Mentoring Relief Society Presidents Through Love | How I Lead: DeAnna Murphy
DeAnna Murphy serves as a Stake Relief Society President in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She also runs Strength Strategy where she consults businesses, coaches, and individuals.
What I Learned About Leadership When My 2nd Counselor Left the Church
In August of 2015 I was released as bishop, but my second counselor didn’t show up to be release. I was concerned about what he was going through.
5 Prophets Overwhelmed by Their Call to Leadership
Has the “loneliness of leadership” gotten you down? Do you feel inadequate or unmotivated in your calling? In this episode brother Mark Grandstaff Ph.D reads and article that he wrote on the struggles that sometimes beset us as leaders. He provides us with wonderful examples of prophets who have felt the crushing weight of their stewardships as well. He also discusses with us his own version of a faith crisis in his life.
Brother Grandstaff was born in Detroit Michigan. He was raised Catholic and served in two different branches of the military, the Navy and the Air Force. It was during this period of his life when he was introduced to the Restored Gospel. He received a Ph.D in American history and was a professor at Brigham Young University for 17 years. Listen in as Brother Grandstaff also shares with us how he had the opportunity to team up with Bronco Mendenhall and mentor some of the BYU football players.
Connecting With Youth | How I Lead as Young Women President
Angie Young is a mother of 3 young girls and serves as a Young Women President, just outside of Ogden in Clinton, Utah. She was married in the Salt Lake Temple to her husband that she met online. When asked what makes her a unique Mormon, she says, “Her time away from the church in her early youth, gives her a unique perspective on the gospel.” She currently works from home in addition to being a mom, and has makeup line called, “Younique.”
Baptized at 19, Bishop at 22 | How I Lead Interview with David Deford
David Deford has an amazing story. Born and raised in Indiana David became involved with various drugs that contributed to his leaving home during college (without telling his parents). He experienced glimmers of God’s love during this time and ultimately met his wife, Kathy, when he picked her up as she was hitchhiking. They were introduced to the Church while hitchhiking cross-country and through God’s grace received answers to their prayers and they chose to be baptized. After several months, they did exactly that.
A Framework to Help LDS Teachers Create Memorable Lessons
Imagine walking into your parents’ attics after years of living away. You hope to find the box full of your childhood toys so you can share with your own children. You approach a shelf full of cardboard boxes. Some are old, beat up, and most are dusty. Each box is labeled with a piece of tape describing in a few words the contents of the box: Christmas, Grandma’s China, Winter Clothes. Finally, you find the box labeled Children’s Toys. You take the box off the shelf and peel back the old packaging seal. As the dusty air of the box escapes you are immediately reminded of memories of happier times. You’re grateful for such memories and are excited to share them with your own children.
As individuals leave Sunday School, Relief Society, or elders quorum on Sunday the effects of the lesson rarely get put into a mental attic of retention. One of the many responsibilities of the class instructor is to frame and teach the lesson in a way that will help the students retain the principles. The learner should be able to revisit the topic and feel the same strong feelings of the spirit as they felt while in the class.
How I Lead as Relief Society President in Texas | An Interview with Beth Young
Today we head down to Friendswood, Texas to visit with Beth Young. Prior to becoming a Texan Sister Young was raised in Arizona in a family without the blessings of the Gospel. In this episode Beth shares what it was like to be raised in a home without the restored gospel by a father and mother who loved her but struggled with alcoholism. Sister Young was introduced to the Gospel in high school which ultimately led to her being baptized, serving a full-time mission, being sealed in the temple and holding leadership callings such as ward and stake relief society president.
Beth discusses how her leadership and experience in her own home prepared her to be a leader in the church as she shares how she navigated the waters of motherhood when her children experienced the struggles of mortality. She is very candid in discussing her experiences with one child who battled drug addiction and another who experiences same gender attraction and the heartache of his excommunication. Sister Young teaches us how to show tough yet unconditional love to our children.
Being Bishop in Florence Italy | How I Lead: Marco Ferrini
In this episode I am pleased to introduce you to the voice of Leading Saints Italia, Marco Ferrini. Marco is a bishop in Florence, Italy and got turned on to the Leading Saints podcast last year by another bishop who recommended it to him. He loved the resource so much that he contacted me about doing a similar podcast in Italian. I am excited to extend the Leading Saints brand over to Italy and continue the work of enhancing leadership in the Church.
Bishop Ferrini also talks to us about his Italian pioneer heritage. His mother was one of the first members in Italy. He has served in most leadership callings available in the Church and now has had the opportunity to serve as bishop for the last couple of years.
How I Lead the LDS Young Women in Sao Paulo, Brazil | Interview with Neal & KaLee Mortensen
This was a fun interview! I had the chance to chat with Kalee and Neal Mortensen, both Arizona natives, who have been living in São Paulo, Brazil for the last 2 years. They have had a unique experience as newly weds in a foreign country while also attending a familiar church. Neal, who served his mission in Brazil, has served as ward clerk and is currently in the bishopric. Kalee is the Young Women president and has learned Portuguese since she has been there.
As we learn about their leadership experience we also learn about the status of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil and how their culture influences the day-to-day life of a Latter-day Saint in Brazil. We talk about some of the ramifications sensitive policy changes has had in Brazil, what apps are helpful for Brazilian leadership, and what it’s like speaking in stake conference in a 2nd language.
Listen in.
6 Reasons LDS Youth Leaders Need Snapchat Accounts
Adult leaders probably feel pretty hip now that they have their own Facebook account. Sorry to tell you this, but that was totally last decade! Facebook has a problem, and they know it. The youth are bored with Facebook and many don’t even bother to check their feed regularly. Apps like Snapchat provide a more dynamic experience that appeals to the youth. So if you only have a Facebook account to stay in touch with your youth, it might be time to join the world of 2016.
