LDS Podcast "Latter-Day Lights" - Inspirational LDS Stories

What if reading the scriptures could become an experience as sacred and personal as attending the temple?

In this week's episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with Rosalynde Welch, a research fellow at BYU's Maxwell Institute and co-author of Seven Visions: Images of Christ in the Doctrine and Covenants, to explore how slowing down and studying the scriptures more deeply can transform our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Growing up in a home where scripture study was a way of life, Rosalynde developed a love for the scriptures that eventually led her into a world of scholarly study and spiritual discovery. Through years of collaboration with fellow scholar Adam Miller, she began uncovering powerful new perspectives on the Savior, including how His greatest moments of divine power were often revealed through vulnerability, humility, and love.

Rosalynde shares why she believes the scriptures can become a sacred meeting place with God, how studying with others can open our eyes to truths we might otherwise miss, and simple ways we can breathe new life into our own scripture study.

Her message is a beautiful reminder that the Savior isn't just someone we read about in the scriptures. He's someone we can come to know through them.

Join us for an uplifting conversation about discovering Christ in familiar passages, finding deeper meaning in God's word, and learning to recognize His presence in our everyday lives.

*** Please hit SUBSCRIBE to get our latest episodes, and hit the SHARE button to help us share Rosalynde's story and light with others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/2kYSp04hWx4

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To READ Roslynde's book "Seven Visions: Images of Christ in the Doctrine and Covenants” visit: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Visions-Images-Doctrine-Covenants/dp/1639933395

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To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

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Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

#LDSPodcast #ChristianStories #LatterDayLights

What if the encounters of people we meet have a greater purpose than we realize?

In this week's episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with author Russell Scott Allred to explore how seemingly random encounters, small acts of kindness, and unexpected experiences can change the course of our lives in ways we may never fully understand.

From losing his father while serving a mission in Brazil to witnessing remarkable transformations while serving in a prison ward, Russell shares powerful experiences that taught him about God's love, the healing power of Jesus Christ, and the eternal connections that bind us together.

He also shares the inspiration behind his novel, Passing in the Fog, and how a lifetime of experiences led him to wonder whether the people we meet—and even the people we almost meet—might have a greater purpose in God's plan.

Through his stories, Russell reminds us that we may never know the full impact of a kind word, a helping hand, or a seemingly insignificant moment. But sometimes, those little moments can change a life forever.

*** Please hit SUBSCRIBE to get our latest episodes, and hit the SHARE button to help us share Russell's story and light with others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/eFsoEydri6k

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To READ Russell’s book, “Passing in the Fog,” visit: https://amzn.in/d/0bnm1XW2

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To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

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Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

What happens when you leave the faith of your childhood behind—only to discover it again decades later?

In this episode of Latter-Day Lights, Philip Graehl shares how he went from growing up as a member of the Church without much personal faith of his own, to developing a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ and the restored gospel later in life.

After building a successful career as an orthopedic surgeon, Philip realized something was still missing. That search led him first to the New Testament, then to the Book of Mormon, and eventually back to active participation in the Church. Along the way, he also learned how to deepen his own faith while loving and respecting family members whose spiritual journeys have taken a different path.

Through repentance, spiritual experiences, family trials, and years of learning how to balance conviction with love, Philip came to see that faith isn’t about having a perfect life—it’s about continuing to turn toward Christ when life gets messy.

He also shares the inspiration behind his book, We Believe, which he wrote as an “olive branch” for Christians and others who may be curious about the beliefs of Latter-day Saints and willing to take a closer look.

*** Please hit SUBSCRIBE to get our latest episodes, and hit the SHARE button to help us share Phillip's story and light with others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/F_VYLAUL7vs

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To READ Phillip's book "We Believe", visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GPGL17P3

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To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

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Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

#LDSPodcast #ChristianStories #LatterDayLights

What happens when we use our God-given talents to help others draw closer to Christ?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with Praiseworthy award-winning songwriter, doctor, and lifelong musician Wayne Burton, who shares how his love for music grew into a decades-long ministry of faith.

From writing his first spiritual songs while serving a mission, to creating music inspired by General Conference messages and sharing youth songs in 26 different languages, Wayne reflects on the experiences that taught him to recognize God’s hand in his creative journey.

