, and surround yourself with folks who will support you.

How Can We Apply This to Our Lives?

• When faced with challenges in life, instead of wallowing in how you feel about them, embrace them as faith-building situations

• Surround yourself with family, friends, or a community who can support you through difficult times

• Unwavering faith in Jesus Christ will help get through tough situations, and could also help you see miracles happen in your life as well

“Take this moment you’ve had, don’t be disgruntled, don’t be upset about it. Take those as learning experiences, and experience this miracle. Go forward with faith.” -Donald Kelly

Do you know someone who is experiencing a faith-building situation? Send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe – it may be just what they need. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail [email protected], or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

One of the most powerful things we can do as humans on this earth is to show love and compassion to the people around us through our actions. When we have blessings in our lives, nothing can bring us closer to God than to share those blessings with those who are experiencing times of need. In this episode, Donald gets into how to properly give alms without being self-interested and offers some ideas on how you can show love in your community.

What does it mean to “give alms”?

• Historically, this has meant giving money or food to poor people.

• Now, we use it to mean charitable giving and any other way we offer assistance to anyone in need

• This is NOT the same as doing things out of obligation, or for attention!

• Tithing and giving alms are not exactly the same, but both are ways people give through their Church

• This is an opportunity to share the blessings you have received in life with people who have less, and focus on the care and love you can offer rather than what you’ll get out of it

Ideas for alms-giving

• Donate to an organization that offers housing or food to people experiencing poverty

• Work with local aid groups to get donations of the kinds of goods people in your area need - this can vary based on the season, so reach out to folks in the know

• Offer your time as a volunteer at a nonprofit

• Talk to a friend, coworker or family member who is going through a hard time and just needs someone to listen

We hope you got some ideas on how you can practice some alms-giving today! If you and someone you know are working on giving alms together, send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail [email protected], or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

There are times in life when we stumble, and mistakes are sometimes made. How you respond to your wrongdoings is part of what defines your character - if your response to committing a sin is on this list, you’re not going to take steps to improve yourself. In this episode, Donald lays out seven phrases that won’t help your spiritual growth, and why you should leave them behind. 

1. “The Devil made me do it.” The Devil can not force you to do something, or not do something. He may try to manipulate you, but only you are responsible for your actions. This statement gives your power away and hands it to the Devil.

2. “It’s just a small sin.” People will use language like this to justify doing the same wrong thing over and over again until they become desensitized to the wrongdoing. No matter how ‘small’ one action may be, it’s still a sin, and when repeated, can have a big impact.

3. “God knows my heart.” Even though this is true, humans may not! Your actions are what other people know about you, and if you aren’t trying to live as a student of God, that does not reflect well upon you and it can cause harm to others. Ask yourself,  “Am I demonstrating that I love God by my action?”

4. “At least I’m not doing _____.” This phrase, in effect, is justifying your behavior by saying it’s not as bad as something else you could be doing. In this phrase, you’re admitting that you know you’re doing something wrong. If you are aware of this, you have a responsibility not to do it.

5. “I’ll repent later.” The idea that someone can just sin whenever and as much as they want because they plan to repent is disrespectful of the concept of atonement. If you have sinned before you knew better, repent, and don’t do it in the future.

6. “_____ was a good person, and they do (sin).” You don’t have any control over the actions other people take, and only you will answer for the things you do. 

7. “I’m only human, and I make mistakes.” As humans, we have to take ownership of our agency and our actions. We should try, every day, to become closer to God, and phrases like this make it seem as though, no matter what you do, you will never improve. This takes away your motivation to work towards your spiritual growth.

“Change the way that you think. Think about yourself as a son, or a daughter, of God, and that you are capable of doing amazing things.” - Donald Kelly

Have you ever said any of the statements on this list? We get it - when you know better, you do better. Maybe you know someone who is trying to “do better” as well - send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail [email protected], or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

Helping our children connect with the gospel is one of our most important jobs as parents. So what holds us back? Maybe the idea sounds good to you, but you haven’t been able to put it into practice yet. Maybe you’re waiting for that perfect evening when everything aligns to give you the opportunity, and that never seems to come. Maybe you’re not sure how to help your children understand how important the scripture is to you. Whatever the reason, let this episode be what helps you get Family Bible Study started in your home.

Donald’s 3 Tips for an Engaging Family Scripture Study

1. Be consistent. Find a day and time of the week that works for all members of your household, and stick to it. While you may have to make some sacrifices, remember that this is an opportunity to connect with each other and the Lord. If you approach it with gratitude and joy, your family will learn from this (and, as Donald says, “If you treat it like a chore, they’re going to think it’s a chore”).

2. Get everyone involved. Offer your children the opportunity to participate in the lessons. Older kids may have topics they want to cover as they navigate new challenges in their lives. Giving them a chance to be involved in deciding on the content may also give you some insight into the things they are going through, so you know how to show up and support them. Even the little ones can be given responsibilities - Donald gives a few examples from his family.

