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[00:00:00] This is the Easter episode, and for those of you that have been listening from the beginning for the past six years, every Easter episode we do something new and unique. It's always Jesus Christ focused for sure, because it's Easter, but we focus on a certain aspect of Jesus' life or of our relationship with him.
And so this year for the Easter episode, we decided to focus on what doctrine and covenants is focused on, which is the power of asking. In fact, we created an acronym at the beginning of the year for the word Ask. A.S.K, which stands for always seeking more knowledge, because as we know, Joseph Smith was.
Always seeking more knowledge. And because he was willing to ask and had faith that God would answer, he was able to lay down the foundations for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and God was able to restore the church back on the earth. So we thought, why don't we have some of our guests come on and talk to us about a time they had to ask and what that experience was like.
So I invited five friends. To come and talk to me about a time in their life when they asked the Lord, when they were seeking more knowledge and what that experience was like for them. I can't wait for you to hear their answers. Welcome to the Sunday on Monday Study Group, a Desert Bookshelf plus original, brought to you by LDS Living, where we take the come Follow Me lesson for the week, and we really dig into the scriptures together.
I'm your host, Tammy Uzelac Hall. If you're new to our study group, please follow the link in our description that will explain how you can best use this podcast to enhance your come Follow Me study. Just like my listening friend, Amanda Todd. Amanda, it was so good to meet you and I love that you know my cousin.
Now, the best thing about this podcast or this study group is each week we're joined by two of my friends, but like I said, this week we're joined by five oh you guys, I'm so excited for this. Here are my guests. We have Debbie Beazer, Toby Perriton, Holly Rawlings, Juston Rawlings, and Paula Price. And you can find more information about my friends in our show notes, which are found at LDS living.com/sunday on Monday.
So instead of grabbing your scriptures, just sit back and enjoy these stories about the time that my friends asked when they were seeking more knowledge and what their experience was like when they went to the Lord in prayer. To start the episode, we have Debbie Beezer. So Debbie, the reason that I asked you to be on this specific episode is because, listen, we've been talking and corresponding for a long time now.
And I've wanted to have you on the podcast for a while, and it's just never worked out. I don't, and not on your end, truly on Heavenly Fathers, because I go to put your name in and it's just not right. And then it came time to schedule the Easter episode, and we knew we were gonna talk about the, the acronym for ASK that we've been focusing on this year, which is always seeking more knowledge and encouraging our listeners to go and ask heavenly father anytime they need more knowledge or help.
And your name just came to my head like, it was so cool. How do you feel about that? Well, I just, I just don't even know what heavenly father was thinking, but I am, I'm thrilled that he thinks I, I'm okay with this. Well, why, tell me what your prayers are like. Well, my prayers, I am not a formal prayer person.
I say my morning prayers, I say my evening prayers. S pretty well every day, but not always. But I am one of those people who I just feel like I pray kind of all day. I just think about things all day. And I'm always asking Heavenly Father, this or that, or, oh, thinking about my kids or thinking about something, why I say now, now or something.
And that's just in my mind all day long. I used to, my job used to be working in a wood shop, and that was my favorite place to pray. I would just have my earphones on and to cancel out the noise, and then I could just, um, have my thoughts going on in my head. And I prayed a lot during those years. I worked in the wood shop, and I think that's just why I, that's where heavenly father talks to me.
I. I don't just, I think that's beautiful. I can only imagine heavenly father and his team going, okay, everybody Debbie's on the headphones are on here. She comes with her prayer. She's just gonna think about us now for her whole shift. We love Debbie. We love her. I just think he loves your prayer of the heart, for sure.
Oh, how sweet. And Debbie and her husband. This is fun. Side note, because she's coming to us from Albania. She and her husband are serving a mission right now with the Ysa, and she might include that. I don't know. I have no idea what she's gonna say. So all I'm gonna do is ask her this question. So Debbie, tell me what has been your experience with asking the Lord?
Oh, okay. Well, Tammy, I, as you know, because I've told you in our. Messaging back and forth that I'm a very nervous per, I do not like to get up in front of people [00:05:00] and do things. I do not like to, I don't feel confident in myself. I've never been someone who thinks I am Hmm. Talented. I don't have any of those outward talents or anything.
And so I've always kind of not felt like I am the best at anything. Mm-hmm. And so there's this one time, well, actually there's many times that I prayed Heavenly Father this one year that I was like, you know what? I just need to know that I'm good enough. I just need to know that whatever I'm doing is okay.
And I don't know if you're familiar, if anyone out there is familiar with the Moroni Ice Quest, it's kind of like a Pioneer Trek, but it does book Mormon stories. Oh, wow. Oh, it's, it's a wonderful, wonderful thing. We do that back home in Cardston, Alberta. And my husband and I were asked to be tribe leaders this one year and, and they always have the savior come on the Sunday that we're doing these stories.
And it's always a really spiritual experience for all those who are involved. And this particular year rained and rained and rained all Saturday night and we couldn't have it out in the open field like they usually do. And they have Christ coming down the mountain and you know, visiting all the knee fights and everything like on the Sunday.
And so we had to do it in the gym. They transferred us all to a church gym and or school gym. And we did it in there. And I can remember sitting there hiding in a corner pretty well. Like, he will not want to see me, he will not want to come by me. And I was actually almost praying, please don't come.
Please don't come 'cause you're not gonna what. To see me, 'cause I'm not who I think I am. And, um, anyway, he went around to everybody. He's going walking through the, you know, there's like 300 kids there. It's teenagers and, and adults. And he's getting closer and I'm just kinda like, oh, you don't, don't come.
You don't want to come. And then at the same time I'm like, oh, please come. Please come. I need you to call me. Yeah. I need you to come. And I'm have my head bowed and, and all of a sudden I feel this hand on me. And I just have this overwhelming feeling of love. Like love I've never felt before. And he lifted me up and embraced me in his arms.
And he doesn't say anything because you're portraying the savior. It's our, like our stake president. And he doesn't say anything. But in my mind, I heard I love you and you are enough. And I just wept. I just wept. And every time I think of that I just, it makes me cry. I was thinking of it today and I've just got tears coming down my eyes and I was like, what is wrong with me?
That happened, like it was like, I don't know, 10 years ago or something. But it is the one thing that is still so close and tender to me and as I, as we're studying the doctrine covenants, isn't that what it's all about? People are asking questions and Heavenly Fathers answering them and he's telling them it doesn't matter what they've done in their life.
He forgives them and he's like, you're enough. You are what I need right now. And I just think that's so beautiful. 'cause I didn't think I was gonna serve a mission. My husband wanted to, and I'm like, oh, oh dear, that's that way outta my comfort zone, but I'll do it for you. And then we got called the YSA and they make, they intimidate me, but.
