Changing

Have you ever had a defining moment in your life that has brought you closer to Christ? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald talks with Will Perez about a defining moment that changed his life. Will is a father of 5 and a religious educator who is currently a PhD student studying religious history.

What is a defining moment? 

• Will says a defining moment is when your back is against the wall and you have to make a choice that will impact the trajectory of your life. 
• It’s an opportunity to grow and become the person you want to be. 

What was Will's defining moment? 

• When he was a teenager he butted heads with his parents and he was acting out. His parents were not happy with the music he was listening to. 
• Will later had an experience where he felt what he would describe as the Holy Ghost.
• He realized that the entertainment he was consuming was drowning out “the still small voice”. 
• Will decided that he wanted the spirit in his life, so he threw away his CD’s and changed his actions. 

What in particular helped Will make the change?

• He made some friends at a church youth camp, and these people helped him see that he could still be happy without his music. 
• Little by little he let go of his “baggage” and things started to change. 

How has Will’s life changed since then? 

• That decision has made other positive decisions easier throughout his life. 
• He feels that the Lord has been generous with him as he takes steps to draw closer to Him. 
• Sometimes it's a big defining moment that gives you momentum to keep moving forward. 

Will’s advice for individuals who are struggling

• Ask yourself: What do I need to stop doing and what do I need to start doing? 
• He knows that Jesus Christ heals and can repair anything that is broken.

To connect with Will and get more information, find him on Instagram and Youtube. Above all, first, lead with love. 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.

How can I change when there is so much wickedness around me? In today’s episode of Changing Donald discusses three ways you can fight against evil as you strive for change in your life. The city of Babylon in the bible represents evil and wickedness, similarly in today’s world we are surrounded by evil and temptation. No matter our level of spirituality we can all benefit from these tips. 

• Prayer 

• Say a prayer in the morning, evening, and night. Ask for guidance to overcome the day and have strength. 
• Have a prayer in your heart throughout the whole day so that you can overcome the temptation around you. 

• Daily scripture study. 

• Follow spiritual people on social media to combat the influence of the world.
• Intake positive and uplifting content instead of negative content.
• Replace worldly music with a spiritual podcast.

• Be with other people
• Surround yourself with other people who are trying to grow closer to Christ. 
• Attend church activities and bible study groups.
• Serve those around you.
• Replace the worldliness in your life with spiritualness.

Visit justserve.org to find service opportunities in your community. Above all, first, lead with love. 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.

On today's episode of Changing, Donald chats with Kel Clerveau. Kel is a paralegal looking to become an immigration lawyer. Kel talks about his path toward change and how he learned to trust in the Lord’s plan for him. 

How did Kel start his journey towards change? 

• After Kel left home to go to college he found himself alone. 
• He was failing at school and work and didn’t know if he was going to make it in life. 
• He caught himself coasting through life and not putting effort into his relationship with God. 
• He considered himself a religious person but fell into a habit of just going to church and nothing else. 
• The way he was living wasn’t working for him.  

What motivated Kel to change?

• He met a friend who helped me to stay on track. She asked him if he was reading his scriptures and helped Kel to formulate a plan for his life. 
• She helped him realize that he needed to change if he wanted to thrive and accomplish the goals he wanted to accomplish. 
• He started reading his scriptures and praying and recognized that his life was improving in all areas.
• He realized that he needed to do the Lord's will in his life. 

How was Kel's mission experience impacted by changes in his life?

• Kel realized that he needed to serve a mission. 
• He started going through the process of becoming a missionary and everything seemed to work out well.
• Once he became a missionary his good feelings were amplified and he felt the Lord’s love for him. 
• He knew he was exactly where he needed to be. 

How has the Lord guided Kels after his mission?

• His mission experiences have prepared him for law school and for marriage. 
• Kel knows that Christ knows him personally and is there for him. 

What is Kel's advice for individuals who need the motivation to change? 

• “If your way isn’t working, you should try the Lord’s way”
• The Lord helps us achieve our goals in ways that we don’t realize. Trust Him
• The Lord knows you better than you know yourself and He knows what we need in order to be successful and happy. 
• Build a relationship with Heavenly Father and see where it goes. 

To connect and contact Kel, email him at [email protected] or text him at 801-674-8995. Above all, first, lead with love. 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.

For those starting their journey to follow, it’s easy to compare ourselves to those around us. However, it’s important to remember not to compare ourselves, but to listen to the Lord and serve him. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald is joined by the founder of Crowned Co. to discuss his experiences using the Lord for guidance.