 Wayne also shares the inspiration behind his song “God of All,” the powerful reminder that every person we encounter is a child of God, as well as his current project, “Provide a Way”—a musical created with Blake Gillette that brings stories from the Book of Mormon to the stage.

Through songwriting, collaboration, and years of sharing his testimony through music, Wayne offers an uplifting perspective on using our individual gifts to serve others, see them through Heavenly Father’s eyes, and ultimately bring them closer to the Savior.

*** Please hit SUBSCRIBE to get our latest episodes, and hit the SHARE button to help us share Wayne's story and light with others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/oRaWztEUSW8

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To LEARN MORE about Wayne’s music, visit: https://wayneburton.com/

To LEARN MORE about Wayne’s Book of Mormon Musical, “Provide a Way,” visit: https://provideawaymusical.com/

To LISTEN to Wayne’s music on Spotify, visit: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0sgU2jikLLV3Un04cUfJ4B?si=u8Rp3o-bQdOrJFWYHF8msA

To LISTEN to “God of All” by Wayne Burton and Hanna Eyre, visit: https://open.spotify.com/track/2a2dAgl0ffVdAW4bwZhk0K

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To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

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Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

What does it look like to keep moving toward Jesus when life takes you through unexpected trials, questions, and detours?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with husband-and-wife author duo, Aaron and Julie Bujnowski, who share how their own journey of faith inspired them to write their two books, “Navigating to Jesus,” and “Discovering Your Temple Insights.”

While “Navigating to Jesus” offers a Christ-centered pattern for finding direction through uncertainty and life’s challenges, “Discovering Your Temple Insights” helps readers approach Temple worship with greater preparation and purpose—learning not just about the Temple, but how to receive personal revelations from it as well.

From Julie’s conversion and battle with breast cancer, to the spiritual impressions that guided them through difficult decisions, Aaron and Julie reflect on how small acts of faith have continually pointed them back to the Savior. They also share practical ways to make Temple worship more meaningful, recognize God’s guidance through adversity, and hold onto the covenants that bind us to Christ.

Ultimately, they remind us that even when the path isn’t straight, keeping our eyes on Jesus can help us find peace and direction along the way.

*** Please hit SUBSCRIBE to get our latest episodes, and hit the SHARE button to help us share Aaron & Julie's story and light with others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/RTE1ybRBXq0

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To READ “Discovering Your Temple Insights,” visit: https://www.temple-insights.com/

To READ “Navigating to Jesus,” visit: https://www.cedarfort.com/products/navigating-to-jesus-a-journey-of-faith?srsltid=AfmBOooEQg-9yW16fV1fwl5Dgr5AJtOQQzJHfxOQX8AhpgPNIf3bhK0S

To LEARN MORE & REGISTER for Julie’s women’s conference, "Faithful and Loved," visit: https://www.usswawomensconference.com

To LEARN MORE about Aaron’s work, visit: https://www.aaronbujnowski.com/

To LEARN MORE about Julie’s work, visit: https://www.juliebujnowski.com/

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To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

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Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

What can we discover about ourselves when we take the time to uncover the stories of those who came before us?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with author Vally Mulford, who shares how a simple desire to preserve his parents’ story grew into a remarkable journey through generations of family history.

 While researching his book, “40 Miles to Happy,” Vally uncovered stories of sacrifice, resilience, and faith—from an orphaned girl crossing the Atlantic alone, to pioneer women enduring loss, displacement, and the hardships of frontier life.

Through these discoveries, Vally developed a deep connection with the quiet heroes in his family tree, particularly the women whose strength and devotion often went unrecorded. His experience offers a powerful reminder that every life holds a story worth preserving, and that learning about our ancestors can deepen our appreciation for the faith, courage, and sacrifices that shaped who we are today.

*** Please hit SUBSCRIBE to get our latest episodes, and hit the SHARE button to help us share Vally's story and light with others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/tk3_3WFMlqg

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To READ Vally’s book, “40 Miles to Happy,” visit: https://vallymulford.com/books/40-miles-to-happy-the-love-story-of-a-rancher-and-his-wife

To LEARN MORE about Vally’s work, visit: https://vallymulford.com/

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To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

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Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

What happens when you’re willing to give up a dream for God, only for Him to show you a way to pursue it after all?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with composer and music producer Kristina Bishoff, to share how her struggle to balance motherhood with her passion for music brought her to a crossroads.

