Persecution may rage, mobs may combine, and armies may assemble—but nothing will stop the work from progressing. John looks at missionary work, returning home early and dealing with unexpected changes with a reminder of who is truly in charge of the work.
Maggie Siddiqi shares her experiences working in various governmental and faith-based community roles, emphasizing the strategic and moral necessity of cross-faith partnerships.
In this heartfelt episode, returning guest Karen Papin dives deep into the journey of moving from fear to faith. Drawing from scripture, personal experience, and practical coaching tools, Karen helps us see fear not as a sign of failure, but as an indicator that we’re stepping outside our comfort zone. Together, we explore how gratitude, self-compassion, connection, and divine trust can help us navigate fear and grow in faith.
" I think studying a little bit about a hard topic can be more dangerous than studying a lot about a hard topic because there's so much more under the iceberg that can help contextualize what's going on. And so I would definitely say if you're struggling, don't be afraid of the hard questions, but just do it with an approach of faith, hope, and charity. Take a deep breath, make sure you take your time and are doing it in a mindset where you are prepared to tackle these in a rational, reasonable, and faith filled way. But probably more importantly, I ultimately don't think that study and rational thinking is what really keeps people in the church. It really is having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It's those spiritual moments that make us realize that this is true, that this is good, that this is something that is going to bring so much meaning and beauty into my life and this is gonna bring me closer to God than anything else."
When trials get steep and hope runs thin, what keeps you hanging on to faith?
We all want assurance, but the Lord reminds us that signs follow faith—not the other way around. What can we learn from those who demanded signs in scripture, and how do we cultivate faith first?
This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in September 2021. Michael A. Goodman has worked for the Church Educational System since 1989 and was the manager of CES College Curriculum before joining the Brigham Young University Church History and Doctrine department in 2007. He is a professor of Religious Education and serves as the RSC’s Associate Publications Director and the Editor of the Religious Educator journal. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with Public Relations, a master’s degree in Information Technology, and a PhD in Marriage, Family, and Human Development. He is a co-investigator on the Family Foundations of Youth Development longitudinal research project, focused on adolescent and family faith development and mental health outcomes with a special emphasis on suicidality. Michael is married to Tiina Anita Goodman.
Jeff Renner discusses covering the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens and its profound impact on his faith and life.
" I remember the last thing that he landed on was talking about Jesus Christ, and I just remember thinking like, oh my gosh, like, what am I doing? How am I doing this by myself? How am I thinking I can possibly get through this crazy time in my life... How am I doing this alone? So I said, you know what, I'm going to read the Book of Mormon, everything revolves around this book, right? Let's see what it's actually about."
When you discover ancient artifacts and petroglyphs near Nauvoo Illinois that support the Book of Mormon, do you keep it to yourself or share it?