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This episode features Shawn interviewing return missionaries Caitlyn Sommers and his son, Evan Record, about the theme of shifting from trusting in oneself to putting trust in the Lord. The episode addresses the common missionary experience of realizing that personal talent and hard work are insufficient for gospel success.

Shawn posits that many missionaries have not truly needed to rely on God out of "true humility and brokenness and desperation". This self-reliance represents living the "law of works," which focuses on accomplishing goals independently, subconsciously rejecting the need for a Savior.

Caitlyn’s Experience: Caitlyn, who served in Santiago, Chile, realized nine months into her mission that she could not force people to be baptized, despite her history of achieving success through hard work (grades, sports, piano). After praying to learn how to trust the Lord, she was sent to a remote area with a companion who could not walk due to a physical illness. This forced Caitlyn, who preferred to "run everywhere," to stop relying on her speed and efforts.

Caitlyn learned that unity and love within the companionship, even with a struggling companion, brings the Spirit and leads to success and "miracle after miracle". She recounted a time when a lesson devolved into "bashing" and she felt powerless to stop it; she chose instead to offer a fervent, silent prayer. She realized that the Lord "can do it," and this experience solidified her identity as God’s daughter.

She shared the powerful story of Samuel, a quiet young man from a part-member family. After a sincere prayer, Samuel received an answer through a dream, confirming God's reality. He later told the missionaries that he was experiencing unprecedented happiness because he was keeping the commandments. After Samuel's baptism (which his anti-church mother attended), his family continued progressing, with both his father and mother eventually getting baptized a year later. Caitlyn concluded that true humility is confidence "in the Lord".

Evan’s Experience: Evan, an accomplished athlete and hard worker, also recognized he relied on his "own understanding". His moment came three months into his mission when he was called to be a trainer, despite feeling unprepared and not speaking Portuguese well. Facing a situation "out of [his] control," he turned to the Lord. He found direction in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding". Evan explains that the missionary purpose is to invite people to link their identity with Christ, making a covenant where one becomes a "new creature". This new confidence allows him to continue working, even if success isn't immediately visible, because he trusts the Lord.

They urge listeners to develop the habit of "daily humble, brokenhearted turning to God and asking for him to guide us" to attain the fullness of joy that comes from having a relationship with Him.

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This episode features Sister Megan Johnson, who discusses powerful principles related to revelation leading to conversion (Principle Two) and dealing with hard things (Principle Six). The podcast aims to help listeners prepare for their missions, find inspiration, and learn tools.

Megan Johnson is a BYU graduate studying mathematics education and is preparing for grad school. She served from March 2020 to October 2021 in the Louisiana Baton Rouge mission, having originally been called to the Spanish-speaking Argentina Resistencia mission.

Dealing with Hard Things (Principle Six)

Megan’s mission was significantly impacted by the "CO thing" (the worldwide pandemic). As a planner, she found the complete disruption of her plans—from going to the Mexico MTC to completing six weeks of online MTC at home learning Spanish for a mission she wouldn't attend—to be difficult. She also dealt with hurricanes while serving. At one point, facing release from her original assignment, she had a panic attack, feeling darkness and depression. During this crisis, she heard a distinct voice in her head saying, "You can do this," which calmed her anxieties.

She found profound peace when a friend texted her 2 Nephi 2:24: "But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things". This revelation, received through the power of the Holy Ghost, helped her trust that God had a plan, even if it differed from her own.

Revelation Leads to Conversion (Principle Two)

Shawn emphasizes that the singular purpose of missionaries is to lead God’s children to Jesus Christ, which is achieved through faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Revelation is the place to start this process. Shawn and Megan teach that scriptures and prayer are the two necessary components for seeking and receiving revelation.

Megan recounts that she initially never wanted to serve a mission. After choosing to pray sincerely about serving, she felt a powerful, "calm and peaceful and warm" confirmation that going on a mission was the right decision, even though it was not the answer she initially sought.

Regarding scripture study, Megan initially read the Book of Mormon like a "checklist," trying to understand "all the things all at once". Her companion wisely advised her to restart and focus on just one thing. Megan chose to focus on the core doctrine of Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, and enduring). By reading with this intent, she found that the book repeatedly preached this singular message, and the scriptures "came alive" for her. She made her study meaningful by applying verses she found daily, leading to immense joy and a stronger testimony.