The Lord has blessed me, and I just want you to know, I walk into that room and the first night we met them all and I'm just hugging everybody, and that is not me, not wow. But he blessed me to just love them instantly and show them that, you know what, you're here to serve them and, and you'll love them.
And, and I do. I just can't even imagine life without them right now. I love them all. They're so fun. That is such an incredible story, and I am so grateful that you shared that because I'm thinking, you know, throughout Debbie's life, right? You get married, you have children, you're doing all the things, you're working, you're living life, all that time.
Maybe feeling like you're not enough. Tell me, tell me the significance of feeling like you're enough 10 years ago versus if he had given you an answer to that in your twenties. Would it have been as powerful as what he gave it to you just 10 years ago? Oh, it probably would've, well, I don't know if it would've been as powerful.
Yeah. Um, but I should have sought it a lot earlier. Oh, no, that's interesting. What I think I should have [00:10:00] sought it earlier. Mm-hmm. But I just thought, you know, this is just who I am is who I am. I'm, I'm insecure. I am a very much an introvert. And that's just the way I am. My family. Pretty well. All my, like my parents, my siblings, we're all like that.
We do not get up in front of people. We do not like that. But, but my husband is very much, he says he's not an extrovert, but he is. And he's a good speaker. He speaks so well. And he just, and I just like, but he's always encouraged me. He, you can do that, you can do that. And I was like, oh, I can't get up and talk in front of people.
Yes you can. Yes you can. And the Lord prepared me for now. Yeah, I think because we were in the YSA in Alberta, there was a new state created for the YSA and my husband was called as high councilman, and I had to speak every other, every third month, and I was like, oh my goodness. Mm-hmm. But I have to speak every month or every third month, so, and I'm just like, I, it doesn't bother me anymore.
And I thought I'd be really, really nervous here. And I've been calm all day, all day. Oh my goodness. The Lord is blessing me. Well, he is so good because I, here's what I love that you said is I didn't seek, uh, I didn't seek it early enough. I wish I had asked early on. So here's what I wanna ask you to do.
Will you give some advice right now to anyone listening who's afraid to ask?
Pretend it's your child. Yes. I really have a hard time talking to my kids. I don't feel like I know anything. They're so much smarter than I'm, but I would say if there's anything you're questioning anything about how Heavenly Father feels about you to seek him out in prayer and ask, and he will let you know.
And so I would just encourage anyone that has any insecurities, he knows about those insecurities and he knows how to help you best. And mine was getting up in front of people and speaking, and he got me to do it. And I don't know how he got me to do it, but I know I talked to other, I have friends and other people are like, Nope, I, I'll just say no all the time.
And I was like, but we are supposed to do things that. We are asked to, you know, that's how we grow. Yeah. And if we don't do 'em, then we're not gonna grow. And look how God has used you because 10 years ago you asked, I asked, I needed, I needed that reassurance. I just needed to know. And even now I've been to four Maroni Eyes, quest and everyone, I'm just like, okay, am I still good or I've come, I've come with other things about family issues.
'cause I've had, I have four children who have taken a different path. They're wonderful, wonderful people. I love 'em to death. And so I pray about them and, and so I just kind of put it in his hands and I was like, okay, they're yours. You know how to, what they need. Absolutely. Oh, Debbie, well I can tell you this.
You're definitely enough for this episode. You are exactly what we needed. That story is awesome. Thank you, Tammy. You, you're, you're, I just love you.
Segment 2
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I'm here with my friend and guest, Toby Perriton. Now I have to just tell you guys how I know Toby. First of all, this is the coolest story ever. So last year back in the fall, my daughter came home from seminary, so she's a senior, and she said, mom, I, I always say, that's the only class I really care about. So whenever it's seminary, I'm like, how was school today?
Even though I know, just talk to me about seminary. And so she's like, mom seminary was so good. And I said, well, what, what made it so good? And she said, there's this kid in my class. And he just bore the most humble and sincere and powerful testimony. Like everybody was crying. It was so cool, mom. I just loved it.
And I remember thinking, I'm like, that is really cool, that that touched her. And so I said, well, tell me about him. She goes, all I know is his name's Toby, and he's super cool and everybody likes him. And I, I remember thinking that. And then. Months went by and your name popped into my head and I said, Lily, ask him if he'd be on the podcast.
Like if that's something he'd be interested in. And guess what, here we are. Hi Toby. Hello. Glad to be here. Oh, this is so fun. Okay, Toby, tell us everybody a little bit about yourself so they know you. Like, what do you like to do? Do you play a sport? How old are you? All that fun stuff. Alright, so my name is Toby Perton.
I am 17. I am a junior in high school for fun. I kind of do like a lot of like little things. Don't really get like super big on like one specific thing, but mm-hmm. [00:15:00] Sports wise, I do track and field, high pole vault, I sprint. I'm really big into photography. I like to play instruments. I play the guitar, the piano, drums, and ukulele.
Wow. Yeah. That's impressive. That is so cool. I'm, I'm sad it's not a musical podcast, but you have, you play something. Oh, I'm not that good. This is so fun. And how many people are in your family? I have. With my, so I'm the youngest of my family and both my older siblings are married. So I guess technically it's seven now.
Oh my gosh. That's fun. Okay, well this is gonna be fun and Toby knows what he's gonna talk about. I don't know, I just told Toby to come prepared because we're talking about the acronym this year, which is Ask because the Doctrine and Cabinets is a book of questions and answers, Toby. And so anytime someone's seeking more knowledge for their life, they can always ask or go to human prayer.
So here's what I wanna know, Toby, go back to that day in seminary. Do you remember what that was like? Or what did you say? So I think initially there were some student in the class who, I think it was like a seminary question day. And so the teacher just opens up, like open up to the whole class like, Hey, does anybody have any questions?
That's been like ringing a bell on their mind lately. And this one kid asked like it was related to prayer and how sometimes he like struggles with prayer and he doesn't know if he's. Talking to God, or if he's just talking to a brick wall and I actually raise my hand. I'm like, can I butt in with this real quick?
And what I share with him is I've gone through really similar ti things in my life where I felt like when I was praying out to God, I felt like I was just stuck talking to a brick wall. Nobody was there. And it took a super long time in my life to actually realize and understand that there is a superior being out there who's listening and caring what I have to say and like cares that I have a connection, a relationship with him.
And so I shared, um, kind of the whole story of how my testimony was founded with him and how rare and asking God was a significant part of that. Well, tell me about that. So this was roughly a year ago, I'd say maybe a year, year and a half ago, somebody who was really close to me. Um, I. Let me and others know that they were stepping away from the church.
