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[00:00:00] The following episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the 2025 Utah area YSA conference. Irene Casos sister once painted a picture of their family where each family member was represented by a different flower, Irene's flower. Was the sunflower because she's so cheerful and positive. Irene spoke of this painting at B'S Women's Conference and said that sunflowers follow the light and stand tall, continually looking toward the sun.

She told Women's Conference attendees that women can also follow the light of Jesus Christ, stand tall and continue looking to him in their lives. I think you'll see in this conversation, this is not just something Irene preaches. It is something she lives. Irene Caso is a media relations manager for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Originally from Madrid, Spain. Irene worked for over 13 years in broadcasting as a reporter and news anchor for Univision. In addition to her full-time work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter's. Saints. Irene also serves on the Young Women General Advisory Council. She and her husband Michael, are the parents of two children.

This is all in an LDS Living podcast where we ask the question, what does it really mean to be all in the gospel of Jesus Christ? I'm Morgan Pearson, and I. Honored to have Irene Casso with me today. Irene, welcome. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much for coming out. It's such a treat to be with you.

I, uh, was a young, single adult for a long time, myself, what felt like a very long time. So as I thought about who we could bring on today to have a live recording with it, I was like, I could do people that are also young, single adults or single adults. And then I thought. The [00:02:00] last thing that I want to do is talk about being single, and I think you probably can get behind that as well.

So we'll start by saying, Irene is somebody that I have long had on my list of people that I've wanted to interview, and I think once she starts talking, you'll get a taste for why this woman is an absolute rock rockstar. So you're in for a treat today. Thank you so much. We've been trying to do this for a long time.

We have been trying for a very long time. Irene is a big deal, so you have to get some permission to interview her. And so we had to jump through some hoops to get this woman here. But I wanna start out with a question about Irene's background. So Irene, you grew up in Madrid, Spain, your family's conversion story.

So good. I was telling my dad about it on the phone yesterday, so I wondered if we could start there. Yes. Tell us about how your family came in contact with the gospel. It's one of those stories that I've been a missionary and it's the ideal missionary success story, but yeah, thank you. As you mentioned, I'm from Madrid, Spain, as you know, or maybe you don't, but the church is pretty young in a country like.

Spain, uh, the church was able to start sending missionaries in 1968. Okay. When there was a law, the past about religious freedom. So that was around the time where missionaries started to come and preaching openly. And my parents, very young couple, very Catholic. 'cause that's what you are when you're from.

Spain from Madrid and you know, very active in their church. They had two little girls at the time. And just to understand, why is it that they were so ready to receive the gospel? Let me tell you that they unfortunately lost my oldest brother, so their first baby passed away years. Before they met the missionaries in a very tragic circumstance at home, unexpectedly very traumatic, the whole thing.

And after that experience, my [00:04:00] parents were, um, had a lot of questions. They wanted to know where their baby boy was and if there was a chance that they were gonna. Be able to see him again, and, and they went to talk to their, you know, local congregation, their preacher, and nobody really gave them any concrete answers.

But anyways, time passed on. They had another baby, my sister Amaya, the second oldest, and one night they were vaping my. My mom and my dad, you know, uh, wanted, you know, because most of you don't have kids, but you know what, it is time. I know about that time. Yeah. The 8:00 PM like 7:00 PM window where it's crazy.

You're bathing them, they're cranky. You just wanna get them into bed. So the door, uh, rung and my dad opened the door and sure enough he saw two missionaries, two American missionaries, as he says, elder Miller and Elder White. I'll always remember their names. And, um, they said in very poor, poor Spanish, I need to add that they were there to talk about Jesus, Jesus Christ, and my dad, which is like, he's just so good hearted.

He said, hold on, let me ask my wife. Very smart to ask my mom before saying yes to, to strangers coming in their house, right? So he went and asked my mom, Isabel, there's two American boys. That's how he called them. Uh, and they said they wanna talk about price. Like, what, what do you wanna do? And my mom was like, oh, you know, have the mean, why not?

