Evangelical Pastor Jeff and his wife, Joy open up about their marriage, sharing how they support each other and keep their faith strong through life's challenges. We discuss faith transitions, the transformative power of interfaith dialogue, spiritual strength in marriage. You’ll feel uplifted by their inspiring story of resilience, connection, and faith!
Alan Townsend describes his early professional and personal life as marked by a naïve faith in the power of science to provide answers and solve problems. Townsend was already softening his early scientific dogmatism when his wife and his daughter were diagnosed with unrelated brain cancers. One survived, while the other did not, and this father and husband then had to choose how to how to put back the pieces, both of his life and of his view of a universe that once seemed to him so clear and logical.
After farmer Mas Masumoto was contacted as next-of-kin for a woman he knew almost nothing about, he set about to uncover why his disabled aunt was hidden away after WWII, and his efforts began to heal wounds that were seven decades old. His story tracks the triumphs and heartaches of four generations of Japanese Americans.
Amidst the annus horribilis that was 2020, New York-based writer John Oakes sought to exorcise some of his own inner noise and "automaticity" by doing a week-long liquid-only fast. He liked it so well that he and his wife, Carin Kuoni, began fasting twice a year. And he liked that so well that he wrote a book about it. In this episode of Constant Wonder he and Carin explain the how and why of these biannual fasts.
Ever wonder how laughter can be a lifeline in the midst of mental health struggles? Join us as we sit down with Brian Boyd, a substitute teacher whose humor and resilience have made him a beloved figure in his community. Brian opens up about his journey, sharing many of the difficult trials and challenges he's had to face throughout his life. Fortunately, throughout the darkness and difficulties, God has provided Brian with rays of hope through his family, his faith in the gospel, substitute teaching, and finding humor in daily activities.
When Christian Wiman and Danielle Chapman met and married, life seemed charmed and the horizon calm. But within a year, Christian was diagnosed with a rare, incurable blood cancer, and their life veered in directions unforeseen. Now, over twenty years later, Christian and Danielle and their two teenage daughters are thriving; Christian is cancer free after the latest round of therapy. He has been the beneficiary of multiple timely medical breakthroughs. Along the way, they have experienced intense joy amidst great pain and developed a quiet, shared Christian faith.
In this episode we’ll talk about Mosiah chapter twenty-nine and Alma chapters one through four. We’ll talk about the major change in Nephite government discussed in these chapters, where they transition from a government of kings to a government of democratically-elected judges. We’ll discuss the process of change in general and how our natures are prone to resist change. We’ll review how the gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to help us change, despite our natural desires to the contrary. We’ll talk about how learning to accept change can increase our spiritual and emotional resilience.
In this episode, Devin Cummins talks about his life as a marine, and his journey in the military and law enforcement. He also shares some of his most difficult and darkest times, and how the prompting of a bishop helped to save his life. Devin's story, while seasoned with challenges and trials, is also steeped in resilience, and is a powerful testament to the endurance of the human spirit and the guiding light of a higher power through moments of isolation and self-discovery.
After Tod O'Donnell suffers a traumatic brain injury, his filmmaker son, Tim, documents his recovery and his advocacy for others. The family embraces "Tod 2.0," a more fearless, more open version of his former self. Listen to Tod's accounts of life today, what he calls "a new frontier."
Scharman Grimmer serves as a member of the Young Women General Advisory Council for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has served as stake and ward Primary president; ward Young Women president, Primary and Relief Society counselor, stake Young Women camp director, Sunday School teacher, Seminary teacher, and in Primary as a music leader, teacher, and Nursery leader.