Steve prepares for the 2023 Parliament of World Religions in Chicago by speaking with Bernie Newman, Shoaib Khadri, Barb Maloof, and Bruce Duffield about interfaith service projects in Chicagoland.
Dr. Ben Erwin received his master's degree from the University of Hawaii, and his PhD from Brigham Young University. His clinical specialties include marriage counseling, addictions and working with adolescents. Ben is currently the program manager for the Addiction Recovery Program for the Church and is also adjunct faculty for Utah Valley University's Marriage and Family Therapy program. He has served as a member of the Utah Governor’s Behavioral Health Workgroup and a board member of the Salt Lake County Mayor’s Behavioral Health Advisory Council. He and his wife Sarah are the proud parents of five children. Highlights
Dr. Susan Easton Black continues to explore how Paul bears his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ through the rise in persecution and the importance of baptisms by immersion and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
No matter how hard you try, life will very likely to turn out much differently than you expect it will...but that doesn't mean what you experience is necessarily bad. Quadriplegic Chad Hymas shares some of the most liberating lessons he's learned through his own ups and downs that will help you honor your losses and encourage you to live your life the best you can moving forward.
Daniel Brown currently serves as bishop of the Searcy Ward in Searcy, Arkansas. He has previously served as a counselor in the bishopric, elders quorum president, Young Men president, and a counselor in the stake Young Men presidency, among other callings. He served in the Nevada, Las Vegas mission and has been married to Lacey Brown for 20 years. They are the parents of five children. Highlights
In May of this year, the news program 60 Minutes aired a segment exploring the finances of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. David Nielsen, a former portfolio manager at Ensign Peak, the investment arm of the Church, alleged that the Church had been operating improperly as a tax-exempt organization and called for that tax-exempt status to be revoked. 60 Minutes also interviewed W. Christopher Waddell, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, who denied Nielsen’s claims. Near the end of June, the Wall Street Journal published an article of its own, again emphasizing the size of the Church’s assets and the opulence of its temples.
Brooke Petersen lives in Cleveland, Utah, a rural town south of Price. Her husband, Hans, commutes to West Valley City, Utah, where he practices pediatric dentistry. Brooke and Hans have five children, and Brooke enjoys working in the yard. She currently serves in the Church as the stake Young Women president of the Huntington Utah Stake. Thomas Sitterud also lives in Cleveland with his wife and three children. He served a mission to Vladivostok, Russia, and then studied Russian at Brigham Young University. He graduated from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and specializes in estate planning. Thomas currently serves as stake Young Men president and stake high councilor. His previous service includes bishopric counselor and elders quorum president. Highlights
Whether it's a big thing or a small thing, if that "thing" is important to us, it is important to our Heavenly Father. Quadriplegic Meg Johnson helps us recognize all of the ways God enables us on a day-to-day basis. Though He may not always give us exactly what we ask for, we can be assured that He is always listening and He will always give us the means to accomplish what He knows is best for us.
This is Part 2 of a 2-part podcast. Listen to Part 1 HERE. Sara Newman
Ben Thatcher is a life-long church member, having grown up in small wards and branches across Texas. He served in the France Paris mission and has degrees in Mass Communication (University of Utah) and Public Administration (University of North Texas). Ben has worked in local government in several cities across Texas and currently is the city manager of Boerne (pronounced Burn-nee), Texas, northwest of San Antonio. He currently serves as bishop of his ward and has also served as an executive secretary, ward clerk, Sunday School president, bishopric counselor, and high councilor. When he is not at city hall or church, Ben can often be found coaching youth baseball in his spare time. He and his wife, Summer, have been married for over 23 years and have four sons. Highlights