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This episode of the "Mission Stories Podcast" features a conversation with Sister Molly Baxter, a returned missionary who served in the Michigan Detroit mission, including the "8 Mile" area. Molly highlights her faithful and happy mission experience, noting that not all returned missionaries have such positive experiences.

The central theme of the episode is that miracles and angels are a right for those "set apart as a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ to preach his gospel". Molly and Shawn define miracles, suggesting they are not solely large-scale events like parting the Red Sea, but also include:

• Divine meetings where one encounters individuals who profoundly change their life.

• Small, consistent spiritual experiences that build faith, such as waking up with a positive attitude or gaining insight from scripture study.

• The "mighty change of heart" experienced through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which they describe as the greatest miracle.

Molly and Shawn share several personal miracle stories from their missions:

• Tishi's Healing: Molly recounts the story of Tishi, a 65-year-old woman needing knee replacement surgery, who was miraculously healed and able to walk immediately after receiving a priesthood blessing, fulfilling a bold promise made by an elder that she wouldn't need surgery. Tishi was later baptized after six months of teaching and her health remarkably improved.

• The Malakansi Woman: Shawn shares an experience with an elderly Russian woman, one of the last "Malikansi," whose ancestors had sought the true church with authority for generations. She recognized the restored gospel, was baptized, and passed away about a week later.

• Mallerie at the Smoothie Cafe: Molly tells of a young woman working at a Tropical Smoothie Cafe drive-thru who was on the verge of ending her life. Molly, following a prompting, spoke to her about being a missionary for Jesus Christ, which the woman interpreted as an angel sent from God and a direct answer to her prayer for a sign, saving her life.

The episode emphasizes that these are the true miracles that matter most, as they pertain to the eternal salvation and spiritual growth of individuals, which is God's primary work and glory. They encourage listeners to have faith and expect these types of miracles in their own service. Molly also shares a quote by President Hinckley, emphasizing that serving the gospel is not a sacrifice but an investment with eternal dividends.

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This episode features special guest Sister Riley Stone (affectionately known as "Stony"). The core theme revolves around "Revelation and The Spirit" and how divine revelation grows faith, leads to repentance, and ultimately to "pure joy" through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The podcast aims to inspire and provide knowledge for those preparing for missions.

Key insights and Riley's story include:

• A Journey from Faith Crisis to Conversion: Riley, from Utah, experienced a faith crisis with her family around age 12, leading to a five-year hiatus from regular church attendance.

• Subtle Beginnings of Discerning the Spirit: At 14, attending EFY (now FSY), she "loved it" because she was "surrounded by the gospel of Jesus Christ". Though she didn't discern the Holy Ghost at the time, she later realized it was God's love bringing her peace and joy. This experience planted a "seed" for future missionary service.

• The "Rock Bottom" and a Divine Call: At 16 or 17, Riley hit "rock bottom," feeling "miserable," "sad," and "anxious," a period where she was "compelled to be humble". In a moment of desperation, after listening to "cringey" youth albums, she heard an audible voice, not her own, command, "Riley, get on your knees and pray". This happened three times, akin to the experience in 3 Nephi 11:3-4, where people initially didn't understand the voice but eventually opened their "ears to hear it" spiritually. Riley initially resisted due to tiredness and having been distant from God.

• The Transformative Prayer: Driven by a deep hunger to do the right thing and escape unhappiness (similar to Enos 4), Riley finally knelt down and sobbed. In that moment, she "knew that God loved me" for the first time in a tangible way. She felt a "burning in my bosom" and a powerful hug, realizing the Atonement of Jesus Christ covers more than just sins, but also heals pain and ache. This profound experience convinced her of God's existence, His personal love for her, and the possibility of happiness.

• Acting on Revelation: This revelatory experience marked the beginning of her true conversion, leading her to consistently attend seminary and young women's activities, and begin studying scriptures. Her story illustrates the principle of Revelation 3:20, where God knocks, but individuals must "open the door" through choice and action.

