Changing - SoundSage

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This podcast, first and foremost, is about becoming who we are truly meant to be. No matter what life we are born into, we all have the power to draw closer to God. In this episode, your host Donald Kelly shares three key things he has learned from hosting this podcast – they have helped him on his journey and we hope they will help you, too.

Everyone Can Change

Some transformations can be dramatic – we hear stories of receiving revelations or miracles as a catalyst for change.
Not all change is that visible, but that doesn’t make it any less important. God frequently comes as the “still, small voice.”

The Power of the Atonement

The atonement is for everyone, whether their sins are large or small. Because of this, everyone will be resurrected.
When you don’t repent or believe in Christ, you damn yourself to be outside the presence of God in the afterlife.

Studying the Word of God Brings Peace

Studying and learning the scriptures brings a certain level of peace to life that we can not reach on our own.
When we take the time to immerse ourselves in the word of God by studying, reading, and discussing, it enriches our lives and improves our relationship with God.

Thank you for listening to the Changing podcast. If you know anyone who could connect with this or any other episode, consider sending it to them. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and would like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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Getting sucked into material, earthly things happens to us all. You’re not alone if you’ve ever pushed back your church-related activities to take care of work or family. So how do you balance all of the important things in life? In this episode of Changing, your host Donald Kelly gives you three ways to find your eternal perspective so that you can prioritize what truly matters.

Ask yourself, “Why do I do what I do?”

As you go about your life, do you pray, read scriptures, and attend church because you feel like you have to, or out of a love of God and desire to feel closer to Him?
Remind yourself that God is the one who created everything and He is more important than riches and possessions.

Ask yourself, “How can this help me draw closer to God?”

Use the skills and talents you were given by God and improve on them. You can use your skills to serve God, your family, and others in need.
Find a balance between helping the church, tithing, etc. and spending time with your loved ones and taking care of them.

Habits Matter

Have good habits that bring you closer to Christ, but not everything has to be consumed by church. It’s okay to have fun, as long as the things you do can help you be a stronger disciple of Christ in the long run.
It’s important to be mindful of how we spend our time and what mindset we have. Earthly pursuits fade, but the kingdom of God is eternal.

“We need to be conscious of the things that we’re doing, of the perspectives we have. If we are so consumed only on riches, as [the man in the scripture was], if we are consumed only on basketball, or consumed only on getting buff, or consumed only on videogames or doing crime, we are going to find, in the end, that those things are going to wither away. The body’s going to wither away. Those crimes are going to be gone, and all those riches you gained are going to be gone. But – what’s your relationship like with God? What treasures have you built up, what have you saved in Heaven?” – Donald Kelly

If you know someone who could connect with this message, send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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Following the path of Jesus Christ means many different things to different people, so how do we know what to do when we’re told to “be more Christlike”? In this episode, your host Donald Kelly shares nine attributes of Christ with you so that you can incorporate them into your life.

Faith in Christ
When you trust and have faith in Christ, you become closer to the spirit, and that gives you the strength to do great things.
Donald shares a story of when his faith and prayer helped him through a challenging housing situation.
Hope
Optimism and perseverance will help you work through all of the difficulties you face.
Hope helps us overcome discouragement and have a positive view of the future.
Love
Just like how Christ helped many people, even those society often would not help, we should develop the kind of love that helps us to serve others.
This kind of love has no strings attached and is not self-centered.
Virtue
A virtuous person will push away thoughts that are not Christlike, even when no one is watching.
Virtuous people obey God’s commandments, follow the advice of Church leaders, pray for help to overcome sinful thoughts, and quickly repent when they do make mistakes.
Knowledge
Study scriptures every day so that you can better understand the word of God.
When you become familiar with the scriptures, you can help teach others about your faith.
Patience
Patience is the ability to do God’s will and accept his timing.
Easier said than done! When you’re feeling the strain of not being happy with the way things are, take a breath, and remember that God’s timing is better than ours.
Humility
Humility is acceptance and acknowledgment of God’s power and love. Being humble is not a sign of weakness – it is a sign of spiritual strength.
Pride is the opposite of humility and is condemned in the scriptures.
Diligence
Steadfast, constant, and earnest effort in doing the Lord’s work.
When you face tough moments, stay strong and keep taking positive action.
Obedience
This means following the calling of God, even if you don’t always understand His reasons.
Through obedience, you achieve freedom in another sense – you gain the capability to do much more.

“This is not a one-and-done thing, it’s an ongoing thing. Be more Christlike. Seek to perfect these attributes in your day-to-day life and, I promise you, you’ll have peace, you’ll have joy, you’ll have happiness.” – Donald Kelly

If you know someone who could connect with this message, send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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As we move past the resurrection Sunday, we are reminded of the pain of loss that comes with death. In this episode, your host Donald Kelly shares five ways we can cope with the pain of grief and mourning.

5 Ways to Deal With Loss

Remember that it’s not the end. We know from John 11:25 that death is a stage of our existence. We live, then we die, but if we have faith in Christ and follow Him, we will join Him in the afterlife.
Read the scriptures. They can help to reassure you when things are difficult, as they have for Donald and members of his family.
Time heals all things. We will always grieve for those who leave us because we love them, but we are separated from them. Over time, you will still feel the pain, but you will find a way to appreciate the happy memories as well.
Be with family and support. If you have friends and family who can share in your grief or support you, reach out to them and support them as well. It is okay to spend some time alone, but do not isolate completely – if you don’t have close family or friends, reach out to members of your church.
Serve others. When we serve, we are doing what Jesus Christ would do. Take time to mourn, but when the time is right, go out and help other people.

“Death is a necessary component of our eternal existence. No one knows when it will come, but it is essential to God’s great plan of happiness. Thanks to the Atonement of the Lord, eventual resurrection is a reality and eternal life is a possibility for all humankind… For sorrowing loved ones left behind… the sting of death is soothed by a steadfast faith in Christ, a perfect brightness of hope, a love of God and of all men, and a deep desire to serve them. That faith, that hope, that love will qualify us to come into God’s holy presence and, with our eternal companions and families, dwell with him forever.” – Russell M. Nelson

Resources

John 11:25

Alma 40:11-13

If you know someone who could connect with this message, send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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Happy Easter, listeners! Each year, Easter is an awesome time to celebrate, spend time with friends and loved ones, and enjoy the beginning of longer, warmer days. But we all know there’s so much more to this holiday than chocolate bunnies and hunting for eggs – so what’s it all about? In this episode of Changing, Donald talks with us about the resurrection and its significance on this special day.

Why Was the Resurrection Necessary?

After Adam and Eve fell from grace, they became spiritually disconnected from God (spiritual death) and became mortal (opportunity for physical death)
Our salvation relies on a sacrifice of atonement, and this was done by Jesus Christ, as he lived without sin
Jesus took on our sins and pled for our forgiveness before being crucified

The Power of the Resurrection

Christ made the promise that he would rise from the tomb, and on Easter Sunday, he was resurrected
At this moment, he showed that when we atone, we can overcome our spiritual death and reconnect with God
We can also overcome sin through our connection with God and face all of our challenges with this to give us strength

Resources

Changing Episode 054 - What Exactly is Easter All About?

Alma 34 (contains a verse read by Donald)

John Chapter 10 (contains a verse read by Donald)

How are you spending your Easter? If you know someone who could connect with this message, send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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If you or someone you know are going through a difficult time right now, you’re not alone. Whether you’re facing financial struggles, marital issues, workplace challenges, or something completely different, the Lord is always with you. There’s no shame in asking for help, especially from God, who will strengthen you every step of the way.

How Can the Lord Strengthen Us?

When you face temptation towards sin, know that you won’t ever be given temptation you can not overcome (check out Episode 100 for more on temptation!)
Think of the challenges you face as opportunities to grow.
Miracles will happen if you keep your faith and ask the Lord for guidance.
Remember you’re not alone – facing any challenge by yourself can feel daunting or overwhelming. But in every challenge you face, you have Christ with you.

Donald’s Example of Facing Challenging Circumstances

In the early pandemic, Donald underwent some workplace difficulties
Donald also had a young son, and his wife was not working so she could care for their child
Miracles happened during this time that showed Donald and his family that, through prayer and faith, they would survive and even thrive through their difficult times

“We have the capability or capacity to go through challenging times and be able to rely on the Lord’s help, who can strengthen us through those times.” – Donald Kelly

If you know someone who could connect with this message, send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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When you’re faced with temptation over and over, it can make you feel like those temptations have some strength and power over you. While being faced with temptation will push you to choose your faith time and time again, each time you overcome, you grow. In this episode, Donald Kelly talks about facing repetitions of the same temptation, and offers some tips for how you can find strength in those difficult moments.

Why Are We Tempted Repeatedly?

Life is a test. Even if you commit to righteousness, it doesn’t mean you won’t ever be tempted.
Temptation will be targeted toward the weaknesses you have, and this is an opportunity for growth and strength.
Satan wants to bring you down – he has nothing to lose and wants to see you fail.

How Can You Defeat Temptation?

Choose to be in situations where you won’t be tempted.
The longer you entertain the temptation, the harder it is to resist. The less you think about it, the easier it will be to say ‘no’.
You will only be faced with temptations you can withstand. You can handle it – call upon God with prayer or hymn if you’re struggling.

What acts of service have you been a part of lately? If you know someone who could connect with this message, send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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Acts of service help bring us closer to God. Through selfless acts of kindness and care, we become more Christ-like in our ways and help those around us feel the power of God. Not only that, but when we serve God’s children, we serve God as well. In this episode, Donald shares a story about a time when he participated in an act of service with his congregation.

Serving Dixie Brown and the Florida Keys

In 2017, Hurricane Irma hit the Keys in South Florida, destroying the homes of many communities
His team received a work order to help a community member named Dixie Brown, and he selflessly sent the crew to support his neighbor, who had a tree fall on her house
Years later, Donald’s son found a video of Dixie Brown on Donald’s phone, which inspired Donald to check in on Dixie Brown
Through this act of service, a deeper human connection was built and can continue to provide support through the years

“If we are helping God’s children… we are going to have the Spirit be with us. It’s not for self-aggrandizement or self-accolade, we’re doing it because we really care and we want to help other people, and the Spirit of the Lord is able to be present.” - Donald Kelly

What acts of service have you been a part of lately? If you know someone who could connect with this message, send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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In this episode, Donald takes us through the miracle when Jesus healed a man suffering from palsy (Mark 2:1). You’ll hear how Jesus cured this man of his affliction, and how it was the faith of the man and his community that helped get him there. Just like the man whose illness was cured, face your challenges with strength and faith, and surround yourself with folks who will support you.

