Magnify

We're now a couple weeks out of General Conference, and perhaps wondering where to start with our studies. Brooke Walker tackles this in today's episode as well as sharing three things she does to better recognize, remember, and treasure the rays of truth that Heavenly Father sends to us.   Join in the book club! Follow along @magnifycommunity on Instagram and order your book now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is one of those times when, as a woman in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, you realize you are standing on the shoulders of other remarkable, dynamic, visionary, faith-filled women like the late Ardeth G. Kapp. In this very special episode of the Magnify podcast, Deseret Book President Laurel Day does more than reminisce about her friend and mentor. This is a one-of-a kind conversation with two iconic guests where you will come away wanting to magnify your own place in the world and walk through the doors of opportunity that open for you.   Download Ardeth's biography Stand As A Witness for free through this link: https://www.deseretbook.com/product/P4940631.html   Follow us on Instagram for more inspiration and conversation!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you enjoy General Conference? It was a weekend full of uplifting messages. There were so many things on our hearts going into this weekend. Our mission at Magnify is to be women who can be powerful forces for good in our communities and our homes, and we felt like there was no better way to do this than to have real, honest conversations today about what moved us from these messages. Kathryn is out on Spring Break, so today’s episode will be our producer Sarah joined by Kaylen Nelson, Shima Baughman, and Mindy Brown. Pre-order the General Conference Journal Edition now! Join us in our online community on Instagram @magnifycommunitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If we’re honest, it’s all too easy to forget to rely on God and His good grace. But this is exactly what we need to do if we are humble followers of Jesus Christ. In a his October 2023 General Conference address, Elder Joni L. Koch said humility is a “vital catalyst for spiritual growth” and a “mandatory requirement for us to be ready to return to the presence of God.” Today we’re exploring what humility looks like for women who strive to come unto Christ. Joining Kathryn in this episode is Andrea Cabrera. Andrea works in marketing and has a background in broadcast journalism. She has her own podcast, and the Magnify team asked her to go out and bring back three examples of humility from her circles. This episode features the voices of three of those women. Follow us on Instagram and join in the community conversations!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At Magnify, our mission during this special week before Easter is to help us all feel a little holier by focusing on strengthening our relationship with Jesus Christ. As women, we can be powerful forces for good in witnessing the Savior in our every day lives. We can look to the example of the first witness who was a woman, Mary Magdalene. Today's guest is Janiece Johnson. She is a research professor of religion and a production manager at Deseret Book. She has studied out the life of Mary Magdalene. Janiece wrote, "Understanding [Mary's] name begins to helps us see her power and her central role. She is a tower of strength--the Tower-ess or the Magnified one. Women [of the time] were not just on the margins, but central to the gospel and the ministry of Jesus. [Mary] becomes the first witness of the risen Lord and an example of power and strength to all of us who want to be disciples.” Join us on Instagram to find out more about our community and be a part of the conversation!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are some things in life that you have to often take a step back to see a bigger and better view. A tree can have some broken branches or missing leaves, but when it’s looked at as a whole, it’s always a beautiful image. The Savior can do the same thing with our lives, and when we rely on Him, our branches can be healed. Kathryn is joined by Shima Baughman. Shima is a BYU law professor, an author, and her background growing up in Iran plus her experience around the world can help us lean into today’s message that the Savior’s sealing power can not only help us be with family forever, but find peace. Head to our website at magnifythegood.com/events to register for Lift Up Your Heart! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's common for women to want to be full of light and, like Elder Quentin L. Cook said, “striving to be full of good cheer.” When we are around people like that, it’s contagious and infectious. We wonder what that looks like and how to maintain it, so let’s chat about it!   This episode features contributor Cristi Brazao. Cristi is an assistant professor at Daytona College in Florida where she teaches writing and research, English composition, and African American literature. She used to sing in the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and her experience praising the Lord through song along with her convert backstory plays a role in our conversation today.    Follow us on Instagram @magnifycommunity to continue the conversation hear more community updates.   Register HERE for Lift Up Your Heart: A Magnify Gathering!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last time you had to introduce yourself, what labels did you use? Did you talk about who you are, what you do, or what you love? All of these labels can be fun, and President Nelson even said that it can be a great way to describe ourselves, but they can also be divisive and restrictive. Today we are going to talk about the most important labels and how we can "label up"!   Eme Martin joins Kathryn on today’s episode. Eme says she prefers hugs to handshakes, sweet over salt, and travel by sea! One of Eme’s super powers is that she is great at making connections and friendships, and her experience will be perfect for this conversation!   