• Missionary Preparation and Impact: Despite her powerful conversion, Riley felt inadequate for her mission due to her long gap in church attendance and lack of basic gospel knowledge. She overcame this by "feasting upon the words of Christ" in the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel in the MTC. This intensive study enhanced her understanding of the Atonement and how to access it, directly confirming her personal experiences. Lauren testifies that Riley became an "amazing" missionary, notably helping an investigator named Nicole, who was at "rock bottom," to also recognize that "Revelation is what leads to our conversion," ultimately leading to Nicole's baptism and a greater understanding of repentance and the Atonement.

• Advice for Future Missionaries: Riley advises listeners to prioritize experiences with the Atonement of Jesus Christ, as it provides healing and enabling power, crucial for navigating the challenges of missionary work and gaining a deeper understanding of life's purpose. The episode concludes by reaffirming that everyone has the right to receive divine revelation that will grow their faith and lead to "pure joy" through Christ's Atonement.

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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

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In this episode we interview Lauren for the first time. Lauren had only been home for a week when we recorded this episode. The episode delves into the transformative nature of a full-time mission, describing it as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" where distractions are set aside to focus solely on the Lord. Lauren emphasizes that there's "literally no other time" in life to dedicate oneself so completely to God's work.

Serving with All Your Heart, Might, Mind, and Strength: Drawing on Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) 4, Shawn and Lauren discuss the scriptural imperative to serve God completely. This commitment is not tied to outward results but to one's personal desire and determination. Lauren recounts how success as a missionary is defined by this commitment and determination to press forward despite challenges and "jump from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm".

The Promises of Serving a Mission: The conversation highlights three main scriptural promises that result from serving in the "right way":

A Marvelous and Wonderful Experience: Just as Isaiah foretold a "marvelous work" in the latter days, serving with full commitment leads to a "marvelous and a wonderful experience".

Personal Joy and Conversion to Christ: Alma's experience of "exceeding joy" after repentance is used to illustrate the profound personal conversion to Christ and the "eternal joy" that comes from understanding the gospel and one's relationship with the Lord. Lauren shares her decision to serve based on President Russell M. Nelson's promise of finding "no greater joy than in serving your brothers and sisters in the Lord," a promise she found to be true.

Eternal Joy with Those You Help: Referencing D&C 18, Shawn explains that "how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth". The episode emphasizes the "great... joy" one experiences when helping even "one soul" come to Christ, forming "tightest, closest bonds... for eternity". This joy is described as "addicting," motivating further service.

Lauren shares a powerful personal story about her mission experience, particularly a challenging period when she was switched to Spanish work after only four months, despite limited Spanish skills, and paired with a difficult companion. She describes feeling a loss of control and "miserable".

A pivotal moment came when Lauren, at her "rock bottom," knelt down and pleaded with the Lord "with all the energy of [her] heart," similar to Enos's wrestle before God. This experience led her to align her will with the Lord's, choosing to be molded into an instrument in His hands. From this point, she woke up with a "quiet confidence" and a renewed spirit, believing the Lord would "provide a way" for her to carry out His work.

This spiritual breakthrough led her to apply the practical principle: "Open your mouth and find listeners". Despite her limited Spanish, she began talking to everyone, making a "fool of [herself]," but recognizing that her desire to talk outweighed any embarrassment. Shawn recounts a similar experience from his mission in Ukraine, where an Apostle promised fluency if missionaries spoke to everyone they met. Lauren attests to rapid language acquisition and finding "prepared" individuals like a man in McDonald's who already had a strong testimony of Joseph Smith.

The episode concludes by highlighting the conversion story of Carlos, a man found through Facebook who was at "rock bottom". Lauren describes how the "gift of tongues" was evident as she taught him, helping him to pray and read the Book of Mormon, which brought him joy and led to his baptism and becoming a devoted disciple. The episode reiterates that a mission is a "marvelous and wonderful experience if you do it right" by

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In this episode, we feature Reha Poulson, who shares her powerful journey of conversion and preparation for her mission.