How Can We Apply This to Our Lives?

When faced with challenges in life, instead of wallowing in how you feel about them, embrace them as faith-building situations
Surround yourself with family, friends, or a community who can support you through difficult times
Unwavering faith in Jesus Christ will help get through tough situations, and could also help you see miracles happen in your life as well

“Take this moment you’ve had, don’t be disgruntled, don’t be upset about it. Take those as learning experiences, and experience this miracle. Go forward with faith.” -Donald Kelly

Do you know someone who is experiencing a faith-building situation? Send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe – it may be just what they need. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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One of the most powerful things we can do as humans on this earth is to show love and compassion to the people around us through our actions. When we have blessings in our lives, nothing can bring us closer to God than to share those blessings with those who are experiencing times of need. In this episode, Donald gets into how to properly give alms without being self-interested and offers some ideas on how you can show love in your community.

What does it mean to “give alms”?

Historically, this has meant giving money or food to poor people.
Now, we use it to mean charitable giving and any other way we offer assistance to anyone in need
This is NOT the same as doing things out of obligation, or for attention!
Tithing and giving alms are not exactly the same, but both are ways people give through their Church
This is an opportunity to share the blessings you have received in life with people who have less, and focus on the care and love you can offer rather than what you’ll get out of it

Ideas for alms-giving

Donate to an organization that offers housing or food to people experiencing poverty
Work with local aid groups to get donations of the kinds of goods people in your area need - this can vary based on the season, so reach out to folks in the know
Offer your time as a volunteer at a nonprofit
Talk to a friend, coworker or family member who is going through a hard time and just needs someone to listen

We hope you got some ideas on how you can practice some alms-giving today! If you and someone you know are working on giving alms together, send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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There are times in life when we stumble, and mistakes are sometimes made. How you respond to your wrongdoings is part of what defines your character - if your response to committing a sin is on this list, you’re not going to take steps to improve yourself. In this episode, Donald lays out seven phrases that won’t help your spiritual growth, and why you should leave them behind.

“The Devil made me do it.” The Devil can not force you to do something, or not do something. He may try to manipulate you, but only you are responsible for your actions. This statement gives your power away and hands it to the Devil.
“It’s just a small sin.” People will use language like this to justify doing the same wrong thing over and over again until they become desensitized to the wrongdoing. No matter how ‘small’ one action may be, it’s still a sin, and when repeated, can have a big impact.
“God knows my heart.” Even though this is true, humans may not! Your actions are what other people know about you, and if you aren’t trying to live as a student of God, that does not reflect well upon you and it can cause harm to others. Ask yourself, “Am I demonstrating that I love God by my action?”
“At least I’m not doing _____.” This phrase, in effect, is justifying your behavior by saying it’s not as bad as something else you could be doing. In this phrase, you’re admitting that you know you’re doing something wrong. If you are aware of this, you have a responsibility not to do it.
“I’ll repent later.” The idea that someone can just sin whenever and as much as they want because they plan to repent is disrespectful of the concept of atonement. If you have sinned before you knew better, repent, and don’t do it in the future.
“_____ was a good person, and they do (sin).” You don’t have any control over the actions other people take, and only you will answer for the things you do.
“I’m only human, and I make mistakes.” As humans, we have to take ownership of our agency and our actions. We should try, every day, to become closer to God, and phrases like this make it seem as though, no matter what you do, you will never improve. This takes away your motivation to work towards your spiritual growth.

“Change the way that you think. Think about yourself as a son, or a daughter, of God, and that you are capable of doing amazing things.” - Donald Kelly

Have you ever said any of the statements on this list? We get it - when you know better, you do better. Maybe you know someone who is trying to “do better” as well - send them this episode and encourage them to subscribe. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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Helping our children connect with the gospel is one of our most important jobs as parents. So what holds us back? Maybe the idea sounds good to you, but you haven’t been able to put it into practice yet. Maybe you’re waiting for that perfect evening when everything aligns to give you the opportunity, and that never seems to come. Maybe you’re not sure how to help your children understand how important the scripture is to you. Whatever the reason, let this episode be what helps you get Family Bible Study started in your home.

Donald’s 3 Tips for an Engaging Family Scripture Study

Be consistent. Find a day and time of the week that works for all members of your household, and stick to it. While you may have to make some sacrifices, remember that this is an opportunity to connect with each other and the Lord. If you approach it with gratitude and joy, your family will learn from this (and, as Donald says, “If you treat it like a chore, they’re going to think it’s a chore”).
Get everyone involved. Offer your children the opportunity to participate in the lessons. Older kids may have topics they want to cover as they navigate new challenges in their lives. Giving them a chance to be involved in deciding on the content may also give you some insight into the things they are going through, so you know how to show up and support them. Even the little ones can be given responsibilities - Donald gives a few examples from his family.
Use pictures for the younger kids. In this section, Donald brings in a “young expert” who uses paper cutouts with pictures on them to act out the stories in the Bible. You can hear how engaged he is, and how he remembers the story, as young as he is! The important thing here is to help your child be an active part of the process so that he or she engages, rather than just sitting and listening passively.

“The fact that they’re engaged, that they’re involved, helps them to build a relationship with God. And also helps them to be able to consistently participate in this activity, which then leads to them building long-lasting habits way after they leave the house. - Donald Kelly

We hope this episode inspires you to start a new routine for your family that will set them up with great habits they can continue as they get older. You might know a parent who would benefit from this message, too - consider sending them this episode and subscribing to this podcast. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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Even the most devoutly spiritual people among us face temptation. But temptation is not just something to be feared - it can be an opportunity to become stronger if we know how to handle it. In this episode, Donald gives you five tips for overcoming temptation so that you can feel prepared and empowered when you find yourself in a compromising situation, and avoid sin.

Pray. When you feel that temptation coming on, ask for guidance and strength to be able to withstand it. You may feel like you aren’t able to handle the temptations you face alone, so call on God first and foremost.
Make the decision before a situation occurs. If you know you might enter a situation where temptation will be present, know how you will handle it before that situation begins. If you make that decision in advance, it’s much easier to stick to it than if you just try to face it in the moment.
Sing a hymn. If you’re starting to feel tempted to sin, one way to gain back your spiritual strength is to sing. Choose a favorite hymn, whether it’s one from childhood or something you still sing today.
Manage your thoughts. Adjust your thought patterns before they lead to actions. Notice where your thoughts go when they wander, or when you are put into unpleasant situations. When you catch yourself having those thoughts, make a decision to remove them. Stop sinful thoughts in their tracks.
Call someone, or go do something. If you have a strong desire to do something that goes against your beliefs, reach out to someone supportive. You don’t necessarily need to tell them exactly what is going on, but just reaching out to an ally can put you back into a better, safer headspace.

If you know someone else who struggles with temptation (and we all do), consider sending them this episode and subscribing to this podcast. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

“No matter who you are, no matter what background you come from, no matter how spiritual or how righteous you feel you are, everyone receives temptation.” - Donald Kelly

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In this episode, Donald dives into the topic of personal revelation. We are reminded that revelation is not only for prophets and apostles but for everyone. It is the inspiration we individually receive from God to help us on our way. It may come in different forms, and as Donald’s guests this week show us, sometimes all we must do is ask. It is then up to us to heed the word of God and let this guide us in our lives.

Sister Sims: She received a revelation that helped her through difficult times to discover a better life for herself and her children.
Elder Bell: Through prayer and fasting, he received a message about someone with whom he could share the gospel.
Sister Pratt: After being baptized, the Lord spoke to her, and she heeded the message to help someone in need.
Elder Dorsey: Thanks to guidance from his bishop and his trust in God, he received a revelation to help him choose his path in life.

You’ll hear from all four of these guests in this episode. The Lord spoke to all of them individually, and He will speak to you as well.

If you feel a connection to the topic of personal revelation, consider subscribing to this podcast and sharing it with someone who also may connect with it. Leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.

“The Lord can guide you, and will guide you. But are you willing to heed and to follow Him?” - Donald Kelly

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Donald’s guest today is Kurt Francom, host of the podcast Leading Saints. A show where he speaks with other leaders about leadership concepts in the context of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In today’s episode, Kurt talks about how his son’s disease changed his perspective on how he gives it all to the Lord, wholeheartedly, and trusted the Lord with his son’s healing.

How to change our perspective of “I can fix it” to handing it over to the Lord:

Giving it all to the Lord, every single day of the week and not just on some days
Trust in the Lord’s plan for your specifically because his plan is far better than we could ever imagine
Naturally, once you give it all to God you will be like him, love like him, and accept others like him

After his son’s continual trial Kurt has learned that it’s okay to hand it all over to Jesus Christ. That's what he wants us to do, and that is why he is inserting himself into our lives. He wants to take the heaviness of it all and be there with you through every step.

“You don't understand how sweet something could be without tasting how bitter things can be.” - Kurt

Episode resources:

Visit Kurt’s website www.leadingsaints.org.
Listen to his podcast Leading Saints.

If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

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In today’s episode of Changing, Donald speaks to Ashely Winston, an author, and a business advisor. She shares how she was able to change her insecurities into blessings. Sharing her story on how she was overweight and how challenging it was to her mentally. That challenge turned into an unexpected blessing that has forever changed her relationship with God.

God listens to you if we go to him in prayer:

He helps you deliver yourself from fear
He will help you overcome your negative thinking and insecurities

God blesses you when you trust in him:

You have to do your part and he will open the path for you
He will empower you in all your challenges

How to grow your relationship with God:

Be real and true to yourself
Journal your true thoughts and feelings on things you need help with
Be open to listening to God’s voice and spirit for answers

God is always mindful of us no matter the situation. We may be going through a tough time but trusting in God, will help light your path. Having confidence

“Don't waste any more time. God has an amazing plan for your life. Even if your life is great, there's more to it than you know. And the only way you can discover it is by surrendering and submitting and developing your relationship with God.” - Ashley

Episode resources:

Connect with Ashley via Instagram @theAshleyWinston
Visit her website at www.theAshleyWinston.com.

