The Stand Strong Podcast

Retreat update:  I spoke today to Melanie who is creating a playlist for our retreat using Christian worship music-- and I couldn't be more pleased.  Register today for the Leading Saints Women's retreat September 15-18.

One of my main passions is to assist moms in moving out of taking action from blame and feeling like a victim.  And instead start acting from the power of being aware of what is going on and the discrepancies and errors there.  

In Ephesians 2 in the Holy Bible we read about how the Jews and the gentiles are reconciled through Christ.  He has made the two groups one.  He destroys the barrier.  

I made a list of barriers and dividing walls.  Things like personality differences, cultural differences and false beliefs.  What would be on your list?

I thought of two examples from my own life where just the act of becoming aware of discrepancies made a difference in my actions.  Listen as I tell you about these stories.

I love to coach Latter-day Saint women and assist them with tools and strategies to become aware of what is truly making them stuck.  And I have a hint.  it's not how you were raised.  it''s not because of another person and what they are doing. 

Whitney Johnson is coming to the retreat!! Leading Saints founder Kurt Francom and Dan Duckworth from the Board of Directors have gathered a phenomenal group of women to speak and lead discussions at the retreat.  

I have a few stories of singing in Primary, talking to my bishop and sorting out how to find a way out of mom guilt.  Listen in...

I have three sweet stories about our daughter Paige when she stood to bear her testimony.

The stories around what brought her to testify are very real and raw.  One of those being when she was a kindergartener that involved fingernail polish and a bus ride. 

Sometimes we might not give much notice to a young child repeating words of others while bearing their testimony.  But Paige's were sincere.  And beautiful.

Listen and while you do think about what you would testify of.

The Leading Saints Women's Retreat food planning has been very exciting.  I am a certified health coach and I recognize the value of having yummy healthy food.  It helps us think, process and feel good.  All reasons to eat well during a retreat where we have much to accomplish.

In listening to the story again of Alma the Younger having the experience of being converted and then totally changing what he talked about and preached I started to ponder on what he might have misunderstood about the gospel of Jesus Christ before the angel appeared to him.

We look at stories of Abish, Nephi and Ammon as well to see how they were misunderstood and I give you steps to take so that you have better chances of being understood and also of better understanding others.

The Song of Our Syrian Guest is an explanation of Psalm 23, "The Lord is My Shepherd"
It's written by William Allen Knight and published in 1904.

I just got back from Houston Texas where we celebrated with a second wedding reception for our daughter and her new husband.  Some of his family friends gifted us passes to their zip line park Geronimo.  On the last platform you had to step off in what felt like a free-fall.  From behind I cheered on my family in front of me but when it came my turn it was harder than I thought it would be.  Front runners have a special role of doing things that others haven't shown them how to do.  It takes a lot of faith and grit.

I recommend following along with the scripture Psalm 23 so that you can reference what lines are being discussed in this book.

While I read the second half of the book "The Song of Our Syrian Guest" look for a couple of things.  
1. Notice how the Shepherd takes care of the sheep one by one.  He knows their needs and each one of them individually.
2. Listen for how the flock of sheep defends against a wolf coming in to their midst.  It's not what I thought would happen.

Just finished a call where we were planning more details of the upcoming Leading Saints women's retreat.  Soon we will announce more speakers and facilitators-- some incredible women that I can't wait to tell you about.  When I get the green light on that I will immediately let you know who they are.  In the meantime keep watching for the emails and posts to Leading Saints instagram stories for updates.

Today I am reading out loud the book "The Song of Our Syrian Guest" written by William Allen Knight and published January of 1904.  I read half the book this week and I'll finish the reading in next week's podcast.

It's a story of a Syrian traveler who spent an evening with Mr. Knight and explained the meanings of the phrases used in Psalm 23 in the Holy Bible.  

Listen for the part near the end of today's reading where it talks about the sheep coming to the still waters in a group.  I find this very interesting and very applicable to Christians today.  

