Every Day Conversion

When we think about the parable of the prodigal son, we usually think about the son who took his inheritance, went to a far away country and blew it all on "riotous living." 

But, as Elder Jeffrey R. Holland says, "...being caught up in this younger son's story, we can miss, if we are not careful, the account of an older son...". 

In today's episode, we'll dig into the OTHER prodigal in this story... 

By looking at this side of the story we can learn even more lessons from this popular and oft quoted parable. 

Questions: 

1. When was a time that you've felt like the prodigal son? How about the older brother? 

2. How does envy and jealousy affect us spiritually? 

Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/049

When you think about the people who have impacted and influenced your life for the better, odds are, you felt that they loved you. 

Love is one of, if not the greatest motivator known to man. 

In today's episode we review Elder Quentin L. Cook's April 2019 General Conference talk, "Great Love for Our Father's Children" and discuss how love can impact three areas of your life - missionary work, temple and family history work and home-centered, Church supported family religious observance. 

Questions: 

1. In what ways have you been influenced for good because of the love someone has shown you? 

2. How can you develop greater love for others? 

Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/048

Christ is often referred to as "The Good Shepherd." 

But that's an imagery that holds much less significance and meaning to us in our day than it did in Christ's time. 

In today's episode we dig into some of the imagery that Christ uses in John 10 in talking about sheep, shepherds, sheepfolds and more. 

Understanding what Christ is talking about when He gives this example helps to understand exactly what He was trying to convey when He referred to Himself as the good shepherd and referred to us as His sheep. 

Questions: 

1. What does it mean to hear Christ's voice?

2. What can we do to make sure we hear Christ's voice in our lives? 

3. What are some examples of thieves, robbers and wolves in our lives? How can we protect ourselves from them? 

Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/047

Can you imagine having a miracle happen in your life, and NO ONE believes you when you tell them about it? 

Now imagine that, not only do they not believe you, but they mercilessly interrogate you regarding how it happened. 

How would you respond? 

Would you stick to your story? 

Would you get upset? 

Defensive? 

Or would you give it and change your story to appease your interrogators? 

Today's episode is about this exact type of experience. 

Christ restored the sight of a blind beggar...and yet when people found out about it, no one believed him. 

There is much we can learn from this man and his reaction to the situation he found himself in. 

Questions: 

1. What can you learn about faith from this man's example? 

2. How can our challenges and trials allow the "works of God" to "be made manifest" in our lives? 

3. What can we learn about the purpose (and even benefits) of challenges and trials from Christ's statement in John 9:3-5?

Get all the resources and links mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/046

Throughout Christ's earthly ministry He never backed away from proclaiming who He was and why He had come to earth. 

So for the Jews to not understand what He was saying and feign ignorance (or more often, disdain or unbelief) was honestly laughable. 

In today's episode we review another one of the experiences where the Savior proclaimed that he was Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament and thus caused feigned outrage from the Jews he was conversing with. 

There are some things we can learn from this experience. 

Questions:

1. Why were the Jews so upset with Christ's declaration that He was Jehovah?

2. What does it mean to "look beyond the mark" and how can we make sure that we aren't "looking beyond the mark" in our lives? 

Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/045

It's so easy to pass judgement on those around us when they make a mistake or even consciously step off the Gospel path. 

But it's safe to say that many more people have repented and returned due to love, compassion and mercy from those around them than from judgement and condemnation. 

When the Savior was presented with what to do about the woman who had been taken in adultery, the scribes and Pharisees were attempting to trap him...but the most important and instructive part of the story is the compassion and mercy with which the Savior interacted with this woman who has committed serious transgressions. 

We would do well to learn from the Savior's example. 

Questions: 

1. What feelings do you think the woman experienced during and after her interaction with the Savior? Have you felt any of those feelings during or after repenting in your life? 

2. What do you learn about mercy and compassion from this story?

Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/044

In the April 2019 General Conference, Brother Tad R. Callister called the atonement of Jesus Christ "heaven's antidote." 

In today's episode we review Brother Callister's full talk and discuss four points about the Savior's atonement.

In doing so we also review quotes by Truman Madsen, Pres. Henry B. Eyring and Pres. George Q. Cannon as part of our study. 

This is part of a weekly episode of the podcast where we review and recap talks given in the most recent General Conference. 

Questions: 

1. How have you been supported in your obstacles and struggles through the atonement? 

2. What spiritual gifts can you seek and pray for to help you become more like Heavenly Father? 

Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/043

When we hear the phrase "love thy neighbor" today, we understand that it means to love everyone. 

But it wasn't that cut and dried in Jesus' day.

As a matter of fact, Gentiles were specifically excluded as being considered a "neighbor" by the rabbinical teachings of the time. 

In today's episode we'll review some of those teachings, as well as Christ's parable of the good samaritan. 

Questions: 

1. Who is your neighbor?

2. In what small ways can you apply the principles of the parable of the Good Samaritan in less dramatic ways in your daily life?

Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/042

Like Martha in the New Testament, it's easy for us to be "careful and troubled about many things." 

It seems like there is ALWAYS something else that needs to be done. 

If we aren't careful, we can lose sight and miss out on the things that are truly "needful" in our lives. 

In this episode we'll look at the story of Mary and Martha and the Savior's counsel to Martha regarding choosing "the good part." 

Questions: 

1. What is something "needful" in your life that you feel like you should give more attention to? 

2. What can you do to make sure to get that "needful" thing done? 

3 Tips to Actually Accomplish Your "Needful" Thing:

1. Put it on the calendar - "What gets scheduled gets done." - Michael Hyatt

2. Enlist the help of those close to you

3. Define why you are doing it - connect to the emotions behind it

Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/041

When it comes to church organization, it seems like we all pretty much understand who the prophet is and what his role is. 

Same with the First Presidency. 

And the Quorum of the Twelve. 

But when it comes to the Seventy, it seems like a lot of people are a lot less sure about exactly who they are and what they do. 

So in today's episode, we are talking about the role of the Seventy, as well as answering some of the most common questions I've heard asked about the Seventy. 

Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/040