this is kingdom

What if the direction you've been searching for isn't found in a better plan—but in a better Guide?

This week on This Is Kingdom, Talon, TJ, Grace, and Hollis dive into Elder Karl D. Hirst's General Conference message, "Choose Jesus Christ as Your Guide." Together they discuss what it means to follow Christ's footsteps, trust His direction, embrace repentance without shame, and become the kind of disciple others can confidently follow.


Whether you're feeling lost, overwhelmed by life's decisions, or simply trying to stay on the covenant path, this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to create your own way—Jesus Christ has already prepared it.

📖 Featured Talk:
Choose Jesus Christ as Your Guide — Elder Karl D. Hirst

💬 Challenge of the Week:
Spend this week intentionally walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Ask yourself each day, "What would following Him look like in this situation?"

⏱️ Chapters
00:00 - Summer updates & Talon's hot dog eating competition
03:05 - Welcome to This Is Kingdom
03:36 - Elder Hirst's powerful story about following a guide through a minefield
06:45 - Can your children safely follow your footsteps?
09:40 - Grace through Jesus Christ when we fall short
12:05 - Teaching repentance through example
15:45 - Why becoming a parent changes everything
18:45 - Grace's New York directions analogy
23:10 - Following Christ instead of creating your own path
27:10 - The courage to be a faithful follower
30:20 - Daily scripture study helps us see Christ's footsteps
31:30 - Challenge of the week
32:15 - "I Will Walk with Jesus"

If this episode encouraged you, we'd love to hear from you in the comments. How has Jesus Christ guided your life when you didn't know where to go?

What do you do when life doesn't go the way you hoped?

This week on ThisIsKingdom, Talon, TJ, Grace, and Hollis discuss President Emily Belle Freeman's General Conference message, "Best Days and Worst Days." Together they explore how Jesus Christ meets us in both our highest highs and our lowest lows—and why our response to life's hardest moments can shape who we become.

From personal stories of moving across the country, humanitarian experiences, and unexpected trials, to powerful reminders that the morning comes and the shadows flee away, this conversation is for anyone who feels like they're walking through one of life's difficult seasons.

No matter what you're facing today, there is hope. Christ doesn't waste our hardest days—He uses them to draw us closer to Him.

📖 Featured Talk:
Best Days and Worst Days — President Emily Belle Freeman

💬 Challenge of the Week:
When life gets hard, choose to turn toward God instead of away from Him. Ask Him what He wants to teach you through your current season, and trust that He can turn even your worst days into something meaningful.

If this episode encouraged you, we'd love to have you join the conversation. Be sure to Like, Subscribe, and share this episode with someone who may be going through a hard time.


00:00 Summer updates & Grace's move to New York
03:07 Welcome to ThisIsKingdom
03:44 Best Days and Worst Days
05:12 How do we respond to hard things?
08:30 Why our worst days matter
11:05 The "second dart" and choosing our response
14:22 Grace's experience moving to New York
18:05 "The morning comes and the shadows flee away"
20:27 Choosing Christ in everyday moments
23:13 Turn to God, not away from God
24:29 Challenge of the Week
25:18 Closing hymn

What if the single most important question you'll ever answer is this:
Is the tomb empty?

This week on ThisIsKingdom, Talon, TJ, Grace, and Hollis discuss President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's General Conference message, Encounter at the Empty Tomb. Together they explore why Christ's Resurrection changes everything—from hope and forgiveness to purpose, healing, and the promise that Jesus walks with us today.

If you've ever wondered how to strengthen your testimony of Jesus Christ or where to find Him in your own life, this conversation is for you.

📖 Featured Talk:
Encounter at the Empty Tomb — President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

💬 Challenge of the Week:
Ask yourself: What have you seen, felt, or experienced that helps you believe the tomb is empty? Write it down, reflect on it, and let it strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ.

If this episode encouraged you, we'd love to have you join the conversation. Be sure to Like, Subscribe, and share this episode with someone who may be looking for Jesus.