Anyways, they can mean, and right away, um. They talk a lot about the plan of salvation, and that really intrigued my parents. They're like, oh, hold on, this makes a lot of sense. So sure enough, they made an appointment for the next day, but the next day the missionaries came and they could hear through the door that there was a lot of commotion inside.

There was music, there was a lot of voices. It looked like my parents were having a party. So when they knock [00:06:00] like these four missionaries with very limited Spanish and very young, and when they knock, my parents opened the door and the missionaries apologized. They're like, oh, we probably got the day wrong.

Like, we thought you were expecting us, and it looks like you're having a party. We'll come back. And then my parents informed them, no, no, no, no. They're here for you. We love the message. So we've invited all the neighbors, all their friends, and everybody else. Can you imagine as a missionary's, a dream?

Every missionary's dream? Yeah, without a doubt and a nightmare. Two, all the sudden you're not prepared to teach 30 people and, and again, they were having a party. There was a lot of different things happening, and they got offered coffee and a drink and everything else. But anyways, these missionaries.

Stuck to the plan and they started, you know, at that time, and I don't remember 'cause I'm very young, but you know the film strips the And they will switch. Yeah, yeah. Click Don't say. Yeah. You don't remember either. No, I know about it. This is how I, very old school I read said I'm very young and then she said, I couldn't know about exactly.

But anyways, they play a movie that they manually had to move slides and they play Jesus Christ in the Americas. Which I always felt like that's an interesting second discussion. I dunno, for Madrid especially of all the scenes. Yeah. Yes. Well, they watch the video and as the missionaries turn on the lights, my mom and my dad.

They were in tears. They felt the spirit so strong. It was such a confirmation for them that these two very young Americans had something precious. But that was not quite the same reaction as everybody in the room. I was gonna say, how many people. No one were interested. No one else. One, they started laughing.

They started mocking the movie. They started mocking the missionaries. They started making fun. Of course, the American church is gonna tell us that Jesus went to America, of course. And you know, they had all these criticisms. But, you know, after the night was over, I, I, I [00:08:00] think the missionaries felt defeated in a way.

Sure. But what they didn't know is that they totally had my parents converted from that exact moment. And that has been like. Still today the strongest members and they've lived lives devoted to the church, are just so proud of you. They are. I know they wanted to come and I'm like, no. Like, you know, they could've come, just made me nervous 'cause they're no ISAs.

So I'm like, no, this exclusive event. But yeah, they are very proud and you know, it's continuing their legacy of. Life of service to the church and we'll talk more about calling and whatnot, but think about that in Spain, the church being so young and so new, right? My parents are considered pioneers. When we celebrate Pioneer they here in Utah, I celebrated two very, 'cause I come from pioneers right?

Of the church in Spain and it's, it's just amazing and being so small. My dad has been a bishop like three times, uh, state president, twice. My mom has served like, you know, a lot of service opportunities that I think, anyways, we take, we took them for granted. When you're in Spain, you're like, oh, so many callings.

And now I'm like. Nothing better than to be serving the church and serving the Lord, right? Yeah. Well, Irene knows my in-laws, so I'll say this. I love stories about missionaries. I love the how often missionaries feel like they haven't had success, and then later they find out that they did. My mother-in-law, her parents, her.

Grandmother was in a sewing circle and people, missionaries came. They left their little pamphlet. They thought that no one was interested. Every woman in that sowing circle. I think there were like eight or nine in Norway, joined the church. So it's incredible to me the way that the Lord works in people's lives.

So fast forward, and I said this, I mean, they heard that your bio at the beginning, [00:10:00] Irene not only works for the church, but you're also on the Young Women General Advisory Council. And I wanna kind of start there because I think we go from the story of Irene's family joining the church in Madrid. And then it's like, okay, now you have the chance to meet with and influence the church all around the world in two different capacities, which is crazy.

Um, so I wondered, how do you think your parents helped facilitate a love for the gospel that has carried you to the point that you're at now? By example. I will say again, if I, the best memories, and there's so many that I have of my parents, it's always serving the Lord, organizing parties for the church, giving members a ride.

