Still Rowing Podcast

With marriage rates decreasing and many people choosing alternatives to traditional marriage, it is becoming an increasingly fragile institution. Further burdening marriage is the toxic cultural narrative around what romantic relationships should look like and provide individuals - making it difficult for couples to achieve the unrealistic romantic ideal the media perpetuates. Under such pressures, the idea of a thriving eternal marriage feels more and more illusive and impossible to achieve. In this episode, therapist Dr. Ty Mansfield rejoins host Tara McCausland to discuss love, marriage, and how to nurture marital sexual intimacy through an elevated gospel lens which teaches us that marriage is intended to be far more than a utility, meet-my-needs relationship; it is a covenant partnership which at its core is a school of love, providing a context for growth, for true intimate connection, and preparing us to become more like God. Ty shares many helpful and practical insights as to how to nurture sexual intimacy in marriage and how this too helps draw husband and wife closer together and closer to the Divine. Looking for some gospel-aligned resources on this subject? Here are some talks and books to get you started. Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments - Jeffrey R. Holland4 Truths of Love and Marriage - Wendy NelsonNurturing Marriage (General Conference April 2006)- Russell M. NelsonTy's list of suggested books:Sexual Wholeness in Marriage - Dean M. Busby, Jason Carroll, Chelom LeavittAnd They Were Not Ashamed - Laura BrothersonA Celebration of Sex - Douglas RosenauThe Act of Marriage - Tim and Beverly LaHayeSex Begins in the Kitchen - Kevin LemanSacred Sex - Tim Alan GardenerIntimacy & Desire - David Schnarch

Passionate, romantic love has become a kind of idol worship in our culture, leading many to feel unsatisfied, lonely, and without real love in their lives. Trouble is, the unrealistic expectations we've placed on marriage or other romantic relationships is causing us to struggle in our pursuit of true, enduring love with a spouse and to lose our focus on the Source of that deep and abiding Love which is only found in God. In this Still Rowing Short, host Tara McCausland quotes from Sister Susan Porter's excellent 2021 conference talk "God's Love: The Most Joyous to the Soul" and shares why God's love is the "most desirable above all things" and what we can do to better feel divine love in our lives. Link to Sister Susan Porter's talk:https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/10/24porter?lang=engInterested in reading the article by Jacob Hess?https://publicsquaremag.org/sexuality-family/whats-hijacking-so-many-beautiful-relationships/Original "Love Letter From God":https://activechristianity.org/a-letter-of-love-from-god-to-you

In Still Rowing Episode 56, Cydne and Brayden Evans share a glimpse of the hardships they've experienced with the process of adoption to grow their family. Despite the painful rollercoaster this path can be, they recognize the miracles they've experienced because of their faith in Jesus Christ, including the stunning children they have now. Though none of the adoptions have gone according to their plan, they readily acknowledge the beautiful ability of Jesus Christ to heal and resolve all, in His perfect timing.

Have you ever noticed how President Eyring speaks to us in his conference talks and other messages? In this Still Rowing Short, host Kim Stratford Gale shares insights from how President Eyring and the Holy Ghost treat us as seekers of truth and believers. She shares a personal story and specific passages from President Eyring's recent conference addresses to illustrate this pattern.

In Still Rowing Episode 55, Shelly Jorgensen shares the traumatic events of her childhood including being molested and raped by multiple perpetrators, witnessing her alcoholic father's abuse of her mother which later escalated to her mother's tragic death when Shelly was 15. During this time, Shelly relates how she was sustained by heavenly help from her deceased mother and her relationship with a special family that provided a safe haven and an introduction to the restored gospel. Great adversity continues through her adulthood as she struggles with unhealed trauma, singleness, and debilitating health challenges. Yet through it all, Shelly describes the compensatory gifts, growth, and unshakable testimony she has acquired as she has trusted in Christ and His healing, enabling power. Want to read Shelly's incredible memoir, Beautiful Ashes? It is now available for pre-order and will be available for purchase April 6, 2022. See link below for more details. www.beautifulashesmemoir.com

We know Christ ought to be at the heart and center of all we do, but sometimes He isn’t as central to Latter-day Saints as He should be. Outstanding educator and author, John Hilton III, joins co-host, Kimberly, to discuss ways Christ might not be as central to our lives as He ought to be. Importantly, based on personal experience and an extensive and continuing study of Christ, John shares unique and beautiful ways for us to incorporate Christ more in our lives, including a host of exceptional avenues to learn of Him. Take a look at John’s extensive compilation of activities for learning more about Jesus Christ, here: https://johnhiltoniii.com/learn-of-me/Interested in John’s AWESOME and FREE course, “Seeking Jesus” beginning January 2, 2022. Get the details, here: https://johnhiltoniii.com/seekingjesus Find links to the music referenced in the episode, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_ZbboaX_mI (beautiful and powerful)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS6GXPbhCwU (also beautiful, incredible # of views and comments)For more incredible inspiration and insights, find John on social media for short, fun, Come Follow Me videos each week: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpSF6dmRy3M&list=PLhfh21X9suLcl0bzITsp44CPhzKxk68M_

In the October 2021 General Conference, Sister Bonnie Cordon said, “One of Satan’s most powerful weapons is to distract us with good and better causes which, in times of need, may blind and bind us away from the best cause—the very work that called us into this world.Our eternal purpose is to come unto Christ and actively join Him in His great work.”What’s blinding and binding us from participating in this great work and sharing the gospel message with others? In this Still Rowing Short, host Tara McCausland relates a brief story about her son's first basketball game and the gospel parallels regarding understanding and sharing the Gospel Plan to bring greater peace, purpose and hope to others.

Kanokphol Limpanasriphong "Young" converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ when he was 19 during his time in Utah as an exchange student from Thailand. His father unexpectedly passed away in 2020 and Young shares how his conversion, good friends and family and humility toward God helped him through this difficult time.

Parenting has always been messy and complicated business. Attempting to raise faithful, resilient children in this permissive era has made an already difficult task that much more daunting. In Still Rowing Episode 52, host Tara McCausland speaks with Dr. Lili Anderson - author, practicing clinical social worker and former BYU professor in the School of Family Life - about important principles that can help our children succeed and get "far enough in" to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Dr. Anderson also explains the difference between agency and freedom and our responsibility as parents to set and expect the Gospel standard. Finally, they discuss God's generous Plan for all His children, developing confidence in our covenants, and learning to trust God with our children - wherever they may currently be on the covenant path.

In the October 2021 Conference, President Russel M. Nelson issued the call to Latter-day Saints to attend the temple more often as a means of fortifying our spiritual foundations in these difficult and unprecedented times. But if someone were to ask you how you feel about attending the temple, what would be your response? Are you one who loves serving in the temple and attends regularly or does temple attendance feel like just another task to check off your list? While some feel great peace and power in the temple, others confess to feeling anxiety, overwhelm, or even loss when in the temple. In this Still Rowing Short, host Tara McCausland addresses some of the real challenges we might face with temple attendance and despite these challenges, how we might navigate those obstacles in order to make temple attendance a greater priority in our lives. She also shares the associated blessings promised to us as individuals and families as we heed our prophet's call to go to the temple more often. Resources referenced in this episode:Uplift Community of Faith - https://www.facebook.com/groups/UpliftCOFTemple info on church website - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples?lang=engTemple Endowment Tutorial -https://johnhiltoniii.com/preparing-for-your-temple-endowment/Elder Renlund's remarks on the blessings from temple and family history work -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSaiX7sCDV0&t=1s