#ThisIsKingdom #JesusChrist #GeneralConference #LDS #ChristianPodcast #Faith #Hope #Resurrection #BookOfMormon #GoodNewsBrand

00:00 Mid-year update & rodeo memories
02:09 Welcome to ThisIsKingdom
02:45 The most important question: Is the tomb empty?
04:07 How do we discover the empty tomb today?
06:49 We don't fight our battles alone
08:17 "Because of Him" and finding purpose
10:20 Holding onto hope when doubts come
12:26 Jesus lives and walks with us today
13:43 What have you seen, felt, or experienced?
14:21 Grace's experience with repentance
17:00 The Savior never gives up on us
18:18 Challenge of the Week
19:03 Closing hymn

In this episode of This is Kingdom, we discuss Elder Suarez's General Conference message, Jesus Christ, the True Vine, and what it truly means to abide in Christ.

What is the difference between liking Jesus and loving Him?

Through personal stories, experiences from Thailand, marriage, fitness, and even an unforgettable New York Knicks comeback, we explore how discipleship isn't about convenience—it's about commitment.

If you've ever felt distant from God, struggled to stay consistent spiritually, or wondered how to deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ, this conversation is for you.

We hope this episode encourages you to consciously choose Christ every single day.

What if the temple isn't just a place you visit, but a place where God equips you for everything you're facing?

In this episode of This Is Kingdom: A Good News Brand Podcast, Grace, Talon, TJ, and Hollis discuss Elder Quentin L. Cook’s talk Keys, Covenants, and Easter. Grace shares how visiting Jerusalem and the Kirtland Temple deepened her faith, helping her realize that the Savior's promises are just as real today as they were in scripture. The group explores the idea that every temple around the world carries the same divine blessings and covenants found in Doctrine and Covenants 109.

Together, they reflect on what makes a place truly sacred and how approaching temples, sacrament meetings, and even our homes with greater reverence can transform our spiritual lives. The conversation highlights powerful temple promises, including being armed with God's power, having His name upon us, and being watched over by angels.

This week's challenge is to read Doctrine and Covenants 109:1–45 and mark every blessing and promise connected to the temple. By seeing what God offers through His house, listeners are invited to deepen their appreciation for sacred spaces and approach them with greater faith and intention. The episode closes with a tender children's hymn about preparing to meet the Savior.

In this episode of This Is Kingdom: A Good News Brand Podcast, Grace, Talon, TJ, and Hollis discuss Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s talk Lost Luggage, Redeemed Souls, exploring what it means to be more accessible and present in our relationships. Inspired by the story of an airport that hasn't lost a single piece of luggage in decades, they reflect on the simple but powerful idea of keeping your "handles facing outward" so others can more easily reach, connect with, and rely on you.

Through personal stories and practical examples, they discuss answering unexpected phone calls, warmly welcoming people into your life, and overcoming the fear of being the one who reaches out first. The conversation highlights how genuine connection often begins with a simple act of initiation and why choosing to care is far more meaningful than trying to appear indifferent.

This week's challenge is to perform one intentional act of initiation every day. Whether it's making a call, sending a text, extending an invitation, or starting a conversation, small efforts to reach out can strengthen relationships and reflect the way we connect with both people and God.

In this episode of This Is Kingdom: A Good News Brand Podcast, Grace, Talon, TJ, and Hollis discuss President Henry B. Eyring’s talk Prayers for Peace. They explore how elevating our prayers can bring greater peace, confidence, perspective, and trust in God, sharing personal experiences of prayers that have strengthened their faith and changed their lives.

The conversation dives into what makes prayer more meaningful, from expecting God to answer, to remembering who we are truly speaking to, to replacing routine phrases with sincere and intentional communication. They reflect on how prayer doesn't always remove challenges, but often changes us and gives us the strength to move forward with faith.

This week’s challenge is simple: find one way to elevate your prayers. Whether it's praying out loud, creating a dedicated place to pray, visualizing yourself approaching God, or turning stress into prayer, small changes can deepen your connection with Him and bring greater peace into your life.

00:00 Introductory
00:49 Prayers for Peace
03:10 Prayer Builds Confidence
05:37 Prayer Changes Your Perspective
07:02 Visualizing Approaching God's Throne
10:25 Avoiding Repetitive Prayer Phrases
12:54 The Weekly Challenge: Elevate Your Prayers
14:22 Closing Song