I remember our family home evenings Monday. That was the day. There was no, do not make plans. Do not make plans, and, and seriously constantly seeing them serve. We have a family. Scripture is in Joshua, is that one? Choose who you choose this day, we'll serve. Yeah. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

That of course in Spanish, which sounds prettier, I think was plaster all over house. It always does, and I, that was our motto as a family is like everybody can be doing whatever, being a member in Spain and at that time. It was hard. I was the only member of the church in my elementary, in my high school, in my college, in my neighborhood, and that that's challenging in a way.

And sometimes, especially in your teen years, you look left and right and you're like, I look so weird because I'm not doing anything like everybody else's. So that scripture, keeping that in mind all the time, no matter what everybody's choosing to do. This house, we will serve the Lord. I think that was ingrained in me since like I can remember.

Uh, so there was never a doubt, no matter how hard it got, trying to, to stay [00:12:00] strong and, and stay in the church and be righteous. It, it didn't because there was no, we were gonna always serve the Lord. So. Amazing. They're wonderful people. That's amazing. Yeah. So you determined from a young age that you wanted to serve the Lord, but you also wanted to work in television.

Yes. And you had these big dreams and you made it, you achieved your dream. So what was it about that career that you feel like initially appealed to you? You know, it's one of those things that I don't even remember making a choice, like, oh, do I wanna do this or that? Since I was so little. When I was very little, that was my game.

Grabbing literally the brush and anything that was long, and just pretending that I was reporting and talking. In Spain, we have the Siesta. Who knows what a siesta is. Only the best thing ever. Right? You stop in the middle of the day and you can sleep two hours and Spain. Yes. Can we implement that in America?

I tried. It is not catching up. Not here. Dang it. But one day. Well, yeah, but anyway, since Spain, I remember the summers, especially the grownups, the adults will take naps. So they had every kid in the house. You better be quiet those two hours. So I remember in those two hours I will produce newscast. Like really, I will write and I'll have my cousin be the weather reporter and then we will record them in like very like super old school, uh, video.

And then I will report the crime story of the day was my brother Miguel. Always my brother Miguel was a bad guy. It was something that he had done and I was writing him out with something he did. And, and you know, I did put together this kind of like complicated. Like 30 minute content scenes. I wanted to tell stories.

I wanted to be on tv. I wanted to travel the world, but most it was the telling of the stories. I love telling and talking to people. So that's so it was never like. An [00:14:00] option for me. I was gonna be a journalist. I was. And I did. And you did become one. Well, I actually remember as a little kid, I would stand in front of the bathroom mirror.

I would interview myself back and forth. But the difference is I think I thought I was gonna be the celebrity. I didn't anticipate being a journalist. You're Morgan. I'm not. I'm not. So. Fast forward. You said you were the only member of the church at your university? Yes. You decided after graduation from college that you wanted to go on a mission?

Yes. And you had a professor, as I understand it, who said you were crazy, that you were throwing away everything you had worked for, that you wouldn't be able to come back to opportunity. Talk to me about why serving a mission was so important to you and something you were so determined to do. So I guess I'll, I'll have to be very honest here on Candid.

Since we're among friends, I, serving a mission was never really on my plans. Again. I was gonna be a war correspondent traveling the world, reporting on these things, and I, I was very clear towards the end of my career, uh, my college years, um, I started kind of dating this non-member guy. So remember, I'm in Spain.

There's not a lot, this is you guys, you have, don't know what you have here. It was either dating my brother, which he wasn't an option, or, or my neighbor that I've known my whole life. So, you know, I dated, yes, uh, a wonderful guy. But you know what? I never was super brave to share the gospel with him. I don't know.

And, and for some reason he had never come to church with me. Life happened and something horrible happened. Also, uh, in my life, Saul unfortunately passed away and I started feeling very, like the need to, to really, I need to go and tell people about the golf ball because I could have done a lot better with Saul.

So my desire to serve a mission maybe started [00:16:00] there. But slowly but surely, I, that's all I could see. I couldn't wait to be done with my college degree to really go and serve the Lord in that capacity full-time. Doing 100% what maybe I wasn't so brave to do in the past. And yes, as I graduated, I remember we had conversation with professors and this professor in particular I really admire, like I learned a lot.