If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

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Have you ever wondered why the apostles have names that sound like they are from European countries? On today’s episode of Changing, our host, Donald Kelly, teaches you why the apostles' names are the way they are.

Here is why

The twelve apostles were Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew (Nathanael), Thomas, Matthew (Levi), James, Thaddaeus (Judas), Simon, and Judas Iscariot. (Matthew 10:2-4)
These names are not their middle eastern names, their names had been changed through many translations.
The Roman Empire spread across the Middle East and swallowed up the regions where Jesus preached. The New Testament was then written down in a form of Greek, perhaps a blend of Greek and Aramaic.

Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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On today’s episode of Changing, Donald talks with certified health and life coach, Ericka Eller. They discuss her upbringing and how her relationship with God has changed as she has gotten older, had children, gone through a divorce, and remarried. Ericka recounts the difficult moments in her life that made her faith falter and how she overcame them. Ericka also discusses her new calling in life and the advice she has for those who are trying to change.

If you want to hear more from Ericka connect with her on Instagram, LinkedIn, and check out her website.

Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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What do you do when someone makes false accusations against you? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald shares exactly what you can do and maybe some things you're not supposed to do.

When there is misunderstanding, there is room for better communication.

The Savior does not get angry when individuals do not understand Him. People have agency to choose what they do and do not believe.
In instances where someone misunderstands you, they don’t mean bad by it, they just had a misunderstanding.
Seek first to understand. Try to understand where the other person is coming from.
Try to see others as Christ sees them.

Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter

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We’ve all had situations where we feel like we weren’t the best version of ourselves. The beautiful thing is that the Savior can always help us to become better. On today’s episode of Changing, Donald talks with podcaster and BYU-Idaho student, Noah Forero. Noah shares a personal experience about how he has been able to see the Savior through interacting with others.

Noah’s experience

Noah and his close friend moved to California together and started selling insulation door to door.
Because of the pandemic they moved back to Idaho and he realized that they started to grow apart from each other.
Noah felt guilty because he wasn’t being the friend he knew he knew he needed to be. He felt fake, and thought that his friend must have felt the same way about him.

How did Noah reconcile?

Noah heard a quote from a church leader that says “The more people you connect with, the more you see the Savior”. He realized that his own negative thoughts had not allowed him to see his friend for who he truly was.
Noah noticed he was putting up walls between himself and his friend. Noah eventually was able to put aside his negative thoughts and reconnected with his friend.
No matter what we have done in the past, with the Savior, we can always change and move forward.

What is Noah's advice to others in similar situations?

He wants to acknowledge that it is really hard.
Progress happens with action, faith, and trust. If you are able to trust in the Savior moving forward, He will give you the support you need.

To connect and contact Noah, find him on LinkedIn, Instagram, and listen to his podcast here. Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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Similar to the recent hurricane in Donalds home of south Florida, we are often faced with storms in our spiritual lives that turn our world upside down. On today’s episode of Changing, Donald shares a scripture that can bring you reassurance during the storms of your life.

Luke 8:22-25

In this scripture, the apostles were in a helpless situation having their boat tossed around the sea. Imagine their terror as they faced the massive storm.
They woke the Savior and He arose and rebuked the storm.
We are bound to face many storms that make our lives seem unstable and scary.
The Savior can rebuke our personal storms.
The apostles in the scripture had the Savior in their boat, similarly, we always have the Savior on our side.
Christ often lets us experience the storm so that we may learn from it.
When you find yourself in a storm, get to your knees and pray to the Lord for guidance, faith, and aid.

To read the full passage from Luke, visit here. Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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Have you ever had a defining moment in your life that has brought you closer to Christ? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald talks with Will Perez about a defining moment that changed his life. Will is a father of 5 and a religious educator who is currently a PhD student studying religious history.

What is a defining moment?

Will says a defining moment is when your back is against the wall and you have to make a choice that will impact the trajectory of your life.
It’s an opportunity to grow and become the person you want to be.

What was Will's defining moment?

When he was a teenager he butted heads with his parents and he was acting out. His parents were not happy with the music he was listening to.
Will later had an experience where he felt what he would describe as the Holy Ghost.
He realized that the entertainment he was consuming was drowning out “the still small voice”.
Will decided that he wanted the spirit in his life, so he threw away his CD’s and changed his actions.

What in particular helped Will make the change?

He made some friends at a church youth camp, and these people helped him see that he could still be happy without his music.
Little by little he let go of his “baggage” and things started to change.

How has Will’s life changed since then?

That decision has made other positive decisions easier throughout his life.
He feels that the Lord has been generous with him as he takes steps to draw closer to Him.
Sometimes it's a big defining moment that gives you momentum to keep moving forward.

Will’s advice for individuals who are struggling

Ask yourself: What do I need to stop doing and what do I need to start doing?
He knows that Jesus Christ heals and can repair anything that is broken.

To connect with Will and get more information, find him on Instagram and Youtube. Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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How can I change when there is so much wickedness around me? In today’s episode of Changing Donald discusses three ways you can fight against evil as you strive for change in your life. The city of Babylon in the bible represents evil and wickedness, similarly in today’s world we are surrounded by evil and temptation. No matter our level of spirituality we can all benefit from these tips.

Prayer
Say a prayer in the morning, evening, and night. Ask for guidance to overcome the day and have strength.
Have a prayer in your heart throughout the whole day so that you can overcome the temptation around you.
Daily scripture study.
Follow spiritual people on social media to combat the influence of the world.
Intake positive and uplifting content instead of negative content.
Replace worldly music with a spiritual podcast.
Be with other people
Surround yourself with other people who are trying to grow closer to Christ.
Attend church activities and bible study groups.
Serve those around you.
Replace the worldliness in your life with spiritualness.

Visit justserve.org to find service opportunities in your community. Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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On today's episode of Changing, Donald chats with Kel Clerveau. Kel is a paralegal looking to become an immigration lawyer. Kel talks about his path toward change and how he learned to trust in the Lord’s plan for him.

How did Kel start his journey towards change?

After Kel left home to go to college he found himself alone.
He was failing at school and work and didn’t know if he was going to make it in life.
He caught himself coasting through life and not putting effort into his relationship with God.
He considered himself a religious person but fell into a habit of just going to church and nothing else.
The way he was living wasn’t working for him.

What motivated Kel to change?

He met a friend who helped me to stay on track. She asked him if he was reading his scriptures and helped Kel to formulate a plan for his life.
She helped him realize that he needed to change if he wanted to thrive and accomplish the goals he wanted to accomplish.
He started reading his scriptures and praying and recognized that his life was improving in all areas.
He realized that he needed to do the Lord's will in his life.

How was Kel's mission experience impacted by changes in his life?

Kel realized that he needed to serve a mission.
He started going through the process of becoming a missionary and everything seemed to work out well.
Once he became a missionary his good feelings were amplified and he felt the Lord’s love for him.
He knew he was exactly where he needed to be.

How has the Lord guided Kels after his mission?

His mission experiences have prepared him for law school and for marriage.
Kel knows that Christ knows him personally and is there for him.

What is Kel's advice for individuals who need the motivation to change?

“If your way isn’t working, you should try the Lord’s way”
The Lord helps us achieve our goals in ways that we don’t realize. Trust Him
The Lord knows you better than you know yourself and He knows what we need in order to be successful and happy.
Build a relationship with Heavenly Father and see where it goes.

To connect and contact Kel, email him at 242kel@gmail.com or text him at 801-674-8995. Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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For those starting their journey to follow, it’s easy to compare ourselves to those around us. However, it’s important to remember not to compare ourselves, but to listen to the Lord and serve him. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald is joined by the founder of Crowned Co. to discuss his experiences using the Lord for guidance.

We connect with our Savior through action and understanding:

The Supernal Gifts of Prayer helps John when he’s trying to grow, and it dictates the potential responses to prayer.
When John is trying to make decisions or grow in his career or personal life, he wants to know how he can maximize his calling.
It’s easy to strive for things to acclaim a status, perspective, or event. But ask yourself what keeps you moving forward and on a path toward a fulfilling goal.

Advice to someone who doesn’t even know where to start:

Search for light. Whether starting your day with a prayer or reading Scriptures on a morning commute, apply the gospel throughout your life and mindset.
There are moments to help everyone around you. Be the person that walks into a room and lights up everyone’s day.

We all hit a moment in our lives where we question our path and what we’re doing.

If we’re open to it, the spirit can help us make changes to be better people and better versions of ourselves.
Listen to the spirit. He’ll prompt us and intervene when needed, but he’ll let us continue on our path and discover ourselves in our path to change and become better.

John’s parting piece of advice to someone looking to change? Everything is possible through our Father. We are all sinners who need the atonement of Jesus Christ. Whether you know you need help or think you’re perfect, we all need to draw closer to the savior.

To connect with John and get more information, find him on Instagram and Twitter. Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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The path to accepting Christ is different for everyone. On today's episode of Changing, our host, Donald Kelly talks with Jerry Dugan, a director of organizational effectiveness who runs a podcast called Beyond the Rut, a show for christian men who feel like they are stuck in a rut. Donald and Jerry discuss Jerry's inspiring path to accepting Christ as his Lord and Savior. His powerful story will hopefully help you as you start your journey towards change.

Jerry did not grow up as a believer

Jerry didn’t grow up going to church. He would attend different churches off and on but didn’t consider himself a believer.
He felt like he had ‘freedom’ because he didn’t have to follow the commandments.

His experience in the Army changed him

Jerry didn’t believe in God up until he joined the army and was stationed in Afghanistan.
When he was put in a situation where he feared for his life, he said a prayer to God - his first prayer in 14 years.
He asked God to protect his wife and children by replacing him with someone better if he didn’t make it out alive.
During the next few weeks Jerry had multiple near-death experiences where he felt that he was protected by God.

How did he finally accept Christ into his life?

After he returned home safely from the war his wife told him that she had been praying for him. She made a deal with God that if Jerry got home safely she and her whole family would attend church every Sunday. Jerry agreed to honor the deal.
After months of attending church Jerry's pastor challenged him to “stop dipping his toe in the water” and “be all-in”.
Since 2005 Jerry has been all-in and is grateful he made that decision.

How are things now?

Years later Jerry realized that his prayer to God had come true, and the old version of himself had been replaced by a better one. The old version of himself had metaphorically died.
When he finally accepted Christ as his Savior he felt a burden lifted off of him.
He now lives his life always thinking about what Jesus would do and how he can emulate Him.

