Every Day Conversion

​The Apostle Paul, at times, seems to be a larger than life character.  His boldness, his conversion, his intellect, his unwavering commitment to the Gospel.  What is it about Paul that makes him so captivating?  Maybe it's just that we know so much more about him than the other apostles...we have a more extensive biography of his travels and teachings. We have more of his writings....

The phrase "the ends justify the means" is quite well known...and probably because it has been so frequently employed by groups whose only concern was furthering their cause - no matter the collateral damage that may be caused.  Religious and secular groups alike have fallen into this belief. But the Savior warned that contention is NEVER acceptable...and He didn't leave that point open for d...

Often we, as members of the Church, think that faith and logic are opposed. We think that we just have to have faith...and that we'll just have to "make our stand" on what we believe to be true...with no evidence or logic to back us up. But Paul, in Acts 17 shows us that logic and reason are very much a part of the Gospel. We CAN explain and defend our faith in logical terms. In today's episode I...

Throughout his ministry, Paul had his fair share of adversities.  It was not uncommon for him to be accosted, beaten, imprisoned and more.  In Acts 16, he and Silas are beaten and imprisoned, and perhaps ONLY because they are imprisoned, they have the opportunity to share the Gospel with the jailor and his entire family.  Paul and Silas shared the Gospel through adversity...and in t...

Often when the Gospel being extended to the Gentiles is discussed, Peter's vision of the sheet full of unclean animals is discussed...and rightfully so.  However, Cornelius' being visited by an angel of the Lord is sometimes NOT told. But these two visions are connected, and when reviewed and studied together, give us unique insights about following promptings from the Spirit and receiving re...

Changing his name from Saul to Paul was perhaps the SMALLEST change that Paul made when he was converted and baptized.  It's hard to overstate the extent to which Saul had persecuted the saints and the Church as a whole prior to his conversion.  He participated and "consented unto [Stephen's] death" and actively sought to imprison and persecute both men AND women who professed faith in J...

Sometimes I think that Simon gets pigeonholed into being "Simon the Sorcerer"...when, as I read Acts 8, he seems like a man who, yes, had performed sorcery in the past, but had an honest conversion and was striving to live the Gospel as best he could.  There is much that we can learn about helping and having understanding toward new members of the church by studying the events surrounding Sim...

Philip, one of the seven called to assist the Quorum of the Twelve was a man of action.  A man who could be counted on to fulfill any responsibility given to him...and to do so immediately.  In today's episode we learn through Philip's example the importance of giving heed to the spiritual promptings we receive.  Question:   1. Do we, like Philip, run to follow the promptings o...

Stephen is well known as the "first martyr" of the Church following Christ's resurrection.  But he wasn't just a man who was willing to die for his testimony of Chirst.  He was a man who lived for it as well.  He was a man of faith.  A man full of the Holy Ghost.  A man well versed in the scriptures and a burning testimony.  There's a lot we can learn from Stephen as...

Do you ever have a day when you're just not feeling it?  Me too.  Today is one of those days.  It's what Pres. Boyd K. Packer referred to as a "...good, miserable day..." and he said that they are normal.  In today's episode I share 4 things I try to do when I'm just not feeling it.  Question:   1. What do you do when you're struggling, stressed or "just not feeling i...

In today's episode , we are concluding the series by taking a look at the culminating event to happen at the Feast of Pentecost, "...that same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." That is a great day by any missionaries standard! So how was Peter able to have such a profound impact on so many? I believe it was by facilitating spiritual experiences...and that's what we're goi...

We all know that we are suppose to teach the Gospel by the Spirit.  In John, Christ said that the Holy Ghost would teach and testify of all things, and in D&C 50 it says that if you do not teach by the Spirit, your teaching is not of God.  That is why it is so important for us as member missionaries, Primary, Sunday School and youth teachers, parents and ministering brothers and sist...