And how'd that make you feel? Really? I was shut down. So with that being said, that was the pivotal point in my testimony, either if it was all in or all out. So, mm-hmm. After hearing that, I really had to figure out for myself, was the church true? Was God really there? Did Joseph Smith make up this church and make up the Book of Mormon?
All those questions and thoughts were poking in my mind, and I like desire to know the truth for myself. And I remember it was on that exact same day, obviously, like I was weighing, weighing heavily on me. So I went to the temple and that was honestly probably one of the hardest days of my life. I was grieving a lot that day and.
I went out to God as kind of just like a shot in the dark. Like, alright, I need to know for myself. Now this, if this is true, I've heard from other people that they have testimonies and they know these things about the gospel and I've kind of just trusted them growing up. But I didn't have at the moment a testimony for myself.
So I was reaching out to God there and I opened my heart up to him and all these thoughts that were weighing in my mind and bringing me down, I reached out to God and asked them, are they true? Are you really there? What? Like, kind of just what is going on? I need some clarification. And at that same moment, ironically, I felt like really alone.
And I felt like a, what? I felt like how a lot of people do when they're going through. Temptations and challenges. I felt really alone. Nobody else was going through it. And then I asked God to be there with me and help me feel at peace. And it felt like I was giving, I was getting a hug by everybody that I ever loved and they were just right there standing there with me.
And it was a really peaceful moment. And it was kind of like a reassurance that God is there for me and he cares for me. And with that, I also had some questions weighing on my mind. A big one that I mentioned in this prayer that I had of God is. Did Joseph Smith make up the Book of Mormon? And why can people have made mistakes in their life, such as our prophets, like Joseph Smith and Brigham Yon?
Why are they allowed to be a prophet if they made mistakes in their life? And that was a big one that was like really in my mind, that I desired to know the answer to. And I just hollow up my Book of Mormon. It was this, this book of Mor right here. I held it open like this. I'm like, all right, God, just show me where you go.
I waited like five seconds and the book flipped and it flipped, uh, like this page, like right here. Mm-hmm. I was like, all right, maybe it's that page and this, it started going like, and it was sat and flipped like that. So [00:20:00] I'm like, oh yeah, maybe something's up with this page. And so I'll read you the scripture.
So it's Alma chapter 48 verse 17, and it states. Verily verily, I say un unto you, if all men had been and were ever to be like unto Mornay, behold of the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever. Ye the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men. And with that being said, lo free knowledge, this Mornay, he was, this is Captain Marnay that this is speaking, speaking about in this chapter, who was a really big influence on people's lives.
He was a really spiritual man. A lot of, a lot of people even viewed him as like an almost perfect man who like the devil had no temptation over. And what that scripture is mentioning is if. Everybody else, and a lot of people had faith and had like evidence like Marrin I did in his life, the devil would have no power over the children of men.
Mm-hmm. And if with, with that being said, God's plan would cease to exist because we were all sent here to be trialed and to be tested and to go through hard times so that ultimately our relationship with Heavenly Father clicks and it like starts, like begins. And that was a big answer that was answered that day.
And there was a quick clarification right there that this is all true and God is there. He answers your questions when you seriously need to, and sometimes it will just feel like you're talking to a brick wall and nobody's there listening to you. That's because God is testing your patience and he's testing you through other things to see when you are needed to know the answer.
And when that thing is needed to be revealed upon you, the time will come. Right time. So that's the little bit of my story that I shared that day in seminary. Yo, Toby, what I love about your stories, first of all, I'm feeling the spirit because what you're saying is absolutely true. I believe you and I love how you read that verse of scripture and how.
The Lord spoke to you in your language and your understanding. Like that's what the scriptures teach us. He'll speak to us in our own language and our own understanding. And He did that with that verse for you, the way you were able to take that verse. And then you, I've never once, and I've read that verse so many times, Toby, I teach it all the time when I go and talk about the repentance process.
'cause the next verse after that says that Alma and the sons of Mosiah were like Mornay and they were all men of God. And then if you cross reference it to Mosiah 28, those sons of Messiah were called the est of sinners. So I always use it to say, the atonement of Jesus Christ really works. No matter how naughty you are, the atonement will take care of it.
But I love that you read that verse. And it taught you that if all men were perfect, we wouldn't need a plan and that Satan would be null and void. That is the coolest way to view that verse and you've just strengthened my testimony about why we can have imperfect leaders and why we need them almost.
That is so cool. So now you are, you had that experience and you shared that in your seminary, uh, classroom. Has that come into play recently in your life? Has there been anything, like, have you had to fall back on that testimony since you got that? Very ironically, yes. This was, oh really? A couple of days ago, this same person, um, reached out to us and kind of like explained why they did all this stuff.
So there was another experience really recently when I reached out to God again and I just asked them for more clarification on, 'cause this person is somebody I look up to on a daily basis. They're really close to me and somebody, it's really dear to me. So I desire to know if what's going on in their, their life and what they believe is something that I should believe in myself and mm-hmm.
With that being said, obviously I reached out to God again and I just asked him for more clarification and more answers and that same piece that I mentioned, and it felt like I just had everybody I ever loved giving me a hug there that day. I felt it again and I knew that God was there and that this person mentioned is just going through a challenge of their faith, so that maybe someday in the future, I don't know when, I don't even know if so, but that they're going through this trial and this challenge so that they can have a stronger testimony with God, like with what you asked.
Yes, I do have that same situation weighing on me almost every day, but it just, with that challenge weighing on me every day, it helps me every day become more and more close to my Heavenly Father and my savior, Jesus Christ. And let me ask you this, is there anything specific that you do on a daily basis to help you spiritually?
Uh, so. Okay. I slack a little bit as of lately, but I did, I do typically try to read the Book of Mormon and the scriptures as much as possible. And even those days that I'm just feeling really lazy, I'll just go to my phone and if I don't feel like reading anything, the um, the library, the gospel library app just has like scriptures of the day and just [00:25:00] as like, oh yeah, I'll just read that and I'll count that as men daily reading on those lazy days.
Um, that totally counts, Toby. Okay. That's not a lazy day. That's doing it. That is so awesome. So impressive. So then my last question for you is what advice would you give then to anybody who's struggling to know? There's a lot that goes into a building relationship with your Heavenly Father. And for me it's taken a lot of.
Figuring out in life if things are right or if things are wrong. And through those processes, I've learned that God speaks a different language than what we speak. God's not gonna respond to us in ways that we have verbal communications like our, like our mom, like a earthly mom and dad. But with that being said, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't reach out to God in prayer like we wouldn't with our earthly mother and earthly father, because God trusted those people to look over us the same way as God looks over us as himself.