Advice from Jerry

Realize that God created you exactly how you are.
Jerry accepted that God had given him an analytical nature and learned how to use it to his advantage. He paired it with faith and has been able to spiritually progress.

To connect and contact Jerry, find him on his website. Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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God’s journey is different for every one of us. Whether that means enduring a trial, attending a mission, or just serving those around you, God has a plan to get you where you need to go. In today’s episode of Changing, our host, Donald Kelly, is joined by business coach and consultant Mark Sieverkopp to discuss his journey in finding Christ and how he managed that journey throughout early adulthood.

Mark didn’t join the church until he was 18.

Raised in a Lutheran household, his family was very Sunday-oriented when it came to celebrating the Lord. His religious experience lacked a personal connection.
After dating a girl in high school, he was struck by how close the family was and how they acted around each other.
In his mind, God was distant. He was out there in the universe, not involved in Mark’s day-to-day life. However, God was present in his girlfriend’s family’s lives.

Where did he get the desire to change?

He was at his girlfriend’s house when missionaries came and asked to speak with him.
While he didn’t that day, he eventually spoke with the missionaries just to understand what she believed.
Because of the conversation, he transferred churches. His parents were unhappy with the decision, and Mark has dealt with misconceptions about his faith from his extended family to this day.

However, his lifestyle alterations led to visible changes:

Between the start of his joining the church and his mission trip, he read the Book of Mormon three or four times.
He was dedicated to reading and learning and bettering himself. His active engagement in faith was his most notable change.
Even though separating churches from his family was challenging, he doesn’t regret it.

Mark’s advice to someone in their own journey to change?

You aren’t alone. President Hinckley once said, “bring all the good you have, and let's see if we can add to it.”
There’s a mentality that departing from one religion to another or a different church means leaving that part of ourselves behind. But that isn’t always the case; you don’t have to walk away from who you are.

To connect and contact Mark, find him on Facebook or email him at mark@findyour20.com. Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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In your personal efforts to change and better yourself, you might wonder how you can help others reach the same goal. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses how anyone can use their imperfection to help others on a path toward Christ.

We’re all imperfect.

In scripture, there is only one perfect person: Jesus. Everyone else is imperfect, and that’s okay.
Even the apostles and prophets regularly sinned and made mistakes. However, the people who desired change did so, and they shared that with others.
Your mistakes and errors can help connect you with others and understand what they’re going through. You can be the force that pushes them closer to a path of light.

You’re light helps others see through the darkness.

Set a better example for the people around you. Pray, read scripture, and exemplify the spirit of the Lord in your everyday life.
Invite others to do things with you, like a group bible study or church activity.
Help others alleviate the challenges and turmoils in their life. Be the guidance that advises others to make positive changes.

Visit justserve.org to find service opportunities in your community. Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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We’ve all been in situations where we feel alone. In those challenging times, looking to God for support and guidance is the best way to overcome the journey. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald uses principles and articles from the Bible, scholars and religious leaders to demonstrate how God delivers us to where we need to go.

Have faith that God will help us overcome our challenges:

In the books of Mark and John, we see Jesus’s apostles out on the water, commanded by the Lord, when a storm began to brew.
Jesus saw them toiling and working to overcome those challenges, but they weren’t aware of his presence.
He came to them, walking on water, and immediately ended the challenges of the sea.

Whatever challenges you face, the Lord can help you overcome them.

However, he won’t do it all for you. You need to do what you know is right.
Keep persevering through challenges, and God will ensure you get where you need.
Know that the reward is not something temporary, but it is an eternal reward.

To read the full article this episode is based on, visit LDS Living. Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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For many of us, faith comes in and grows with us over time. But there are still things we can do to help encourage that growth and help us grow in your faith. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses three things we can do to increase our faith and relationship with God.

Study scripture more, do more prayers, and talk more with God
Reading first-hand experiences educates and helps us become more faithful when we break down scripture.
Understanding the history, characters, and world events framing the narrative in the Bible helps us gain a deeper understanding and respect for the story being told.
Fast
Fasting is an ultra-powerful prayer in which you give up physical needs to prioritize your spiritual needs.
To learn more about fasting, check out our previous podcast episode.
A fasted prayer could be for anything important to you, whether financial, physical, or emotional.
Practice faith
Implement the Lord’s practice into your life. Follow his commandments, tithe to those who need support, and good things will come back to you.
There are countless instances in scripture where we see people who follow the Lord’s directions receive the blessing and good fortune they helped others achieve; do the same for yourself!

Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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While you likely aren’t constructing a statue or temple in your backyard for them, false gods and idols are still present in today’s society. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses the importance of identifying these false gods in our life, common idols, and how we can work to remove them for a healthier and more fruitful relationship with the Lord.

Common Idol: Social Media

Is social media bad? No. But it can certainly rob us of our agency.
When you’re at church, are you unable to listen to your service because you’re checking your phone? If yes, you are likely putting social media before God.
When you get out of bed in the morning, do you thank the Father for blessing you for a new day, or do you check your phone for social media updates?
Don’t completely remove social media from your life, but instead, compare it relative to the time you spend with God.

Common Idol: Sports and ESPN

Sports aren’t bad. However, many neglect their family relationships and relationship with God because of it.
If you think you can’t attend church because you don’t want to miss a game, you might have a problem.
While you shouldn’t completely remove sports from your life, look at how you spend time with sports compared to your time with God and your family. Then, determine if you should scale back and remove some of it from your schedule.

TV Shows and Celebrities

There are celebrities and TV shows we watch all the time. Do you feel a stronger relationship with these actors than God? Only you can answer that question.

Bonus: Anything!

At the end of the day, you can put anything before God. It could be family, friends, work, or even hobbies. Don’t let anything come between you and your relationship with God.
Talk and meditate with God instead of pursuing false idols, and you’ll feel happier, stronger and more at peace with your life.

Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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How and what exactly is a fast, and why should we do one? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald answers all our fasting questions and explains how and why we should add this method of worship to build our relationship with the Lord.

What is fasting?

Fasting is going without food (and sometimes water) for specified periods.
As Christians, we do 24-hour fasts one day each month, where we go without food or water.
However, in other religions, some have up to 40-day fasts where they only eat during specific times of the day.
Fasts can even be with other earthly tethers like social media or alcohol.

How can you fast?

The idea is that you are getting rid of something your body needs. But you are putting the needs of your spirit over the needs of your body.
The best way to overcome those physical desires is by praying and asking the Lord for help.

How to have a fast:

Have a purpose, prepare properly, and pray to the Lord for strength throughout the fast.
When Donald wanted to get baptized, his mom forced him to wait. But Donald fasted, prayed, and asked the Lord to help his mom become more accepting of his baptism.

Ultimately, you fast because you love God and want direction from him. It’s a spiritual experience, and Donald heavily encourages you to try one and embrace your spiritual needs.

Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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No matter what stage of life you’re at, we all feel the temptation to give up. After all, why should we bother trying to do good each day? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses how we can persevere through obstacles and continue living by God’s word, even when it seems difficult.

Israelites were the Egyptian’s slaves for hundreds of years.

The Lord sent Moses to be the instrument to lead the Israelites out of slavery to their promised land.
When Moses told everyone they were leaving, the people were skeptical. After all, Moses wasn’t the first one who tried to escape.
The Israelites crossed out of Egypt to travel to a home of happiness. However, many Israelites grew anxious about their Egyptian captors apprehending them.

God guided them thus far, and he didn’t bring them to die.

What would you do? You could run, fight, or give up. Or you could do what Moses did - have faith.
Moses likely thought about how much faith and trust the people had put in God during their journey. They didn’t come this far to only come this far.
We know what ended up happening - Moses parted the sea, and after the Israelites passed, the water drowned the Egyptians who gave chase.

The moral of the story? If God told you that he’s going to do something, and you remain faithful, trust him! This is the person who created everything. If he can create everything, he can probably help you pay that utility bill, raise a family, or find a job. You need his guidance and strength to do what he knows you should do.

Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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Father’s Day is an important holiday for many reasons. While our relationship with our heavenly father is imperative, loving and serving our earthly father is just as important. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses how we can serve our father and build a better relationship for long-term growth with five different strategies.

Learn about your past.

Research your family tree and do genealogy to learn about your family’s past.

Cook a meal with your father.

What’s the cuisine or recipe your dad loves making or eating?
Create those things with him, and create a family recipe to pass down to your own kids.

Talk to him.

Learn about how he met your mother, what he used to do when he was younger, or memorable moments from his own life.
Conversations about his interests will help you learn more about him and give him a chance to speak about his aspirations.

Plan a vacation or stay-cation:

Plan a short trip together depending on your resources and relationship with your father!
Consider traveling back to his hometown or a memorable time of his life so he can share another part of his life with you.

Play a game.

Whether in-person or remote, playing a game together will be an easy and enjoyable way to spend time together and enjoy one another’s company.

A final bonus tip: pray for him. Especially if you don’t have the best relationship with your father, you’d be amazed at what can happen when you approach the situation with humility to the Lord.

Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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The most powerful things we can do as Christians are to love, share, and invite others to change and love God. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses these three topics and explains how we can use them to help everyone feel the inspiration to draw closer to Christ. Love

Everything the Savior did comes back to love. We need to love our brothers and sisters if we want to help them.
It’s not about you; it’s about helping and caring for other individuals.
The best way you can help someone change and grow closer to God is by loving them.

Share

Many people refrain from talking about church when friends and coworkers ask us what we did over the weekend. But why not?
Share about the beautiful choir performance, a fish-fry fundraiser, or any other important event that could benefit them. You’re sharing something that could genuinely help them!
You can also share your church’s events and information, or God’s messages, on social media.

Invite

Give your local community a natural way to be a part of your church community.
As they spend time around your church community, they’ll feel God’s presence, and, over time, they’ll see the trajectory to change.

Above all, first, lead with love. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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On today’s episode of Changing, we’re joined by fellow podcaster Stephen A. Hart as he describes his relationship with Christ and how he gained faith amid multiple obstacles in his life.

Stephen was incredibly successful as a business owner.

After graduating from college in ‘99, Stephen found himself in the mortgage industry before starting his first business in the financial sector in 2005.
In 2007, his business was thriving. Because of that, he purchased things like a million-dollar brownstone and a Jamaican wedding.
His success was cut short, however, when he discovered a massive investment had tanked.