Join us on social media where you can hear more of the conversation!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve heard it said to “expect the unexpected.” But we can feel at times like our expectations aren't always met. Elder Sabin shared a unique message in October 2023 General Conference. He said, “when nothing is expected and everything is appreciated, life becomes magical.” Doesn’t that ring true to you? This episode is all about about how we can find that magic in our lives through trusting God.   Joining in this discussion is Maria Eckersley, who is known for capitalizing on the happy moments in life. She is the ultimate “mom hacker”, mega party planner, and a devoted fun mom. She and Kathryn chat all things happiness in the gospel!   Follow us on Instagram to connect with the community!   Order your General Conference Journal Edition to study along with us!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Valentine’s Week to the Magnify Community! This holiday is all about celebrating love, and in this week’s episode we talk about the languages of gospel love that Elder Gong shared in his General Conference address, “Love is Spoken Here.” God’s love notes are how we see little moments of the Savior's love manifested in our everyday moments. Kathryn is joined by Reyna Aburto, former member of the Relief Society General Presidency. Reyna’s special talent is that she is an excellent friend-maker and because of this, she brought some personal experiences of seeing these gospel love languages in action. Follow the Magnify Community on Instagram and find our Valentines this week on our page! Order your own General Conference Journal Edition to study along with us!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Oaks shared in his most recent General Conference address that a distinct doctrine the restored gospel offers is in the definition of Heaven. The binary “heaven and hell” doesn’t resonate with us because we are taught that Heaven will be exactly what we want it to be! God wants us to be happy and to be in a place where we are comfortable. So let’s chat about this doctrine and the happy news that comes with it!   Kathryn is joined in this episode by contributor Melinda Brown. Mindy describes her perfect day as playing with her grandbabies, exploring along the beach, digging into a new book, and eating lots of scrumptious treats, definitely with frosting. She is getting her master’s degree at Duke Divinity school.   Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram! Order your General Conference Journal Edition today and follow along with Magnify as you study the words of the leaders!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes we’re all guilty of overthinking it and making our own lives too hard. Maybe we even do it with our relationship with Jesus. In general conference, Elder Renlund shared words that helped to dial in our focus from his talk, “Jesus Christ is the Treasure.” This episode discusses seeing Jesus for who He is. Hilary Craner joins Kathryn Davis as they discuss the question, “did you see Jesus today?” and how a story about bubbles helped Hilary reconsider her priorities. Hilary is a graphic designer who loves to sprinkle happiness into her designs. She loves to poke fun at herself over on her Instagram page with her obsession with 80/90’s nostalgia. Hilary says she’s all about the simple joys in life, which makes her a perfect fit to talk about simple ways to strengthen our focus on Jesus. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram! Order your General Conference Journal Edition today and follow along with Magnify as you study the words of the leaders!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We often wonder how to work more effectively with the Holy Ghost. We can overthink the feelings we do get. Other times, we wonder where the guiding feelings have gone. Today we're taking the questions we have regarding the Holy Spirit to our day-to-day, discovering what it means to walk more closely with our constant spiritual companion.   Brooke Walker joins Kathryn Davis as they discuss President Eyring's talk, "Our Constant Companion." Brooke is a mom, a homebody, a lover of all things brightly-colored, an experienced host of several television shows, and executive producer of Studio 5 at KSL-TV in Salt Lake City.    Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for more inspiration!   You can also get a copy of the General Conference Journal Edition to study along with us each week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s easy to fall into the belief that living the Gospel is a series of boxes to check.  A sort of list of behaviors and requirements meant to measure progress.  But the scorecard approach soon gets old and exhausting. General Young Women’s President Emily Belle Freeman challenged that perspective in her recent General Conference talk. And she shares her own personal "why" when it comes to gospel living.   Joining in this conversation with Kathryn is contributor Kaylen Nelson. Kaylen teaches religion at BYU and she considers herself a bit of a bookworm and she's a major "Swiftie". She just celebrated her first Christmas with her 1-year-old son. In this episode, Kaylen articulates her personal "why" and encourages listeners to do the same.   Want more Magnify content? Follow us on Instagram!   