LDS Storytime

A short LDS Storytime episode, told in under three minutes.

What can happen when a faithful woman notices a need and acts?

Meet Carmen Galvez O’Donnal, a Guatemalan pioneer whose journey of faith led to a lifetime of service. After joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1948, Carmen helped new members understand the gospel and, alongside her husband, John, developed ideas that would influence the Church worldwide.

Their work included proposing a consolidated three-hour meeting schedule, developing simplified gospel lessons, and helping make local meetinghouses more accessible.

Her story reminds us that following Christ includes noticing others’ needs and taking action.

Source: “Pioneers in Guatemala,” Global Histories: Guatemala (2018), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/global-histories/guatemala/stories-of-faith/gt-01-pioneers-in-guatemala?lang=eng

Disclaimer: LDS Storytime is an independent project and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Episodes draw from published sources and historical records. Historical accounts, oral traditions, and personal recollections may vary. This episode reflects the account in the cited source and is intended to inspire, educate, and encourage further study.

A short LDS Storytime episode (told in under three minutes.)

How do you rescue nearly 60 people when your company begins a 340-mile journey with just 75 cents?

In 1846, Luman Andros Shurtliff joined a rescue effort to help Latter-day Saints who had been driven from Nauvoo and were sick and destitute along the Mississippi River. With barely enough food for the journey, help appeared again and again through people and circumstances along their path.

This story reminds us that God’s care can come through small, perfectly timed provisions, and through people willing to serve as Christ would.

Source: Wendy Top, “The Poorest of the Poor and the Sickest of the Sick,” BYU Religious Studies Center.

Disclaimer: LDS Storytime is an independent project and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Episodes draw from published sources and historical records. Historical accounts, oral traditions, and personal recollections may vary. This episode reflects the account in the cited source and is intended to inspire, educate, and encourage further study.

What happens when a group of Latter-day Saint missionaries in 1970s South Korea forms a band, and music becomes one of their most unexpected missionary tools?

This is the remarkable story of New Horizon, a missionary singing group that performed throughout Korea during a pivotal era in the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In this episode of LDS Storytime, we explore how New Horizon began, the missionaries who made it happen, their connection with the Tender Apples, and how music opened doors for conversations about the gospel.

You’ll also hear firsthand memories from Elder Lonnie Gunter, an original member of New Horizon, giving us a rare look at what it was actually like to be part of this unusual chapter of Latter-day Saint missionary history.

It’s a fascinating piece of global Church history, and a reminder that Jesus Christ can use our individual talents to help others hear His gospel and draw closer to Him.

SOURCES
• Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, Volume 4, Chapter 8.
• Personal correspondence with Lonnie Gunter, original member of New Horizon, shared with permission.

LDS Storytime shares remarkable stories of faith and Latter-day Saint history from around the world.

This is an independent project and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A young mother and her two small children were found underwater at the bottom of a hotel swimming pool in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. All three were blue and unresponsive, and security footage indicated they had been underwater for several minutes.

What followed was a remarkable chain of events involving two observant boys, a mother willing to dive into the pool, a retired police chief with lifesaving experience, first responders, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who came to help a family they had never met.

Mallory Spiller had suffered the first seizure of her life while swimming with her five-year-old daughter, Evie, and 18-month-old son, Reggie. Her husband, Jackson, suddenly faced the possibility of losing his family while stranded in another country, far from their usual support system.

What happened next raises a difficult question: Where is God when tragedy strikes?

In this episode of LDS Storytime, I share the Spiller family's remarkable story while exploring an even harder question: What about the times when the miracle doesn't come?

Faith in Jesus Christ does not protect us from every tragedy. But His Atonement and Resurrection promise that suffering, separation, and death will not have the final word.

This story is also a reminder that God frequently ministers to His children through other people. Sometimes the answer to “Where are You?” is someone who notices, acts, comforts, and helps carry a burden that has become too heavy to carry alone.

Follow LDS Storytime for more uplifting Latter-day Saint stories from around the world.

Sources: Michael Popove, “‘Mommy Sleeping in the Water’: Hero Recounts Rescue at Dawson Creek Hotel Pool That Saved Washington State Family,” CJDC-TV, August 12, 2026; a Church talk given by Lon Jacobson; and additional firsthand details shared through personal communication with Jackson Spiller.

Disclaimer: LDS Storytime is an independent project and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Stories are researched from published sources and historical records, with source citations provided in each podcast. Historical accounts, oral traditions, and personal recollections may vary. Each episode reflects the account presented in the cited sources and is intended to inspire, educate, and encourage further study.