Navigating Doubt and Mysteries

Megan, a science and math student, faced a faith crisis when confronted with the topic of evolution. Her companion and district leader asserted that believing in evolution and the Church were incompatible. Megan was "rocked" by the difficulty of reconciling scientific evidence with doctrinal understanding.

During a challenging week of searching, she found the scripture Alma 12:10, which speaks of receiving the "greater portion of the word" until one knows the "mysteries of God until he know them in full". This scripture did not provide a definitive answer on evolution, but through the Spirit, she realized that she could move forward with faith, knowing that she would eventually figure out the mysteries. This allowed her to "put her question on a shelf" and have confidence in the foundations of her existing testimony (prayer, Heavenly Father's love, and the truth of the Book of Mormon).

Megan encourages listeners preparing for missions to make their scripture study meaningful and personal, suggesting that they always start with a sincer

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This episode of the Mission Stories Podcast features the experience of Elder Sa'ne Thompson, who recently returned home after serving a two-year mission in Angola, Luanda, Africa. He has been home for just two weeks.

The episode focuses primarily on the urgency of missionary work, with a specific emphasis on the principle that revelation leads to conversion.

The Angola Mission, located on the southwest coast of Africa, is a relatively new mission, having opened in 2011. The field is described as an "exciting environment" where the work is vast; Thompson reported that his mission baptizes at least 200 people a month mission-wide. However, the organizational structure is young, with only two stakes in the entire country when Thompson arrived (the second was formed right after he got there) and few organized wards. Most groups were branches or districts.

Thompson emphasized the "wide-open" nature of the work, noting that he often helped open new provinces (states) where people would stare at the missionaries because the church was strange and new to them. Many people in these areas had never even seen or heard of the Book of Mormon.

The Scope of the Work Shawn highlighted the sheer amount of work remaining, noting that only 2.05% of Americans are members of the Church of Jesus Christ, and only .22% of the world has received the restored gospel. He used the context of Angola to motivate listeners, stressing that missionaries are participating in the "great sacred work" of gathering Israel, which feels akin to the experiences of early prophets and saints.

Stories of Faith and Conversion Thompson shared marvelous stories demonstrating simple faith leading to conversion:

1. Papa Alu: A pastor who had bounced between various churches due to different problems. Seeking to know which church was true, he performed an intensive 40-day fast, sleeping outside. He received a dream showing a yellow building and three missionaries (two white, one black) holding a book. He found this exact group, and the building, on the day the group was being established as a branch. He was taught remotely and became a strong, solid member, later called as the first local branch president.
2. The Grandma: An older woman (pushing 70-80) with simple faith who often beat the missionaries to church. She wanted to know if the Book of Mormon was true, so she said a prayer, placed the book under her pillow, and received a spiritual dream.
3. Malange Province: While opening this new province, a child of a member handed a flyer to the local police commander. The commander was converted and later helped missionary efforts extensively; within four or five months, his entire street had been baptized into the Church.

Conversion vs. Numbers: They discussed the critical difference between focusing on baptism numbers and achieving true conversion. Elder Thompson realized that missionaries must teach converts to rely on the Word of God or other members, rather than making them dependent on the missionary relationship, which could cause them to leave when the missionary transferred.

Elder Thompson found that his most effective teaching focused on repentance—not merely baptism. By focusing on repentance as a daily process of growing and overcoming the natural man, he found he could better inspire people to accept the gospel and ultimately lead them to Christ. Shawn concluded the episode by echoing this call for listeners and missionaries to humbly repent, emphasizing that this is the path to coming to Christ.

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This episode features Returned Missionary Taylor Judd, who served in the Paraguay Asunción Mission. Shawn warmly welcomes Taylor, noting their long-standing friendship, though he humorously calls her to "repentance" for taking so long to appear on the podcast.

Taylor served for eight months and is preparing to attend Utah State for nursing school. She shares unique details about her mission area, noting that Paraguay is landlocked, bordering Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. While Spanish is spoken, everyone also speaks the indigenous language Guaraní (Guadana/Guadin), which is completely unlike Spanish.

