Mission Stories

Send us Fan Mail Elder Roy Atkin shares post-WW2 West German Mission stories and LDS mission prep lessons on how bold invitations, opening your mouth, and the Book of Mormon help missionaries find the elect and invite true spiritual conversion through the Holy Ghost. A Foundational Testimony at Twelve Years Old Growing up in Boulder City, Nevada, Roy Atkin’s spiritual journey began at age twelve w...

Send us Fan Mail Sister Ward and Sister Harrell share LDS conversion stories and California Carlsbad Mission lessons on overcoming trauma, toxic relationships, and lukewarm faith through agency, Alma 7:11 revelation, and putting "both feet in" for Christ. From Rock Bottom Trauma to the Alma 7:11 Breakthrough Before her mission, Sister Ward hit "rock bottom" during her senior ye...

Send us Fan Mail Discover why Elder Boss served his Colombia mission with all his heart. In this LDS mission prep conversion story, learn how finding the elect and knowing your core "why" transforms a full-time mission into a powerful legacy of faith. At age twelve, Brayden "Boss" Latulippe had a profound spiritual awakening: every blessing in his life—being born in the covenan...

Send us Fan Mail Elder Kade Uda shares his Philippines Bacolod Mission stories and LDS mission prep lessons on overcoming lukewarm faith, owning agency, and becoming a consecrated instrument in Christ's hands to help find the elect and invite true conversion. From Lukewarm Isolation to the Crossroads of Choice Kade candidly recounts how the isolation of the COVID pandemic hit during his forma...

Send us Fan Mail LJ Webb, a defensive tackle at Palomar College, joins Shawn to share a powerful witness of moving from a traumatic, fatherless childhood to discovering his true identity as a beloved son of God. Growing up in Ohio without a father, LJ was thrust into adult responsibilities as early as seven years old, helping sell drugs to ensure his four younger brothers had food on their plates....

Send us Fan Mail Shawn sits down with Ammon Hiatt (Elder Hiatt), who recently returned from serving in the Salt Lake City Mission (covering Sugar House, Bountiful, and Big Piney, Wyoming). Having attended Shawn’s mission prep class through multiple sessions prior to his call, Ammon shares his journey from a self-focused, lukewarm mindset to experiencing a mighty change of heart through consecrated...

Send us Fan Mail In a special teaching-focused reflection celebrating over 70 episodes of the podcast, Shawn Record dives into the single most crucial key to missionary success and personal conversion: the transformative, hopeful, and joyous power of repentance . Drawing on classic moments from past guests, Shawn dismantles the cultural misconception that repentance is shameful or scary, highlight...

Send us Fan Mail Shawn Record sits down with his longtime friend and legendary missionary companion, Elder Jacob Pack , who served in Ukraine. Their conversation centers on Principle Two: Revelation Leads to Conversion , focusing on the reality that we cannot truly love the people we serve until we first experience the healing, sanctifying power of personal repentance. Pack shares a profound spiri...

Send us Fan Mail Elder Chase Lindsey , recently returned from the Ireland Scotland Mission , joins Shawn to share how a missionary's willingness to "invite boldly" acts as the catalyst for gathering prepared souls. Even while temporarily home recovering from a sudden shoulder injury, Chase models Christlike patience—defining it not as passive resignation, but as cheerfully doing eve...

Send us Fan Mail When we align our faith with the Lord's timing, the boundaries of language, distance, and circumstance dissolve. In this powerful reunion episode, Shawn is joined by returned missionaries and husband-and-wife duo Alex Tilton (England London Mission) and Olya Tyltina (Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission). Together, they explore Principle Five: Miracles and Angels Are You...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mission Stories , Shawn welcomes Olya (Leila) Tyltina , a witness to the "genesis" of the Church in Makiivka, Ukraine. Their conversation explores the profound spiritual awakening that occurred as the Iron Curtain was lifted, transforming a society built on communist "belonging" into one searching for eternal truth. Olya’s journey, beginning...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Shawn welcomes Sister Elle Dorney , a "happy powerhouse" who recently returned from the Austin Texas Mission . Elle’s journey is a vibrant witness of how the Holy Ghost transforms a "lukewarm" high school experience into a life of consecrated discipleship. Her story centers on Principle Two: Revelation Leads to Conversion , illustrating that th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Shawn is joined by Lauren (Lolo) and Chase Routson, a missionary "power couple" who met while serving in the Brazil Goiânia Mission. Their narrative explores a profound spiritual transition: the move from being "acted upon" by circumstances to exercising the god-like power of agency. The core transformation highlights how a missionary must grad...

