I went back and forth between deciding if I should share this particular, difficult story about how I avoided more contention online. Couldn’t I just share these principles in a vague way and it would still help teach you? No, The Spirit said. I prayed to know If I should share the story and the answer was, “Share the principles AND the story”. Sometimes, we learn better as we hear how it actually happened, with real life people. 

Recently, I was confronted with some online backlash and it was getting worse. The other person was hurt and I was too. I had to ask myself, How am I to handle this heated situation?

The words of President Nelson came to my mind CLEARLY. “Contention drives away the Spirit—every time. Contention reinforces the false notion that confrontation is the way to resolve differences; but it never is. Contention is a choice. Peacemaking is a choice. You have your agency to choose contention or reconciliation. I urge you to choose to be a peacemaker, now and always.”

My situation ended sadly but it worked out for the better. I hope that you guys will learn from this story and see yourself in it. What contentious situations are you dealing with right now that you can improve on? Remember to CHOOSE peacemaking, as Christ would. It is in your hands.

Hope this finds you well,

Laura Cragun

Every word I type, I am reminded of how much it is a blessing to be in contact with you. Not just the fact that the internet is incredible. But I have faced major opposition to getting these messages out to you! My computer seemed to have become possessed every time I would try to work on material. It was laughable but then turned to the point of discouragement. Hard work would be erased, things would freeze, uploading would take forever, etc…and none of it coordinated with each other. Just random technical difficulties that seemed to have no end in sight. 

And I am not a newbie when it comes to technology, so I couldn’t blame it on that. I know my way around programs and computers but it would give me grief every time. With a lot of prayer, factory resetting my computer and persistence, I have finally got out my message. However, the quality of my uploads are not as good as I would like since I have had to spend so much time on just getting it up. All in all, the adversary is real and it is a testimony to me to keep sharing and spreading my own unique light of Christ. Excited to do it again and share the gospel in any way I can. 

But it didn’t stop. This time the opposition was in the form of other people coming after me online. It was heavy and disheartening. I had to decide how to handle the situation and keep it free from contention. Unfortunately, that meant to stop all communication with them. I will explain more and share that story for another time. But wow, the opposition keeps coming.

With your new year, I hope that you will be savvy on how you avoid the adversary. Understanding our enemy is key. Playing on the offense with continuing our conversion to Christ and his gospel, WHILE we play defense and not allow negative influences in our lives. Checking where we can improve and fix those breeches will look different for everyone. Invite the spirit to be your guide as you evaluate what that looks like for you.

On that note, I deeply evaluated what that looked like for me at the beginning of 2023. I made a LOT of changes and now I am sharing that with you today in my 2023 year review with many stories sprinkled in.

I decided to let go of my business, after seeing a lot of things that I didn’t want to align myself with in the industry. The spirit had told me to shift how I spend my time, and now I was to fully engage with being a Wife, Mother and Homemaker. It has been a beautiful journey and I love how our home feels now. 

God was also so good to me and knew that I still needed a bone to chew. I NEED something for me to work on at any given time. Since we had thought about homestead for a long time, I decided to finally take the plunge and start actively looking for our next home and land. It felt like it was time. We found our place and are moving this summer.

God Shaped Me in 2023 for the better and I can see more clearly now. I invite you to look at your past year in the same way. God is in the details and when you use the Spirit as your guide, he will NEVER lead you astray.  

With love,

Laura Cragun

This week I am talking about how to be mindful of your entertainment. What we put into us GREATLY affects us! It can either compliment the Spirit or offend the Spirit.

However, I have fallen into the trap lately of not watching much entertainment at all! It felt safer that way. It is hard to find and I have been burned by it before as I try to be open and find things. The junk creeps in!  But be busy and productive with projects, kids, etc…

As you can imagine, this has not worked in the longer term. I am not a robot haha. I need to have GOOD content in my brain. Living stories that inspire, motivate and encourage me. The Protagonist feels reliable and grows through hard challenges and I feel SO good after I hear stories like that through great shows, movies, books, etc…

I have felt strange as an adult not being able to watch, participate or be a part of mainstream media entertainment over the past several years as I have started to be really picky about what I bring in. I would have negative internal dialogue “Why are you so sensitive?” “Come on…You’re an adult. It will be fine.” 