The Power in the Word of God

The central theme of the episode is Principle number four: "The word of God answers every question". Shawn emphasizes that the scriptures are the most important tool a missionary can use, containing a "secret" and a power beyond mere knowledge that leads souls to Christ.

Taylor admits that before her mission, she read the scriptures but was merely "putting a lot of information in my head" and never felt an "overwhelming spirit and joy" or was "astonished". Her mission experience transformed this perspective.

In her first transfer, her mission president challenged her to read the entire Book of Mormon in Spanish in under three months, despite her limited understanding of the language. She met the goal, but upon reporting, the president told her she needed to read it again, stressing that she had to "apply what you're reading" and truly understand it—a process Shawn likened to feasting upon the words of Christ (2 Nephi 32). During this deeper study, Taylor found that she felt "so much power from that book" and "so much peace". She recognized that the scriptures bring a "sweet spirit" that invites peace and joy during hard times.

Witnessing the Living Water

Taylor shared the remarkable conversion story of the family of Asusa, Rosio, and Cerillo. After feeling an impression to stop at their house and clapping on the door, they met 14-year-old Asusa and her mother, Rosio, who was a content Catholic and initially uninterested. The missionaries faced many obstacles, including the family hiding from them and having the wrong contact number.

Despite expectations that men in Paraguay would be less interested, the father, Cerillo, became the most deeply interested. Because the family was "so invested," the missionaries visited every single day. Cerillo would routinely be sitting outside with his Book of Mormon, which was heavily marked up with questions and bookmarks. He told the missionaries his life was "different now" and that he could not "deny the blessings" and positive changes in his family resulting from reading the Book of Mormon, praying, and going to church. Taylor realized his interest came from the power he felt, not just the information. Shawn emphasized that Cerillo was discovering the "living water" found in Christ's words, much like the Samaritan woman at the well.

The entire family eventually got baptized. Taylor was transferred before the daughter and father were baptized, but she received permission to return for Rosio’s baptism. Seeing them caused her to cry with intense joy, confirming that seeing others discover the gospel keeps one's own testimony "going and growing".

Final Counsel

Shawn and Taylor discussed how the power in the scriptures, delivered through the Holy Ghost, transforms hearts, citing examples like the astonishment of listeners when Christ spoke, Joseph Smith reading James 1:5, and the disciples on the road to Emmaus whose hearts burned as the Savior quoted scripture.

Taylor advised preparing missionaries to study the Book of Mormon, calling it the "cornerstone of our religion" and the book that sets the Church apart. Shawn concluded that coming to Christ or leading som

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This episode features Elder Chase Lindsey, who is preparing to depart for the Scotland Ireland mission. Shawn and Chase share a unique connection rooted in their enthusiasm and faith, seeing themselves as "brothers in Christ". Their initial spark of friendship four years prior involved a debate over favorite bands and music, a playful rivalry that still persists concerning Rush, U2, and the Pogues.

The core theme of the episode is an expansion of Principle number one: "Choose ye this day again and again". This focus was inspired by recent events, including Elder Brown’s talk in General Conference.

The Fire of Faith and Constant Choice

They discuss how agency—the power to discern and choose between right and wrong—requires constant exertion. Chase uses the powerful analogy of faith as a fire. While the fire requires a spark (the initial choice) and air (God’s power/providence), it requires fuel—our daily choices—to burn brighter. Without constantly adding fuel, faith "recedes," "starts becoming ashes," and is no longer a fire.

The emphasis on choosing "again and again" is essential because of mortality; the "hot all the time" zone doesn't exist, even for inspired leaders. Everyone needs to re-choose and recommit. Elder Brown pleaded for listeners to "take charge of your testimony", while Elder Bednar stressed that repentance must be done "over and over again with real intent". Just as Samuel the Lamanite had to make a choice of faith with "every single step up that wall," we must daily choose righteousness. Repentance is not a one-time event; it is a daily, constant process.

