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34: “I Will Declare What He Hath Done for My Soul” (Psalms 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; 85–86)

Growing up, did you ever learn about the three Rs of education? They stand for three basic skills taught in school: reading, writing, and arithmetic—which is a little confusing as only one of those words actually starts with the letter “r.” But just as those three subjects are fundamental to education systems, there are six Rs that are fundamental to this week’s lesson. As we study Psalms chapters 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; and 85–86, we’ll learn what those six Rs are and what they have to do with our relationship with Christ.

35: “Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord” (Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150)

We’ve talked a lot about trusting in the Lord this year. And in this week’s lesson of Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150, that trust is an important theme. To help us dive deeper into this topic, we invited Chad and Kymberly Wells to talk with us. The Wells' are the parents of Mason Wells, who was severely injured as a missionary in the 2016 Brussels attacks. Their perspective on those harrowing events is anchored in trusting the Lord even through days of great distress and heartache. Their story, along with these chapters in Psalms, will teach us what trust in the Lord can do in our darkest moments.

Elliott Smith: Cultivating a Fear-Free Worship Experience

Attending church for the first time. Coming back to church after a period of inactivity. Going through the temple for the first time. Seeking to develop a love for the temple. These are all experiences that can feel daunting or overwhelming. But years ago, a bishop who had been through a period of inactivity himself sought to create what he called “a fear-free worship experience” for everyone in his congregation—and Elliott Smith says it made all the difference in their ward. So wherever you are on your journey along the covenant path, we invite you to consider how we can best help one another along by also seeking to eliminate fear in our own congregations.

Shima Baughman: What’s More Powerful Than Public Policy?

Shima Baughman has worked for years to bring about policy reform, especially as it relates to incarceration. After immigrating to the United States from Iran as a child, Shima has become an attorney, a national expert on bail and pretrial prediction, and a professor of criminal law at the University of Utah. But while she is a believer in giving second chances through law, on this week’s episode she explains the most powerful type of reform isn't only through the justice system. Instead, she believes change truly occurs as people turn their hearts to Christ.

36: “The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom” (Proverbs 1–4; 15–16; 22; 31; Ecclesiastes 1–3; 11–12)

If you’ve ever had a fortune cookie, you know its crispy sweetness is just half the fun—inside these cookies is a fortune on a slip of paper that is said to bring luck and prosperity to the receiver. The verses in this week’s lesson of Proverbs 1–4; 15–16; 22; and 31 as well as Ecclesiastes 1–3 and 11–12, may at first remind you of the messages inside one of these tasty treats. But as we dive deeper into the meaning of these verses, we think you’ll find something much more satisfying than any fortune cookie can offer.

Seeing Like Jesus with Michelle Craig

It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and ignore others—and ourselves—without even meaning to. But there is magic in becoming more present when we are with friends, family, and even strangers! In this episode, we explore the power of seeing ourselves and others as God sees us, and what that practice looks like in our day-to-day lives.

Living with an Open Heart with Virginia Pearce Cowley

We can talk all day about God’s love, but until we really experience it, a love that deep can seem like an abstract concept beyond our everyday reach. In this episode, however, Virginia helps us move God’s love from the abstract and put it into play in our lives. And the best part? We don’t have to add anything new to our schedule or routine to do it!

Chris Schoebinger: The Heroes in Our Stories

For over three decades, Chris Schoebinger has been involved with book publishing. During his career, he's worked with authors like Brandon Mull on Fablehaven and Jason F. Wright on Christmas Jars. But as he brings these stories to life at work, he has also been living one of his own at home. And while that story has been full of unexpected twists and turns, it has also been full of the types of heroes he loves to read about on the written page—people like his gay son or the birth mother of his adopted child. So on this week’s episode, we talk with Chris about what makes a powerful story and why he is grateful for the way God has guided his.

Roger Connors: Understanding God’s Patterns

As a former mission president and former MTC branch president who currently serves in a YSA stake presidency, Roger Connors has heard from a lot of young people who feel like God just isn’t keeping His end of the deal. It is for these people that Connors set out to write his new book, Divine Patterns. It is His belief that as we observe the way that our unchanging God has worked in the lives of men and women throughout history, we can more easily recognize that He is with us every minute of every day.

40: “He Hath Borne Our Griefs, and Carried Our Sorrows” (Isaiah 50–57)

Beauty, majesty, rejoicing, joyful—those are all words that could be used to describe the message we’ll discover within Isaiah 50–57. But as in life, not everything is cheery sunshine: these chapters also invite us to think about rejection and the effects of evil influences. The goal of this week’s lesson is to enlarge our tent and invite everyone to come and learn from the words of Isaiah.