Breaking the Latter-day Saint Mold | An Interview with Ofi

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Ofi (oh-fee) is an American pop rock artist from Victorville, California, featuring frontman/vocalist/songwriter Burke “Ofi” Laidler, bassist and backing vocalist Jessie Gomez, and Nate Smeding on drums. Ofi left a 9-year career in the finance/retirement industry and a beach home in Huntington Beach, California to pursue music full time. This podcast interview was recorded on the Renew23 East cruise in January 2023, where Kurt and Ofi were both guests.

Highlights

09:15 Ofi talks about his upbringing and living in a mixed-faith household. 14:00 Ofi never thought he would serve a mission but thanks to the influence of his girlfriend at the time he ended up going to Panama City. 17:50 God binge-watches your life like a Netflix series. You are his favorite character. 18:45 Ofi started playing music at 14 years old. He gave up on music till after his mission. 21:15 Ofi talks about what it was like growing up with divorced parents, struggling with money, and constantly moving. 24:00 Pursuing his passion for music and also being a gospel doctrine teacher. 24:50 Ofi has a rough background but he shares three things that have helped him maintain his growth in the Church and his faith in Jesus Christ.

Seek Jesus Christ
Study Him
Stay. Choose to stay.

28:50 How can you be excited for a Savior that you don’t know? How can you be excited for the scriptures or the Book of Mormon if you don’t understand the value? How can we follow a God that we don’t know? 30:30 Will my service and faith in God stop me from following my dreams? 31:15 Ofi tells the story of his name. His name is actually Burke. 32:45 Most-loved songs and their meanings 34:45 Ofi was inspired by Elder Bednar’s quote, “Thoughts to the mind. Feeling to the Heart.” That is the best way to describe the way Ofi writes his songs. 40:00 Having support from his wife, Samantha. She has supported his dream despite not having any money. 42:30 Ofi shares the story of a song that he wrote about Peter walking on water. 43:45 Ofi performs his song “I Will Walk.”