So we should strive to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father the same way that we strive to have relationships with maybe not even your parents. If you have rough and tricky situations and relationships with your parents, just people that are close to you in your life, try to have those same goals and standards in a relationship that you have with those people, with your Heavenly Father.
And by doing so, it'll help you day by day, both stronger and. More profound relationship with your Heavenly Father and kind of what I mentioned before is your Heavenly Father will speak a different language as you. So sometimes when you're asking God for answers and guidance in your life, he's not gonna just like talk back to you and stuff.
Mm-hmm. But it might be little prompt things like what I had in the scripture that one day is just a verse that automatically will cook with you. So if you are trying to strengthen your relationship with Heavenly Father, I would suggest to just do whatever you possibly can. And the Lord he loves effort and he loves to see us trying to do our best.
He's not expecting you to be perfect, but he's expecting you to do the best that you possibly can. Wow, Toby, so well said. That is awesome. Thank you. Thanks for being on the podcast today. Of course. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to read my testimony, and it's been an awesome. Awesome time with you, Tammy.
I can't wait to see what God does with you. This is gonna be awesome. Please keep in touch because when you get that mission call, I wanna know where you're going. All there.
Segment 3
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Okay. I'm here with one of my very best friends, Holly Butterfield Rawlings, or HB as I affectionately call her. Many of you listening know who HB is 'cause she's been with me since the beginning and she was on last year, episode 31. And in that episode she talked about her husband looking for work and I thought I need her and her husband to come on and talk to us about their experience with asking the Lord.
Not knowing anything ahead of time or how it would turn out. We just knew clear back last year, you were in the thick of, of just praying that God would answer your prayer. And I remember you saying, I hope by the time this episode airs, I hope he has a job. And he did not. And so I asked you to come on and just tell us about what it was like in your process and asking God, and, and especially for you Holly, what's it like for you to ask God?
Tell us about that. Oh, wow. Well, so yeah, I was really hoping by the time episode 31 rolled around, uh, last year, we'd be in the clear last year. What month would, what month did that air Oh, like in the fall? Yeah. Yeah. Uh, it had been, I think when it aired it had been six months. Yes. And at the time we recorded it, it had been like maybe three or four months.
And so I thought surely by, by then, and I kept, I would make these arbitrary dates in my mind and say, I can do this until. Labor Day, I can do this until Halloween. You know, I can do this until next Tuesday. And then it, it, the time Incre incrementally got shorter and shorter and shorter. I can do this for four seconds.
Yeah, that's towards the end. That's about, but it, it also increased my, my prayers. And I think that the tricky thing for me, um, when I think about praying is, you know, I know that there are people in far worse. Situations than we found ourselves in. Mm-hmm. Even though it was pretty bad, you know, it went, yeah.
It was for almost a year. 11, a little over 11 months, four days, three hours and 27 minutes. Uh, not that, not that I was keeping count or [00:30:00] anything. Hello? Sure, sure. Um, you know, I mean, I, I did a lot of Are you there? God, it's me, Margaret, during this. Right. It, it just went on longer than I thought was even reasonable for a trial.
Which is funny because I think we have these arbitrary deadlines in our head mm-hmm. For like, how long can we suffer? Well, especially because I'll just interject real quick. Yeah. Being your best friend. Sure. Um. Because when it happened, we're like, all right, all hands on deck, everybody. We're gonna pray, we're gonna fast.
We had group fasts, so we thought, surely this isn't gonna last that long. God's gonna hear our prayer and it's gonna be a miraculous story where he'll be employed super duper quick. Right know. And I, I mean, I wanted that, you know, I wanted that to be the case. Of course, who doesn't? Mm-hmm. But there are people in war term countries, there are people who, you know, I have a job at least, like we can sort of survive here for a little while.
Although towards the end it was, it was getting like by the hair of our chin, chin, chin. Yeah. And I remember you telling me early on that something better than we could imagine, I. Was going to come along and you weren't the only one who said that to me. And I thought, well, that sounds like something right outta Mormon stories, you know?
I'm like, I don't care if it's something better that we can imagine or if it's just means we don't end up in the poor house. Right. Yeah. You know, don't wanna lose the house, or, and I'm keenly aware that having had triplets in the NICU and things did not go exactly how I wanted them to go. That, you know, maybe this was gonna be one of those times where it was gonna go on for a long time, but I did feel like in the end, you know, everything would be okay, but then your mind goes in circles like, okay, well being okay, I guess, like, we're still alive, you know?
But, but, and so it. I don't know. There, there are a lot of mind games in my own head during this time, but one thing that I noticed is, you know, I'm in my fifties and I thought if this had happened in my thirties, the why I would've been asking, the knowledge I would've been seeking is why is this happening to us?
And in my fifties, that didn't even cross my mind. Wow. And not us, I mean, yeah, right. Like we chose to come to Earth and you know, hard stuff is inevitable and is going to happen. And so that, that's some growth that that's some growth. Right. That's cool. Yeah. That's some growth. And more than anything, I wanted for our kids to see that we were gonna keep praying and we were gonna tell them of the people who are praying for us, and we were going to go to the temple and we were going to just put our faith in the Lord.
And Juston and I, I remember we came, we were about to go on a girls trip with Bible study. Mm-hmm. And we came to your institute class in Draper and you said that we'll always get more than we asked for. Mm-hmm. And I don't know if you remember teaching that, but I mean, I just looked over at Juston and he had tears in his eyes and you know, boy that's, that's rough watching your spouse, especially watching a man go through that where, you know, they get most of their self-esteem or at least half of it right from their job.
The other half from us trophy wives that they've got. Yes, clearly sure. Here go on their arm. But hey, this body didn't happen by itself. Okay. Yeah. Body by hb there's a lot of cheese in this body. Um, and so, you know, watching him kind of, I. Suffer through it in his own way was so hard anyway. And I felt this little tiny spark of hope.
And I know that's the Holy Ghost. 'cause at that point it had been like, you know, eight months and Whew. Episode longer one, right. Yeah. I guess we went November. So, yeah. Yeah. I mean, it, it had been a long time. Mm-hmm. And I had had a blessing before he lost his job, before he was laid off that said that I would be strengthened and that I would lead my family.
Mm-hmm. And I thought, well, I mean, I'm glad I'll be strengthened, but I, but I already am leading with my husband, like, you know, we're partners in crime here at the Rawlings House with the triplet seniors. Yeah. And so it, [00:35:00] but it was true that I needed that charge. To, to lead in that way because I had to be a cheerleader and a believer, and I needed all that heavenly help.
