Stand with Lynnette

I have spent the past week thinking about things that don't make sense.

And, when I say "things that don't make sense," I mean questions that don't have easy answers and trials with no apparent ending.

I mean wrestling with counsel from prophets that does not seem to fit with our interpretation of following Jesus.

I mean physical, mental, and emotional challenges from which we have yet to find rest.

I mean paths the Lord inspires us to walk or even chooses for us that feel much too steep and well beyond our ability.

I mean roadblocks we encounter as we follow Him that seem to halt our progress again and again.

My thoughts have led me to the powerful lessons of Gethsemane and Golgotha. I believe understanding these events can forever change how we view our challenges and the suffering they sometimes create.

This Week's Shine Challenge:

Read Luke 22-23, which recounts the events of Gethsemane and Golgotha, and Jeffrey R. Holland's talk, "Lifted Up Upon the Cross." Imagine yourself as a character in the story. What would it have been like to witness those events? Would you have the faith to follow Him forever had you witnessed His sacrifice firsthand? Write your thoughts in your journal.

References:

1. Lifted Up upon the Cross: Jeffrey R. Holland

2. None Were With Him: Jeffrey R. Holland

P.S. Are you ready to STAND and start putting your faith into ACTION so you can have greater access to God's power? I have compiled a list of every invitation issued by our leaders during October 2022 General Conference, and it is now available for download. As you study and apply these invitations, you will reap the spiritual blessings attached to them. (Don't worry...I will show you how to do this without getting overwhelmed!) You can grab your free copy right here.

Abigail Miller is a military wife, a mother of two young girls, and a disciple of Christ. Navigating periods of inadequacy, doubt, worry, and fear has taught her that the gospel is simple and joyful.

As she focused on the basics of the gospel, Abigail found peace and hope amid her challenges. She also discovered that sharing the gospel need not be scary. It can be normal, natural, and fun.

Listen in to hear Abigail's simple and joyful journey of faith. It is sure to inspire you along your own journey to Jesus.

Follow Abigail on Instagram

Would you like to share your story of faith? Apply to be a guest on the podcast right here.

Are you ready to STAND and start putting your faith into ACTION so you can have greater access to God's power? I have compiled a list of every invitation issued by our leaders during October 2022 General Conference, and it is now available for download. As you study and apply these invitations, you will reap the spiritual blessings attached to them. (Don't worry...I will show you how to do this without getting overwhelmed!) You can grab your free copy right here.

When Andrea Ashford was seven years old, her parents were divorced, and her mom left the Church. She felt she had to choose between her mom and the Savior at that young age.

Even as a young girl, Andrea felt the magnitude of her choice. She chose to be baptized, even though her mom did not want that. Though it was difficult, that choice shaped her life and her view of covenants in beautiful ways.

Andrea explains, "My covenants give me the power to keep my covenants."

As Andrea shares her story, you will hear how her covenants have taught her about the Savior, His grace, and how to access His power every single day.

Follow Andrea on Instagram @andreaashfordd

Would you like to share your story of faith? Apply to be a guest on the podcast right here.

Want to join the STAND movement? You can start by downloading our manifesto: Covenant Women Who Stand. Read it and grab your free copy right here. You will also receive our weekly(ish) newsletter entitled 5 Quick Things.

Last weekend, I hiked the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim with my husband and son. The 23.5-mile trek was overflowing with miracles, both small and great. God's fingerprint was evident in every step of this journey.

In this episode, I will tell you about every miraculous event we witnessed, what it has taught me about seeing God's miracles on a daily basis, and how each of us can develop eyes to see the miracles God works on our behalf.

Want to join the STAND movement? You can start by downloading our manifesto: Covenant Women Who Stand. Read it and grab your free copy right here. You will also receive our weekly(ish) newsletter entitled 5 Quick Things.

References:

1. Russell M. Nelson. The Power of Spiritual Momentum. April 2022.

2. Russell M. Nelson. Overcome the World and Find Rest. October 2022.

P.S. I would love to start interviewing Latter-day Saint women from all walks of life about what it looks like to STAND with the Savior in their unique circumstances. We NEED your voice in our community! If you would like to be interviewed on the show, fill out this form.

In the New Testament, there is an account of a rich young ruler who was also a follower of the Master, Jesus Christ. He was already keeping the commandments but asked Jesus a question we would all do well to ponder: "What lack I yet?"

When we break that question down into two modern questions and take them to the Lord, He can open the windows of Heaven for us:

1. What is the number one most important thing I can stop doing that will most transform my life?

2. What is the number one most important thing I can start doing that will most transform my life?

I call this practice trading up, and in this episode, I will teach you why it matters and how to use it to unlock the power of God in your life.

This Week's Shine Challenge:

Ask the Lord the two questions above, record His answers, and make a plan to implement them.