Reha's Journey of Honest Seeking and Revelation:

Ria was born a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was active until she was 16, when her family stopped attending. Facing significant life changes and a new ward where she knew no one, she "fizzled out" of church activity, making "pretty bad choices" and living a life that was "not righteous at all".

Her interest in religion reignited when her mom found a non-denominational Christian church that Reha loved and attended religiously for months. However, a turning point came when people at this new church would ask her why she left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Reha found herself giving unsatisfactory answers like "I don't really know" or "Oh, they lie". This lack of an honest, doctrinal answer was deeply bothering to her soul. She felt "stupid" and embarrassed.

This dissatisfaction drove Reha to make a bold decision: she decided to "find a Book of Mormon and prove it wrong". She developed a specific method: she would use a pink colored pencil to mark "all of the horrible, evil, nasty, gross things in the Book of Mormon" and a blue colored pencil to mark the words "Jesus Christ" and things she believed to be true. Her intent was to compile "proof" to show her friends and the Protestant community why she "chose based on doctrine and history" to leave the Church. This felt "more purposeful and meaningful" to her.

The Spiritual Breakthrough and Rapid Conversion:

Reha started reading the Book of Mormon late at night, beginning with the introduction, marking in pink. However, as she got into the actual verses of 1 Nephi, she found herself marking "a lot" in blue, realizing "Okay, crap. I'm already wrong".

Her life-changing moment occurred when she read 1 Nephi Chapter 8, Lehi's vision of the tree of life and the great and spacious building. She "literally saw myself in that building making fun of the people that are in the church on the covenant path". In that moment, she "bursted into tears" and "felt the spirit stronger than I ever had in my entire life". She realized "for the first time in my life" that the Church was true, receiving a powerful "burning in my chest" and a profound sense of "peace and calmness". This personal revelation immediately led her to meet with her bishop the very next Sunday, where she received a temple recommend within days of her powerful experience

Key Scriptural and Spiritual Principles Taught:

Feasting Upon the Words of Christ: Reha's experience is a powerful demonstration of the principle from 2 Nephi 32:3: "feast upon the words of Christ". The episode emphasizes that her diligent study, even with an initial intent to disprove, led to the Holy Ghost confirming truth. It encourages all, especially those preparing for missions, to "just start, like just open the book".

The Power of Honest Intent: Regardless of one's initial question or intention, if there is a true "intention... to find out the truth, you're going to find it". The Lord desires "sincerity".

The Choice to Follow God: Reha's journey illustrates the "hot or cold" principle from Revelation and Elijah's challenge in 1 Kings 18:21, "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, then follow him". Her decision to definitively "choose cold" by attempting to disprove the Book of Mormon ultimately led her "back to the hot" truth.

Building on the Rock of Christ: Reha's rapid and deep conversion demonstrates building one's "foundation" upon "the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ" (Helaman 5:12), which provides a foundation that "will never b

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In this episode, we feature Elder Carter Burrop, who shares his powerful journey of repentance, conversion and preparation for his mission, highlighting crucial scriptural and spiritual principles that apply to all.

Key Scriptural and Spiritual Principles:

The Choice to Follow God: The episode emphasizes the critical decision to actively choose God's path, referencing Elijah's challenge: "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, then follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). It also draws on Revelation, where the Lord desires us to be "hot or cold," not "lukewarm," because being in between "tears us apart". Carter's personal crossroads story exemplifies this decision, where he told his sister, "I'm either going to be really, really good or really, really bad".

A Desire to Know for Oneself: Inspired by his parents' faithful example, Carter began his journey by desiring to "find out for myself" if the gospel was true. This parallels Nephi's desire to "see and hear and know of these things by the power of the Holy Ghost for myself" (1 Nephi 10), and Enos's soul hunger that led him to pray. This personal quest for truth is essential for genuine conversion.

