Thriving Through Trials

Sometimes missionaries have high expectations when they prepare to come home. In this episode we talk about how to navigate when coming home doesn't go as planned.

Welcome Weston Christensen to the podcast! We talk about the challenges leading up to his departure, the moments that still make him laugh, and the biggest surprises he faced when he returned home.

But more importantly, Weston shares what helped him move from simply surviving the transition home to actually thriving through it. We talk about what helped, what didn’t, the new trials he has faced since returning, and the habits and reminders from his mission that he still carries with him today.

If you’re a returning missionary, or someone who loves and supports one, I hope this conversation reminds you that you are not alone. Share it with someone you think it could inspire or bring hope to their day.

Tune in for an honest conversation about missions, transitions, trials, faith, and learning how to thrive through whatever comes next.

What does a HYROX race have to do with getting through the trials of life?

In this episode, I share why I was a little late getting this week’s episode out after competing in HYROX in Salt Lake City. I talked about how the race reminded me of the power of consistency and how there are days it feels nobody sees the work you're putting in. However, there is one person that sees your every little effort.

I believe our spiritual lives can work the same way. Prayer, scripture study, gratitude, worship, and other small daily habits may not feel huge in the moment, but over time they can prepare us to face difficult seasons when greater faith and resilience are required.

I’ll also share a simple 14-day challenge to help you start building one habit that can bring you closer to the person you want to become!

Take a listen, share with a friend and leave a comment! Thank you everyone and see you all next week!

In this episode of Thriving Through Trials, I sit down with Anna Larsen to talk about her journey as a returned missionary from the St. Lewis Missouri Mission.

Anna shares what led her to serve a mission, what it was like opening her call and discovering she would be serving stateside, and some of the unforgettable, and even embarrassing moments from her mission. But more importantly, we dive into what happened after she returned home.

From the shock of adjusting to everyday life again to the things she wishes others understood about the transition, Anna shares the highs, lows, and lessons that has shaped her life. We talk about what helped her truly thrive rather than simply survive and the habits she carried home.

Whether you're a returned missionary or navigating a season of change, Anna's story offers encouragement and a reminder that growth continues through every trial.

Could repentance be less about feeling guilty and more about feeling joy?

In this episode of Thriving Through Trials, we explore the joy of daily repentance and how it can deepen our relationship with our Heavenly Parents. I share what I learned about repentance before and during my mission in Ghana Accra, and how turning to God each day helped me feel lighter, more peaceful, and more hopeful and not condemned.

We’ll talk about how repentance is less about criticizing ourselves and more about becoming a little more like Christ.

I’ll share a simple three-question invitation to help you experience the power and joy of daily repentance.

In this episode, I share about a season of my life when I came home expecting to feel happy, and excited for the future, but instead, I felt nothing. I struggled to feel Gods love, other people's love and giving love in return.

I talk about the moment I realized I was depressed, the confusing weight of feeling this way when I had so much to be grateful for, and my experience navigating the conversation around medication. I also talk about how prayer, eating, sleeping, being outside, and journaling, helped me to move forward even if I wasn't taking big steps.

From this experience I learned that struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing, and not feeling God doesn’t mean He is not there.

If you’re in a season where you can’t feel what you once could, I hope this episode reminds you that, nothing has gone wrong. You are not alone, and you will help so many people because you went through this.

After serving in the Albania Tirana Mission, Jacob Millsap came home and faced a new chapter - figuring out what life looked like and how to find purpose again.

In this episode, Jacob shares his journey of coming home, adjusting to life outside the mission, and using the lesson he learned along the way to now have his own agency in the financial industry.

We talk about his mission highlights, growth, finding direction after a mission, and how the experiences we go through can shape who we become and help others along the way.

Listen to Jacobs story on this Episode of Thriving Through Trials.

Can the scriptures really help us through life's hardest moments? In this episode of Thriving Through Trials, I share how God's word has brought healing, guidance, and personal revelation into my life.

Together, we'll explore how the scriptures can bring peace during difficult seasons, provide direction when we're faced with important decisions, and answer our sincere prayers in ways we may not expect. I'll also share a personal experience of how a simple prompting while reading the Book of Mormon led my family to find something we had been desperately searching for.

We'll discuss powerful scriptures and prophetic counsel that remind us why consistent scripture study is so important, especially in today's world, and how inviting the Holy Ghost into our lives can help us receive personal revelation.

This week's invitation is simple: spend a few moments each day in the scriptures, begin with a prayer asking Heavenly Father what He wants you to learn, and pay attention to the impressions that follow.

No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, I hope this episode encourages you to draw closer to the Savior through His word and discover for yourself that the scriptures are more than stories—they are a living source of healing, guidance, and revelation.

Thank you for joining me on another episode of Thriving Through Trials. If this episode blesses you today, share it with someone you love. Thank you!

When life feels loud, overwhelming, and uncertain, where do you go to find peace?

In this episode of Thriving Through Trials, we explore how the temple can become a refuge from the noise of the world—a place to receive peace, guidance, and a deeper connection with God.

I share personal experiences from serving at the Ghana MTC, including a powerful moment in the celestial room that changed the way I worship, as well as the unexpected conversation that helped lead me to serve a mission.

We'll discuss why temples still matter today, how God often answers prayers through quiet impressions and small moments rather than dramatic signs, and why the greatest blessing of temple worship may simply be being with Him.

Whether you're a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, new to learning about temples, or simply searching for hope and direction, this episode is an invitation to draw closer to God and discover the peace that only He can provide.

No matter what trials you're facing, you don't have to face them alone. Thank you! :)

What is it really like to come home from a mission?

In this episode of Thriving Through Trials, I sit down with my friends, Daphne McKeachnie, to talk about both the joy and the challenges of missionary service and returning home. We start with some fun mission memories and icebreaker questions before diving into the deeper conversations that many return missionaries can relate to.

Together, we discuss:

- What surprised her the most coming home.

- What helped her transition - and what didn't.

- Advice she would give every return missionary.

Whether you're a return missionary, preparing to serve, or simply walking through a difficult season, we hope this this conversation reminds you that you're not alone and that it's possible to thrive through your trials.

If this episode encourages you, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a comment, and share it with someone who could use a little extra hope today. Thank you! :)

In this episode of Thriving Through Trials, we explore two simple but life-changing habits that can strengthen your relationship with God and bring more peace and confidence into you life: journaling and meditation.

We'll discuss how to make journaling more meaningful by recording spiritual impressions, tender mercies, and personal growth instead of letting it become something you dread.

We'll also talk about what meditation really is from a faith-centered perspective. Rather than trying to turn off your mind, you'll learn how to create space to hear the Spirit, and find greater peace.

This episode includes a weekly journaling challenge, practical daily habits, and encouragement to notice the small miracles that often go unseen. Whether you're a return missionary, navigating a life transition, or simply looking to deepen your faith, these principles can help you grow closer to Christ and find greater clarity, gratitude, and purpose-one day at a time.