How did Stephen recover from the tanked investment?

Having everything ripped from under him three weeks into marriage had a massive blow to his pride.
Shortly after the business collapse, so did the real estate and financial market.
Everything fell apart. Left with personal debt, Stephen had to dissolve his business and start over with a new structure.

Amid this turmoil, he found God.

After this ordeal, Stephen wanted to understand what life was really about.
He realized he needed to look to God for what's next. He changed his entire mindset and began to focus on new goals.
And so, over the next ten years, he reframed everything. The way he looks at money, his life, and his legacy.

How does Stephen maintain his relationship with God?

Throughout the pandemic, Stephen anchored himself in Matthew 6:25-34 and Phillippians 4:6-8.
His focus this last year was to go not one day at a time, but one hour at a time.
Stephen’s lasting advice: change happens. We’re always working on ourselves, but over time, those changes will lead to positivity in your future if God is at the center.

Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as his website. Reach out to him if you have any questions or want to know more about his journey to Christ.

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We’re not always at our strongest, but through our faith, it’s something we can fortify and improve. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses the importance of faith and how we, as followers of God, should be willing to overcome obstacles through our faith.

Abraham was told to sacrifice his only son.

In Genesis 22, Abraham leads his son, Isaac, up the mountain to sacrifice him. This experience is profoundly sad, but Abraham knew God would not lead him wrong.
Not only did Abraham have to trust God, but Isaac had to trust Abraham. Everyone knew the other was doing the right thing.
While we aren’t asked to sacrifice children, we make sacrifices every day, from our money and time to our food and willpower. Frequently, we don’t act like Abraham.

We all have times when we feel our sacrifice is too great.

Donald remembers questioning how he’d be able to afford his new rent payment when he moved to a new office building.
However, he realized if he stepped foot in the dark, the Lord would provide the opportunity he needed.
Think about how many people the Lord has helped throughout the bible. If he did that for them, he would do those for you.
If you don’t have sufficient faith to do something, pray. Pray to the Lord for strength to go up the mountain and do what you need.

Whatever situation you’re in, the Lord will provide. He’ll provide what you need if you have faith in him. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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Temples are not new - they’re holy places to separate our faith from the cares and concerns of the everyday world. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald is joined by the owner of Flood Me Social (a Tik Tok influencer marketing firm), Michael Manzur, to discuss his trips, travels, and perspective behind the importance of temples.

The beauty and nature of why we go to temples are essential.

Temples are a representation of a holy place. Regardless of religion, there are places you can go to grow in your spiritual journey.
They’re a place for solitude and reflection, and they’re tremendously crucial to every religion.

What happens inside temples?

Because they are holy places, many obtain a temple recommend before entering. It’s a series of questions by a faith leader, where they ask questions pertaining to your faith.
As you enter the temple, you leave the world behind. You enter to learn and to serve.
Depending on your faith, there are baptisms and areas for reflection.

Temples aren’t always secret; they’re sacred.

Many temples have open houses, inviting people outside the faith to enjoy the decor, atmosphere, and history that makes the temple special.
CNN did a special feature showing the inside of an LDS Church; click here to watch it.
At temples, you can take your burdens to God. You don’t have to be a faith member to get value and peace from these special places.
For more content from Michael, find him on YouTube, Tik Tok, and Instagram.

Temples are a symbol of our faith, and it’s important we recognize their importance for any religious community. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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Delegation is vital to help other people grow and improve (as well as help ourselves when we’re overloaded.) In today’s episode of Changing, Donald explains how to delegate church responsibilities better. For more context, check out our prior episode discussing the importance of humility.

Here’s what many people skip when it comes to delegating:

Exodus 18:20 - And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and thou shalt show them the way they must walk and the work they must do.
If you’re delegating a task, you need to provide the vision, idea, and direction of what you want out of the task.
You can’t give a task without providing clear instruction, just like you can’t pull a stranger off the street and expect them to know how to handle your job.

You have people willing to help you out like Moses had people helping him.

If someone is able and willing to help you, do not be afraid to teach them and show them what’s right to get the job done.
There is nothing wrong with asking for help, including church activities.
Everyone deserves a chance to learn and grow alongside God. Be the catalyst that helps people take that next step.

If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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There are things about Moses we often overlook. And in today’s episode of Changing, our host Donald Kelly goes through his life. In this first part of a two-part discussion, Donald looks at what we can learn from Moses and how living a humble life kept him a devoted servant of the Lord.

The Lord can use us despite our shortcomings.

God already knows all our weaknesses and flaws. So if he calls on us to do something, it’s because he knows we can overcome the obstacles and fulfill his calling.
Moses wasn’t as good a speaker as his brother, yet the Lord chose him to lead his people out of Egypt. That wasn’t by accident.

Despite becoming the leader of millions, Moses remained humble.

In Exodus 18:12, Jethro taught Moses the importance of delegation of responsibility.
Moses had just brought millions of people across the Red Sea and now was being advised by an ordinary man.
Rather than dismissing his ideas, Moses was humble enough to listen to Jethro. In doing so, he became a better student of the Lord.
Jethro wasn’t sharing his ideas for his own ego; he did it to better help Moses to lead.

In our lives, many people will give us guidance.

While we don’t always have to obey the ideas they share, listening to their opinions and leaving our egos behind can help us improve.
Take council as you would take something from a grocery store. You look at everything, consider everything, but only take what you want.

If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or contact him on Twitter or Instagram.

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Happy Easter from Changing! Easter is a day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and Christians around the world come together to celebrate. (For the history of the holiday, check out our previous episode!) Easter is a powerful holiday with a powerful message, and the meaning behind it shouldn’t be limited to one day. In today’s podcast, Donald discusses five ways to celebrate Easter all year long! Dedicate your life to Christ.

A church leader told Donald, “the only thing we can give to Christ is our will.” Christ gave up everything for us to have eternal life.
When Donald prepared for his two-year mission, he changed the books, the music, and the people he surrounded himself with to better reflect Jesus.
Look at your day-to-day life. Are these things conducive to you being a better Christian?

Take part in family history.

Family history is an opportunity to learn both about yourself and your ancestors.
When you can connect with the people before you, you get the chance to see the qualities of the people that ultimately shaped you.
Christ’s resurrection gave us the chance to have a physical body again, meaning you’ll get the opportunity to see these folks again.

Teach someone else about Jesus Christ.

The idea of Easter is that the apostles spread the message of Christ’s resurrection. How many times do we share that message today?
God encourages us to spread the gospel and his message, yet many of us fail to do this as frequently as we should.

Watch a movie or listen to music that carries Easter’s message.

Media focused on the story of God, Christ’s resurrection, or just God’s message are great sources to allow God to have a part in every aspect of your life.

Attend church each week.

We go to church so we can learn and become better.
If once each week sounds like too heavy of a commitment, start with once a month. Simply begin making an effort to improve your relationship with God, and the personal change will come with time.

If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

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Easter is one of the most important holidays of Christianity. But what happened that made it the holiday today, with the eggs and bunnies? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald dives into the holiday history, helping us realize why Easter is so important and why we celebrate it the way we do.

Easter is the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Following his resurrection, Jesus presented himself in front of Mary Magdalene and other disciples.
In Luke 24:39, Christ showed them that Jesus was real and that he took upon our sins so we could be cleansed from our mistakes.
While Easter was celebrated after that point, it didn’t have the moniker we know today.

Why doesn’t Easter have a set day each year?

Easter Sunday (and related celebrations like Ash Wednesday) are not on a specific date. Typically, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.
One theory states that this ties back to light, because the full moon's light symbolizes Jesus’s light of the world.
Another theory considers the Council of Nicaea. At this point in history, different parts of the world used various calendars, with some using the Gregorian and some using the Julian calendar. This could have affected the dates of the celebration.

Common Easter traditions:

A series of Easter events begins with Lent, a 40-day fast. A holy week, including Palm Sunday, Holy Wednesday, Holy Thursday, (the celebration of the last supper), Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, occurs throughout the holiday.
For Donald, Jamaica’s heavy British influence meant he celebrated eating Easter Bun, which is essentially a fruitcake.
The earliest reported observance was in the 2nd century. We assume people did before that, but there’s little documentation.

The name Easter ties to the Spring goddess Eostre.

While Christians recognized Easter as a Christian celebration, they continued to use the name to designate the holiday as a Springtime celebration.
Historians don’t know why the tradition of eggs and bunnies started, but it began with German immigrants in the 1700s.
Rabbits are enthusiastic procreators. So, baby bunnies became associated with birth and renewal. Eggs, in certain cultures, are associated with fertility and rebirth.
There’s not anything explicitly stating why these associations made their way into Easter celebrations.

Episode Sources:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/easter?lang=eng
https://www.rd.com/article/easter-on-different-sunday-every-year/https://www.rd.com/article/easter-on-different-sunday-every-year/
https://www.google.com/search?q=Easter+banners&oq=Easter+banners&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i131i433i512l4j69i60l3.2728j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-easter
https://theconversation.com/why-easter-is-called-easter-and-other-little-known-facts-about-the-holiday-75025

If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

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In today’s episode of Changing, Donald is joined by his spiritual mentor and friend, Randy Wilburn. As a child of Christ, Randy has seen firsthand the power and freedom that comes when we open our hearts to God. And in today’s episode, he shares some of that he’s learned over time.

God is with us through all our trials and tribulations.

Even figures like Joseph had many obstacles to overcome. But, the Bible is quick to remind us that God is always with him.
We don’t go through challenges alone; God is always there. And remaining focused on Him allows us to endure any conflict we encounter.
If you focus on life from a long-term mindset, you’ll be able to deal with the trials you face.

God prepares more for our lives than we can imagine if we’re prepared to listen.

Allow God’s word to marinate in you to start being a change agent in the world.
Many young people today want to go out and take on the world. But make sure you do so with the mindset and belief that God has your back.

Randy gave his life to Christ three separate times.

Growing up in the church, he gave his life to Christ in his youth. However, it wasn’t until the third time (when he was 26) that he felt ready to stop running from God.
Before, he wanted to live life uninhibited by the limits the word might seem to impose. But it took until he was 26 to be ready to submit to the Lord.

Don’t put God in a box.

