At a recent BYU Education week, I was touched by a good-hearted and engaging door host. They’re the volunteers that help folks get in line and engage them as they wait for the doors to open for any class. All week, this brother just glowed with love and testimony. On our last day waiting in line for this class, I engaged him in a tender discussion that included his conversion story and his life in Texas. We spent 25 years in Texas, and my heart—plus two sons and a grandson—are still there. Thus, it’s no wonder that his beautiful soul has touched my heart.
As we chatted, I discovered that he’d done a podcast with Kurt Francom several months earlier—podcast that I had previously listened to and want to invite you to do the same. Below is an overview of Brother Griffin’s podcast.
It will be well worth your time to get acquainted with this good soul.
What God Can Do In 30 Days
When you hear President Calvin Griffin tell his story, you can’t help but feel the Spirit confirm the truth of his words. A man who once gave God “thirty days” to prove His existence is now serving in his eighth year as stake president in Denton, Texas. His story is not only one of conversion but also of leadership, faith, and learning to align with God’s will in unexpected ways.
In his own words, President Griffin says,
“I gave Him a month. I said, if I don’t get an answer, then I’m just going to assume there’s not a God.”
What followed was a series of spiritual experiences that changed the trajectory of his life. In this conversation with Leading Saints, President Griffin shares lessons about conversion, faith, and leadership that are just as relevant for today’s bishops, Relief Society presidents, Primary leaders, and stake presidents as they were for him decades ago.
True Conversion Begins with Honest Seeking
President Griffin was raised Baptist but had drifted away from church activity. At 28 years old, as he prepared to marry his fiancée, he realized he wanted a marriage grounded in something lasting. Unsure if God even existed, he decided to put forth real effort.
He prayed three times a day. He changed his music. He looked for God in his daily life. And God answered him—not with thunderclaps, but through simple, repeated tests of honesty.
One day, when a cashier gave him too much change, he thought,
“If you’re trying to find God, at least you need to be honest with this guy.”
That moment of integrity became part of a pattern. President Griffin explains,
“Things started to happen in patterns of threes. I realized these were not coincidences. God was showing me something.”
His story reminds us that when we or those we lead are sincerely searching, God meets us where we are.
God Sends Help at Just the Right Time
One of the most moving parts of President Griffin’s conversion story is the moment he met the missionaries. He had already been praying and seeking, wrestling with what church to join, and planning to attend a Baptist Bible study. But on Super Bowl Sunday in 1988, he opened the door to find two young men in white shirts who said,
“We have a message to bring you from Jesus Christ.”
President Griffin recalls,
“They set a book on the floor and began sliding it toward the other’s foot. Every inch they moved it, I became more and more excited—so excited I jumped up and grabbed it. I said, ‘Guys, I don’t know who you are or where you’re from, but I’ve been looking for God. Why am I so excited now?’”
That book was the Book of Mormon. Within weeks, Calvin and his fiancée were baptized. Their lives changed forever. Leaders today can learn from this: God places people and experiences in our path at the exact right time. We rarely know how prepared someone might be, but we can trust that He does.
Leadership Requires Expecting the Unexpected
Years later, as President Griffin accepted leadership assignments—bishop, high councilor, counselor in the stake presidency, and eventually stake president—he learned that leadership is less about control and more about trust. He teaches,
“In leadership, you have to expect the unexpected. So many things can happen, but it’s important to align ourselves with the prophetic keys and with the Spirit—making sure that God is running the organizations we’ve been asked to serve in.”
For him, this meant carving out time for individuals, even while balancing an intense workload and a busy calling. His message is clear: leaders must stay close to the Spirit, because no handbook can anticipate every circumstance.
Aligning with God Brings Strength Beyond Our Own
When President Griffin talks about performing a baptism, he recalls how nervous he felt, afraid he might stumble over the words. Yet as he entered the water, he felt a power greater than his own. He describes,
“I am trembling exceedingly. My tongue is going to get tied. I am terrified. But I say the words, I baptize her, and when she came up, she said, ‘I feel so clean.’ And I felt it too.”
That same pattern continues in his leadership today. He emphasizes that the key is not his own skill but his willingness to align with God’s Spirit. Leaders don’t need to have all the answers—they need to stay connected to the Source of answers.
Why You’ll Want to Hear the Full Conversation
President Griffin’s story is one to share widely. It is raw, humble, and deeply moving. His journey from doubt to faith, from pizza store manager to stake president, reminds us that the Lord truly does “make weak things become strong” (Ether 12:27).
Listening to the full interview will not only strengthen your own testimony but also give you practical encouragement for your own leadership. As you hear him describe his conversion and his approach to serving others, you’ll feel inspired to trust God more fully in your own calling.
Beth Young is a convert of 47 years; served a mission in North Carolina; has been married for 38 years to her sweetheart, Bob; has five adult children and two grandchildren. She raised her family in Texas for 25 years where she served in various capacities in church and in her community. She moved to Utah seven years ago and loves writing, teaching, and inspiring others to make changes to their physical, mental, and spiritual health. Beth is the owner of 5 Pillars of Health, serves as the written content manager at Leading Saints, and is a master gardener.
