Still Rowing Podcast

A growing number of people throughout the world, especially Millennials and Gen Zs, are losing faith in God and choosing not to affiliate with organized religion. This episode's guest is therefore somewhat of an anomaly. Peregrine, a young man from Australia, converted to the church from a deeply atheistic background in 2019. He describes the darkness and suffering that characterized his life and worldview prior to joining the church, what ultimately drew him to the restored gospel, and shares the multitude of ways his new-found faith has elevated his perspective and blessed his life. Want to watch Peregrine's powerful testimony shared on Youtube? Check it out here: https://youtu.be/gdC4r8MHeT8Saints Unscripted Interview: https://youtu.be/DQEUvd8P2cQ

It is not uncommon for members of the Church of Jesus Christ to be affected by divorce. And the effects of it can feel contradictory to the blessings promised to those living gospel principles, bringing with it confusion and doubts. Additionally, the pains of changing family dynamics can easily create isolation and overwhelm. Kim Stratford Gale references Elder Rasband’s most recent general conference talk and shares the “Things of Her Soul” and why she is still rowing, despite the contention and disruption of the multiple divorces of her parents. Cited talks from Elder Holland: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2002/04/the-other-prodigal?lang=eng Elder Bednar: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2011/10/lehis-dream-holding-fast-to-the-rod?lang=eng

In this episode, Still Rowing hosts Tara and Kim discuss 4 key tactics the adversary uses to confuse, discourage, and derail us as disciples of Christ and ways in which we can counter these attacks and bring the power of heaven into our lives.Read the Liahona article we reference here:https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/09/knowing-the-tactics-of-our-enemy?lang=eng

Host Tara McCausland announces some exciting Still Rowing news and shares some brief insights about manna and how God will provide your daily bread as you trust Him.Take a minute and listen to the awesome BYU speech by Elder Christofferson that Tara referenced in this episode. https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/d-todd-christofferson/give-us-this-day-our-daily-bread/

In Still Rowing episode 49, host Tara McCausland and CES instructor and sought after speaker, Jared Halverson, discuss the history of and need for priesthood keys, the difference between priesthood authority and priesthood power, and the important truth that women and men in the church have access to both. They also discuss the power that stems from making and keeping temple covenants, how priesthood covenants and ordinances prepare us to meet God, and the key difference between temple worthiness vs. temple readiness.Check out Jared's exceptional Youtube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpumfWNEXE5YbL5QMjg5agA

In Still Rowing episode 48, Leland Wilson describes some of the difficulties associated with experiencing same-sex attraction as a young man and his decision to leave the church as a teenager to pursue the gay lifestyle. For the next 38 years he battled drug and sexual addiction, but periodically felt God’s love and influence amidst a life contrary to the covenants he’d made in his youth. Then after a turn of events, Leland felt inspired to move back to Utah and recounts how the Lord placed loving Latter-day Saint members in his life that helped him return to the fold and resume the covenant path and a life of discipleship.

With all we are asked to do as Latter-day Saints, our discipleship can sometimes feel depleting more than enriching. If church and temple attendance, prayer and scripture study have stopped blessing our lives and connecting us with the Divine, does it mean these practices no longer hold value? Or could it be that we are missing a key ingredient that, if added, would infuse those practices with meaning and bring us greater peace, joy and fulfillment as Latter-day Saints.In Still Rowing episode 47, host Tara McCausland and Ty Mansfield - PhD, therapist, and author - discuss how learning and incorporating the practices of mindfulness and meditation can enhance your relationship with God and transform your experience as a Latter-day Saint into one that edifies and renews rather than depletes and overwhelms. Interested in reading The Power of Stillness? Here is a link:https://deseretbook.com/p/power-of-stillness-mindful-living-for-latter-day-saints-ppr?variant_id=176725-paperback

Do miracles still occur in this day and age? If so, do you and I have the faith to ask for the miracle we might need in our lives? In the April 2021 General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson taught, “It is our faith that unlocks the power of God in our lives…Through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life, even though your personal challenges may loom as large as Mount Everest.”In Still Rowing episode 46, Kori Hyde shares how the Lord has helped move her mountains as she battled a highly aggressive brain tumor and is now faithfully enduring the subsequent challenges associated with its removal. She relates how she pleaded with the Lord to prolong her life for the sake of her children and what gave her the faith and courage to ask for the miracle.

Sustaining your faith in a world that is becoming increasingly faithless is difficult, especially when there are forces at work that are intentionally trying to deconstruct and destroy that faith. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, how do we defend our faith from the growing onslaught of cynicism and criticism of faith at large and attacks directed at the latter-day saint community? Are there tools that can help us defend and sustain faith in these conditions?In Still Rowing Episode 45, long-time FAIR Mormon (now FAIR Latter-day Saints) contributor and Austrian native, Rene Krywult, shares his colorful religious upbringing and conversion to the gospel, his introduction to anti-mormon literature at age 14, and practical ways in which we can faithfully navigate the variety of information and situations that might challenge our testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.Interested in learning more about FAIR? Click here:https://fairlatterdaysaints.org/

Suicide is a serious public health issue that is on the rise in youth and young adults both in and outside of the Latter-day Saint community. When someone we love chooses to take their life, the negative impact on family, friends and communities is dramatic. Perhaps in no other case is it more apparent just how interconnected we are than when an individual chooses to end their life. Truly, no man is an island and every soul is precious in the sight of God. In Still Rowing Episode 44, Michael and Crystal Davies share the heart breaking story of losing their 14-year-old son to suicide, how they were sustained by the Savior the hours, weeks, months after his passing, and some of the mighty miracles and tender mercies that have occurred since that time. Their experience is a powerful testament to the reality of life after death, the power of prayer, the healing that comes as we gather with covenant-keeping saints, and Christ’s ability to succor us in the greatest trials of our lives. For more information on suicide and what our current leaders are teaching on the subject, click here:https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/reach-out-in-love-to-those-considering-suicide-elder-renlund