3. Use pictures for the younger kids. In this section, Donald brings in a “young expert” who uses paper cutouts with pictures on them to act out the stories in the Bible. You can hear how engaged he is, and how he remembers the story, as young as he is! The important thing here is to help your child be an active part of the process so that he or she engages, rather than just sitting and listening passively.

“The fact that they’re engaged, that they’re involved, helps them to build a relationship with God. And also helps them to be able to consistently participate in this activity, which then leads to them building long-lasting habits way after they leave the house. - Donald Kelly

We hope this episode inspires you to start a new routine for your family that will set them up with great habits they can continue as they get older. You might know a parent who would benefit from this message, too - consider sending them this episode and subscribing to this podcast. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail [email protected], or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

Even the most devoutly spiritual people among us face temptation. But temptation is not just something to be feared - it can be an opportunity to become stronger if we know how to handle it. In this episode, Donald gives you five tips for overcoming temptation so that you can feel prepared and empowered when you find yourself in a compromising situation, and avoid sin.

• Pray. When you feel that temptation coming on, ask for guidance and strength to be able to withstand it. You may feel like you aren’t able to handle the temptations you face alone, so call on God first and foremost.
• Make the decision before a situation occurs. If you know you might enter a situation where temptation will be present, know how you will handle it before that situation begins. If you make that decision in advance, it’s much easier to stick to it than if you just try to face it in the moment.
• Sing a hymn. If you’re starting to feel tempted to sin, one way to gain back your spiritual strength is to sing. Choose a favorite hymn, whether it’s one from childhood or something you still sing today. 
• Manage your thoughts. Adjust your thought patterns before they lead to actions. Notice where your thoughts go when they wander, or when you are put into unpleasant situations. When you catch yourself having those thoughts, make a decision to remove them. Stop sinful thoughts in their tracks.
• Call someone, or go do something. If you have a strong desire to do something that goes against your beliefs, reach out to someone supportive. You don’t necessarily need to tell them exactly what is going on, but just reaching out to an ally can put you back into a better, safer headspace.

If you know someone else who struggles with temptation (and we all do), consider sending them this episode and subscribing to this podcast. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail [email protected], or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

“No matter who you are, no matter what background you come from, no matter how spiritual or how righteous you feel you are, everyone receives temptation.” - Donald Kelly

In this episode, Donald dives into the topic of personal revelation. We are reminded that revelation is not only for prophets and apostles but for everyone. It is the inspiration we individually receive from God to help us on our way. It may come in different forms, and as Donald’s guests this week show us, sometimes all we must do is ask. It is then up to us to heed the word of God and let this guide us in our lives.

• Sister Sims: She received a revelation that helped her through difficult times to discover a better life for herself and her children.
• Elder Bell: Through prayer and fasting, he received a message about someone with whom he could share the gospel.
• Sister Pratt: After being baptized, the Lord spoke to her, and she heeded the message to help someone in need.

• Elder Dorsey: Thanks to guidance from his bishop and his trust in God, he received a revelation to help him choose his path in life.

You’ll hear from all four of these guests in this episode. The Lord spoke to all of them individually, and He will speak to you as well.

“The Lord can guide you, and will guide you. But are you willing to heed and to follow Him?” - Donald Kelly

If you feel a connection to the topic of personal revelation, consider subscribing to this podcast and sharing it with someone who also may connect with it. Leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail [email protected], or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

In this episode, Donald gives us guidance on how we can support new members who are in transition on the path to God. Whether they are just switching churches or leaving behind a harmful lifestyle, all new members need to feel welcome. You’ll hear 7 methods you can use to help shepherd new members along their journey.

• Be present - make yourself available to new folks. This transition will be challenging for them! Even those who aren’t in a position of leadership have a responsibility to welcome them in.

• Help them understand the language - try not to assume they know all the terms. They may be brand new to church in general, or even if they’ve been to another church before, you might use some terms slightly differently. 

• Show them around - it’s a way to connect and make them feel more at home. If they know the lay of the land, they’ll feel more comfortable.

• Know they’re scared too - It’s normal not to know how to approach someone if they look or act a little different than you’re used to. Remember, they’re trying to change for the better, and you were new once, too.

• Give them responsibility - let them contribute to the community. Get to know their talents and skills. They may be able to support the church and begin to feel like a part of something bigger.

• Nourish them with the Good Word of God - They may have never read the Bible or only certain parts. It can be overwhelming at first. Study with them at their pace.

• Be a friend - don’t judge them before you have a chance to get to know them better. Extend your hand - invite them to dinner, introduce them to others, and help them understand that you care and are there to support them and walk the path with them.

“The Lord may be able to call on you to help some of these new members in your church to stay active.” - Donald Kelly

If this episode of Changing inspires you to reach out to the new members of your congregation, let us know how it goes. Leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail [email protected], or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

God is our shepherd; Even when we lose our way, He can herd us back. In today’s episode of Changing, our host Donald Kelly meets with Cristina Cano to talk about how she lost her way, but returned to Christ.