We connect with our Savior through action and understanding:

• The Supernal Gifts of Prayer helps John when he’s trying to grow, and it dictates the potential responses to prayer.
• When John is trying to make decisions or grow in his career or personal life, he wants to know how he can maximize his calling.
• It’s easy to strive for things to acclaim a status, perspective, or event. But ask yourself what keeps you moving forward and on a path toward a fulfilling goal. 

Advice to someone who doesn’t even know where to start:

• Search for light. Whether starting your day with a prayer or reading Scriptures on a morning commute, apply the gospel throughout your life and mindset.
• There are moments to help everyone around you. Be the person that walks into a room and lights up everyone’s day. 

We all hit a moment in our lives where we question our path and what we’re doing. 

• If we’re open to it, the spirit can help us make changes to be better people and better versions of ourselves.
• Listen to the spirit. He’ll prompt us and intervene when needed, but he’ll let us continue on our path and discover ourselves in our path to change and become better.

John’s parting piece of advice to someone looking to change? Everything is possible through our Father. We are all sinners who need the atonement of Jesus Christ. Whether you know you need help or think you’re perfect, we all need to draw closer to the savior. 

To connect with John and get more information, find him on Instagram and Twitter. Above all, first, lead with love. 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.

The path to accepting Christ is different for everyone. On today's episode of Changing, our host, Donald Kelly talks with Jerry Dugan, a director of organizational effectiveness who runs a podcast called Beyond the Rut, a show for christian men who feel like they are stuck in a rut. Donald and Jerry discuss Jerry's inspiring path to accepting Christ as his Lord and Savior. His powerful story will hopefully help you as you start your journey towards change. 

Jerry did not grow up as a believer

• Jerry didn’t grow up going to church. He would attend different churches off and on but didn’t consider himself a believer. 
• He felt like he had ‘freedom’ because he didn’t have to follow the commandments. 

His experience in the Army changed him

• Jerry didn’t believe in God up until he joined the army and was stationed in Afghanistan. 
• When he was put in a situation where he feared for his life, he said a prayer to God - his first prayer in 14 years.
• He asked God to protect his wife and children by replacing him with someone better if he didn’t make it out alive.  
• During the next few weeks Jerry had multiple near-death experiences where he felt that he was protected by God. 

How did he finally accept Christ into his life?

• After he returned home safely from the war his wife told him that she had been praying for him. She made a deal with God that if Jerry got home safely she and her whole family would attend church every Sunday. Jerry agreed to honor the deal. 
• After months of attending church Jerry's pastor challenged him to “stop dipping his toe in the water” and “be all-in”. 
• Since 2005 Jerry has been all-in and is grateful he made that decision. 

How are things now?

• Years later Jerry realized that his prayer to God had come true, and the old version of himself had been replaced by a better one. The old version of himself had metaphorically died. 
• When he finally accepted Christ as his Savior he felt a burden lifted off of him. 
• He now lives his life always thinking about what Jesus would do and how he can emulate Him. 

Advice from Jerry

• Realize that God created you exactly how you are. 
• Jerry accepted that God had given him an analytical nature and learned how to use it to his advantage. He paired it with faith and has been able to spiritually progress. 

To connect and contact Jerry, find him on his website. Above all, first, lead with love. 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.

God’s journey is different for every one of us. Whether that means enduring a trial, attending a mission, or just serving those around you, God has a plan to get you where you need to go. In today’s episode of Changing, our host, Donald Kelly, is joined by business coach and consultant Mark Sieverkopp to discuss his journey in finding Christ and how he managed that journey throughout early adulthood. 

Mark didn’t join the church until he was 18.

• Raised in a Lutheran household, his family was very Sunday-oriented when it came to celebrating the Lord. His religious experience lacked a personal connection. 
• After dating a girl in high school, he was struck by how close the family was and how they acted around each other. 
• In his mind, God was distant. He was out there in the universe, not involved in Mark’s day-to-day life. However, God was present in his girlfriend’s family’s lives.

Where did he get the desire to change?

• He was at his girlfriend’s house when missionaries came and asked to speak with him. 
• While he didn’t that day, he eventually spoke with the missionaries just to understand what she believed.
• Because of the conversation, he transferred churches. His parents were unhappy with the decision, and Mark has dealt with misconceptions about his faith from his extended family to this day. 