God can make things happen overnight. He can completely change someone once they’re willing to open themselves to Him, and we can’t even fathom how it works.
God can make changes in our lives, whether financial, health, or another issue.
You’ll be challenged by wearing your love of God on your sleeve. You might not want other people to know.
But be yourself, because people would rather see a sermon than hear one every day of the week.

When you focus on Christ, life just gets better. You can reach Randy on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. To talk more about a relationship with Christ, email him at rw@randywilburn.com. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

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It is easy to lose sight of our goals when comparing ourselves to others. So why do we fall into that mindset? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald explains how we can avoid this mistake and refocus on what matters: our relationship with Christ.

Comparison isn’t always bad. But the issue arises when we compare ourselves to others.

Today more than ever, we are addicted to our phones. (Many teenagers spend seven hours a day on average on their phone!)
Social media might be pictures, but it isn’t the full picture because people only post things they want others to see.
However, because people assume social media reflects real life, we believe others’ lives are perfect. In these moments, we feel jealousy and envy.
Are we too distracted by the world around us to truly follow Christ? If you want to improve, remember that social media isn’t reality. Look into your own life rather than the lives of others.

We all have challenges and difficulties, but people won’t post that online.

Now, that doesn't mean you should post all your life obstacles. However, focus on helping others rather than creating a life on social media.
We can give a portion of time to help others have meaningful lives, and it’s essential to ask for help when needed.

Focus on the Savior.

In Matthew 14, Peter lost focus on the Savior. He was too captivated by what was happening around him that caused him to sink.
But when he asked for help from Jesus, he immediately came to his aid.
Are you focusing on what the Lord whats you to do each day? There is liberation in focus on Christ.
Proverbs 16:3 tells us what happens when we focus on Christ - there is power and miracles in it.
The Doctrine of Covenants 6:36 tells us to be unafraid and follow without doubt. How can you look unto the Savior with all your thoughts?

When you focus on Christ, life just gets better. If this podcast speaks to you or helps you on your journey to change, let us know by leaving a rating or review. Share your testimony or contact Donald at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

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When it comes to spiritual growth, there’s only one person who can improve and strengthen that growth - you! In today’s episode of Changing, Donald dives into five ways you can foster spirituality in yourself and help others do the same. Define your intentions

As a child of God, our ultimate goal is to join Him in Heaven. But what can we do now to get there?
You must be intentional. Set small, achievable goals instead of broad goals like being a better husband, wife or sibling.
Intentional goals (and plans to accomplish them) will put you on the path to success.

Be curious

There are countless examples of curiosity in the Bible leading to different answers and results.
Curiosity isn’t a bad thing. It helps you grow, improve, and develop a better understanding of the world and the history of the world around you.

Learn to listen to the spirit

What atmosphere helps you listen to the spirit? Whether it's the peace and solitude in nature, the background noise of a coffee shop, or meditating in the comfort of your living room.
Wherever puts you in the mood to listen to Christ and the spirit, do it more frequently?

Be anxiously engaged in worthwhile causes.

The organization justserve.org has tons of projects across the country that allow you to help people in your community.
Step away from your problems to focus on the issues of others and help other sons and daughters of Christ.

Associate with the right people.

When you associate with the right friends and people, you’ll be uplifted.
Evaluate the people around you. Are they helping you to become a better person?
If not, seek out people who’ll help you grow in your relationship with Christ.

As we continue through 2022, implement these five principles to grow your spirituality and develop a stronger relationship with Christ. To contact Donald to discuss growing in your relationship with God, contact him at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

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While COVID-19 had many adverse and traumatic effects across the globe, it also helped many people connect with God on a deeper level. Today’s episode of Changing features one of these stories. In this episode, Donald interviews Jaunai Walker to discuss how isolation and COVID led to her religious transformation.

God guides us through every part of our lives, even if we don’t realize it.

God was present in Jaunai’s upbringing, but her family went to church inconsistently.
Despite this, she started her own journey in 2008. She felt God was missing in her life, and since that point, she’s focused on coming closer to Christ.
Of course, she’s made mistakes. But it’s about admitting those mistakes and asking God for forgiveness.

Despite her efforts, Jaunai knew something was missing.

During church service, Jaunai was quiet. She sang when needed, but she didn’t talk to other people or interact with others. She just listened.
When churches all went virtual because of COVID, she found herself completely isolated from everyone else at the church.
A group of people invited her to a Bible study with them, which changed everything.
She realized she was quiet in church because she was afraid of people's thoughts.

She focused on the Bible and his teachings, which started her transformation.

You don’t need a physical church to have a relationship with Christ.
God answered her prayers by putting people in her life who had her join a bible study. That group helped her understand what the bible says about herself.
Many people starting their journey with Christ go to a pastor or other figure to tell them about the Bible. In reality, you get the most out of it when you read the stories yourself!

What caused her to transform?

It was the holy spirit. She had an internal feeling she couldn’t explain, telling her she was missing something.
One morning, she woke up with the word “reset” burning in her brain. And then, two months later, she realized why that happened.
Covid allowed people to draw closer to God. She needed a personal reset, and this was the time.
Before the change, she felt empty, and things just weren’t working out.
And now, after listening to God, she is the person who sits and talks to others about the love Christ has for people and discusses scriptures from the Bible.

Applying her learnings to life today:

The app Olive Tree helps her understand scripture.
She’s more comfortable in her skin because she knows who she belongs to and her purpose in life.
Jaunai never spoke in church, but now, she’s found her voice and shares her testimony.
She introduces the word of God to people’s businesses.
It was a full reset. God provides professional, personal, and spiritual expansion when you dedicate your life to him.
When you show gratitude for what God has done for you, the next door in life opens.

Jaunai’s final piece of advice? Just ask God for help when you need it. He will hear you, he will listen, and he will help you be your best self. To connect with Jaunai about her journey with Christ, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also visit her website (www.jaunaiwalker.com) and check out her other guest appearance on Donald’s other podcasts, The Sales Evangelist and Selling in Color.

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Life is hard enough; why add more stress on top of it? We are prone to perfectionist tendencies; we hold high standards for ourselves and those around us. However, this behavior (while good in some situations) can lead to overloading our plates. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald interviews Matt Ruedlinger to discuss how we can call upon God to help ease our burdens in all instances, not just religious challenges. Shifting his mindset helped Matt change his business.

Building a relationship with Christ makes it easier to rely on him. It’s a constant exercise of growth.
When Matt relies on Christ, he feels peace. Things that frustrate him when he’s alone don’t give him those same feelings.
When you can give your troubles to Christ, life just gets easier.
James 1:2-4 “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

When we go through challenges, we grow with Christ.

As a business owner, how Matt reacts to things can directly correlate to their lives. His business is like a ministry; what he does affects everybody.
Call upon God to help you. Whether that’s church-related, family difficulties, or workplace challenges, you can ask God for help with anything. (You aren’t limited to matters of the church.)
People will see his love through you when you let him be a part of your life.

How do you get to a place where you can start relying on the Lord?

It’s something you’ll constantly work towards, but it’s about creating habits.
Try writing post-it notes or other reminders so you remember to step back and ask Christ for help when needed.
Instinctively, we know we can call upon God for help.

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn or contact him at matt@triplermarleting.com to continue this conversation with him.

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God has a message for all of us. For some, that message might be a small action or decision that carries a tremendous impact. Or, for others, it’s a huge action that also results in a big impact! In today’s episode of Changing, Donald is joined by Jon Hensley, a man who experienced the latter of these two scenarios. In this episode, he’ll recount his story of when he learned to listen to that voice, and what changed as a result.

The story starts in 2007 when Jon entered the army.

When he first arrived, he was ready to save the world and was quite convinced he knew what was going on.
His mom mentioned her friend’s daughter was married to a colonel where he was located. After she mentioned that, Jon had a strange feeling he needed to reach out and offer his help (as a priest of the church.)
All he knew about the family was that the daughter had left the church and didn’t want anything to do with it.
This fact made him think he probably shouldn’t offer help. So, he blew it off.

But he couldn’t shake the feeling.

He was still apprehensive, so he called his mom and told her to tell her friend to tell her daughter the message. And she did.
Out of the blue, Jon got a call from the colonel. While Jon had never heard the voice before, he knew who it was. And the colonel wanted Jon to bless his wife.
So Jon went to his home, and the moment he saw the woman, his heart broke. She had an ailment where her jaw was disconnected from her skull.
She had been through several surgeries to have her jaw wired shut, and those surgeries meant she was bruised, swollen, and in pain.
Her doctors had told her they couldn’t fix the problem, but after she begged for another attempt, they agreed to one final try. And that attempt was tomorrow.

The whole family was exhausted and scared - they were asking for a miracle.

When Jon sat down with her, he asked her to repent. He felt compelled to say that.
As he said those words, he saw the desperation, fear, and anxiety in her eyes. She was ready to ask the Lord and needed to hear his message.
As the mouthpiece to the blessing, Jon told her if she would repent, she would be healed. And if she didn’t, a worse trial would befall her.
He didn’t know what came over him, but he felt compelled to say it.
She repented. And the next day, the surgery was a responding success. And to this day, she is a member of the church.

In December of 2008, Jon was sent to Afghanistan.

At one point he got an emergency call from soldiers in contact with an enemy position. They needed emergency extracting to get wounded out of the situation.
The soldiers didn't have coverage, and there wasn’t space to land Jon’s helicopter safely. Jon landed the helicopter between the enemy position and the soldiers so they could use the helicopter as cover while the wounded boarded.
As soon as he landed, the enemy began to approach. And Jon was helpless.
He asked for help on the radio. And who answered? The colonel, flying a strike eagle in the vicinity. He engaged the enemy long enough for Jon to escape with the wounded.

The man Jon was once sent to save was now sent to save him.

The Lord knows our needs. If you need a miracle, put your faith in action because He will not leave his disciplines hanging.
Colonel Johnson eventually joined the church, and the family’s entire fate is changed. They’re now sons and daughters of God. And it’s all because of that one call Jon had received.

Put action to your faith to bring salvation to those around you. To talk to Jon and discuss his story, contact eternalhensleys@gmail.com.

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In today’s episode of Changing, Mylena Sutton joins Donald to discuss her experience separating from and ultimately returning to God. While she might’ve left Him, God never left her. And His grace allowed her to find her way back to Him and continue on her journey.

To Mylena, going to church as a child was like a family reunion.

