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This episode of Mission Stories Podcast features returned missionary Sister Emma Stanford, focusing on the theme "Revelation Leads to Conversion". The discussion explores how God communicates through the Holy Ghost and the transformative power of discerning and acting upon that revelation.

Sister Emma Stanford's Mission and Boldness: Emma served in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission, called specifically to speak American Sign Language (ASL). Due to the niche nature of ASL, her team found investigators creatively through social media videos and member referrals. Emma was known as "the wild child" during her training due to her boldness as a missionary.

Discerning and Experiencing the Holy Ghost:

Emma suggests there are "no such thing as coincidences because I think God's always in the fabric of our lives", often recognizing promptings after acting on them.

Lauren adds that the Holy Ghost is present for the faithful due to baptismal covenants, even if one cannot always "recognize these promptings".

Emma most strongly recognized the Holy Ghost when testifying to investigators or promising blessings. She described feeling "power," "truth," and an "amped" energy, sometimes being brought to tears.

Profoundly, Emma describes her personal experience of the Holy Ghost as feeling "the love of Christ"—an "incomprehensible," "overpowering" love. Lauren affirms that Christ's teaching with love is the "most powerful tool in conversion".

The Holy Ghost is confirmed wherever charity and service are present, as well as in ordinances of the priesthood.

Emma exemplifies acting with faith and boldness, believing the Lord will "back me up" without needing to wait for a discernible "nudge". She shared a story of "putting her foot in the door" of a reluctant lady's house, an act she describes as being "led by the spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do" (1 Nephi 4:6). This bold action immediately changed the lady's demeanor, leading to an "awesome lesson".

Shawn shares a similar experience of boldly promising an investigator a job if he read scriptures, believing the Spirit confirmed God would "not make me a liar".

Lauren emphasizes that the Holy Ghost "will always share his voice when we testify with ours," fulfilling the promise that when one speaks "by the power of the Holy Ghost, the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men" (2 Nephi 33:1). This is especially encouraging for missionaries learning new languages, as the message will still get through.

A practical tip for missionaries is to sing hymns and then ask, "How do you feel?" to help people recognize the peaceful presence of the Spirit.

Spiritual Discerning of Truth: The episode delves into 3 Nephi 11, where the voice of God spoke from heaven to thousands. Initially, they "understood not the voice which they heard with their ears," even though it was not harsh or loud. However, despite being a "small voice," it "did pierce them... to the very soul, and it caused their hearts to burn". It was not until the third time that they "did open their ears to hear it" spiritually and fully understood.

The host explains that God communicates directly with our spirits. Emma adds that the goal is to help people "see" (understand spiritually) rather than just "looking" (perceiving physically).

The host recounted a pivotal MTC experience where a teacher helped him recognize the Holy Ghost's presence by asking "Do you feel that?", helping him realize he had been feeling the Spirit his "whole life" without discerning it.

Go forth with boldness and faith in God, trusting that He will empower them and that the Holy Ghost