And I'm so grateful that I had that blessing to, to rely on, and I'm so grateful for priesthood blessings and priesthood power. I'm grateful for the men and women who exercised that power. Mm-hmm. During the time that we went through this, I mean, I had people, I had a, I had a friend at work who would just randomly Venmo us.
Mm-hmm. Very young, young couple, just getting started. And she would send us a couple hundred bucks or 500 bucks here and there. Wow. Like out of nowhere. And I would say, oh, you can't do that. Like, you've gotta, you know, you need it, you're just starting your family. And, and she'd say, Nope, the Holy Ghost told me to.
Wow. And skip along her merry way. And I had people who came up to me and said, when I was a kid, my dad lost his job for a year, a year and a half. And people were willing to bear our burdens during that time. And I am so grateful for that, that people were keeping their covenants and mm-hmm. Leaning into that time with us, I, I watched other people magnify their, their covenants in that way.
And I and Tammy, like you were my person who I called and, and would be in tears and say, he's gonna get a job. Right. And every time you would testify, yes, he is. And it reminded me of when Jack was in the NICU dying and you drove me to Primary Children's Hospital and I said, Tammy, like, what's, you know, I don't know what to do and you promised me, hey, he had a blessing.
He will live. He will live and he shouldn't have. And yeah, you know, the economy's not that great right now. I don't know if anyone you know, is aware of that they're paying $37 for eggs. But, um, and my mission president and my mission leaders, Dave and Connie Bailey, they showed up with their daughter, Lori and their son-in-law, Earl.
And they came and served us right before Christmas and brought us the sweetest gifts and gave my children presents and came and like mourned with us and gave us hope and, um, in their own extremity. I mean, they're, you know, they're elderly and they, they hauled themselves down from Farmington and, and came and continued to lead me, you know, sister Butterfield from.
Arizona Tempe Mission, 1991, Hala and, and showed me again, people keeping their covenants. And so through this whole experience, I feel like every time I prayed I would see somebody keeping their covenants Wow. To mour of those that mourn and to mm-hmm. Rally around and put their hand on our cross and help us bear it.
And boy, I, you know, greater love had no man than this, than he layeth down his life for his friends and people would lay down their, their daily lives mm-hmm. To take time and encouragement and material goods. Our ward was incredible. I mean, I wouldn't trade it, even though I have not felt that much intense anxiety.
I'm still not off it. And you know, he's had a job for a few months now and I'm still like on a hair trigger. Yeah. You know, let me ask you this, did it turn out better than you could have even imagined? Oh, a thousand percent. And I'm not just talking about monetarily with his job, right? Yeah. How did it turn out better?
A he came, he came home two nights ago. He's a data analyst and he was like, you won't believe this, like, report I made and all these statistics and, and he made like a, you know, a slide deck and he was showing me. Mm-hmm. And he's so much happier at this job and it's a better job and it is far better than we could have imagined in both, like his happiness and also just in every way it, it's better.
And how has it affected your overall testimony of asking God? God is not too busy. You know, like I've said before, I kind of picture him in an office. He's a businessman. He is like, [00:40:00] look like, what do you need? What? I don't got a lot of time. Yeah. So just lay it out for me. He is a busy, have you seen, yeah.
Let's see if I can get to, have you seen my pile of todo? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't know why he's like a old 1972 CEO but um, you know, it wasn't, it. I feel closer and I feel like he's my dad more than I did before. Yeah. And I also know that the savior paid the price for all those times. And because of him, other people were able to serve and we were able to feel the spirit and the love of God and where there could have been despair.
There was hope and yeah, and I think that is, that is why we ask, so Wow. Holly, thank you. You're welcome, Tam. Thank you for sharing that. I sure love you. I love you so much. God is so good. You are God's favorite. I've been saying that before I was even saying that on the podcast. Let's be clear. I've been telling Holly she's God's favorite since the first matter, oh, since the nineties.
Segment 4
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I am here with my friend Juston Rawlings, and Juston and I have known each other for a very long time because he's married to HB and he is such a good sport. This is awesome. Juston. I just have to tell you, when I knew we were gonna do the Easter episode and we were gonna focus it on our acronym ask, which is always seeking more knowledge, we thought, wouldn't it be cool to invite people who have had to go to the Lord in prayer and really ask.
For help or more knowledge with their situation. And I will tell you, you and hb, you and Holly came to my mind as people to ask, but this was before you got a job. This was when you were in the thick of asking. And I thought, I can't, they can't come on. 'cause they don't have a happy ending. Like they're just gonna get on and say, we're still asking.
And so then you did get a job. And I just thought the timing was amazing. 'cause I'm like, I'll ask him no matter what happens. But everything, the timing of everything worked out. And so HP kind of told us a little bit about the journey, but I, we would love to hear from you now. Tell us a little bit about the process of what it was like to ask or was it easy, was it hard?
I don't even know anything about that story. So tell me your story, Juston. Okay, um, yeah, so I guess starting at the beginning, I was let go suddenly from my previous position without much notice. I. And, um, so it was a release, a real surprise to me. It was a place that I thought I was kind of settled in and I was gonna be there for a long time, so I was shocked and, um, as we all were, couldn't believe it.
Yes, of course. Yeah. Came outta nowhere. Uh, I'm sure Holly is expressed that she was very shocked too. Well, you had been there for a really long time too. Yeah, I I had been there almost 10 years Yeah. In my previous position, which is a long time these days. Yeah. And, um, but one, once I, I heard things and I kind of got over the shock of it.
I felt like things were gonna be okay and, and that's, um, how God, God talks to me is comforts me and kind of just says like, Hey, things are all right. Do do your thing, whatever. And so as I was looking for a position and trying to get back to a place where I was supporting the family, um, that's all my prayers were, you know, hopefully this works out and hopefully I can make wise decisions and I can find the right place.
And, and whenever I got really anxious or, or really upset or worried about that and went and talked with Holly about it, that was kind of the answer was, was always like a comfort things are okay. And, and that's one thing that I really have, uh, a testimony of is God will never leave us hanging. Hmm. Um, if we ask good things and we're trying to do the right thing, that he will support us in our desires.
You know, the righteous desires, I guess you could say. So yeah, I, I had three or four times that I, I went in for interviews and I was contacted and I'm like, this is gonna be it. This is, this is the one I feel comfortable around these people as I'm interviewing with them. I feel like this is the job I could do when I could really excel at, um, and then for some reason or another, it just never worked [00:45:00] out.
Mm-hmm. Oh, boy. It was after Thanksgiving, before Christmas, I finally started reaching out to this certain company that I ended up working for, and it just seemed right, but, you know, was also like far distant and I, I, I could not imagine this. And I, I had a, a first interview where I met with the, the recruiter and things were great there.