It was kind of like a mentor in a way. And so everybody's telling, what are you doing? Everybody was getting internships or I'm gonna do this, or I am doing this newspaper, or I'm gonna start slow in this radio. And you know, and then when it was my turn, I told him, I'm like, well, actually, I'm gonna be taking a little break because I'm gonna be serving a mission.

And yes, that was the reaction. It was unexpected in a way because he was very, like, he told me my future. He told me, Irene, like, this is, this is it. Like, no, these, these first years after college, they're so important. That's when you make the connections, that's when you really put your foot in the door, like, it's like a springboard.

He said, pretty much, I think you will have a very, very hard time coming back to journalism and do what you want. And he did say to me for a second, it was only for a second that I was like, is he right? But then again, the, the, the desire was so strong to serve. That I just put it to the side and, and years later, as I saw my career, uh, developing and serving and oh, and, you know, accomplishing wonderful things in broadcasting, I remember my professor and I said, Hmm, it was an impossible.

I did it. I did both things. It is doable, right? So, so, yeah. When I was in college, everybody said there weren't gonna be jobs in journalism. So I was like, well, why would I study journalism? And now I'm like, well, got a job in journalism. Yeah. So sometimes people aren't right. No. And don't let anybody tell you.

Yeah. [00:18:00] You know, again, your path is your path and, and again, we're never alone. And I felt very strongly 'cause I remember. Stressing for a second is this right? Like, I'm gonna serve you for a year and a half and you're telling me there's not gonna be a chance. And I felt very strong the whole time. I got you.

Just, just focus in this and, and I got you. And he did. He got me. Okay. So let's talk about that. You ended up getting your dream job I did. With Univision? Yes. Tell me about that. How did that come to be? Was it. Actually like a dream. Did it feel like a dream? It's again, when I mentioned that, that I felt very strongly the Lord was gonna help me in my goals.

He orchestrated the whole thing. So I will meet the right person. Is one of those stories, meeting the right person at the right, right time. And then the opportunity arose. So after my mission, my trainer and I became. Best is forever. And she's like, come, you're gonna love it. Come a summer. And I came and I like Utah.

I like Utah. It was a lot funner in so many ways. And I went back to home and then there was an opportunity to come to BYU to do an intensive English course. It didn't work great for me. It was only four months. I, I don't know what's going on. My accent is thicker. You have the more years I'm here. The, you speak amazing English.

I, I, she's always saying this. It's not true. I'm gonna go back, we'll talk about that later. Okay. But anyway, so I did that English course and then it was during that time that I decided maybe I wanna stay for a little bit and see where the, this leads me. My trainer and I started looking for apartments.

We wanted to live in Salt Lake in the behind the capitol in that, that neighborhood. And we found a basement. And in the top part of the house there was a journalist working for Univision. So as we moving, what are the odds? We rare, I'm telling you uni, it was a small station here. [00:20:00] They only had a couple of reporters.

What are the odds again? Well, the odds are that. My path was going the right way and he was helping all along my heavenly father. I don't think it's a catholicity. I really don't. And, and it was thanks to that connection that I started like everybody else that's in broadcasting down as an assignment editor, picking up the phones and assigning, uh, stories to reporters.

Then a reporter on the field opportunity came. Then I was promoted to the news anchor, the news anchor and news director. Turned this, of course, throughout the years, and it was just amazing. It, it was what I thought it will be and more. He also was a little harder than I thought it was gonna be. The stories were a little harder and more heartbreaking than reporting on my brother, right?

Because they were true. They were true. And, and, you know, I serving in that station, serving the Latino community, the, the Spanish speaking community. A community that is in my heart for so many reasons. It was very fulfilling and very hard at the same time, so, so yeah. Dream, job and hard career. But yeah, it was what I thought it would be.

Irene asked if I was gonna throw her any curve balls and I said, no. Here it comes. I'm sorry, Irene. I know it. Forgive me. At what point did you meet your husband? Oh, good question. I like it. It's not a curve ball. My mic. He's so cute. So Mike, I met him. You guys are the singles word. Uh, the single word, single success story.