It feels isolating. I may have not been able to be a part of the conversations of what people are watching/reading etc… So what do I have to give?

Yes! It is so important to find good and beautiful sources of entertainment. It is not just about taking away the good. It is also about adding in the good. 

I have a few stories I share about it (you know me! I share stories!) And most importantly, I Invite you to carefully consider what you are entertaining yourself with, take out the evil and replace it with good. 

Being Mindful of our Entertainment is one reason how we will become a Zion people that is ready for Christ to come soon. We will have the Spirit more in our life, have more gusto for everyday ways to serve and share good entertainment with those we know and love too that can bless their life too.

Hope you accept my invitation to BE MORE MINDFUL of your Entertainment too. Have a great week!

I have taken a long break from things and I am excited to be back. I hope to share weekly messages with you of things that I am studying, thinking about or feel impressed to share with you. 

With taking a long break, I have worked on a few things. Myself, My family, Homestead plan and unfortunately, my doubts in myself. 

Myself:  I felt at peace to do the inner work of myself and my family. I got better with taking care of myself and improved my relationships with my family.  Trying to be a better neighbor and friend as well. Relying on God in the specifics in my life and taking time to go to the temple often.

Family: Being a mother of 3 kids and taking care of a home is one of the most important things I could do. Honing in on this role and falling in love with it all over again has been a miracle and blessing. It is a ton of work, as many of you would know, but I feel like my Savior cares and helps me, especially when I feel depleted.

Homestead: I am excited but It has been a stretching experience for my husband and I. We have been planning it for years and I am very grateful to finally make it happen this coming spring when it is done.  It has come with obstacles, trials, and doubts from people who don’t agree with me but I keep pushing forward. Grateful for a husband who is willing to do this, even though it is not his dream. It is hard for us moms to make our own dreams come true, when we mainly focus on everyone else’s. 

My doubts: I felt like I lost my connection with my voice and less confidence to share what I am feeling. Of course that is a lie from the adversary…. “What good do you have to say?” Then, of course, my past regrets of my coaching business and what I have learned after closing things up. I felt that many people share and teach a lot better! They are focused and collected. Less cringey than me. My style of sharing is more conversational and I share a lot of stories from my life. 

I finally realized and accepted that I just need to be ME. And that God wants me to share my light in whatever way that looks like for me. 

ZION: So after speaking about many of those personal things, I wanted to share my thoughts about ZION and how we can build it around us. 

I felt very impressed that this is my vision for life. Build Zion by creating love, connection and relationships…thus we will be able to better usher in our Saviors second coming. 

It is scary to surrender daily to the Lord and tell Him, “Thy will be done” with my time and efforts. But I know there is no better path to take than to live to serve and love others. This world is starved of goodness and maybe I can shed a little light in my little corner of the universe.  

If you have made it this far in the email, thank you for listening. I hope that this Youtube/Podcast (whichever way you choose to listen) helps give you perspective and inspiration. I don’t teach anything new really…it is just all about our motivation to finally do these things we already know. 

Sending love and feel free to reach out.

Laura Cragun

Lauracragun.com

YT: my channel

“I don’t think people understand how much Sense of Self matters.”

• Amber Price, BYU PhD Researcher

We will be talking about how important now more than ever, to self validate so that we can have better relationships. WE are at the CORE of these relationships, THUS we can make them better if we look within ourselves. 

Want to learn 2 new interesting terms?

We will be talking about

1. Emotional Fusion 

2. Self-Silencing

Tune in to hear her amazing insights! Find this interview on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or my website, LauraCragun.com.

Or visit her website at https://amberaprice.com/

“People would ask me, ‘How do I become more confident in sharing my testimony?”

First of all, you have to know for yourself.

So then if anyone comes to attack your beliefs, you will not fall.”

- Hayley Clark 

Sounds like a popular scripture, right?! (Hel. 5:12)

I was honored to speak with her, as a fellow sister, about our duty to share the gospel and our light. She is a great example of loving God more than loving the validation of man.

Learn more about her story and ways that she shares her testimony in this podcast/video. 

Find it on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or my website, LauraCragun.com.

Link to WATCH this Episode: https://lauracragun.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-start-homesteading-part-2/

Here is Part 2 of The Ultimate Guide on How to Start Homesteading!