And then it was like the middle of December. And she's like, well, everything looks good here. I don't know if you'll hear anything before New Year's. So yeah, I kind of had to sit for a couple more weeks and, and then I, um, suddenly after New Year's, I got, I got a call and had a quick interview and, um, the person I interviewed was just like, this is great.
I feel like this is perfect, this is wonderful. And it kind of went quickly at that point. Mm-hmm. And, um, you know, I, I've been with this company now for two months. It's a great job. I really get along with the people that I'm there with. Um, you know, the pay is great, like e everything that I possibly could have hoped for and was looking for has been answered in this.
It's something that I can do and I enjoy and I'm challenged and I'm, you know, all that stuff. Yeah. But, um, you know, one of the things I I, I've been worried about is just supporting my family. I, I've, you know, previous listeners may have heard that we've got triplets mm-hmm. And they're all graduating this year.
So I've got three kids that are talking about going on missions in the next couple years Yeah. And going to school. And I'm like, this is another financial challenge to be able to support them. Mm-hmm. And God provided a way to, to make that possible. So I, it eased my mind a little bit. Did you ever, in the course of that almost a year that you looked for work, did you ever hit a rock bottom?
Several times. Tell me about that. Not once. Um, tell me about them. How'd you get out of it? Uh, honestly, I wallowed in them for quite a while. Yeah. Um, several times. H Holly and I, I had a really hard time. Um, you know, I want, I want to be a provider for my family and I want to be able to be there for them.
And, uh, a lot of my self-worth, perhaps this is a male thing, perhaps this is, uh, you know, uh, uh, a man in the church thing, but I, I really wanted to be the guy that can kind of make sure that we're financially okay. Yeah. And I wasn't, you're normal and Yeah. I wasn't. You're normal. I, I am. Yeah, totally. And so when things were really going bad, I felt alone even.
Holly, my spouse, who was here in this moment with me and probably understood better than anyone could. I felt like she just didn't understand. 'cause it, it was different. Yeah. For me, I would say, you know, there, there's a saying imposter syndrome where I'm like, maybe I really don't know how to do the things that I've been doing for 20 years.
Mm-hmm. Maybe I, maybe I really am not good. Maybe I don't have value. Maybe I should just, you know, go out and, I don't know, dig ditches or, or whatever, find anything to do anything and not in something that I've kind of studied and specialized in. There was a lot of thoughts like that and prayer was a comfort I.
But quickly, the comfort went away when I was really down, but eventually things just started getting better. I, I had times that I was like praying 3, 4, 5, 10, 20 times a day that I was like literally sitting down and like saying a five minute prayer, trying to meditate and just focus on that. And a lot of times they were the, the same prayer.
Yeah. Um, and sometimes they would, I would feel better for five minutes and sometimes it was an hour. But, um, it just, it just eventually those started connecting [00:50:00] together more and more. And honestly, even after I had found a position and I had like accepted all the letters and I, I'm like receiving things in the mail saying I'm starting this job.
It didn't feel real. Oh, I'm sure. Because I was still in that place of like, I don't know. I, I, it just wasn't, you know? Yeah. Now that you have a little bit of hindsight, 2020, looking over the last year, I'd love to know this, what did that whole experience do for your relationship with God? What did it teach you about him?
It strengthened the testimony that I have had, that he knows me, that God is aware of me, not, not as like some like stranger in the distance, but knows what I'm going through and what I'm struggling with and what my thoughts are, and that he's real and. It, it's the biggest thing I can hold on to, and that's the, the end result of this whole thing is I'm in a better position that I enjoy better, that I like more.
It, it's a, a challenge. It's, it's a new environment that I love, that has a mission that I love, and everything that I've sat down and I've wished about for the last couple years has been fulfilled. Wow. That is incredible. Yeah. Okay, so one, one more question then. What would your advice be to anyone who's right now currently wallowing, hang on, is probably the biggest thing.
You know, I like a recent conference, they've talked about doubt, your doubts, hold on to what revelation you've received. What knowledge you have, what experiences you've had, and don't let those go. Just because it's dark right now and the sun's down or whatever you can't see a way out, doesn't mean that there is no way out.
It's nothing has changed. God has not changed who he is. God has not changed how he thinks about you and just hold on and keep doing what you have already had a testimony of and you've already felt right about and things will be okay. Wow. Well said. Juston. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much for sharing your powerful witness too, of the Savior and of our heavenly Father.
That was awesome. Thank you. I appreciate it.
Segment 5
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Okay. I love this woman so much and I met her when I moved into the ward that I live in. And I knew immediately that I wanted to be her friend. And she's someone that I wanted to be like because Paula has just, Paula believes she's a lifer. She has a strong testimony in Jesus Christ and in our Heavenly Father and her life experiences have taught her that.
And so when I was praying about who should be on this episode, I knew I wanted it to be Paula. And I was just praying. I pray she says yes. 'cause Paula's also, Paula does not like attention. Is that fair to say? Her kids do though, which is why I love her family so much. So tell us a little bit about your family.
Well, Walt and I have been married for about 50 years. Getting old You and Walt. 15 years. Yes. And we have eight children and 15 grandkids. Wow. That are really, really cute. Mm-hmm. It's true. Mm-hmm. And listen, I know everybody thinks their family's the best, but Paul's family's probably the best. Your family's so fun.
All your kids. They're grown. They're just a, a riot to be around. So, so much fun. And this is kind of a fun little secret. Tell everybody what your secret room is in your basement. Oh, the chocolate room. And what do you mean by that? My husband is a c chocolatier and we make chocolates all the time, every day, every week.
Yep. And they are delicious. And the kids grew up slaving away in the shop, and now they're gone, but. We're still there. Yeah, you are. And your chocolates are divine. Listen, mother's Day is, is like a coveted day in our ward. We don't get plants. We get turtles. The most delicious chocolate turtles ever. [00:55:00] Oh, there's, oh God.
Okay, Paula, well I asked you to come on and just tell me about your experience with asking the Lord, and I am looking forward to what you have to say. So tell me about a time or has it been throughout your life when you've asked the Lord? I think I always have, I was raised by goodly parents, so I didn't ever have to not understand.
Mm-hmm. So I always did, but I remember after we were married and we had our first little girl, and she's so cute and we're having so much fun and we had our second little girl, she was also cute, but within a few hours she started to turn blue and we quick and raced her to the hospital and. They did all the things and found out she had transposed heart vessels, which at the time they couldn't do much about and she ended up passing away.
And so life was suddenly like, whoa. Yeah, very real. And you wonder about it and all those dreams that you had. But I know that summer we were doing summer theater up at Sundance and we were up and I was up on the mountain with my little girl that night just looking up in the stars. And it was well things, the Janice Cat Perry song that, where Is Heaven?