Three Key Commitments

Chase shared three specific choices he has committed to making over and over again:

1. Deliberately Partaking of the Sacrament: Chase strives to view the sacrament as an altar, recognizing the suffering and death of the Savior. This deliberate choice fosters godly sorrow, which "worketh repentance to salvation". By making this choice weekly, we renew covenants and allow our sins, though "red as scarlet," to become "white as wool".

2. Surrounding Yourself with the Right People: Chase notes this is a "constant day-to-day decision". He values surrounding himself with "good Christlike people", particularly those in mission prep classes and his friend, Izzy Bueler. Izzy is cited as an example of consistently choosing to go to the temple and feasting upon the words of Christ. This choice fosters camaraderie and knits hearts together in unity and love.

3. Scripture Study and Journaling: (Briefly mentioned as an important commitment).

The episode concludes with the encouragement that as Chase serves his mission, he should follow the instruction to serve with all his "heart, might, mind, and strength," a commitment that will guarantee joy and success.

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This episode features guest Mandy Malm, a recently returned missionary who served in Riverside, California, speaking Spanish. The episode focuses on Principle Number 6: "You Can't Bring Me Down," which explores how developing an identity rooted in Christ enables individuals and Missionaries to overcome life's most challenging experiences. 

Shawn opens the discussion by sharing the origin of the episode's title, recounting a high school hazing experience where he was squeezed into a trash can by seniors. In that moment of humiliation, he chose not to let the experience "bring me down," drawing inspiration from an empowering thrash metal song. He asserts that this choice to respond positively to adversity serves as a life lesson.

The conversation establishes a spectrum of "hard" experiences, ranging from the relatable disappointments of mission life—such as investigators canceling baptisms or companions ghosting appointments—to more profound suffering. Mandy is introduced as someone who dealt with profound hardship: the passing of her mother exactly two months before she left for her mission.

Mandy's Journey and the Power of Identity Mandy shares that her mother fought cancer for many years, beginning when Mandy was 11. Throughout her youth, Mandy identified herself primarily through worldly roles such as "the optimistic one," a singer, a soccer player, or her mother's "nurse". The principle discussed is that while these identities are good, they lack the power to sustain a person through truly heavy, life-shattering events, like the loss of a parent.

The discussion emphasizes the necessity of grounding one's identity in the fact that they are a child of God, citing the example of Moses resisting temptation because he internalized the message, "Moses, my son".

A Near-Death Spiritual Experience Mandy recounts a terrifying experience that happened two weeks after her mother's death:

• While staying at a friend's house, Mandy woke up paralyzed and unable to move or breathe, feeling an overwhelming, intense darkness surrounding her.

• She felt certain she was going to die and offered a desperate prayer.

• Her sister woke up and told her she had to "raise your arm to the square and say, 'In the name of Jesus Christ, like be gone or go away'".

• Upon raising her arm and commanding the presence to leave in Christ's name, Mandy immediately felt a "rush of light and of the spirit" and could move and breathe again.

• Mandy stated this experience taught her that she could overcome anything completely by relying on Jesus Christ, who came for her because he is her brother.

The Virtue of the Word of God and Service Shawn recounts his own harrowing missionary story in Ukraine in 1995, where he and his companion were kidnapped by the Russian mafia. Instead of fighting or jumping out the window, Shawn remembered his identity as a servant of Christ. He applied the principle from Alma 31:5 that the "preaching of the word of God had a more powerful effect to change the hearts and the minds" than any weapon. By non-stop preaching the gospel and eternal families, he filled the vehicle with the Spirit, completely confounding the kidnappers, who abandoned their intent to harm them.

Mandy also shares a story about teaching the Atonement using a visual aid:

• She and her companion taught an investigator named Javier Arias, who had throat and mouth cancer and struggled to speak.

• They used an original nail from Joseph Smith and Emma Smith's house (given to her companion, Sami, while she served as a historic site missionary) to represent the suffering of Christ.