Ready to set aside her career to focus on raising her children, Kristina instead received unexpected inspiration that led her to create an ambitious soundtrack for the Green Rider fantasy book series, and discover that God had a different plan for her gifts.

From composing fantasy soundtracks to creating music about our Heavenly Parents, Kristina shares how surrendering her plans to God opened doors she never could have imagined. Her journey is a powerful reminder that when we place our dreams and talents in God’s hands, He can reshape them into something even greater.

*** Please hit SUBSCRIBE to get our latest episodes, and hit the SHARE button to help us share Kristina's story and light with others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/dNn2Mli-A1k 

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To LISTEN to Kristina’s music, visit: https://www.kristinaabishoff.com/

To LEARN MORE about “The Divine Project,” visit: https://www.kristinaabishoff.com/divine-project

To READ “The Green Rider” series by Kristen Britain, visit: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/AY1/green-rider/

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To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

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Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

What happens when one small daily commitment turns into years of sacrifice, faith, and unexpected miracles?

Brian Walker joins us to share the remarkable story behind his time-lapse video documenting the construction of the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple. What began as a simple idea to take one photo each day became a four-year commitment that kept the temple at the center of his life.

Along the way, Brian experienced plenty of challenges—and plenty of miracles.

From sharing the gospel with people who approached him while he photographed the temple to witnessing lives changed and feeling guided to be in the right place at the right time, Brian discovered that using our talents in the service of the Lord can open doors we never expected.

His thousands of photographs are more than a record of a building being constructed—they are a testimony of faith, sacrifice, temple worship, and the blessings that can come when we dedicate our talents to the Lord.

*** Please hit SUBSCRIBE to get our latest episodes, and hit the SHARE button to help us share Brian's story and light with others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/UW8x_zPGuJk

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To WATCH Brian's time-lapse video of the building of the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sZlCvr4tYI

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To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

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Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

#LDSPodcast #ChristianStories #LatterDayLights

What if the stories we create can help us better understand our own trials, and even change the way we see those who are different from us?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with fantasy author and Praiseworthy Award winner Christie Valentine Powell, who shares how her lifelong love of storytelling became an unexpected way to process grief, prejudice, and judgment. Through writing her book series “The Centaur Choice,” Christie drew from her own experiences with loss while exploring characters on opposing sides of conflict, ultimately challenging the “us versus them” mentality she once carried.

Christie also shares her journey from childhood storyteller to author of more than 20 books, along with the lessons she’s learned through writing and self-publishing, and how studying story structure has deepened her understanding of God’s role in our lives.

Ultimately, Christie’s story is a beautiful reminder that God is the author of our lives, that our tribulations can help shape us into who He wants us to become, and that seeing others as His children can help us move beyond judgment and find greater love and understanding.

*** Please hit SUBSCRIBE to get our latest episodes, and hit the SHARE button to help us share Christie's story and light with others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/pQZdRx7XMRk

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To READ Christie’s Praiseworthy Award-Winning book series, “The Centaur Choice,” visit: https://a.co/d/04JvixPU

To LEARN MORE about Christie’s work, visit: https://www.thespectrabooks.com/

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To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

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Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

What if some of the things we do to strengthen our faith are actually getting in the way of truly connecting with Jesus Christ?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott sits down with longtime Seminary and Institute teacher and author John Bushman to explore the message behind his book, “King Before Kingdom.” John shares how even well-intentioned Latter-day Saints can fall into a checklist mentality—measuring faith by how well we keep the commandments, attend church, read the scriptures, or fulfill expectations—while unintentionally losing sight of the Savior at the center of it all.

Through eye-opening insights about grace, conversion, the sacrament, the Atonement, priesthood, and worship, John invites us to rethink some familiar ideas and language within Church culture. His message is a powerful reminder that the gospel isn't about earning our way to heaven—it's about seeking, trusting, and following Jesus Christ. When we put the King before the kingdom, our relationship with both can begin to change.

*** Please hit SUBSCRIBE to get our latest episodes, and hit the SHARE button to help us share John's story and light with others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/hPB-DLdRspo

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To LEARN MORE about John’s work, visit: https://www.johnbushman.com/

To READ John’s book, “King Before Kingdom,” visit: https://a.co/d/0b6ci5aD

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To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

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Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.