And I remember looking at the sky thinking all my life I've known intellectually, but heavenly father, this needs to get real, real fast. I wanna know where my baby is and what she's doing and who will raise her and take care of her like I would. So that began, uh. A real intense period of talking to the Lord.
Like, teach me. I need to know. I need to feel it and I need to feel safe in it. And, and it was, oh, a little while later, we went up to the cemetery one day with my oldest daughter who's really little then like still in diapers, but born to talk. Mm-hmm. We were at the cemetery and put some flowers out and she said, can I say a prayer?
I said, sure, yeah, anytime I can pray. So she knelt down and started to pray and she was describing where Tasha was. She was talking all about the neighbors and the houses and what she was doing and what it was like, how she felt about her sister and how it was all okay. And mom and dad were okay and she'd take care of us.
And then she. Closed her little prayer and jumped off and went running through the flowers and Well, and I just looked at each other and thought sometimes the veil's not that thick. You know? Yeah. She's seeing and having an experience, and for me it was, thank you heavenly Father giving me a little insight of it.
She's there and she's happy and doing things and watching over it, and to send it through her sister so that she felt the comfort too. Mm-hmm. That was a special experience. Wow. Over the years, I've continued to ask and learn more because there is more to learn and every, every time I've asked, I've had sweet experiences with my Heavenly Father and learned more.
That helps me in my life now, how to be a mom to my other kids and what they need to prepare for. What stands out when you talk about how to be a mom and what they need, how have you learned that? What taught you that? I think Tasha taught me that this life is a little sliver of eternity. And so rather than deal with the day to day, I need to look way back and see where we all came from and who we are, and then look forward and say, what can I do now to prepare us for everything else?
And it was about, oh, couple of years later, we had another little girl, Nicole and oh, she's a funny little thing. She's the one who tells incredible stories and all the world is magic for Nikki. And um, she also was born with heart things, which are in neither of our families. We'd never heard of it, but she had transposed vessels.
All compensating for each other. But she lived until she was six years old. Uh, most of the time she was fairly normal. The last little while she had problems with her heart. Dr. Ese is a great man and a good friend. And, um, when her lungs started filling with fluids and she was not, you know, we could tell she was struggling and we would have long [01:00:00] conversations.
She'd say, I don't wanna go. I wanna stay here. I'd say, oh, do you? She'd say, yeah, we have fun here. And then we talk about people that were growing up. She goes, I don't wanna grow up. I wanna be your little girl forever. Oh, isn't that's sweet. Yes. And then she would talk about her sister and she'd talk about her little brothers and.
Being part of a family and about how we always would be. And she had just turned sick. She was able to have her birthday all the way she planned it. I mean, you, you really need to do things Nikki's way. She'd gone down the list. Everybody had come to visit her, all the aunts and uncles, and she had all the presents gathered up and her lungs would fill with fluid and then we'd have to go pump 'em out again.
And so she had her birthday party and then she went get pumped out. Mm-hmm. But, um. But she knew it was time, but she said, I wanna go to primary on Sunday because it's my birthday, and they're gonna sing to me. Oh, how sweet. And we said, okay, do you just wanna go to primary and then come home and rest? No.
She says, I go to all my meetings at six. Oh oh, she's a funny one, but Wow. But yes, when she did pass away, I guess we were prepared and we understood, and yet still such a hole, our little girl to leave.
So I, I would, I'm curious to know Paula, I, I can only imagine. I mean, I'm thinking what I would, my experience would be or how, how I might react. And it seems like I would go to the father, go to my Heavenly Father, and just ask him about grief. I ask him for help with my grief. I mean, did you find yourself asking him about that?
Would you like me to read a little note from my journal about that? Oh gosh, yes. That'd be awesome. Yeah. Okay. I have known much of happiness, but I've also known what it is to feel deep grief. I know what it is to walk in the garden, to feel choking, sobs, racking your body and think I've read all about this in books and I thought it was just descriptive, but now I know it's real.
But I also know that this was the time in my life when my prayers changed from we think we, we ask you Amen. To simply. I need somebody to talk to. I know enough to understand, but it's still just plain hurts, and I'm so glad you're there. It was a time in my life when my heavenly Father became a real, real person and a most trusted dear friend who I knew, understood my feelings.
And for that knowledge alone, I would not trade, nor do I regret those hard experiences. The hardest time in my life was losing my line, Nicole. It has been five years now since I have seen her and I miss her dearly. I miss talking to her. I miss her cute and funny sense of humor and her clever way of putting things and her unusual mature insights.
I miss her bravery and her spunk and her hope, and I miss her, especially at Christmas 'cause she was my magic child. I heard a song a few years ago. We sang it in State Relief Society and I realized it's the way I feel about Nicole now. The words were sisters, although we journey life apart, still were sisters as we have been right from the start.
I think. Of her now in terms of a grownup spirit. Much wiser now than I. And I wonder sometimes what she thinks of me. I love her dearly and will, that will never change. I realize today that if I could change anything and bring her back to be my little girl now, I would not. For what we gained in those hard months together was infinitely more valuable than what we paid for it.
I shall miss her until I see her again. It was just heavenly Father bringing little insights into my mind that would change my way of thinking to see, see her as progressing and growing up like we are on Earth. Mm-hmm. And that she was aware what I was doing and we could share that. Wow. Oh, I'm sobbing.
I'm sorry. No, I think everyone. You, you can tell why I have loved Paula since the moment I met her. And when I learned this story about her, I'm like, oh, this Paula is an example [01:05:00] to me of faith and fortitude for sure. And so I wanna know this Paula, with all of that heartache. And that's not all. There's more in your life that's been hard and so much that has been good.
I will say that 'cause your family's fantastic, but in the thick of it, in the hard, why did you, why did you not turn your back on God or Christ? 'cause no one would've blamed you. Peter that said, where else do I go? 'cause I knew he always rescued me. He always filled me and made it okay. I could go on. Yeah.
And he would give me enough insights that little by little I learned enough to understand and be glad he was there for me. Tell me this, because of the Savior's resurrection, what will his return look like for you? It'll be so fun. I'll get these funny little girls back and we can play again. I can have all five of my daughters singing together and probably dancing all over the place.
'cause that's what they do. Wow. And I thought about it before I thought, you know, Christmas is a cool holiday. I am really glad Jesus was born. But for me it's Easter because he did what he promised he'd do. And because of that we have everything waiting for us. I get to raise these little girls and watch them make their choices.