• They also used water to represent blood and a stone to symbolize the resurrection, helping Javier connect deeply with the Aton

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This episode features Shawn speaking with three preparing missionaries: Avery (Philippines Cavite, Tagalog speaking), Grace (Boston, Massachusetts, Spanish speaking), and Olivia (Texas Houston East, Spanish speaking; Grace and Olivia are twin sisters). A

Shawn emphasizes that this episode is valuable because the guests' journey—moving from passive participation to active faith—is a common experience. The conversation centers on the crucial transition from passively making decisions (like attending Sacrament meeting because it is expected, or doing things like a "blind faith sheep") to actively owning one's choices. The guests acknowledged that, as children, their approach to faith was often described as "lukewarm".

The missionaries detail their individual paths to serving: Avery's choice was active despite initial conflict; Grace's initial decision was passive (due to her patriarchal blessing), though her preparation became active; and Olivia's decision was passive, influenced by the peer activity surrounding mission calls at BYU.

The "Freakout" and Seeking Answers A critical segment focuses on the collective "freakout" moment they experienced as they confronted the reality of their missions:

• Avery panicked when non-LDS friends and coworkers asked difficult questions about the gospel, anti-Church misconceptions, and history that she could not answer, highlighting a lack of necessary knowledge despite her faith.

• Grace questioned the purpose of the Church after seeing external claims of happiness without the gospel and struggled specifically with questions about women and the priesthood.

• Olivia became anxious during her endowment interview, finding aspects of the temple ceremony "not normal" and "weird," leading her to worry about teaching doctrines she didn't fully believe.

Shawn encourages responding to these doubts by actively seeking answers through "feasting upon the words of Christ" and prayer. Grace shared a powerful experience where, after accepting the challenge to read scriptures for two hours daily and praying for a desire to serve, she immediately felt an "overwhelming, crazy feeling of joy and peace". Olivia's personal concerns were alleviated when she had a chance to teach the gospel and discuss these hard topics (like polygamy, Freemasonry, and the priesthood) with a struggling friend, realizing that serving others helped her understand her own struggles.

Tackling Hard Topics The conversation dives into several challenging topics:

• Ceremony and the "Cult" Comment: Olivia's perception that the temple felt "cult-like" is addressed by comparing temple ceremony and ritual to common societal rituals, such as high school graduation (which involves "square hats," "robes," and symbolic actions like moving a tassel). Avery insightfully argues that ritual and symbolism are universal methods of storytelling and teaching that ensure the message is received universally across all times and cultures.

• Freemasonry and Temple Ordinances: They discuss concerns that Joseph Smith may have "stolen" from Freemasonry. Shawn explains that, similar to Moses using contemporary symbols (the serpent and the staff) to teach faith in Christ, Joseph Smith used familiar organizational elements (like signs and handshakes) to establish revealed covenants, highlighting human participation in the divine process (similar to the Brother of Jared bringing stones to be touched by the Lord).

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This episode features Shawn and Lauren emphasizing that the ultimate mission of the church is not just salvation, but the celestial kingdom and exaltation.

The core principle discussed is that the temple is "more imperative than the mission". While missionary work is vital, the eternal perspective places a greater focus on what individuals will do in the temple for their own souls. The hosts note that church culture often prioritizes mission preparation over temple preparation, partly due to the sacred nature of the temple making it less openly discussed.

The episode delves into the profound difference between:

• Salvation: Defined by overcoming the "great dilemma." This dilemma arises from two eternal laws: "no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God", and "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God". Without divine intervention, this means no one can return to God's presence. Jesus Christ provides the "good news" (the meaning of "gospel") to overcome this. Salvation is achieved through faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, leading to being "at one" with God again, overcoming both physical and spiritual death (separation). Salvation is a gift available to all who accept Christ, even those who inherit terrestrial or telestial kingdoms.

• Exaltation: This is a distinct and higher goal than salvation, directly tied to the temple. It cannot be achieved without the ordinances and covenants of the temple, specifically five additional covenants received during the endowment, and ultimately, the sealing covenant. Exaltation is defined by the "continuation of lives," "eternal lives," and "glory added upon their heads forever and ever". This means progressing to become like God by becoming a creator and continuing to create life, not just for oneself but also for one's posterity.

The episode encourages missionaries and members to focus on preparing for and understanding temple covenants as the most effective way to prepare for a mission and to help others embark on their own path to exaltation. The joy of missionary work, they conclude, comes from sharing this "good news" and helping others make covenants that lead to this ultimate potential as children of God.