But after a lot of people think, oh, you met him on your mission incorrect. No. Oh, you met him. Uh, you know, as soon as you move here. No, I moved here and I was very focused in my career, and it was two or three years after. I, I was already a reporter and working and in the singles world. Yeah. I met him. I thought he was very cute and, and he has [00:22:00] supported your career.

He's been so important. I, I don't take that for granted and I don't miss an opportunity to really thank the Lord for the opportunities that I've had and thank Mike and the kind of person and supporting husband he's been. Because if those two things, without those two things, it couldn't have happened for me.

There were times in my career where we, as I started having babies. Who stays home. And he did stay home for the first years of, of both, uh, Diego and Lola. Like, you know, because, so anyways, he, he was all in, all in, in, in what our family was, what my career was. And things have changed. And as the kids have grown older now, you know, I'm all supportive.

I wanna think, I think I am, you know, with his career, his dreams, but without his support, at those times, it would've been hard, difficult. As I thought about you and Mike, I thought about that quote where President Hinkley said that one night late at night, sister Hinkley said, you gave me wings and I'm so grateful that you let me fly, or something like that, Uhhuh, and I just feel like that's so important to have a spouse and to be a spouse who helps the other reach their full potential.

I think that that's remarkable. So true. Okay, so talk to me now about when the church approached you. And asked you to walk away from that dream job. So that's, that's interesting. So I was working again in my capacity news director, producing the local news here in the Salt Lake market. And I used to work a lot with the church in, in stories and like any other media, like we'll have a relationship.

So at that time I received a call and it was. Um, a manager in the media division for the church that wanted to meet with me. I thought honestly initially [00:24:00] that they wanted to pitch maybe a story or something or so I went, of course it's the church. I went and to my surprise, there was an invitation. Yeah.

It was like, we have this position, we will love to have someone like you join. And you really caught me very off guard because I was, it was not something I was pursuing in a way. So I remember I asked for time, like I couldn't give them an answer because first of all, I was still like, like not even understanding what was happening.

But I remember going back home and thinking, now I. No, like I'm, I'm where I need to be. I'm so comfortable here. This is so cozy here in my newsroom doing what I know how to do with my small team in my language. Right? And, and it was such a challenge to thinking, I. Doing something else and moving to the PR side of communications instead of the journalism side.

I thought in my mind that it was gonna be the last time I had to do that. It will just not allow me to do a lot of the things. And now looking back, I've done so much totally related to that. So, um, I fought it a little bit. I fought the, the, the thought, but I need to be honest, it was right even that same day, driving home.

That I knew what was gonna be the answer, but I fought it. I still didn't say yes for a couple days 'cause I was really kind of like negotiating with the Lord, like, Lord, like how? Like I, I really uncomfortable here that, am I gonna be good in that? Right in that area. And I started feeling very, very strong that the Lord, like he was, I need you now on this side.

That was kind of like. Like, uh, the feeling I kept having, like, you've done your thing in communications, you've done your, you know, I need to know on this side of things. And it turns out it has been amazing, a wonderful opportunity, not just for me, for my family, [00:26:00] um, beautiful experiences, and also the, the feeling that, that I'm doing something for him in return, you know?

Right. For all the many things he's given me, so well, I think the thing that's so remarkable. Is the way that, so for those that are not familiar with pr, typically the broadcast journalist is in front of the camera. The public relations person is kind of doing stuff behind the scenes. So I totally get how you're like, this is probably the last time I'll ever be in front of a camera, ever have a microphone in my hand, and instead, the Lord has taken you, Irene and given you opportunities.

To do things for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that. Are remarkable. And so for example, the, the church does an event. I don't know if any of you're familiar with this lu. Very well. I just kind of butchered that. Well, no, that was perfect. And Irene, you've ceed it. I have for how many years?

Eight years. The first year I started working for the church, that November almost, I think you like put that girl in front of a mic. She knows what she's doing. It was, and it's amazing. If you have the opportunity, go November. Little pitch here. Yeah. November 7th and eighth at the conference center. But yeah, it's.

