Join me this week as I share three profound quotes from prophets of the Lord about women's potential impact to bring light, hope, and peace to the world. When I use the phrase “unleashing sister saints,” this is what I mean! How can we as women be the force the Lord needs to lift millions who suffer and need the hope of the Savior on our planet? This "Hidden Pearl" was one of my earliest episodes (#4) and has become a listener favorite.  

“Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.” - Spencer W. Kimball 

“I have often thought that if great numbers of the women of all nations were to unite and lift their voices in the cause of peace, there would develop a worldwide will for peace which could save our civilization and avoid untold suffering, misery, plague, starvation, and the death of millions.” -Gordon B. Hinckley 

“It is not for you to be led by the women of the world; it is for you to lead the … women of the world, in everything that is praise-worthy, everything that is God-like, everything that is uplifting and … purifying to the children of men” -Joseph F. Smith 

Challenge: Consider these prophetic quotes, perhaps praying or journaling about them. How can you use your head, heart, and hands to fulfill these prophetic words? 

Resources: 

Book: A Future Only God Can See For You 

What Now Podcast: Becoming A Leader 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠   

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

Episode Description: Nubia Peña has spent the past 20 years working as a community organizer and policy advocate for underrepresented populations. She attributes her passion for serving the needy to the example of her mother, a woman filled with faith and compassion, and Nubia’s own deep faith and trust in God. While not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nubia’s faith and inexhaustible energy to "be proximate" to victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence, the impoverished, and the incarcerated will uplift and inspire you. She is an example to me of the power that can be unleashed when we respond with faith and charity to our "righteous indignation" and "holy fire," and choose to be God's hand and feet and share the light of our Savior to all within our circle of influence.

"Regardless of where we are and where we are planted, we are God's hand and feet, we are His light, and we are tasked to bring that light to whoever we exchange with." - Nubia Peña

“Ask yourself: what is your righteous indignation; your holy fire? ...that’s God knocking on your heart telling you stand up, step up, and do the work.” - Nubia Peña

Challenge: Find three people who do not practice your faith that you can engage in a service experience with. As we serve with others, we will build bonds, recognize we are more alike than not, and lead people to Jesus. Next, model kindness each day to all you come in contact with! 

Resources: 

National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/ 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠   

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

This week I continue my conversation with McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding as they discuss their important thought piece, “Why Heavenly Mother is Essential for Women Understanding their Eternal Destiny.” If you haven't already, tune in to part I of the discussion in last week's episode (episode 64).

Challenge: If we cherish the doctrine of a Heavenly Mother, how can we better act on this doctrine? Consider how you can apply the principles and doctrine outlined in the gospel topic essay, "Mother in Heaven."

Resources: 

Matrix: ⁠“Why Heavenly Mother is Essential for Women Understanding their Eternal Destiny” by McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding ⁠

Gospel Topic Essay: ⁠Mother in Heaven⁠ 

Elder Dale G. Renlund April 2022 general conference talk: ⁠“Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny”⁠ 

McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding books: ⁠https://deseretbook.com/t/author/mcarthur-krishna⁠ 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠⁠   

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠⁠   

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Church leaders and an authoritative gospel topic essay have affirmed that as Latter-day Saints, we believe in the beautiful and cherished doctrine of a Heavenly Mother. However, do we really live and apply this doctrine? Today, I’m grateful to welcome McArthur Krishna and her co-author Bethany Brady Spalding to the show to expound upon established doctrine of Heavenly Mother and discuss their important thought piece, “Why Heavenly Mother is Essential for Women Understanding their Eternal Destiny.” I appreciate McArthur and Bethany’s vision, passion, and excitement to help Church members understand and apply our true doctrine of a Heavenly Mother. Review their thought piece and matrix linked below, and stay tuned for part II next week! 

“Our theology begins with our heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them.”  

- President Dallin H. Oaks 

“We don’t need more revelation (about Heavenly Mother); we need to apply the truths and teachings we already have. (Those truths) are beautiful, they’re enriching, and they’re so tender and important.” 

- Bethany Brady Spalding 

“The power of women would be unleashed if we would apply the teachings in the gospel topics essay on Heavenly Mother. We would unleash so much power and potential, it would be extraordinary." 

- Bethany Brady Spalding 

"While I can become like my Heavenly Father, I will become a Heavenly Mother in the heavens. If we don’t think that’s important, then we’re telling women that they’re not important; that their destiny is not important."

- McArthur Krishna

Challenge: Read the Church’s gospel topic essay, Mother in Heaven. Think, ponder, and pray about what you read and determine what you can do to better live and apply the doctrine in your life.  

Resources: 

Matrix: “Why Heavenly Mother is Essential for Women Understanding their Eternal Destiny” by McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding 

Gospel Topic Essay: Mother in Heaven 

Elder Dale G. Renlund April 2022 general conference talk: “Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny” 

McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding books: https://deseretbook.com/t/author/mcarthur-krishna 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠   

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

Though it isn’t always natural or intuitive, when we choose to be grateful in times of chaos or hardship we can usually identify blessings and tender mercies from the Lord. Today I share about an especially crazy day recently when I was reminded of the many blessings and miracles we experience from day to day, including the blessing of strong and righteous men in our lives.  