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This episode, titled "The Joseph Smith Episode," features Shawn and Lauren , aiming to prepare listeners for missions and discuss the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The episode delves into two core principles through the lens of Joseph Smith's First Vision story (specifically the first 15 verses of his history):

• Principle 1: Deliberately choosing how you serve. This highlights the importance of being "hot" or "cold" rather than "lukewarm," drawing on Revelation 3:15-17. Joseph Smith, at 14, exemplified this by actively questioning "Who of all these parties are right?" instead of passively following his family into the Presbyterian faith, demonstrating he "wasn't a sheep". The hosts contrast this with a modern tendency towards "passive acceptance of truth," often influenced by social media.

• Principle 2: Revelation as the only way to sufficient faith. This faith leads to repentance, covenants, and receiving the Holy Ghost. Joseph's experience with James 1:5 ("If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God") illustrates God's "exact formula" or "experiment" for discovering truth. The scripture "entered with great force into every feeling of my heart," which Lauren identifies as the Holy Ghost.

Key takeaways from Joseph's story and its application include:

• Sincere desire and diligent action: The "experiment" involves "feasting upon the words of Christ and praying" with intention and pondering, as mere blind reading is insufficient. Lauren shared a story of an investigator whose "desire was to feel the Holy Ghost," leading her to diligently read and pray until she recognized the Spirit and saw her own journey reflected in Joseph's.

• Opposition to truth: Joseph's encounter with a "thick darkness" that bound his tongue is presented as Satan's direct opposition to his quest for truth. This relates to modern challenges faced by those seeking to draw closer to God.

• The power of the Holy Ghost: While Joseph saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, the episode emphasizes that the "brightness and glory [that] defy all description" which convinced him of the truth was the Holy Ghost. Missionaries must help others discern this spiritual witness, as demonstrated by the tragic story of Baghdan who left the church expecting physical manifestations rather than recognizing the Spirit.

The episode concludes by urging listeners to engage in a "relentless pursuit" of truth, not allowing discomfort or circumstances to dim their desire, and to serve God with "all your heart, might, mind, and strength," just as Joseph Smith did. By following Joseph's process, individuals can receive personal revelation and find joy on the path of conversion to Christ.

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In this call-back episode Shawn speaks with Sister Lauren Hendricks shortly after her return from her mission, highlighting her struggle to find purpose post-mission. The episode's central principle is "The Word of God Answers Every Question," emphasizing that while scriptures may not give specific details, they provide principles that lead to answers for all of life's questions.

Key takeaways from the discussion include:

• The Holy Ghost's Role: When scriptures are used, the Holy Ghost is present to confirm the truth, carrying it directly to the heart. Lauren asserts that the "most powerful tool in conversion is the spirit combined with scriptures".

• Missionary Purpose: Missionaries are not meant to persuade with their own words but to deliver scriptures, inspire others to read them, and help them recognize the Holy Ghost they feel.

• Scriptural Power in Practice:

    ◦ The host recounts having a pregnant investigator read Moroni 8:7-12 about infant baptism; the woman cried, saying, "I know that's true" because she felt the Holy Ghost, demonstrating the power of scripture over articulate words.

    ◦ Lauren shared how Alma 31:5 initially scared her due to her lack of scriptural knowledge, but daily personal study enabled the Spirit to bring relevant scriptures to mind, making her an "instrument in the hands of the Lord".

    ◦ She also shared the story of Edwin, a young father grieving his wife's passing, who "fell in love with the Book of Mormon". By reading chapters on the Plan of Salvation, he gained a witness of God's perfect plan, finding peace and eventually being baptized.

• Dedication to Study: The episode stresses that the "difference between good and great missionaries" is a "full hour of personal study". This consistent effort to "feast upon the word of Christ" allows missionaries to invite the Spirit into every interaction.

• Transformation: The host praises Lauren's transformation from a "punk kid" to a "converted disciple of Christ" in 18 months, attributing it to her decision to serve and "feast upon the words of Christ". The episode encourages missionaries, especially those learning new languages, to "Give the loaves and the fishes"—do what they can, and the Lord will magnify their efforts through the power of the scriptures.