Mm-hmm. Laugh at them and they can, you know, date in a situation where. All the guys are good. Yeah, absolutely. Oh, I love when you said he did what he said he would do. Wow. That hit me with like a ton of bricks. Yeah. 'cause he really will. He's really gonna do what he says he's gonna do. Yeah. In all aspects of our lives.
Even in the hard, that's what I love about your story, that even in the hard, you would take it again for the lessons that you've learned. It changes you forever, changes your insight into everything you do every day. And what matters. I think sometimes, you know, they're safely tucked away in heaven. They have everything they need born in the covenant there, you know?
Mm-hmm. So now it's up to me. If I keep my covenants, then I can have those things I really want. Yeah. Like my kids back. Oh. Oh, Paula, thank you. What a beautiful story for this. Easter week 'cause we celebrate the resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ. So thank you. You're so welcome. I love you, Tammy. I love you.
Segment 6
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Well those are my friends. Those are people that I dearly love and I wanna give a big thank you to all five of them. Thank you Debbie and Toby and Holly, and Juston and Paula for being willing to share your experience. I have absolutely felt the spirit. As I've listened to you, share your stories about a time that you asked Heavenly Father and I think about the scriptures and I go into section 88 because I was recently studying this section in preparation for the institute class that I get to teach, which I love.
And when we get to section 88, oh you guys, hold on, hold onto your hats 'cause it's such a good section. But here's what I wanna leave you with. Section 88 versus 62 through 65. You've just spent the last hour or so listening to stories about people who truly went to the Lord in prayer. And verse 62 of section 88 says this, and again, verily I say unto you, my friends.
Now think about that. Here's the savior, and he's calling you his friends. So I want this to, I want you to absorb these words as I read them, as if the Lord is truly speaking to you wherever you are, if you're in your car, if you're on a walk, if you're in your house, wherever it is you are, please hear this again, fairly.
I say unto you, my friend. I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts with this commandment, which I shall give unto you, that you shall call upon me while I am near. I mean, he's inviting you. Call upon him, go to him in prayer. Thunder 63, draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you. Seek me now.
Pause for just a minute. It's one of the only places in scripture where the Lord says what to seek. Most often it says, seek and ye shall find. But here he's saying, seek me diligently and ye shall find me. Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you whatsoever. Ye ask the Father in my name, it shall be given unto you that is expedient for you.
And if you ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn into your condemnation. And what I love about the word expedient is that it in the 1828 Dictionary, what it means [01:10:00] is something that will make you better or more well off than you were. It kind of as a way to vaunt with yourself a little bit, but not in a bad way.
A another way, I like the word expedient is necessary. But the old school ways to say the word expedient means something that will make you better. So read that verse, I'm gonna read that verse again. Whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, it shall be given unto you that is expedient for you. So are what you asking for?
Is it something that the Lord needs for you to have? Is it expedient? And if you ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn onto your condemnation. And if you're wondering, well, how do I know if it's expedient? We love section 18 verse 18 because that says, pray and ask the Father if it is expedient.
And if it isn't, he will let you know. But then I go back to section 88, verse 66. It says, behold that which you hear as is the voice of one crying in the wilderness. In the wilderness because you cannot see Him. My voice. Because my voice is spirit. And my spirit is truth. Truth abid if and half no end. And if it be in you, it shall abound.
Go to verse 66 and highlight the word wilderness. It's spoken of twice right there. And we love the meaning of the word wilderness. We've studied it before on this podcast, and we're gonna study it in depth next year when we finally get to the Old Testament. Hallelujah. Oh my gosh. I can't wait for the Old Testament.
But what we love about the wilderness is this. The word wilderness is so important in scripture because the Lord uses it anytime he needs people. He often has them go into the wilderness, sojourn in the wilderness, or they leave the wilderness. But whatever the experience is, the wilderness is where they meet God.
In every instance in scripture, I want you to study that word. It's awesome. I mean, just think about the time people have spent in the wilderness. Even the savior was in the wilderness. The children of Moses wandered in the wilderness, Nephi and Lehigh and their family lived in the wilderness. Every one of us, we are in the wilderness, and it's not an isolated moment.
The wilderness is life. And according to Rabbi Stephen Kushner, he believes that the wilderness is where we meet God. And I believe that too. So all of you right now, whatever it is in your life, go to him in prayer. In the midst of your wilderness, ask. And you absolutely will be able to find because you are seeking more knowledge and he wants to give that to you.
And my guests this week have been perfect proof of that. Every one of them who have gone to him and asked have received more knowledge and they are proof that these scriptures are true. They're in the wilderness. And boy, I know their wilderness well. They didn't share everything and I wish they had time too, but they're for them.
Some of them are in the thick of the wilderness. It's not even a clear wilderness. They're in the thistle of the wilderness and they're in the trees of the wilderness. And then sometimes your wilderness is flat. I dunno, maybe that's worse, A desolate wilderness. But whatever it is, know this. This is the time where you need to meet God.
Alma says, verily, this is the time to prepare to meet Christ. And I love that. That's why we're here. That is what the Lord's asking us to do, is to ask him. Sorry. And as you're getting ready to celebrate Easter, which is coming this Sunday, here's my invitation to you. Celebrate Jesus. Use everything you've heard, and go to him in prayer and think about him this week.
This is your time to make Easter as awesome as Christmas. So do what you can to celebrate Jesus with yourself, with your friends, with your family, whomever you can, and really take that challenge in Section 88 that we just read, where he says, to take what you've just heard and ponder it in your hearts.
'cause you're his friend and he wants you to be able to celebrate Easter with him. And I can't think of a better way to do that than to study the life of the Savior and to ask him, because that's what he wants us to do. And I leave this message with you and the spirit that you felt in the name of our savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen. So what was your takeaway? I would love to know what, what did you love that our guests had to save? And at the end of the week on a Saturday, we are gonna post a question from this discussion. So comment on the post that relates to it and share your thoughts. You can get to both our Facebook or Instagram by going to the show notes for this episode@ldsliving.com slash Sunday on Monday.
And it's not a bad idea to go there anyway because it's where we have links to all the references and a transcript of this whole discussion. So go check it out. The Sunday on Monday Study Group is a desert Bookshelf plus original, brought to you by LDS Living. It's written and hosted by me, Tammy Lac Hall.
And today our incredible study group participants were Debbie Beazer, Toby Perriton, Holly Butterfield Rawlings, Juston Rawlings and Paula Price, and you can find more information about my friends at ldsliving.com/sundayonmonday. Our podcast is produced by Cole Wissinger and me. It is edited and mixed by Cole Wissinger and our executive producer is Erin Hallstrom.
Thanks for being here. We'll see you next week, and please remember, you are God's favorite and happy Easter.