Want to join the STAND movement? You can start by downloading our manifesto: Covenant Women Who Stand. Read it and grab your free copy right here. You will also receive our weekly newsletter: 5 Quick Things.

P.S. I would love to start interviewing Latter-day Saint women from all walks of life about what it looks like to STAND with the Savior in their unique circumstances. We NEED your voice in our community! If you would like to be interviewed on the show, fill out this form.

References:

1. What Lack I Yet? Larry R. Lawrence

2. Spiritual Treasures: Russell M. Nelson

3. We Can Do Better and Be Better: Russell M. Nelson

4. Eyes to See: Michelle Craig

5. A Framework for Personal Revelation: Dale G. Renlund

6. Give the Lord Your Loyalty: Spencer W. Kimball

General Conference was fantastic! But what good are inspired messages from God unless we take the time to study and apply them? The Spirit cannot teach us how those messages will fortify our faith or grant us the prophetic blessings attached to them when they are collecting dust on a shelf or tucked away, out of sight, in the Gospel Library app.

So, I ask you, my friend, how will you be different because of what you heard at General Conference? What did the Spirit teach you, and how will you apply what you learned?

In this episode, I share my top 6 takeaways from October 2022 General Conference with an invitation to GO and DO what the Lord, through His servants, inspired you to do.

This Week's Shine Challenge:

Ponder what you learned at General Conference and set one actionable goal to put what the Spirit taught you into action.

Want to join the STAND movement? You can start by downloading our manifesto: Covenant Women Who Stand. Read it and grab your free copy right here. You will also receive our weekly newsletter: 5 Quick Things

Nutritional recommendations are constantly changing, which makes it extremely difficult to determine what diet strategy is the "healthiest."

Low fat? Low carb? High protein? No grain? Low glycemic index? No dairy? Low calorie?

Which expert do we listen to when the experts do not agree?

But the Lord, who created our bodies and knows how best to care for them, tells us exactly what to eat and what to avoid in D&C Section 89.

The Word of Wisdom is not just a list of don'ts, but also a comprehensive list of do's. Listen in to hear about the Lord's plan of health which, in many ways, directly contradicts current nutritional recommendations.

This Week's Shine Challenge:

Prayerfully read Doctrine and Covenants 89 and see what specific and personal insight the Lord can share with you.

Want to join the STAND movement? You can start by downloading our manifesto: Covenant Women Who Stand. Read it and grab your free copy right here.

Listening to a recent interview with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, it hit me with great force that society has mixed up the order of the first two great commandments. Rather than loving God first, the world teaches that we should love ourselves first, then others, and maybe we will get to loving God.

To build sustainable faith, we need to get the order right. This episode will show you how.

This Week's Shine Challenge:

Pray to know how to put God first and then DO whatever He tells you.

Want to join the STAND movement? You can start by downloading our manifesto: Covenant Women Who Stand. Read it and grab your free copy right here.

References:

1. Church News Podcast: Episode 85: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Sister Patricia Holland, with guest host Sheri Dew, Part 2 — Becoming disciples of Jesus Christ

2. John Chapter 21

3. Jeffrey R. Holland. The First Great Commandment. October 2012

4. Jeffrey R. Holland. The Cost and Blessings of Discipleship. April 2014.

Four days ago, my 10-pound puppy was attacked by a coyote. Miraculously, he survived, for which we are grateful. But the experience has me thinking about spiritual coyotes that, as Nephi described, "leadeth [us] away carefully down to hell." (2 Nephi 28:21)

There is much we can do to arm ourselves against spiritual predators, and this episode will show you where to begin.

P.S. If you would benefit from a structured, supportive, incentivized program to help you conquer spiritual predators and securely bind yourself to the Lord, the Shine 40 Challenge is perfect for you. It is ONLY open for enrollment from now through midnight on Sunday, September 18. As an added bonus, you can invite a friend to participate with you for FREE, thus exponentially increasing your chances of success. Find out more and join the challenge right here.

Last week, I learned something that has changed how I see the temple garment

I learned that the English word atonement comes from the Hebrew word kaphar, which means to cover.

In learning this, my mind immediately went to the Garden of Eden. I thought of the coats of skins that the Lord made as a covering for Adam and Eve before He cast them out of the Garden.

Coverning = Atonement

In this episode, we will dive into the scriptures and find the deep symbolism behind the temple garment.

They are much more symbolic and significant than I ever imagined.

This Week's Shine Challenge:

Study Genesis chapter 3 and Moses chapters 4-5. Write down your insights and impressions about the temple garment.

If you would like a little help or motivation to JUMPSTART your spiritual habits, join me in the Shine 7 Challenge - a FREE 7-day challenge designed to help you gain MASSIVE spiritual momentum.

The challenge starts on September 8, 2022, at which time the doors will close. I don't know when the next challenge will be, so join now! (No cost. No risk. MASSIVE growth potential!)

Learn more and sign up here.

See you on the inside!