One of the most transcendent experiences of the post-ascension New Testament is that of the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2.  The outpouring the Spirit is readily remembered and revered by Christians all over the world.  In Part 1 of a brand-new 3-part podcast series on the Pentecost, we will discuss the Holy Ghost and the Gift of Tongues.  The gift of tongues as witness...

The meeting of the Apostles and other disciples of Christ following the Savior's ascension into heaven to fill the vacancy in the Twelve is instructive for us as members of the church today.  There is much that we can learn from this account in Acts 1 regarding the process of one being called to positions in the church, as well as what such a call means (and doesn't mean).  In today's ep...

Can you "earn" blessings? D&C 130 says that we receive blessings by obedience to laws...so does that equate to "earning" them? That's one of the subjects Elder Renlund addressed in his April 2019 General Conference talk, which we review in today's episode. Through some really great analogies and stories, Elder Renlund does a great job of helping us understand exactly how to receive blessings f...

The two disciples traveling to Emmaus were perhaps the first people to interact with the resurrected Savior for a long period of time.  They walked and talked with Him for HOURS...and yet they had no clue who He was until they sat down to eat with Him at the end of the day.  How could they not know him?  Not recognize him? Or his manner of speech? Or how he taught?  It seems cr...

It is always our faith and belief that falters, never the Savior's promises.  He ALWAYS fulfills His promises, we only need to wait for them to be fulfilled.  We have to WAIT on the Lord.  But this isn't a passive, sitting around, twiddling our thumbs type of waiting (does anyone beside me say "twiddling my thumbs" anymore??).  It's a kid-waiting-for-Santa-to-come type of waiti...

This past week I have been out of town with my daughter at the Oregon Morgan Classic Horse Show.  We found ourselves driving home on Sunday...so we decided to record a podcast episode to talk about how we live the Gospel when we have to travel and can't attend our home ward.  We hope you enjoy this episode!  Questions:  1. What can you do while traveling to maintain the Spirit...

Today we are reviewing Elder Uchtdorf’s talk from the April 2019 General Conference titled “Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart.” I also have a special guest on today's episode sharing her insights on the topic.  Questions:   1. What can you do today to share the Gospel? Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/080

Judas Iscariot is, perhaps, the greatest villain in all human history, and it's easy to paint him as a purely evil man who was motivated by a little money to betray the Savior of the world. However, if we paint him in this light - as purely evil - we may miss many important lessons (and warnings) that can be derived from his actions. Judas had shortcomings, and those shortcomings culminated in som...

When did Christ "become" the Savior of the world?  Was it at the Council in Heaven prior to the creation?  Or was it when He was born in Bethlehem?  Or was it when He entered the Garden of Gethsemane or was nailed to the cross?  Well, this past week in Gospel Doctrine I heard a quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland that changed my perspective of the answer to that very question.&...

You may have heard that Edmund Burke quote... "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." It's a profound quote...and one that immediately came to mind as I was reading the account of Pilate's interactions with the Savior, the leaders of the Jews and the multitude of people that were demanding that He be crucified.  It's almost laughable that Pilate thoug...

Remembering is a powerful thing.  So much so that the main command or invitation of the ordinance of the sacrament is to...you got it, remember!  But Satan has done his best to try to remove this command from the sacrament all together.  In today's episode we talk about the importance of remembering.  Questions:  1. What can we learn about humility and not trusting solely...

When you look at the Peter of the Gospels compared to the Peter we meet in the book of Acts there is a stark difference.  In the Gospels we have Peter denying that he even KNOWS the Savior (not once, not twice...but THREE times)... In Acts we have Peter bearing testimony to thousands that Jesus is the Christ, being imprisoned by the high priest and other Jewish leaders and then facing them an...

Sometimes the best way that we can serve others has nothing to do with actually serving at all...it has to do with allowing others to serve us. And that is a hard thing to do. And that's what today's episode is all about. If you struggle with accepting service from others (Like I do...), then this episode is for you!  We'll review Mary's service toward the Savior, as well as some of the conte...