And don't forget to get your own copy of the General Conference Journal Edition so you can follow along these episodes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happiness: it’s something everyone wants. A host of different voices claim to know the secret to it. In October General Conference, Elder Choi asked the question, “Do You Want to be Happy?” and it seems like the answer is obvious! YES! But he goes on to share what our part is in finding and receiving truly lasting happiness. On the Magnify podcast today is guest Janelle Gardiner. Janelle is a respiratory therapist, a professor and a world traveler. Janelle enjoys daily life with a large extended family–of 11 nephews and 6 nieces. She and Kathryn discuss the moments to hold on to when answering the question, "do you want to be happy?" Want more Magnify? Follow us on Instagram! Order the General Conference Journal Edition to follow along in your studies with the Magnify community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before we start making changes in our lives, we often feel like we have to be good enough, or that there is some kind of worthiness requirement. But we just have to take the first step! In the Oct. 2023 General Conference, Elder Costa said that, “Sometimes we may think, “I need to fix my life before I come to Jesus,” but the truth is that we come to Jesus to fix our lives through Him.”   Kathryn is joined today by Kalo Latu. Kalo has the best laugh and a true gift for “keeping it real”. Kalo teaches music at BYU and she’s a sports enthusiast and a foodie and I loved getting to know her personal story!   Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Merry Christmas to all our Magnify listeners! This special episode features the amazing and talented Emma Nissen. Emma is a singer and songwriter whose speciality is, "Jesus and Jazz." She performs some classic Christmas songs along with a hit of her own, "Light."   This episode also features thoughts from our Magnify contributors as they share what word has been on their hearts this Christmas season.   Don't forget to follow the Magnify Community on Instagram for more inspiration. And follow Emma on Instagram!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think it’s safe to say — women have a tendency to look backwards over their own shoulders—in effect wondering if they are good enough, put together enough, prepared enough to meet the Savior if He came tomorrow.  This episode features Andrea Cabrera and Kathryn discussing Sister Amy Wright’s most recent address, “Abide the Day in Christ” from General Conference. Andrea is a bookworm, an electric unicycle hobbyest, and dreams to become the “Latina Oprah Winfrey.” Purchase a copy of the General Conference Journal Edition to follow along!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’d all like to open our arms wider to include others, understand each other and avoid the divisions we see in the world around us. So how do we look at others who are different from us with, as Elder Soares puts it, “the Savior’s eyes”?   "The more we treat people as sisters, the more they'll feel that sisterly love."   Today's guest is Magnify contributor Shima Baughman. Shima grew up in Iran, immigrated to the U.S. when she was little, and is now an author and law professor. This makes her an ideal person to share how we can bring more unity to our relationships inspired from Elder Soares' most recent address "Brothers and Sisters in Christ." Shima and Kathryn discuss her three spiritual takeaways.   Shima's three spiritual takeaways: Love them because he loves them. Our goal is to reach a kind of love where there is no light or differences between us. Where are are all one. Shima shares a story about helping a refugee mother and her own personal experience of being an immigrant, and how the Spirit whispered to her, "you are sisters." Picture everyone wearing white. Shima shares a thought she had while serving in the temple. We are united not only in purpose when we go to the temple, but we are physically all wearing the same thing: white. Wearing white tells a bigger story, which is that we are all united and made clean through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Divine identity creates unity. Shima shares the invitation that our prophet extended us: focus our identities on being children of God, children of the covenant, and disciples of Christ. This will bring us together more than anything. Differences can bring us closer.   Small and simple challenge: Ask Heavenly Father for ways that we can be enlightened through the Holy Ghost for ways we can improve on being united with others. One example Shima shares is to try to not treat people that are less-active or different from other ward members as less-than. Instead of inviting them to a church activity, ask them to bring something. Make them feel a part of the cause.   Study along with us by using the General Conference Journal Edition and stay up-to-date on Magnify!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you hear the story of the prodigal son and relate a little too much to feeling like there is no way back? What if we thought about the covenant path being something exciting?   "Even if we aren't all the way there, the Father will run to meet us where we are."   Magnify contributor Cristi Brazao is here to discuss Elder Uchtdorf’s recent General Conference Address “The Prodigal and the Road that Leads Home.” Cristi’s busy schedule with her four children as well as assistant professor duties has led her to some interesting spiritual reminders that she shares in this episode.   Cristi's three spiritual takeaways: His love is everlasting: The Savior and His atonement can help us wipe away the feeling that we don't deserve His love. The Lord will follow us as far as we wander, and he will rejoice when we are back. His love is bountiful for both those who have wandered, and those who strive to stay on the path. The path is exciting: In the story of the prodigal son, there are two different people who experience the path. Perhaps we can find ourselves as both the brother who leaves all behind, and the brother who stays. At different points in the story, they each felt that the path was difficult or not worth it. But the part that is exciting is that at the end, there is a feast, and it's a celebration for both! I can rejoice with angels: There are people on both sides of the veil here to cheer us on as we walk the covenant path. We need each other on the path, and by sharing our stories, we will find that we are rejoicing with angels.   Order the General Conference Journal Edition and study along with us on Magnify!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.