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Shawn is joined by Jacob Woodward , who recently returned from the Washington Tacoma Mission . Jacob shares a powerful account of moving from a state of spiritual "lukewarmness" and reactive discipleship to a life of proactive, consecrated faith. The episode explores the foundational principles of conversion, illustrating how a single sincere choice...

Send us Fan Mail Claire Peterson from Kyle, Texas, joins Shawn to discuss her transition from a faithful but "casual" teenager to a "red-hot" missionary in the Hawaii Laie Mission. The conversation centers on Principle One: Choose Ye This Day , and the vital necessity of moving from a lukewarm state to one of intentional, bold discipleship. Claire shares how she overcame the &q...

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Shawn is joined by guest Kay Frazier and co-host Lauren to explore the profound transition from a life of self-reliant perfectionism to a heart-centered reliance on the Atonement. Kay’s story is a masterclass in Principle One: Agency and the healing power of Jesus Christ, illustrating how unprocessed trauma can be transformed into spiritual strength when we c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Mission Stories podcast , Shawn sits down with Thomas Harris , a missionary preparing to serve in Santiago, Chile , to discuss the vital transition from a "halted" or lukewarm state to a 10/10 commitment. The conversation centers on Principle One: Agency and Principle Two: Revelation , exploring how a young man move beyond spiritual stagnation by m...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mission Stories , Shawn sits down with Nick Spear , who served a unique and challenging mission "laboring in the country of Kazakhstan under the direction of the Russia Yekaterinburg Mission". Nick’s experience is a profound example of Principle One: Agency and Principle Three: An Open Mouth Finds Listeners , demonstrating how a missionary can thrive e...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mission Stories , Shawn sits down with Nick Smithson , who recently returned from serving in the Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission . Nick’s journey is a profound masterclass in moving from a state of hesitation and "cognitive-only" belief to a life governed by clear, personal revelation and intentional action. The conversation explores how a young m...

Send us Fan Mail Sister Lauren Allred recently returned from serving in Puebla, Mexico, carrying a fire that only comes from a deep, personal encounter with the Savior. In this episode, Shawn and Lauren explore the transition from being a "good kid" who simply "tows the line" to becoming a consecrated disciple who understands that repentance is the greatest gift available to ev...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mission Stories , Shawn welcomes Brady Hoggan , who recently returned from serving in the England Manchester Mission (2024–2026). The conversation explores the vital transition from possessing a "head knowledge" of the gospel to achieving a deep, internalized conversion through action. Brady illustrates through his experiences that while a primary-leve...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Shawn sits down with Sister Mackenzie Pyatt , who is currently in the home MTC preparing to serve in the Calgary, Canada Mission. Her story is a powerful testament to the transition from a passive, cultural "lukewarm" faith to a consecrated, "hot" discipleship rooted in personal revelation and a mighty change of heart. Mackenzie candidly shares...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Mission Stories, Shawn is joined by AJ Luekenga , who served in the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission. The conversation centers on a powerful mental shift required for every missionary: graduating from the passive feeling of "I have two years to sacrifice" to the urgent, active realization of "I only have two years to sprint". AJ shares how moving f...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Mission Stories podcast , Shawn welcomes Carson Brown , a recently returned missionary who served in the North Dakota Bismarck Mission . Carson shares a powerful, vulnerable account of his journey from a cultural, passive "lukewarm" faith to a consecrated, "hot" discipleship forged in what he calls the "refiner’s fire". Through...

Send us Fan Mail Sam Warner, a musician and skater from Encinitas, California, joins Shawn to reflect on the spiritual stretching he experienced while serving in the slums and favelas of São Paulo, Brazil. The core theme of this episode explores the transition from a "lukewarm" or "casual" faith to a "careful," intentional life of discipleship that invites constant re...