Check out LeadingSaints.org/Gathering to register for the upcoming Women's Retreat in Bear Lake Utah September 15-18, 2022.

Some of you will be old enough to remember the year 1975.

Here is a little trivia about that year:
The Vietnam war came to an end
Saturday Night Live premiered on NBC
Strawberries sold for 29 cents a pound
Postage stamps were 13 cents each
And Captain and Tennille sang "Love Will Keep Us Together"

In 1975 I was part of a Girl Scout troop called "Brownies".

We visited what was then called a nursing home where we were matched up with senior women for a short visit.

Listen to hear how a seemingly insignificant event made an impact over my lifetime.  I didn't recognize this impact until I reflected on my experience all these years later.  

Chief Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon had his people the Nephites create huge walls of earth around their cities for protection from the Lamanites.  They would defend these walls or boundaries by standing on top of the wall and shooting down any Lamanite trespassers.

Can you imagine what would happen if they had these amazing walls put up creating a wonderful defense but then didn't do anything about it if Lamanites climbed the walls and entered the city?  

Just like this we not only need to set up boundaries for our safety but we must follow through on defending those boundaries.  

Utilize the structure of this sentence in order to set an appropriate boundary:  If you______, then I will______

A boundary is about what YOU will do.  It's not making a request of another person. It's not demanding them to behave a certain way.  It's about what will happen if they do something to cross that boundary (which is a physical or emotional safety issue).

Not following through on boundary violations leads to resentment and anger.  It can be challenging but it is worth it because it helps you think better of the person and you have a higher potential of a good relationship with them.

Listen to the stories that illustrate these points. 

Coming up this fall is a Leading Saints Women's Retreat at Bear Lake Utah.  I"ll be hosting that retreat and you can learn more about it next week on the podcast.

We read the background story of King Limhi and his oppressed people in The Book of Mormon.  King Limhi had been raised by a very wicked father King Noah and his people were now in subjection to the high taxes and the threat of destruction from the Lamanites.  

King Limhi had tried to gain freedom through a series of short wars where they lost many men in battle leaving women and children on their own to be provided for by the community.  

During this time King Limhi encountered 4 Nephite men outside the city's protective walls and he had them imprisoned for two days.  When he eventually found out who they were and that they would be the key to their deliverance King Limhi was excited and hopeful.  He called his people to gather at the temple to hear about their new found hope.

At the temple King Limhi explains to the people that although deliverance is near there "remaineth an effectual struggle to be made".  They had struggle ahead of them.  But it would be a productive or effective struggle so that they could obtain their desires.

So even with deliverance at their door it wasn't going to be handed to them.  

Has this been your experience too?  You are in an overwhelming situation or in some kind of bondage and you finally have some answers coming your way.  
Maybe it's the right eating protocol or you've finally got a diagnosis for your child's mental struggles or the answer is homeschooling.  But this isn't the end of the road.  It's the hope and what comes next is effort towards something that will bring deliverance.  

Elder Neil A. Andersen's talk in April 2022 General Conference, "Following Jesus: Being a Peacemaker" referenced here explains the need to act in a way that does not include anger or malice. So no war to wage against the enemy.  But he also explains that Peacemakers are not passive and gives several examples of Jesus being one.

What approach did King Limhi take to secure deliverance?  We read in Mosiah 7:29-32 the pattern.  1. Turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart (genuine wholehearted effort), 2. Put trust in the Lord, and 3. Serve the Lord with all diligence of mind (thoughts focused on Christ).

And it is God's will and pleasure to grant deliverance to those that follow this pattern.

This is our pattern too.  This is how our efforts or struggle can be effectual.   

Next week's podcast is on Boundaries.

When we utilize the Six Sources of Influence designed by the social scientists who wrote the book Change Anything, we truly can change any behavior we want to change.  

I apply these six sources to my Stop Overeating program to create success.  

I employed all six to get myself into great financial shape and you can too!  

Listen in as I describe them and give ideas on what to do.