While her family wasn’t conservative, she was still the first to attend college.
As she left to attend college, she left her family church and started attending a mega-church in Atlanta.
Her family was upset because they thought Mylena had an identity shift.
But Mylena liked it. She didn’t have to worry about everyone seeing her when she was vulnerable. Though it had nothing to do with her family, she enjoyed being there.
While she enjoyed church, part of her obedience to God was out of fear.

After moving to New Jersey in 2002, it took her two years to find a church she liked.

She was there for about five years when she noticed she felt disconnected from the sermons.
In one sermon, her pastor was preaching about what a woman needs to know about a man. She was so offended by the entire series that she left.
She reached out to some of the other women, and she asked if they also felt it was out of line. But they dismissed it, saying not to take it personally.

She decided that if she didn’t respect the pastor, what was the point of going to church?

A year went by, and her life was fine. She realized she needed to reframe the way she perceived God.
It led to a transition - she left the church and was terrified of God because he would be angry at her for leaving.
But she was okay. And that realization made her realize God wasn’t out to get her.
God’s plan for us is good. In that phase of her life, she wasn’t doing anything she thought she was supposed to do. But His grace was amazing.

Fast forward to 2008, she started her own business while working a traditional job.

She told God she wanted more time to focus on things important to her. The next day, she was fired.
While unfortunate, she would never have had the courage to quit on her own. She needed the push.
Despite having the business established, there was nothing behind it besides the concept and her determination for it to come to fruition.

Along this journey, she progressed from fearing God to finding his grace. Despite making many mistakes during her life, God’s grace has kept her moving forward. As a result, she now knows her relationship with the church and God are two different things. She can live her life without fear, because regardless of where she is in life, God is there with her. To contact Mylena, visit her website mylenasutton.com or her business’s website, voltagevista.com.

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In today’s episode of Changing, Donald takes a look back to a fan-favorite episode from the Changing archives. He speaks to Stake President Andy Lustig about converting from Judaism to Christianity. What is a stake president?

The Stake President ministers to people, oversees the church bishops, and deals with the general dealings of the stake.
President Lustig grew up in Jamaica, Queens, New York, and went to a Jewish school. He was raised in a conservative Jewish home and, like all Jewish men, was bar mitzvahed at age 13.
At 17, President Lustig became disillusioned when his synagogue was sold to another synagogue. He saw the synagogue was focused more on business and earning money than it was about ministering to his people. After this, he and his mother stopped going to temple (but continued practicing Judaism traditions.)

Lustig converts to Christianity:

After moving to Florida, he met his wife and married her in a synagogue. The couple would continue to go for three years but never really felt the spirit.
They eventually left, and several years passed before they had a pivotal encounter. Then, one day, President Lustig was working as a piano technician when his client’s wife gave him a Book of Mormon.
At the same time, President Lustig’s daughter was in a special program in Utah where everyone was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. While visiting, President Lustig gave their names when asked where missionaries could visit. And, two weeks later, they came.
But just before they came, however, President Lustig’s daughter wanted to go to church, so he went with her so she wouldn’t be alone. And who greeted them at the door? His client whose wife gave them the Book of Mormon!
President Lustig was inspired by The First 2000 Years by FBI Director of Salt Lake City Cleon Skousen.

Whether or not you believe in the Savior Christ, if the spirit touches you, you’ll get an answer.

Since becoming a member of the church, he has witnessed thousands of miracles and heard countless testimony.
The initial decision was hard, but he is still a member of the House of Israel and has not given up his heritage.
Jesus was a Jewish boy who became a carpenter. When he read the New Testament, it was a revelation to him, and in response, he knelt in prayer to receive the truth.
President Ludwig has gone from a person who was focused on himself and his career to someone concerned for others.

To get in touch with President Lustig, you can email andylustig@me.com.

MUSIC CREDIT: Audio Jungle

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Everyone experiences loneliness at some point or another. For many, the Covid pandemic brought this to light; quarantining in isolation has left many feeling alone and depressed. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald interviews public speaker and financial consultant Godfrey McAllister to discuss Godfrey’s feeling of loneliness and how he turned to God for help.

Godfrey came to the United States seven years ago.

After decades as a professional speaker, Godfrey moved to the United States.
He realized In America that skill and talent are only 10% of professional motivational speaking. The rest is business acumen (elements he didn’t know.)
Because of this hurdle, he hasn’t yet broken into the field. And while trying to make his dream happen, Covid spread, and he went into isolation.

But his move to the United States started his loneliness.

In Jamaica, he was surrounded by people. But in the U.S., he found himself alone with God.
Depression is something everyone struggles with at some point or another. And when people don’t know how to handle it, it worsens.
Godfrey realized we are social creatures. When you have something to share and nobody around you to share it with, depression begins.

Godfrey relied on God during his isolation.

The paradox of the Christian faith is that we’re taught to walk with Christ yet be independent. We need to accept that God is a requirement for life.
Because of his constant companionship with God during isolation, he grew and deepened this relationship.

His advice to someone who wants a closer relationship with God:

The Christian life is not just about God; it’s also about the devil. There’s a choice we need to make.
Our human relationships are essential. But they’re not as sacred as the relationship with God. Regardless of how good life is, praising God for those things is critical.
When things are good, realize God is that source of goodness. Give him praise. It’ll keep you on top and, when you fall, you won’t be alone.

In a situation where you want to grow closer, what should you do?

Ask God for forgiveness for our sins and mistakes; we will always be forgiven.
Study God’s word through scripture, and ask God for the boldness to share his message with others.
Get accustomed to giving thanks. Developing the habit makes it automatic, even in our lowest points.

To get in touch with Godfrey and learn more about his story, visit his website godfreymcallister.com or contact him via WhatsApp at 954-299-9394. Follow him on LinkedIn for more incredible and fascinating content (not to mention motivational messaging.)

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Should you blindly obey the word of your parents, church leaders, and other important people in life? In today’s episode of changing, Donald shared his feelings about it, discussing when it’s important to push back against blind obedience while still living a Christlike life. There’s a difference between learning and disobedience.

Blind obedience is unquestionable obedience. Whether because of manipulation, amorality, or just plain evil intentions, blind obedience can occur anywhere.
For example, say your church leader claimed you shouldn’t have premarital sex. However, you choose not to obey. Does that make you a bad Christian?
Rather than not understand why this is a rule, consult your Bible. Why is premarital sex forbidden? Rather than engaging in blind obedience (or blind disobedience), educate yourself on the topic to make an informed decision.
After consulting the word of God, making the right decision might be what the Bible says and not necessarily your church leader.

How do you get to the point that you’re blindly obeying rather than following?

God gives each of us the blessing of autonomy; we choose our path, whether that’s with God or not.
He didn’t give us this autonomy to force us to follow. Instead, he gave us this gift to decide to follow him.

Go with faith until you know.

Faith is the assurance of things not seen. So have faith and trust in God, even if you don’t necessarily understand.
You’ll gain the wisdom and knowledge to understand the right decision as you follow.
Rather than blindly follow others, find the answer before making a decision. Then it’s no longer a blind decision but one made with faith and love.

We’re all Changing in our pursuit to live a Christlike life, and we’re here to help you walk this path. Tune in to the next episode of Changing on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and leave a rating or review. Please send any feedback, thoughts, or testimonials to donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

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A core belief of Christianity is helping other people. But how can we do that to become a better disciple of Jesus? Find out on today’s episode of Changing.

Be anxiously engaged in a good cause.

Anxious, in this case, means excitement and eagerness for a cause.
Engage in something bigger than yourself, like sharing the gospel, serving in the military, or even donating time or money to a charitable organization.
Working for a cause bigger than you benefits humanity. After all, the goal isn’t to help you but to help others.

Moroni 7:47- Charity is the pure love of Christ.

The book Preach My Gospel, a manual for people doing missionary work, words it well, reminding people to avoid judging or criticizing actions and to understand the point of view of others instead.
It is in Matthew 22:36-39 that Jesus says the most important commandment is to love God and to love people. It’s a mandate and a commandment that we should strive to obey.

How can you help those around you?

Minister to those you’re assigned and serve your responsibilities at church.
Read scripture to someone, or offer to drive people to church.
Tutor and help others with their goals.
Index with the Church of Latter-Day Saints.
Call someone and check in on them, or visit them if it’s safe to do so.
Trust the youth and give them the responsibility.
Visit JustServe.org to find volunteer opportunities in your community.

We’re all Changing in our pursuit to live a Christlike life, and we’re here to help you walk this path. Tune in to the next episode of Changing on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and leave a rating or review. Please send any feedback, thoughts, or testimonials to donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

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It can be difficult to make life changes when family continually reminds you of your past. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald shares how you can get past this obstacle to walk your Christlike journey with confidence.

We make mistakes. It’s simply part of being human.

Changing requires your family to alter their perception of you, which can be challenging. (Even if those changes are for the better.)
As you set goals and plans for the new year, remember that other people, even family, should not hold you back in your dreams.
John 4:44 - ‘Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honour in his own country.’
The people you grew up around only have a certain perspective of you. They only have views of who you once were.

Four points to consider when family brings up your past:

Remember who it is you worship and who it is you’re trying to become like - Christ.
Recognize that you’re human and that you make mistakes. Embrace your past and the mistakes you made. However, you’re doing your best not to do it anymore.
Don’t seek the glory of man. From the famed St. Francis of Assisi quote, “Preach the gospel. And, when necessary, use words.”
Set a good example and strive to live a life that walks a Christlike path. In the long run, there will be a positive difference in your relationship with friends and family.

We’re all Changing in our pursuit to live a Christlike life. And we’re here to help you walk this path. Tune in to the next episode of Changing on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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Goal setting is essential for Christians; it’s through setting goals that we can continue to live our lives in the image of God. But how can we go about setting goals correctly? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses five important things to remember while setting goals as a Christian.

We’re made in the image of God.

Genesis 1:26-28 - And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
If God has created everything and created us in his image, just imagine your potential!
You probably won’t walk on water anytime soon. But it does mean you can call upon the Lord and his strength to be a better person!
Changes come over time, and you will sometimes need education or practice to get what you want to accomplish.

We have no need to fear.

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
What else do you need? We’re sons and daughters of God, meaning you can accomplish anything

Put God first.

Matthew 6:33 - 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take 30 minutes to study scripture. Donate to the Church. God has given us everything; the least we can do is give our time and resources back to Him and to those who need it.
Don’t waste your time on things that don’t matter, focus and seek the Kingdom of God. The rest will come.

