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What could’ve been the darkest moment of his life turned into the moment that changed Garett Bolles’ life. It is a story that has been widely referred to as “Utah’s Blind Side” but Garett’s story was far from over when Greg and Emily Freeman took him in as a high school student. On this week’s episode, we talk to Garett about how God brought light into his life right when it seemed darkness was closing in and why he is now determined to bring that same light into the lives of others, including his son, Kingston, who was recently diagnosed with apraxia of speech.

22: "Have Ye Experienced This Mighty Change in Your Hearts?" (Alma 5–7)

Do you have an image that pops into your mind when you hear “judgement day”? Does that image maybe invoke a little nervousness—or even some fear? This week we dig into Alma 5–7, specifically Alma’s “test” in Alma 5, to learn comforting truths about what God requires and expects of us, and to discover that He, and Christ, are always on our side.

Davis and Asialene Smith: On a Mission to ‘Do Good’

Description: Davis and Asialene Smith, founders of the outdoor gear company Cotopaxi, were raised under very different circumstances, but their ties to parts of the world experiencing poverty are the same. What they witnessed in those struggling countries planted in them a desire to do what they can to alleviate suffering. On this episode, we talk with the Smiths about what makes their company unique and how it has allowed them make good on the promise they made to their younger selves to create change.

Andrea Hales: Gathering Tribes

Andrea Hales felt inadequate to the task but she couldn’t deny the prompting she was feeling to start a podcast. The podcast would tell the stories of Native American Latter-day Saints and provide a platform to share their testimonies as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hales knew she didn’t grow up close to her Navajo side of the family but she felt her heart turning to her fathers and, as a result, a podcast called “Tribe of Testimonies” was born.

47: “Prepare Ye for the Coming of the Bridegroom” (Doctrine and Covenants 133–134)

Okay, let’s be real. Doctrine and Covenants section 134 probably isn’t on our radar very often. All that talk about government can be pretty complex and hard to understand, but don’t worry—we’ve got your back. In this week's study group, we break down Doctrine and Covenants 133–134 as we discuss God’s purposes for governments and how we can learn to be better disciples of Jesus Christ, no matter where we live.

51: “The Family Is Central to the Creator’s Plan” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)

Have you ever seen the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch? It's a classic film all about "ohana," or the Hawaiian word for family. And the best quote from that movie is, "Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind." Besides being heartwarming words from a Disney movie, this quote also holds so much meaning for what we are going to study this week: "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." So no matter what your ohana looks like, by the end of this week's discussion, we will see how the divine promise of nobody being left behind is meant for all of us.

45: Converted Unto the Lord

Stories in this episode: Jim, a devout Baptist, sends his five of his seven children on Latter-day Saint missions despite his misgivings about what they will teach and finds himself “tapped on the shoulder” by God; Though she grew up a member of the Church, Brooke doesn’t really search out her own testimony until devastating loss puts her faith, or lack thereof, at the forefront of her life; Missionaries go the literal extra mile to find Martin when he moves back to Norway after a visit to temple square; Dumdi finds the strength to remain faithful after baptism despite being alone in her efforts; When Monique’s family moves to a predominantly Latter-day Saint community, she vows to steer clear of “The Mormons” but finds herself drawn to the doctrine despite negative experiences.

Scott Hales: Becoming “Saints”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last published a multivolume history in 1930. Millions from across the globe have joined the Church in the 90 years that have passed since that history and “Saints” is the effort to preserve the story of the ongoing restoration. We are all a part of the story told in the Church’s new history—it is our story of becoming Saints "through the Atonement of Christ the Lord." On this week's episode, we talk with lead writer Scott Hales about the research that went into the book Church members around the world have fallen in love with.

Whitney Johnson: Create > Compete

After studying Clayton Christensen's theory of disruptive innovation, Whitney Johnson developed the concept of "Disrupting Yourself"—a principle she has successfully taught in the business world for years. On this week’s episode, she teaches us how the model is demonstrated in our Heavenly Father’s plan and is founded on gospel principles. By continually evolving and developing, rather than competing with one another, Johnson says we can spend our time living in abundance. Additionally, when we focus our efforts on continually creating, we will recognize not only our own strengths but others' strengths, as well.

53: The Heavens Are Open

Stories in this episode: In the early days of his firefighting career, Steve enters a burning home to save a life and is forced to choose between protocol and following the Spirit; Heidi anguishes over her efforts to help create a documentary about Joseph Smith’s life until she receives a special witness from God; Alone in the rainforests of Madagascar, Elizabeth finds herself in dire need of heavenly power to call down a miracle.