Heart Smiles

We've all been called - whether we're 9 or 90 - as missionaries to preach the gospel to our friends and neighbors! But, like Jonah from the Bible, sometimes we're a little (okay, a lot) apprehensive about sharing our beliefs. Like Jonah, we sometimes feel like running away from the call we've been issued and sometimes, and maybe just sometimes, the belly of a whale seems to be more appealing than the living room of our inactive neighbor...Listen

The prophet Jeremiah preached to a people who were beyond saving. His own sorrow, frustrations, and hopelessness are echoed in his oft quoted lament, "Is there no balm in Gilead?"In this podcast, we look into exactly what he meant and reflect on times when we, too, sometimes feel that there is no balm - no soothing, no rest - from our own modern challenges.But there IS a balm in Gilead. And there IS relief from our current troubles. We just have to apply it...Listen here!

"Choose your love and love your choice!" Those words were spoken by President Monson as counsel for us all to cherish our spouses and are demonstrated beautifully in the love story of Isaac and Rebekah. Come with me to Genesis 24 and see just how easy it is to love the one you chose (or, in Isaac's case, kind of chose...)Listen

This week we discover the heart-touching literary masterpiece from the Old Testament - the Book of Job. Job's steady righteousness through the good and terrible will have us asking how can someone really be that good - and he will tell us his secret!Listen

If you could ask for anything - anything in the entire world - what would you ask for?Bigger house? Nicer car? More to do? Less to do?The new King Solomon got the chance to ask for whatever he wanted and his request shines light into our own lives, illuminating our understanding of just how willing the Savior is to give us the gifts we want and need!Listen

We all have a list of why we're not good enough to accomplish everything we've been asked to do.We're too slow. Too tired. Too busy.But in this podcast we learn about an Old testament hero with his own list of why he's unqualified to accomplish what the Lord asks of him, but with a little divine guidance and a lot of effort he comes out just like we will when we give it our faithful "all" - victorious!Listen

We've all had that special moment, well, maybe it's better to start by writing that we've all had those *many* special moments when a woman came to help us out exactly when we needed it. In this podcast, I take a tiny stretch from the first couple chapters in Genesis to explore one of the many duties of women - to "simply" be a helper. And any woman who's helped knows of its true simplicity, but any woman who's been helped knows there's nothing simple about it.Listen

We can't miss the big ones - the huge monster thunder-clap blessings we sometimes get - like when we were miraculously saved when we were driving or when we (fill in the blank). But what about the small ones? The teensy, tiny, blessings surround us and are so often overlooked...Listen

A well-known story with a not-so-common take. In this episode, I share the story of the busily-serving Martha and Mary, her listening sister, as they approach the Savior with their two very different, but equally loving personalities.Listen

Samson was strong, mighty, fearless, and, well, yeah, kinda dumb. We all know the story of Samson and Delilah, but there's a whole lot more to him that can teach us about where true strength really lies...Listen

From the Tower of Babel to the Americas and right to Minnesota - This podcast takes us on a journey to help us understand the Name we need to reach heaven and just how we can bring heaven in a little tighter around us. This episode includes a powerful story submitted by 9-year old Naomi! Listen

Have you ever felt small, inconsequential, or out of place? Take a glance into 1 Samuel 16 with me as we travel back in time to a dinner party where the guest of honor wasn't even invited!Listen

Joshua and the battle of Jericho - one of my all-time favorite Old Testament stories! Joshua is a powerful example of someone who let's the Lord fight his battles - not instead of him, but with him and then for him.Listen

The book of Daniel is packed with amazing stories because of amazing people with amazing faith. Daniel himself was a spiritual giant and so were his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These friends, though high up in the government, refused to obey a command that went against their religious commitment and they were threatened with a fiery death. They were confident their God could save them - but if He didn't, they would still worship Him. We all find ourselves in the midst of fiery trials, knowing, as these three did, that God COULD save us, but if not...Listen

We've all been faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. Queen Esther shows us how to summon the strength we need to face our obstacles with divine help.Listen

Morning prayer. Check. Breakfast prayer. Check. Scripture reading. Check. Bite tongue when you want to retaliate rude comment. Check. Tithing. Sabbath observance. Be modest. Check. Check. Check. It seems there are just so many tiny commandments to keep. Maybe skipping one or two wouldn't hurt... Would it?Listen

We know where we came from, we know why we're here, and we know where we're going. It's all part of the Great Plan of Happiness! And while this grand plan is for everyone, we each have our own individual missions and purposes we've been sent here to do. President Harold B. Lee said, "Many were chosen, as was Abraham, before they were born, as the Lord told Moses and also Jeremiah. This was made still more meaningful by the Latter-day Prophet, Joseph Smith, who declared, 'I believe that every person who is called to do an important work in the kingdom of God, was called to that work and foreordained to that work before the world was'" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1973, 6; or Ensign, Jan. 1974, 5).Listen

I think that each of us have had an experience where we've felt divinely protected or helped or guided. We name these miraculous helpers our guardian angels and it makes us feel special that an angel would take their time to tend to our small (and not-so-small) needs. But in 2 Kings we read about an experience that makes us reevaluate these guardian angels - and ourselves...Listen

Hannah - a beautiful story of faith, patience, sacrifice, and commitment. Take a peek into a small piece of the life of one of the women in the Bible whose example can teach us all!Listen

Just like the Israelites were surrounded by fiery serpents, we, too have our own slithering enemies that reach up and bite us with thoughts of worthlessness, stress, temptation, and frustration. But just as the Israelites weren't left unaided - they could look to the brass serpent and live - neither are we! We have the Savior, the Great Physician, to look to for help when we've been bitten so we don't have to let the poison fester - we can be healed if we just LOOK.Listen

This week, let's take a voyage with Noah on the ark for some spiritual insights that will help us through our own troubled waters!Listen

It's Easter! And we get to celebrate the greatest story in the whole Bible - the resurrection! Everything since Adam and Eve looks forward to this pivotal event and everything after looks back to it. The Savior's Atonement, death, and resurrection make it possible for us to live again in our own perfected bodies, which is enough to make anyone smile through this life :) Listen

A look into the sweet verses of the first part of the story of Ruth will have us examining our own lives for the great friends that we have and the great friend we can be - the great friend like Ruth.Listen

This week we look to Daniel as a powerhouse of strength! He won't back down from doing what he knows is right - even when threatened with the lions den! When we show Daniel-like courage, we find that nothing can stop us from doing what we know we should, even when we're faced with our own den of lions. ...and when we show Daniel-like courage, we get Daniel-like miracles! In this episode, I share a time when I was ready to let the modern-day lions eat me, but instead, was miraculously saved, just like Daniel! Listen

Join me for as I search the popular Old Testament story of David and Goliath for gospel truths that make the soul sing and the heart smile! This story has it all - suspense, smack-talk, and the underdog comes out as champion! I relate the principles learned from David and Goliath to a story from my own life - when I faced my own Goliath...Listen