However, his lifestyle alterations led to visible changes:

• Between the start of his joining the church and his mission trip, he read the Book of Mormon three or four times.
• He was dedicated to reading and learning and bettering himself. His active engagement in faith was his most notable change.
• Even though separating churches from his family was challenging, he doesn’t regret it.

Mark’s advice to someone in their own journey to change?

• You aren’t alone. President Hinckley once said, “bring all the good you have, and let's see if we can add to it.”
• There’s a mentality that departing from one religion to another or a different church means leaving that part of ourselves behind. But that isn’t always the case; you don’t have to walk away from who you are.

To connect and contact Mark, find him on Facebook or email him at [email protected]. Above all, first, lead with love. 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.

This podcast is all about changing on our path to becoming better disciples of Jesus Christ. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses an important subject we often face - feelings of anger and resentment while facing trials in life. 

Job was tested by Satan, and he faced many trials:

• As a result, he lost his house, animals, money, and health. However, he never denounces the Lord. 
• How many of us would falter and stop trusting the Lord? We often feel like God is punishing us for our mistakes.
• If you have problems in your life, don’t assume the issues are because of you. Instead, as we draw closer to God, he’ll show us our weaknesses and make us stronger and wiser. 
• You aren’t drifting away from God; you’re drawing closer to him.

Why do we assume that God is punishing us? 

• God knows exactly what we’re going through - he knows everything we’re facing.
• It doesn’t mean he’ll take all those problems away because he wants us to grow.
• God is allowing us to develop and struggle to become stronger and wiser once we get through it.

Remember, God loves you and wants the best for you. Visit churchofjesuschrist.org to view the full quote from Bruce C. Hafen used in the episode. Above all, first, lead with love. 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.

In your personal efforts to change and better yourself, you might wonder how you can help others reach the same goal. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses how anyone can use their imperfection to help others on a path toward Christ.

We’re all imperfect.

• In scripture, there is only one perfect person: Jesus. Everyone else is imperfect, and that’s okay.
• Even the apostles and prophets regularly sinned and made mistakes. However, the people who desired change did so, and they shared that with others.
• Your mistakes and errors can help connect you with others and understand what they’re going through. You can be the force that pushes them closer to a path of light.

You’re light helps others see through the darkness.

• Set a better example for the people around you. Pray, read scripture, and exemplify the spirit of the Lord in your everyday life.
• Invite others to do things with you, like a group bible study or church activity. 
• Help others alleviate the challenges and turmoils in their life. Be the guidance that advises others to make positive changes.

Visit justserve.org to find service opportunities in your community. Above all, first, lead with love. 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 been in situations where we feel alone. In those challenging times, looking to God for support and guidance is the best way to overcome the journey. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald uses principles and articles from the Bible, scholars and religious leaders to demonstrate how God delivers us to where we need to go.

Have faith that God will help us overcome our challenges:

• In the books of Mark and John, we see Jesus’s apostles out on the water, commanded by the Lord, when a storm began to brew.
• Jesus saw them toiling and working to overcome those challenges, but they weren’t aware of his presence. 
• He came to them, walking on water, and immediately ended the challenges of the sea.

Whatever challenges you face, the Lord can help you overcome them.

• However, he won’t do it all for you. You need to do what you know is right. 
• Keep persevering through challenges, and God will ensure you get where you need.
• Know that the reward is not something temporary, but it is an eternal reward.

To read the full article this episode is based on, visit LDS Living. Above all, first, lead with love. 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.

Today’s episode of Changing continues our dive into the history of the serpent. Why are snakes representative of evil, and is it a fair connotation? Tune into the prior episode before listening to hear the full explanation!

The serpent on the stick was preserved and used as an idol of worship.

• Sometimes, things that are historical take on a whole new meaning. There wasn’t anything evil about it. But, over time, the children of Israel developed superstitions around the serpent.
• Worshipping the serpent as an idol corrupted the serpent, which is why it was destroyed.
• Are there good things in our lives that we begin to value too high, emphasizing it over God?

Satan used the serpent as a counterfeit idol to corrupt God’s imagery:

• Moses’s story shows the good and healing snakes can depict when serving under God.
• With the exception of the dove as the preeminent corrupted imagery, Satan corrupts idols that apply to God to legitimize this false depiction.
• Satan came to Eve as a serpent, promising things that only the Messiah could rightfully promise.
• While the serpent wasn’t seen as bad, Satan mimicked the Messiah to trick Eve and come across as a divine being.

Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you 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.