As a side note, this guide is to help you figure out:

• What you would even WANT if you have a desire to homestead someday. Sometimes we don’t even know what options are available. (#thenotebook – As Ryan Gosling would say, “What do you want?!” It is so important to decide what you even want)
• What to look for when you are SEARCHING for a Homestead property or about to buy one!
• Thus, I don’t share a ton of information about the ACTUAL homesteading logistics, like what plants in your garden grow best together, how to start a beehive, how to rotationally graze your cattle, etc…

The main topics I cover in this video are (Continuing from part 1):

• Irrigation. What it entails and what to search for. (Ex: Difference between water rights and water shares)
• A Miscellaneous Category on your due diligence as a buyer. Other things that many people don’t consider, but should! (Ex: HOA’s even in homestead neighborhoods, Easements, Location considerations, etc…)
• Deciding on the HOUSE! Pros and Cons of a Custom Build, Manufactured Home and Anything that is more unconventional like: Barndominiums, Shed Houses, Build-it-Yourself Kits, etc…
• LASTLY, and the much anticipated discussion of BUDGETING. HOW MUCH will all this cost! I will be giving you a breakdown of it all – Septic Tank, Permit fees, the Manufactured House itself, etc…But keep in mind, I will be sharing ballpark numbers $$

It has been a treat to share this all with you and I hope it helps at least ONE PERSON who is following it! Good luck on your journey, wherever you are!

ox, 

Laura

My Website: Visit the Blog Post of this Podcast/YouTube

Surprised by this title? Yeah…I am too! 

This is different from what I usually talk about with Mental Health!

But I felt like I needed to share what I have learned over the years on getting ready to finally purchase our family homestead this summer and FULFILL MY DREAM that I have had for years.

I hesitated to do a podcast on this because I am NOT an expert nor am I homesteading YET!

I thought it would be good to share with you what I am learning WHILE I am searching.  

I have learned so many logistics and mechanics on how to make my dream a reality and I believe it will help you if you are considering it too.   

In this episode, I will be talking about the W’s of getting started with Homesteading. How, When, Where, What, Why.

But here is a preview:

WHY?

• I DEEPLY desire for a slower pace of life, friendlier community, and getting back to the land and nature, especially since I grew up that way.

WHEN? 

• These ARE the last days. Christ’s Second Coming is sooner than we think. I want to be prepared physically for those difficult events to come.

WHERE?

• Where do you want to be? How far away will your urban fringe will be so you can still get to a Costco/Walmart? Does your work situation allow you to further out? 

WHAT?

• How much land do you want? Current homestead or buying a lot to build your own home? What do you want to do with your homestead? (As little as a 1/4 acre with your house, a chicken coop & a garden… all the way to having a 10 acres with the whole gamut - greenhouse, barn, pasture, pens, etc… 

HOW?

• The toughest question of all. I will be going through specifics such as-

• Mentally preparing: Resilience, getting your family on board, your current lifestyle

• Creating a “Saved Search” on a Real Estate App for the type of property you want (even before you are ready to buy) so you can look for a while and get used to what the lingo and culture of buying a homestead is like

• Utilities: Having Water, Septic, Power and Gas

• MANY other things…
  

There will be two parts to this episode because it is such a big topic. So stay tuned next week for Part 2 where I will be talking about:

• The Home itself and what your options are

• Irrigation: Having water is KEY

• PLUS! A Budgeting Breakdown - with actual prices $$$

Kind of cool, right?! It is exciting to share and I wish I had a complete resource like this when I first started searching and figuring this out. Reach out anytime if you have any questions - [email protected].

Xo,

Laura

Kristen Walker Smith is an Author, Speaker and Creator of One Minute Scripture Study. She has struggled with OCD since she started having children.

I felt drawn to her since I have loved ones who have OCD and wanted to learn more.

Hope this conversation opens up ideas to help you or your loved ones who also struggle with this mental illness.

More from Kristen: Website: https://kristenwalkersmith.com/

IG: kristenwalkersmith

Hello! Glad to be back. Giving you a few:

• Life updates
• biz updates,
• thoughts about the Second Coming &
• what to expect in the future from me!

Check out the video of this podcast on my website blog. https://lauracragun.com/