Ah-ha's, Awakenings, and Applications

Synopsis of Episode: Elder Laursen of the Service Mission Counsel joins Leann and Melissa to discuss his experiences as a service missionary and how to love and support those on their individual journeys to Christ.   Ponder Questions: Am I asking questions? Am I looking out for those that may be struggling? Am I sharing and inviting? How am I growing closer to Christ? Do I know that I am a ch...

Synopsis of Episode: Leann and Melissa discuss the importance of becoming one in purpose and how working together and recognizing everyone’s unique gifts can help bring people together.    Ponder Questions: Am I unifying with others in our love for the Savior? Am I showing respect for others? Am I taking opportunities to serve with others? What are my motives? What can I do to create uni...

Episode 60 -  New Ways of Knowing: Finding Empowerment Through Humility  Synopsis of Episode: Nate rejoins Leann and Melissa to talk about how humility differs from downplay and the empowering qualities and learning opportunities that come from true humility.   Ponder Questions: Do I know what humility really is? Do I understand the nature of God? Do I know what pride is? Am I doing...

Leann and Melissa discuss the difference between happiness and joy, seeking for daily joy with Christ, and finding glimmers of hope during hard days.   Ponder Questions: What brings me joy? How can I feel more joy? What does Christ want to teach me right now? How am I feeling God's unfailing love for me? When have I felt joy in my life?   Invitation: Make a joy list. Write down times in...

Leann and Melissa talk about the importance of asking for spiritual gifts and how these gifts allow us to grow closer to Heavenly Father and better serve one another.  Ponder Questions: Am I sharing the spiritual gifts I have been given? Am I allowing others to bless me through their gifts?  Invitation: Take the time and effort to find the gems about spiritual gifts from this list of res...

Leann and Melissa discuss how transformation is a process and finding the desire to make changes in our lives.    Ponder Questions: Do I want to be intentional with my change, or do I want to be compelled to change? Am I willing to see where I can change? Am I ready to take a different path? Am I ready to create a new trail? Am I choosing to get out of my cocoon? “Do you comprehend the i...

Leann and Melissa discuss how our daily choices determine our direction in life and how we have been given the power to change our patterns and choose God.   Ponder Questions: Am I aware of my choices? Am I being intentional as I make choices? Am I ready to make changes to my trajectory? Am I choosing to rise above the negativity? Am I seeing patterns in my choice making?   Invitation: B...

Leann and Melissa discuss the difference between motives and intentions and how aligning yourself with God daily helps change your perspective.   Ponder Questions: What are my motives for doing things? Are my motives pure? Why? Am I doing everything for God? Am I praying for help? Do I have gratitude in my heart? Am I allowing the Lord to soften my heart? Am I serving with love and kindness?...

Leann and Melissa discuss spiritual confidence and how growing in charity and virtue help us feel more confident in God’s presence.    Ponder Questions: Do I have confidence to approach God right now? Where am I at right now? Am I being a peacemaker? Am I focusing on developing Christlike attributes? Do I say, “I love this person, but . . .”? What can I do to increase spiritual confidenc...

Leann and Melissa are joined by their friend Evelyn as they discuss being willing to participate in Christlike service and how we can find joy and unity through helping others.     Ponder Questions: Am I taking the time to be with God? Am I seeking God’s comfort, council, guidance and direction? Am I staying in the fire? Am I willing to wait on the Lord? Am I trusting Him? Do I have...

Leann and Melissa talk about the original definition of courage and how acts of support and unity helps others show courage.    Ponder Questions: Am I willing to exercise courage in choosing the right? Do I have the courage to stand up for what I believe? Do I have the courage to smile or reach out to someone? Do I have the courage to resolve a conflict in my life? Can I help others be s...

Leann and Melissa discuss the importance and benefits of showing yourself kindness.    Ponder Questions: What is my inner bully? How can I make friends with myself? Am I willing to do the work? Can I make peace with myself? What do I need to change to support myself right now? How can I comfort myself right now? Can I hug myself? Am I isolating myself? Am I being self aware and seeing th...