It's an opportunity to tell stories again and to, to welcome thousands of people to the conference center. And it sells out. It sells out. It's in Spanish and it's to worship the Lord, to celebrate the gospel and the Lord through music and through dance and through beautiful stories is just, and yeah, I've been doing it for now almost eight years.

Yeah. And, and it's so fulfilling is. It's, it's just, I, I would, I couldn't have imagined that I will be doing things like that, you know? So Cool. So we hear a lot. I feel like, especially lately as members of the church, you all can probably relate to this, we hear a lot about the church [00:28:00] growing throughout the world, and so I wondered as someone who's.

Family joined the church in another country and who has seen all the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. What does it mean to you to see all the growth in the church and to be a part of it? It's, I'm so grateful. I'm so grateful to see how the church goes to places where we've never been, and the growth that is having, because I go back to my experience and I feel so blessed and so lucky that I was raised.

As a member of the church, I went through primary, I went through the young women. I, I had an opportunity to learn the primary songs and the programs, my personal progress, everything. I had that. And what are the odds? It's rare, you know, that you're, you hit the jack pop. Yes. So now. Seeing it that is happening all over the world.

And Morgan, thanks to my job, I've, I've, I travel sometimes all over the place. I've been from Kazakhstan to, I just came back from Africa and I get opportunities to see the members in those areas. And yes, it's like we might be. Thousand miles apart, but the church is the same. I know. It sounds like everybody says that.

It's so true and it's so beautiful to see how that small little branch in, in Armenia compared to is, is the same. It's the same gospel, is the same church, it's the same Jesus. It's the same and it's beautiful. So, so yeah. Seeing the, the church grow, um, all over the world. It's, it fill my heart. 'cause I'm like, there's many, many Es all over the world now growing with this knowledge and this beautiful opportunities since, since they're babies.

So I love it. Irene, before we get to the end of our episode, I feel like our time is just flying by. We have [00:30:00] 10 minutes left. I. I'm not a believer anymore in balance because every person that I've asked on this podcast about balance says there is no such thing. So you are a very busy woman. You have your husband, your kids, your full-time job, and.

A very big calling. So how do you handle it all? Not how do you balance it all? I love that you're putting it that way because I've, I've been asked this question in the past, how do you maintain a balance? And the answer is, I don't, I don't think anybody does. I don't, I can't balance it. I see my life as I'm juggling balls.

One ball is my calling, one is my kids, one is, you know, my, my professional. And there's days that one of those balls. I lose it. It's on the floor. I didn't do great on that aspect, but I kept the other ones pretty good. They're pretty high out there. So when I go to bed, I. Evaluate again. And I said, tomorrow that's what I need to focus on Tomorrow.

I need to focus on Diego and that problem or that project he had because today quite didn't, you know, give him enough time. So that's what it is, is, is, and President Johnson recently said is the joyful juggle. And I love, 'cause it goes with my, we're juggling, right? It's, it's that crazyness of a life that I'm so busy, but it's so good.

All those special hats that I'm wearing, and all those balls are so important to my heart. One is no more important than the other. My family is everything to me. The gospel is everything to me. My profession is everything to me. So it there's a way that you can handle all those things and, and I give myself tons of grace.

My family for sure. Give me tons of grace. Thank goodness. So they're, they're so nice and, and they, they know that, that some days I'm, I'm just maybe not the best mom and some other days maybe I try to give my a hundred percent on my job. But I [00:32:00] was very focused 'cause. Lola was having a bad her day and I had to be on the phone with her, like walking her through the process.

So it, yeah, give everybody, that's my my best advice, grace. Just give yourself grace. It's fine. There's, isn't it wonderful that tomorrow we get a fresh opportunity to be better at that one thing that we weren't so great the day before? I take it, I take every opportunity. So that's it. I love it. I will say I think this is actually especially relevant to young, single adults.

I cannot think of a time in my life when I felt more exhausted and drained and spread thin than when I was trying to work. State serve other people. And so I hope that you're listening to what Irene is saying and giving yourself grace because I think that that's so important. And Morgan, there's a quote that somebody shared with me and I would like to share with you because for me that's exactly how it is.

