Tribe of Testimonies

There's something about Zumba instructors. Maybe Zumba instructors are supposed to have beautiful souls. Eileen Crocker definitely has a beautiful soul. Seems like she is the type of person that you'd like to dance with. Seems like she's the type of person that you'd be uplifted by just being around. I love her testimony that she knows that missionary work and temple work are f...

Tawny McEwen and I have a lot in common--and so much not in common. But I feel like that with a lot of the guests here on Tribe of Testimonies. I think that's something the Lord wants us to all feel about each other--that we're family in one regard or another. Anyway, Tawny is pretty amazing. The way she and her family have loved their extended family is a prime example of how to witness...

When I started doing some research on creating this podcast, Kyle Forsyth was one of the first "strangers" that I reached out to. I'm so glad that I did. I value his friendship and his testimony. Kyle, to be honest, doesn't know that much about his tribes as far as their traditions, language, and culture. That's okay. I feel like a stranger in my own tribe sometimes. But,...

This is an audio version of the November 26, 2021, devotional interview with Elder Larry Echo Hawk, emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Echo Hawk shares his conversion story, his testimony of the Book of Mormon, his walking by faith in life decisions, and how to have the Lord on your side. For a video version of this intervie...

Here are two short stories about Christmas time from two wonderful Navajos. Thanks to Elliot Bryant and Betty LaFontaine. We hope these thoughts bring you cheer and gratitude for the blessing of a Savior. Yáʼátʼééh Késhmish! Merry Christmas!

Charity Fleming is a busy woman! She works AND has a multitude of pet projects. She has four kids and a husband. And she's the Primary President in her ward!!!! Whew! I just got tired typing all of that. I love talking to Charity and learning about her conversion. It's actually pretty perfect for Christmastime, to talk about giving your life to the Savior or finding Him. Either. I loved...

Gabriel LaDue has had a very interesting life--and he's only in his 20's! His father is Ojibwe and his mother is eastern European. He's been blessed to have been able to spend time with both cultures as well as other cultures. But the culture that has been the most impactful on him is the culture of Jesus Christ. I loved spending time with him and talking families, experiences, and...

Rachel Crouse and I have something in common: we did NOT expect to start something big--but the Spirit witnessed that it was a calling and the Lord made doors open.  Rachel and her family have started a non-profit to help the residents on the Hopi Reservation. It has brought her closer to her family, to her roots, and to the Lord. Also, Rachel witnesses of the blessing a ward family can be in the...

As we started to talk, William Locklear shared some things about how he's grateful for the Lumbee community he hails from. He shared how he feels connected to them whenever he find another Lumbee. He didn't say it, but I think that is a parallel with how a lot of us feel about sharing the Light of Christ with others--we feel connected.  William also shares how he has been blessed by tryi...

I love to giggle. I actually did that quite a bit in this interview with Mariah Pope. It just seemed like we had a lot in common. And I loved that she was able to see the humor of things that have happened in her life. Like being called into a Relief Society presidency when she felt not just that the calling should go to someone else, but that she didn't even know the sisters she was called t...

Of all my family, I must be Steve Scott's biggest fan. Why do I say that? Because I know that my family watches Steve and Chelsea for part of their "Come, Follow me" study each week and none of them caught the times Steve has mentioned his indigenous affiliation except me!  Ha!  Steve fills my soul every time he shares testimony with me (and the world). Could you imagine the good in...

Jesse Fox comes from a large family. The amazing thing is that every child has graduated from college, almost half of them with graduate degrees. Jesse is a chiropractor in the Phoenix area. He never intended on ending up in Arizona, it was not in his plans. But, when the Lord points you in a specific direction, you go. He's learned that about a lot of other aspects of his life as well. I&apo...

This is a selfish episode. My oldest brother, Jarom Worthen, returned to our Heavenly Father on October 26, 2021. This episode is a tribute to that man. I love him dearly and will miss him every day.

Meet another wonderful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Tom Pittman. Tom literally brought me to tears as he shared his story about how he came to learn about a true prophet on the earth today, about how he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and about how he gave up so much to join and become a Latter-day Saint. Also, he claims at one point to not have any personality--but t...

This beautiful woman, Betty LaFontaine, is the type of woman I truly want to emulate. She has grace, strength, and love. She's been through a lot in her life and has seemed to pick the roses from out of the thorns. Some people have the gift of truly looking into another's heart and knowing them, and I feel like that is one of Betty's gifts. Her testimony of the Book of Mormon, and e...

I recently received an email from Chris Nez asking if we could schedule a time for an interview. He is a sixth generation member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through one of his Navajo lines. SIXTH! Can you believe that? It's amazing. He didn't come to know that he was a sixth generation just as part of family lore, he had to learn it by family history. Doing family...

What a spunky, heart-full-of-joy person Meredith Schramm is! As we interviewed on the phone, I just wanted to be in the same room as her to see her expressions and her bounce. She has a love of people. She has a love of education. She has a love of so many things. Did you know she and her family also do amazing beadwork? Well, it shouldn't surprise you. The way she recognizes the small and bi...

It's something I've often wondered about: how will my life turn out? I think Stephanie Hansen asks this about her own life as well. Her life hasn't turned out like she imagined it would. And yet it is such a beautiful experience she's going through. She's single. She lives in a small town on the border of the Navajo Reservation. And she is blessing the lives of so many peo...

This guy is sharp! Or at least, the tools he uses are sharp. He's a barber. So, pull up a chair and have a visit with him. Devin Nez is the oldest of three sons. He has spent time learning and growing on the Navajo Reservation as well as his teen years in Utah County. He served a mission in the Dakotas where he learned from teachers of true charity. You like sports? So does Devin. He's l...

This young recently-returned missionary, Joseph Namingha, is a thinker. He thinks about how we can each receive our own personal revelation. He thinks about how his parents and grandparents have set a good example to him that he wants to emulate. He thinks about how a simple message on social media can influence the people who read it. He thinks about how the scriptures have meaning to us even in...

My introduction to Palmer Gambler was last December when I first listened to his podcast. He really wants to share his testimony of a loving Father in Heaven and a Savior. He loves his wife and their children with his whole heart. He recognizes weaknesses in himself and seeks to improve. He sees the greatness in the youth today. He witnesses that miracles aren't always found by stumbling acro...

This kid, Sonny Pugh, is absolutely a light. We met on the Book of Mormon live videos set as extras. (His parents are awesome too. They love their children fiercely.) Sonny doesn't live around many other people who look like him. But he recognizes, even at 13-years-old, that first and foremost he is a son of God. He wants to do good and be good. He wants to please both his mortal parents and...

Way back when I first started this podcast, my friend told me to plan on interviewing Priscilla Yellowhead Tobey. I'm so glad that I finally could interview Priscilla. I love that she allowed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to change her. I love that she recognizes how the scriptures apply directly to her. I love that she has the ability to call down the blessings of Heaven into her life. I love t...

My husband often asks me what stood out to me about an interview when I complete it. This time I told him that Jessica Delai was a convert, who for a time, was inactive. Then she told me that one day she looked at herself and thought, "I'm inactive." Jessica then realized the best way to *become active* was to DO something about it. I really admire that about Jessica--she does somet...

One of the very first Native friends I met at BYU was Dana Anquoe. She was just as green as I was, but it turns out she didn't have the support that I did. In other words--she was a lot braver than I was. I admire that about her. I admire her courage. I also admire her indomitable spirit. During this conversation, I learned about her that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has really been a sure foun...