Nate, Leann, and Melissa continue to talk about empathy and ownership and how conflict can create opportunities for connection.    Ponder Questions: Am I willing to have empathy? Am I willing to stop and ask for understanding in a heated conversation? Am I willing to get out of my ego? Am I willing to plant that seed of desire? Do I want to create more connections in my life?   Invi...

Nate returns as a guest to talk with Leann and Melissa about how empathy involves letting go of solution-based mindsets and creating a safe space to listen and understand.   Ponder Questions: Am I asking the person questions to understand more? Am I asking, “What was that like for you?” Am I willing to open the conversation? Am I creating a safe space? Am I seeking understanding instead of wa...

Leann and Melissa dig into the definition of compassion and how it differs from sympathy.    Ponder Questions: Can I sit with others in compassion? Am I able to sit with someone and see them and validate their feelings? How am I showing compassion? Am I being loving and kind? Am I showing others love?   Invitation: Find ways to exercise more compassion this week.    Refere...

Leann and Melissa discuss the themes and messages they took from the April 2025 General Conference and what they have learned in their year of podcasting.   Ponder Questions: Am I choosing to become holier? Am I putting forth the time and effort to know Christ? Am I willing to be replanted and start again with Christ? Am I serving with the right motives? Am I praying to know how to fulfill ot...

Leann and Melissa talk about the importance of acting on good thoughts and how seemingly small or random promptings fit into Heavenly Father’s eternal perspective.   Ponder Questions: Am I writing down the promptings that I am receiving? Do I act on my promptings? Am I questioning my promptings? Am I being aware of my thoughts? Am I upping my game? Who am I being influenced by? Am I aware of...

Melissa, Leann and Analese continue their discussion by talking about unsuccessful methods of avoiding shame and the steps we can take to counteract and heal from shame.    Ponder Questions: Am I shining light on the shame and letting Christ in? What lie am I stuck in? Am I willing to see what is triggering my shame? Is shame where I go first? Am I willing to break the cycle? Am I allowi...

Melissa’s daughter Analese joins Melissa and Leann to discuss the difference between guilt and shame and how Christ sees us as people.   Ponder Questions: Am I feeling guilt or shame right now? Is guilt motivating me to repent? Do I know which one I am experiencing? Am I letting go of self criticism?   References: Nate was a guest for episode 17, “Drawing In the Sand: Choosing Non-Judgme...

Leann and Melissa talk about the limitations of past expectations and how trusting in Christ helps us open our minds to change and growth.   Ponder Questions: Am I willing to change? Am I set in my old ways? What expectations are keeping me from receiving greater blessings? Are my expectations realistic? Am I using judgment to justify my expectations? Am I embracing the future with faith? Are...

Leann and Melissa discuss how Christ strengthens us to help us carry our burdens and how increasing our testimonies helps us fortify ourselves, our homes and our families.   Ponder Questions: How has the Lord strengthened me to bear my burdens? Do I ask for strength through my challenges? Am I relying on the Lord or my own strength? Am I building a fortress of spiritual strength and protectio...

Leann and Melissa continue their discussion on hope by reviewing the emotional and physical benefits of hope and talking about how hope is centered in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.    Ponder Questions: Am I having hopeful thoughts? Do I have “happiness habits”? Am I focusing on happiness? Do I have a nourishing network? Where am I finding hope? Am I allowing hope in the Atonement to str...

Leann and Melissa discuss what it means to have hope in Christ and how faith and hope are intertwined. Ponder Questions: Do I have a firm hope in Christ? How can I increase my faith and hope? Invitation: Make a list of what your foundation of hope is built on. References: Ether 12 :4 “Hope,” Guide to the Scriptures, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  Google AI Overview result of...

Leann and Melissa talk about changing our perspective in times of chaos and the importance of connecting with God throughout the day.   Ponder Questions: What is God’s plan for me? Am I praying for His guidance throughout the day? Am I dedicating my life to God? Am I seeking His grace in my life? Do I understand what God’s grace is? Am I taking time during the day to be still? Am I feeling pe...

Leann and Melissa talk about how feeling God’s love removes the barriers we place between ourselves and others and brings us closer to Him.   Ponder Questions: What does keeping the first two commandments mean to me? Am I limiting God and putting Him in a box? How can I not limit God? How can I lift and love others? Do I serve others because I love and trust God? Do I feel and recognize His l...