Uh, he mentioned, and I dunno who the quote is from, but it was, give 100% of your time to the Lord. Give 100% of your time. To your family, give 100% of your time to your profession, to your job, and then let God do the math. And isn't it so true? It doesn't add up. You're like, it's not possible if I'm like a hundred, like it doesn't add up.

Just do your best in each one of those things. And he makes it work. He makes it make sense and add up. So good. That reminds me Dallas Jenkins, the chosen director. Mm-hmm. Yes. Always says God does impossible math. Yep. And I think that that is spot on. Um, you have had the chance on the Young Women General Advisory Council, one thing that everybody listening should know, Irene is like the biggest champion of women.

You're so good. You love all women, and I think that's how we all should be. Mm-hmm. Um, [00:34:00] but you've had the chance to serve with these young single adults on the Young Women General Advisory Council, and this is the first time there have been young single adults on that council. Yeah, in recent time. I think historically, if you go back to the church history, there was a time Okay.

But yeah. When the new presidency was called, president Freeman felt very strong, brought it back. We need to have Ysa be part of this council. Because these Ys, a, like two minutes ago, they were young women, right? They, it's fresher. I mean, it's not that we're like very all in the council, but for us, well, it's been a minute for some of us.

Irene, do you remember when they used to have the clickers? I don't. I've been told. I've been told. I never knew. But uh, so I remember when we met together for the first time as a council and we were introduced to the five, we call them the five. They are the most amazing woman. I was gonna say girls, but no, they're women.

Women and women. And they're, they're so good and their perspective and their vision and their ideas have been so important. During the time that I've been serving in the Young Women Advisory Council, we love them. The, the rest, the nine of us, we believe we're their moms. They have their own moms, but they have their council moms.

So we're very involved in everything that happens in their lives and everything, and it is just, I have a tender heart for YSA for all of you because again, it's, it's, it's a tricky part of your life. And seeing these five. They could be doing a lot of other things and there they are, spending hours, you know, advising and spending time with the presidency and, and serving the Lord in that capacity, which is a.

Pretty big ask, you know, so yeah. It's, it's been wonderful to work with them, which is so true of all of you. I feel like if you are here today, it's because you want to be good. Exactly. You want to give the Lord your heart. [00:36:00] And so I, I always, when I was single, I would say to friends, like. You're not doing anything wrong.

You're doing everything right and if you're here, you're doing exactly what you should be doing. And so I just wanna say hats off to those of you that are here. Before I get to my last question, you and your husband have two kids. Yes. What do you hope that they know about their mom? That the Lord was always, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord that they know that their mom.

Always wanted to serve. That I wasn't perfect, but that the desire to serve the Lord was always there ruling and directing my life. That no matter what decision I have to take, I really put it into a gospel perspective, uh, an eternal perspective. So I hope that that example. It's sticking on them and they don't get caught up in if I yell or not when I was stressed or the cooking, maybe it was not my best or you know, which today will remember those things, but I hope they remember that there was no one moment in my life when.

They were not a priority and the Lord was not a priority in my life. So well said. My last question for you, Irene, is the question that we ask at the end of every episode of this podcast, and that is, what does it mean to you to be all in the gospel of Jesus Christ? And I've been thinking a lot about that, and for me it is not only believing that you're in, but it's acting as if you are in it means.

Going to that activity when you don't feel that you wanna go to that activity is ministering to that person when that's the last thing you wanna do. 'cause your day has been, is going to the temple when you're the most tired. It's paying your tithing when it is tight and you really don't know how.

[00:38:00] Things are gonna happen. So I think that's what it means to me. We all in acting, acting in, in like with a full heart and very consciously on those things that we know to be true and that we know that can make us. Grow closer to our Heavenly Father, Irene, you are beautiful inside and out. Thank you so much for being with us.

Can everybody give Irene a round of applause? Thank you.

Thank you guys. Thanks for being a part of this. We are so grateful that Irene Kas. Was able to join us for this special episode of All In. Big thanks to the organizers of the Utah area YSA conference for the invitation to record live and for help in recording this episode. And big thanks as always to Derek Campbell of Mix at six studios for his help with this episode.

We'll look forward to being with you again next week.