Cristina’s Story

• Cano grew up in a Christian family and went to church with her parents regularly. However, when she was almost 16, she began to doubt God’s existence.
• What officially made her break away from the church, however, was a particular lesson she was taught one day. Specifically, Cano’s pastor told her that women are to be submissive to men, per traditional teachings.
• After leaving that service, Cano told her parents that she wasn’t going back to church. Her parents, having raised her to question EVERYTHING, simply stepped back and didn’t force her to go to church or be a Christian.
• For about two years, until the time she was nearly 19, Cano left the church and never returned. During that time, her family respected her decision and left it as is.

During The Break

• During that two year gap, Cano didn’t do anything AGAINST the gospel.
• Cano also didn’t feel free during the break. She found the church to be a source of pain that she freed herself FROM, but it didn’t translate to her feeling any more free.

Returning to Christ

• Cano’s return to the gospel began when she was lying on her bed one day. As she laid there, she heard a voice say “I love you”, that she instantly recognized as the Lord’s voice.
• After hearing that voice, Cano decided to visit the church one more time. One of the elders who was preaching had given up playing football at a college level to become an elder in the church. Cano began to wonder why someone would give up that life, and as a result, decided to read the Book of Mormon.
• As she read through the book, she read with purpose and sought to answer some questions she had, and all of her questions were answered as she read. After she read about halfway through the book, Cano stopped and prayed.
• As she was praying, asking God if the book was true, she felt incredible WARMTH and LOVE. Arms wrapped around her and she heard “Welcome home.”
• From this return to Christ, Cano began to work as a missionary for the church and spread the loving word of God.

If you want to learn more about Cristina Cano, or her work as a missionary, you can connect with her on Facebook. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at [email protected], or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

We’ve all received that mandate from Jesus Christ that we need to see others as He would. However, many of us struggle to see others as He would. In today’s episode of Changing, our host Donald Kelly meets with Jon Diaz to discuss how we can see others as Christ would.

Jon’s Background

• Jon and Donald both grew up together in southern Florida, and would go to church together when they were younger.
• They both went to the same college in Idaho, and drove together from Florida to Idaho. After arriving in the state, they ended up being roommates in Donald’s apartment.
• Jon worked at a few different universities as an educator, but currently works at a high school in Utah as a psychology teacher.

Seeing Others as Christ Would

• Too often, we view life as very black and white. We think of OURSELVES as protagonists and as heroes. Everyone else, meanwhile, is just a side character or even antagonist. Obviously, Jesus wouldn’t view others this way.
• There’s a term in psychology called situational attribution. What it means is viewing a person’s attributes through the lens of their SITUATION. One example Jon gives is a student turning in papers late. Instead of thinking the student is lazy, think about the circumstances. This leads us to view people more empathically, as Christ would want.
• You have to understand WHERE people are coming from and think of whatever situation they’re in. Empathy stems from this and allows us to view others as Christ would.
• Jesus knows ALL of us completely. He knows all of our individual circumstances and situations. We, however, don’t know everyone else’s circumstances. So try and understand! One student Jon had to deal with would constantly disrupt class. One day, Jon took him outside and asked if he was okay, and learned that the student’s home life wasn’t great. After telling the student that he DID care, that student stopped acting out.

The Key Takeaways

• Focus on the basics of your relationship with God and Jesus. Jon notices that when he does his prayers and scripture studies, he’s FAR better at seeing others as Christ would. When you feel better, you treat others better.
• Try and see things from the perspective of others.

You can connect with Jon through his email, [email protected]. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at [email protected], or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

Our spirituality is something we should all strive to protect and grow. In today’s episode of Changing, our host Donald Kelly goes over a spiritually harmful practice you should leave in the past year.

The Deflating Practice

In the Book of Malachi, after Moses had left to receive the Ten Commandments, the children of Israel ran into an issue.

They became too casual with their covenants.

• Essentially, the children of Israel became FAR too lax with their promises to God. They began worshiping false idols and living a life that He didn’t want them to live.
• In the modern day, the issue with this is just how SLIPPERY that slope is. You begin to justify ungodly actions and immoral behavior. Sure, you might not be committing some of the deadly sins, but you STILL commit sin and justify it.
• All this does is distance you from God and deflate your spirituality, and connection with Him.

Avoiding Deflation

• Donald is doing a few things to avoid this pitfall. Specifically, just as pure lambs were offered to the Lord, Donald is offering Him some high quality things.
• The first thing that Donald is offering God is time.  In the morning, instead of looking at his phone, Donald instead gives THANKS to God for everything the Lord has offered. He’ll also perform his scripture studies in the morning.
• The second thing that Donald offers is worship. When you’re at church, give God ALL of your attention and praise. Don’t let yourself be distracted on your phone or let your mind wander to unimportant things. Again, give Him high quality and pure offerings.
• The final thing that Donald is offering is tithes. When he offers his tithes to God, he focuses on not doing so grudgingly or reluctantly, but doing so as a pure offering to the Lord.

If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at [email protected], or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.