Feasting Upon the Words of Christ: The podcast stresses that the only way to "come to Christ" is by learning of Him, primarily by "feasting upon his words". The promise from Moroni 10 is highlighted: reading with real intent and a sincere heart will bring revelation through the Holy Ghost, enabling one to "know the truth of all things". Carter's intense scripture study (six to eight hours a day) resulted in a "love for learning more" and a profound "change of heart".

Revelation and the Holy Ghost Lead to Joy: When one truly feasts on the words of Christ, the Holy Ghost becomes "abundant in your soul," leading to "pure joy". This joy is described as a "fruit of the Holy Ghost" and the "absolute result of faith, repentance, and covenants". Carter's experience of profound happiness, even when losing friends and enduring external hardships, illustrates that inner peace and joy are gifts of the Spirit.

Repentance as Consistency and a Broken Heart: Repentance is taught not as a one-time event, but as "consistency" and "sincerity," which "takes time". It involves developing a "broken heart and a contrite spirit," a condition of soul that God requires instead of ancient animal sacrifices. Carter's own extended period of repentance allowed him to become "on the same wavelength" and a better missionary.

Building on the Rock of Christ: Drawing from Helaman 5:12, the discussion emphasizes building one's "foundation" upon "the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ," so that "when the devil shall send forth his mighty whirlwinds... it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe". Revelation, obtained through consistent spiritual practices, is the "rock".

Conversion as a Lifelong Process: The episode clarifies that the goal of missionary work is not just baptism, but helping individuals become "lifelong converts" and "disciples". Baptism is an entry gate to a "lifelong commitment to keep working towards". The ultimate "biggest convert" on a mission, though it sounds "cheesy," is often oneself.

The Call to Act Now: Carter passionately urges listeners, particularly those in high school, to "decide right now. Like stop. You can't procrastinate your repentance any longer. It's just it's literally going to kill you". He testifies that acting now, even at the "hardest moment," will lead to "pure joy" and be "worth it 100%".

This episode powerfully testifies that true preparation for a mission and for life involves deeply understanding our divine identity, embracing Christ's Atonement, consistently feasting on His words, and en

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Mission Prep Class 7: "Temple More Imperative Than Your Mission," delves into foundational doctrines crucial for missionaries and members alike, emphasizing the paramount importance of temple preparation over mission preparation.
Understanding the "great dilemma" that necessitates Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

Key concepts explored include:
•The Great Dilemma: Introduced as described by Stephen Robinson in his book Believing Christ, this dilemma highlights the reality faced by all individuals. It is defined by two core scriptures:
◦Moses 6:55-57: States that "no unclean thing can enter the presence of God". The discussion uses an analogy of paint on a shirt to illustrate that even a single speck of "uncleanliness" prevents entry into God's presence, regardless of how much "paint" others might have. This law is presented as a just, eternal law with affixed punishments and blessings.
◦Romans 3:23: Declares, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God". Combined, these scriptures mean that every individual, no matter how obedient, is inherently unworthy to enter God's presence on their own.
•The Law of Works vs. The Law of the Gospel: The episode draws a clear distinction between two types of "law" mentioned in scripture.
◦The "Law of Sin and Death" (or "Law of Works"): This refers to the idea that one could achieve worthiness to enter God's presence solely through perfect obedience to commandments. The sources describe this as a "cursed law" that leads to misery, condemnation, and spiritual death, because no one can keep all commandments perfectly. It's acknowledged that this burden of trying to be perfect can lead to mental health issues. Abraham, for instance, was considered righteous not because he was perfect, but because he believed and repented.
◦The "Law of the Spirit of Life in Jesus Christ" (or "Law of the Gospel"): This is the "good news" that overcomes the "bad news" of the law of works. It teaches that Christ takes the fixed punishment for broken laws. This law is founded on faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through this, individuals are "justified by faith without the deeds of the law". The discussion also references the April 2023 General Conference talk "The Imperfect Harvest," which clarifies the difference between perfectionism and being perfected in Christ—the latter being a process guided by the Holy Ghost.
•Salvation vs. Exaltation: The podcast emphasizes a critical distinction between these two concepts, which many in the church may not fully understand.
◦Salvation: Defined as being saved from the "great dilemma" through the law of the gospel, overcoming spiritual (separation from God) and physical (separation of body and spirit) death, and being brought back into God's presence. Salvation is described as "free" because of Christ's Atonement. It means being saved into one of the kingdoms of glory (celestial, terrestrial, or telestial).
◦Exaltation: This is the "highest level of the celestial kingdom" and the ultimate purpose of the Church. It is uniquely linked to the concept of "eternal lives" (plural), as found in Doctrine and Covenants 132:23-24. Exaltation signifies eternal progression, a "chain of glory," and the power for "god-like creation". Crucially, it cannot be achieved by an individual alone; it requires entering the "new and everlasting covenant of marriage" in the temple, which is the capstone covenant.