Challenge: Are you having a busy day? A crazy week or month? Pause for just a minute and think of or record the ways the Lord has blessed you despite the chaos. Also, consider the ways God has made men and women differently. How have faithful, gentle, and righteous men been a blessing in your life? 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠   

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

I think our listeners are going to love this week’s conversation with storyteller and artist McArthur Krishna. McArthur is full of energy, passion, patience, grace, and hope, and I learned so much as we talked about her efforts to co-publish a series of books with Bethany Brady Spalding on both women in the scriptures and our Heavenly Mother. From discussing the value of studying the stories of women in scripture to sharing her hopeful perspective on gender inequities in the Church or in society, McArthur encourages women to keep making choices that bring them closer to God. She also urges women to not be afraid of a “wild idea,” and to focus on soul growth with an eternal, not just earthly, perspective.  

*Thank you to listeners who took time to review and rate the podcast last week! If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to rate and review the podcast. We appreciate your support!*

Challenge: Take a few minutes to journal about one of your favorite women in scripture, or go and study a woman in scripture who may be less familiar to you. Then, look inward and think of something you can do to bring more goodness, faith, and hope into the world because of what you learned.  

Resources: 

McArthur Krishna website 

McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding books: https://deseretbook.com/t/author/mcarthur-krishna 

Mother in Heaven Gospel Topic Essay 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠   

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

*Help me reach my goal of TEN new reviews this week on Apple Podcasts! If you have been enjoying Unleashing Sister Saints, please take one minute to leave a rating and a review. Thank you!*

This week I am delighted to share my conversation with Reyna Aburto and her daughter, Elena Aburto, on the topic of mental and emotional wellbeing. You will recognize Reyna as the former second counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, where she served with President Jean B. Bingham and Sharon Eubank from 2017-2022. In the October 2019 general conference, Sister Aburto spoke powerfully about mental illness, sharing some of her daughter Elena’s experience with depression and anxiety. Reyna and Elena join me today to discuss the origins of Sister Aburto’s conference message, Elena’s experience with depression and social anxiety, and how perfectionism and emotional wellbeing relate. Reyna and Elena close by sharing how participation in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ can ease the anguish of those with mental and emotional suffering. 

Challenge: Review Sister Aburto’s beautiful October 2019 general conference talk, “Thru Cloud and Sunshine, Lord, Abide With Me!” 

Resources: 

Official Church website on Mental Illness 

Consecrating Your Life Podcast hosted by Elena and Reyna Aburto

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠   

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

On this week’s episode, we welcome back Dr. Christy Kane, PsyD, CMHC, to discuss the topic of loneliness among Latter-day Saint women and young women.

When we envision loneliness, we may think of a single sister or an elderly woman living alone, but loneliness affects women in a variety of backgrounds and family situations, and can be severe in our modern world so deeply affected by comparison and social media. Tune in to learn more about the causes of loneliness, the relationship between social media and loneliness, and how to decrease loneliness and increase authentic connection in our modern world. Dr. Kane reminds us of the many women in the New Testament who sought healing from Jesus Christ, and explains how we can navigate our loneliness and sadness by coming to Him and connecting with others.  

“The key is to learn to navigate loneliness through the light of Jesus Christ, guided by the Comforter, within the gospel of Jesus Christ, as sisters united to lift, comfort and offer understanding.” - Dr. Christy Kane 

Challenge: Take some time to consider Dr. Kane’s message about loneliness. If you are experiencing loneliness, what can you do to reach out to others and increase connection? If you're not experiencing loneliness, what can you do for others who may be feeling isolated or disconnected? 

Resources: 

Dr. Christy Kane BYU Women's Conference Address: That We May Not Be Alone

April 2023 Utah Women and Leadership Panel: Teen Girls Experiencing Increased Sadness and Violence: A Discussion with Utah Experts 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠   

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

This weekend is general conference, the worldwide gathering of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am excited to feel God’s love and peace during the conference and to listen for messages from the Spirit especially for me. With conference in mind, this week I'm replaying an episode first released before the April 2023 general conference that highlights Eliza Wells’ recent scholarly article, “Quoted at the Pulpit: Male Rhetoric and Female Authority in Fifty Years of General Conference.”

Unfortunately, Wells’ research outlines that women have been quoted less, acknowledged less, and are seen as less authoritative than men in talks from general conference. There is a lot to learn from this data, despite it being discouraging. I share interesting takeaways from the research, as well as my feelings about general conference and what I hope to learn and how I want to listen.

Challenge: I 100% believe God speaks to me and you. I challenge you to pray for a soft heart to feel the Spirit this weekend during general conference. Listen actively and record personal revelation you receive through concepts shared as well as impressions and feelings that may come to you. 

Resources: 

2022 Dialogue Journal Article: Quoted at the Pulpit: Male Rhetoric and Female Authority in Fifty Years of General Conference  

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠   

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠ 

Did you know there are more single adult members of the Church than married? According to an April 2021 general conference address by President Russell M. Ballard, more than half the adults in the Church are single, divorced, or not yet married. Join me for this week's episode with special guest Dr. Christy Kane, a psychologist and previously divorced sister, to discuss how we can be more aware and inclusive of our single sisters in the Church.  

Challenge: Try not to assume the single women in your ward and neighborhood are “taken care of” -- reach out! Whether you are in a leadership calling or not, do your part to make sure single women in your circle of influence have opportunities to serve, be invited, and be heard and seen.  

Resources: 

April 2021 General Conference address by President Russell M. Ballard: “Hope in Christ”  

Dr. Christy Kane website 

Learn More:  

Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠   

Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.   

Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:   

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠   

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠   

Contact Me:  

I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