A recent study by the Pew Research Center shared statistics that Latter-day Saint women are top of the charts when it comes to experiencing “a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being on a weekly basis.” We also report the “highest rate of being very happy.” To someone only paying attention to what media and popular culture might say, these statistics might be surprising. But we know why these numbers ring true: we live our faith daily and it really does bring us greater peace and happiness.  

Dr. Jenet Erickson, a fellow of the Wheatley Institute and a professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University, recently dove into these findings and is here to share what she learned. The real stories of Latter-day Saint women are ones of peace, power, and strength that shine brighter than any viral trend. We are women of conviction who love and serve God and each other with all of our hearts. 

Links:

Jenet's article in the Deseret News: Perspective: National data doesn't confirm popular distortions about Latter-day Saint women

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Lift Up Your Heart: A Magnify Gathering, October 25, 10am-4pm. Register today!

What does it mean to be “all in” the gospel of Jesus Christ? For nearly eight years, Morgan Jones Pearson has explored that very question in over 300 conversations with Latter-day Saints on the All In podcast. In this episode, Morgan joins the Magnify Podcast to reflect on what she’s learned from sitting across from people in the midst of heartbreak, healing, wrestles, and revelations. She also shares how her own discipleship has deepened as her life has changed over the years. Morgan is the host of the All In Podcast with LDS Living, a mom to two beautiful little girls, and a dear friend and force for good.

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We can all relate to being caught comparing ourselves to others, and then wading through the spiral of negative thinking that often goes with it.  Our goal on the podcast today is to remind ourselves that There’s a quiet kind of peace that comes when we recognize that we are enough because the Lord will magnify our efforts.

Krista Isaacson is a writer and teacher whose article on LDS Living prompted this discussion. Krista serves as a Gospel Library App User Awareness Missionary, loves her mountain bike named Breezy, and collects too many vintage children’s books. And she’s going to help us to realize that our “all” is enough! 

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Have you heard about Lift Up Your Heart? It's Magnify's event that is coming this fall, and Sharon Eubank is the keynote speaker. You won't want to miss it! It's a day to come and refuel your faith, renew your spirit, and remember who you are in Christ with other like-minded women.

We're so excited to hear from Sharon, so we wanted to play one of our favorite conversations with her to get us ready to hear more!

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Part of our mission at magnify is to be women who show their joy and magnify their love for the Savior. One way we can do this is by showing that the gospel is a joyful, happy thing for us—as Tammy Runia described it, “showing that eating the fruit is a joyful thing!” We’re excited to be a part of this gospel, let’s discuss the myriad of ways we can show our joy! 

In this episode, you will hear clips from the following episodes:

• Replacing Our Worry with Joy with Shima Baughman
• Joy Brings Us Mission and Purpose with Tammy Uzelac Hall
• Cultivating and Celebrating the Good with Natalie Hill Jensen

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One thing we all yearn for is a closer connection with the Savior. A question we might often find ourselves asking, “how do I recenter my life on Jesus?” It's a question that Patricia Holland also asked herself. And when she was pondering this question, she had this thought come into her mind, “You don’t have to worry over so many things. The one thing that is needful—the only thing that is truly needful—is to keep your eyes toward the sun—my Son.” Suddenly I had true peace. I knew that my life had always been in his hands—from the very beginning! The sea lying peacefully before my eyes had been tempest-tossed and dangerous—many, many times. All I needed to do was to renew my faith, and get a firm grasp on his hand—and together we could walk on the water.”

This true peace is the energy we all want! So let's remind ourselves how we can recenter our lives on the Savior. In this episode, we hear excerpts from past episodes from Carrie Skarda, Ashly Stone, and Kristin McQuivey.

• Listen to Carrie's Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magnify/id1643211858?i=1000662277532
• Listen to Ashly's Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magnify/id1643211858?i=1000685634339
• Listen to Kristin's episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magnify/id1643211858?i=1000680545117

“One Thing Needful” by Patricia Holland

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At this time of year, with the change in our routines, longer days, and more family around us, we might be feeling a desire to find out what is best to put our energy and focus into. Magnify's mission is to become more like the Savior and draw closer to Him, and today we wanted to remind ourselves that we can do this in any circumstance, and that can bring us the peace we are looking for. 

Patricia Holland said this, “After you have looked inward, I plead with you to look upward. The eyes that look down on yours will be those of your loving Father in Heaven who can, and will, bestow upon you all those things you hope for in righteousness. You can’t get these blessings by chasing them. Please stop running to the point of exhaustion. Be quiet; be still. Simplify.” The Lord loves effort! And when we make even small efforts to be closer to Him, we’ll find that He is there.  

Carrie's episode on stillness: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magnify/id1643211858?i=1000662277532

Whitney's episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magnify/id1643211858?i=1000673827823

Hilary's episode on contentment: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magnify/id1643211858?i=1000679741732

About a month ago, we had an event called Magnify Learning Together where author Melinda Brown shared some insights about the temple from her book An Endowment of Love, and something she said has been on our minds ever since: “I believe that when we see our covenant relationships as eternal principles of loving relationships, that it’s life-changing today—not just in some distant future.” 

This served as a reminder that the temple is important to our everyday lives. We might sometimes find ourselves simply going through the motions, feeling like we’re checking a box because it’ll matter in some distant, eternal future, but when we focus on how our relationships can be strengthened through our covenants, and placing the Savior at the center of our temple experience, that can transform us and help us see the temple with a fresh perspective—and  that matters today!

Did you miss the Magnify Learning Together Zoom or in-person event with Melinda Brown? You can watch it now on YouTube! Click the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w0rE_RzXLI

Also check out the Q&A from this event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpp__iIacPE

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In this special Magnify episode, you'll hear messages and reminders that will invigorate you to know that you are a key player in God's plan. And you're already exactly where he needs you! Sometimes it just takes a shift in perspective to see more of our divine purpose. As followers of Christ, we’re called to be His hands, speak up, and speak out, but how each of us does this will look different. As Patricia Holland said, "I am convinced of, and thrilled by, the thought that God has a will, a plan for me personally, and a plan for each and every one of you. I do believe deeply that God made each of us for an individually tailored and divine purpose. We each have a divine errand and therein lies our joy."

This episode features three stories from our past episodes. Two are names you know, and one is an ordinary, unknown woman just like all of us. All three are reminders that we are essential to God. And our unexpected, sometimes difficult, sometimes ordinary offerings can have real impact and bring us real joy.

Gaye Strathearn's episode, "How Mary Teaches Us that the Lord will Magnify Our Part"

Kaylen Nelson's episode, "Understanding Our Power, Purpose, and Potential in God's Kingdom"

Sharon Eubank's episode, "What it Takes to be an Everyday Humanitarian"

We hope this conversation will serve as a reminder to be more gentle with ourselves as we are letting the Savior mold us into who we need to be. That we don’t need to be in a rush to become better immediately, but that we can rest and find some calmness knowing we are a work in progress. In fact, this episode's guest calls it the "slow work of God."

Rachel Cope experienced a devastating medical crisis that has resulted in ongoing health struggles. And when she found out that her recovery would be a long road, Rachel tried to better understand how that slow work can become sacred. She looked to historical examples of women in Church history, which she writes about in her book The Slow Work of God. Rachel teaches Church History and Doctrine at BYU. She holds a PhD in American history with an emphasis in women’s history and religious history.

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