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In the Mission Prep Series Class 6: "You Can't Bring Me Down," we tackle the universal topic of mental health and coping with hard things, offering insights for aspiring missionaries. This episode emphasizes two core principles for navigating life's challenges, with a strong focus on the powerful spiritual solution.
While acknowledging the pragmatic need to advocate for oneself and address personal challenges before a mission, as demonstrated by Lauren's experience of delaying her mission to become "mentally solid", the episode truly shines a light on the profound spiritual principles that underpin resilience.
The Spiritual Solution: Understanding Your Divine Identity
The most powerful principle for coping with any hardship, from anxiety and depression to difficult circumstances, lies in understanding your true identity:
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Divine Identity as a Son or Daughter of God: Elder Christofferson suggests that "spiritual rebirth" can make "depression... evaporate and any anxiety... quite manageable". Elder Boyd K. Packer adds that "principles of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve". The foundation of this spiritual strength is the knowledge that you are a child of God.
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Moses 1:1-22 provides a powerful example: God repeatedly emphasizes to Moses, "thou art my son," highlighting his true identity before all else. Immediately afterward, Satan attacks Moses's identity, calling him "son of man," but Moses, grounded in his divine sonship, rebukes Satan "in the name of Christ". This teaches that knowing "who you are" is the most potent tool against challenges.
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Your worth is constant: Drawing from Sister Rooney's General Conference talk, the episode clarifies that "Your worth is not tied to your obedience. Your worth is constant. It never changes. It was given to you by God, and there's nothing you or anyone else can do to change it." While obedience brings blessings, your inherent worth is always great in God's sight.
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The Atonement of Jesus Christ: Internalizing this divine identity is deeply connected to understanding Christ's Atonement.
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1 Nephi 21:16 states, "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands," signifying that Christ thought of us and our potential even during His suffering. This powerful truth helps missionaries understand that the gospel's very first principle, "God is our loving Heavenly Father," is built upon love.
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D&C 6:33-37 reinforces this: Christ invites us to "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the print of the nails in my hands and feet." This scripture underscores Christ's personal suffering and boundless love for us, cementing our identity as etched into His very being.
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Feasting on the Words of Christ: To build this deep understanding of your divine identity, it's essential to "feast on the words of Christ" through diligent scripture study, prayer, and allowing the Holy Ghost to teach you. This personal knowledge, combined with your agency, is key to navigating anxiety and depression.
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Elder Holland's BYU speech, "Lessons from Liberty Jail," is recommended for gaining "more ammo" to cope with struggles by understanding how to turn personal "Liberty Jails" into "temples" through the gospel.
The episode culminates with a powerful invitation to read 3 Nephi 11, described as the "pinnacle of the Book of Mormon". In this chapter, the resurrected Christ invites the multitude to come forth "one by one" to feel the prints of the nails in His hands and feet. This deeply personal interaction emphasizes Christ's individual relationship with each of us, teaching that despite our unworthiness, through Him, we become worthy and can proudly embrace our identity as a "son of God" o