Recognize your God-given gifts.

You have unique gifts, and you can either ignore those gifts or use them in God’s name.
D&C 46:8 seek … earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given.
We all have gifts, but it matters more how you use them.
If you are financially literate, think about how you can share that knowledge with others to do amazing things.

Give God credit in all things.

Psalms 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
D&C 59:7 Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
God gives us life, breath, healing - everything we have. He deserves the credit for our accomplishments, for without him, we wouldn’t have anything.

Setting goals is the key to living a Christ-like life. So, setting proper goals fueled by God and His image will be key in developing those goals to find success in the new year. Email Donald with any questions, thoughts, or testimonials you have at donaldckelly09@gmail.com.

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Merry Christmas from TSE Studios! In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses the importance of the Christmas season. To Donald, Christmas means love. So what does it mean to you?

Why did Jesus come in the first place?

Jesus came because of our separation from God; we could only be reunited by repenting for our sins.
Jesus’s death on the cross and his atonement for our sins allow us to live again.
We are all God’s children, and he wants us to live with him. And Jesus was willing to die because of his love for us.

Love is shown through Mary.

Joseph thought Mary committed adultery. But he chose to believe in her immaculate conception because he loved her.
Similarly, Mary was willing to believe and deliver the child because of her love for God.

Love is for all of humanity.

Jesus’s ultimate gift was to be the Savior, giving us the gift of eternal life.
We give and get gifts for one another not because we want to spend money, but because we want others to be happy.
How are you demonstrating that love and happiness to others around you? Share that love with someone you know, be it a brother, cousin, neighbor, or coworker.

Whatever it may be, Christmas is all about love. How can you show love to others? Find ways to show others peace, love, and kindness, and help them know there is a way people can experience everlasting peace.

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For some, finding Christ can be a long and challenging process. But the result makes it all worthwhile. Today’s episode of Changing features Jermaine Ward, who developed his relationship with Christ while serving in prison. His incredible story shows that we can work to live a life full of prosperity and hope no matter our past.

Growing up, his family life was volatile.

As a kid, he watched someone bleed to death on the stairs of his house after a bad prostitution deal.
In particular, his father had an issue with a man in Jermaine’s community. One thing led to another, and Jermaine’s father told Jermaine to shoot the guy. And he did.
Because of that decision, Jermaine was on the run for manslaughter.
At 16, he fled to St. Louis and joined gang life.
While his manslaughter case was closed, an argument with his father years later resulted in Jermaine’s father calling the police to turn Jermaine in for his crime. After that, Jermaine went to prison.

While in prison, Jermaine studies morals, philosophy, and religion.

Many people in prison are just trying to find themselves. If you don’t mess with people, they’ll usually leave you alone.
One night he was thinking of all the things he did wrong in his life, and he didn’t want his relationship with God to go down the same path. So he took it seriously and read the Bible.
Jermaine found it very powerful that Jesus continued his ministry after visiting the Jewish people in the middle east.
Jesus taught five principles: faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obedience.
Second Nephi 31:5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!

Jermaine was determined to do home worship.

He kneeled down and prayed while in prison, and all he asked was, “Lord, is this the truth?”
He felt a spirit come over him, and it was powerful and convincing. It was undeniable. He felt comfortable and warm.
His first week out of prison, he looked for the Church of Latter-Day Saints in the yellow pages.
He called each church, asking if they do what's outlined in the Doctrine and Covenants.

When we’re patient with the Lord:

We shouldn’t expect God to answer all of our prayers immediately - he answers them when the moment is right.
The Spirit helped him understand that he never reconciled with society for killing somebody.
So, when he got out of prison, he sought to pay his debt to society. But he was still owned by the state, and he could not be baptized until his parole was over.
But he worked, studied, and focused on doing right by God to repent and come to terms with his past.

Jermaine’s advice to people who think changing your life is too challenging:

God loves all of us, and we have to love ourselves.
Don’t look to be judged by the world's standards; just look to God. Because he’s all that matters at the end of the day.
Just have the desire to pray and do what God asks you to do.

Final takeaway? If you desire greater things, God can help you overcome obstacles to get there. To contact Jermaine, send him an email at jermaineward6@gmail.com. In addition, you can find his book, Sayings of the Saints, on Amazon.

Sayings of the Saints: Banners of Righteousness

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In today’s episode of Changing, host Donald Kelly talks to Keith Diaferia about his transformation from Darkness to Light.

Even the people closest to Keith didn’t truly know who he was.

He was compelled to darkness through drugs, alcohol, and the nightlife.
While living in Chicago, Keith became affiliated with a gang, who became like a second family.
Keith ignored the guidance of his parents and siblings. While they thought he was just a “mixed-up kid,” Keith was becoming a monster through the relationships that were taking over his life.
When Keith was 14, he had the desire to be part of a dark lifestyle and yet he felt the presence of Christ in his life. He just didn’t know what to do with it.

By day, Keith had his “normal” life.

However, he would participate in street fighting at night, returning home with a broken nose or a black eye. Keith then became a money collector, living out this secret life between the ages of 14 and 20.
Around the age of 40, he was tired of waking up not knowing if an enemy would finally get him. He’d been shot seven times, stabbed four times, beaten countless times, and almost died three times from anaphylactic reactions to medication.

God touched Keith’s heart.

Keith knew he had to change. So he walked away from wealth, relationships, and material possessions to move toward God’s love.
Keith endured much to get in and out of this lifestyle; his gang required a beat-in and beat-out. He endured a beating for 3 minutes from the chin to the waist, without defending himself, by 80 members of the chapter. When it was done, he had three broken ribs, a punctured lung, a lacerated kidney, lacerated liver, internal bleeding, a broken hip, and a cracked sternum. He was hospitalized for four weeks.

Keith’s past life continues to haunt him.

Since then, Keith has been approached twice to return, and his life has been threatened for not doing so.
Both times, however, he let them know that he wasn’t turning his back on God.
Because of the code, the gang lives by, Keith has earned their respect with his loyalty to God. Even with his life threatened, he remained loyal to his renewed faith and new life.
Keith came back to church when his two sisters approached him after Holy Spirit directed their steps back to him, even when they were scared to approach.
Keith’s parting advice? Everyone is worthy of this love, worthy of change, and worthy of the blessing God has for each of us. So have faith, discipline, and love to see true change. That’s how Keith did it.

MUSIC CREDIT: Audio Jungle

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The holiday season isn’t just a time to give, it’s a time to serve and be thankful! In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses five easy ways everyone can share the gospel this holiday season.

Offer service
There are so many opportunities to serve others, wherever you are!
You could offer hand sanitizer, help carry someone’s groceries or help someone put their shopping cart away.
You can simply reach out to people and see if they need a prayer. Or, if you have the resources, consider buying meals or presents for people in your church or community.
Give out Bibles
If you know people in your life who don’t own a Bible, consider giving them as gifts.
It’s a simple, kind gesture that can make a tremendous impact on someone’s life.
Share what’s in your heart with others
Expressing the feelings in your heart can make all the difference in someone’s day.
If someone asks you how you’re doing, use that as an opportunity to talk, whether that’s about the excellent holiday service your church just had or about a fantastic podcast you listen to.
Share experiences on social media
Share the positivity of the gospel to drown out the negativity often present on social media.
Share messages about church
Invite others into your home
This might be difficult because of COVID.
If you can implement safe practices, invite people into your home for a devotional, for games or meals or whatever you want!
Sing Christmas carols
Okay, we’re going past five, but there’s never too many ways to share the Gospel!
One of our personal favorites: singing songs and hymns. What’s not to love about that?
Pray for others in need
Regardless of your circumstances in life, you can always pray for those around you.
There is power and miracles in prayer. Look for ways to pray for those who need it most.

If you use any of these methods or have another powerful way to share the Gospel, we want to hear about it! Contact Donald directly at donaldckelly09@gmail.com or share it with the Changing Facebook Group.

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We’ve heard from amazing guests and heard great strategies and tips to become better followers of Christ. But no matter how many stories we hear, getting out of our comfort zone to make those positive changes can be difficult and overwhelming. So in today’s episode, Donald shares his three tips to make big changes in your life.

1. Pray for help and guidance.

There are countless examples in the Book of Mormon that show God will answer our prayers.
Our Savior Jesus Christ prayed for the nourishment and guidance he needed in the Garden of Gethsemane for help from God, so why aren’t you doing the same?
Christ has experienced all the pain, challenges, and difficulties of our sin. If he can bear all that, I’m sure he can help you with your challenges.

2. Study your scriptures.

Study the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Paul was persecuting Christians, but he changed and overcame his sin for the better.
You can make positive changes and empower yourself by hearing the struggles and triumphs of others in the Bible.
Set a goal just to read a few verses or a passage that is meaningful to you.

3. Start small.

Luke 16:10 - “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
What are the small changes you can make to lead to a significant impact? Pray for the daily opportunities and rich experiences God provides for you every day.
If you stay consistent and do these small changes every day, things come from small things.

If you’re listening to this podcast in December, don’t wait for January to make small changes. Start now. There’s no time like today to make a positive impact on your life.

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It is incredibly important to be grateful for the many things we are given throughout our lives, but it is especially important this month: the month of Thanksgiving. As an example, today, Donald talks about 5 examples of individuals from the Bible who demonstrated gratitude.

The 10th Leper - 10 individuals were infected with leprosy, a chronic infectious disease that severely affects the skin. Jesus used the power of God to heal all 10 lepers, yet only one of them returned to Jesus to thank Him. Although the rest of the lepers were excited, they did not show their gratitude towards Jesus. As we live our day-to-day lives, are we expressing our gratitude towards Heavenly Father for the small blessings we are constantly receiving?
Abraham and Sariah - Sariah was elderly and barren, yet both her and Abraham prayed regularly to have a child. God blessed them both with a baby boy, who they named Isaac. When Isaac grew older, the Lord instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son to show his loyalty to the Lord. Despite Isaac being his only beloved son, Abraham still followed God’s instruction and brought him to the hill. An Angel of the Lord appeared right before the sacrifice and commended Abraham for his obedience, and the sacrifice was called off. Abraham showed his gratitude to God by being obedient. Are we grateful to God even during times of trial and struggle in our lives?
Mary and Martha - Lazarus, a good friend to Jesus and brother to Mary and Martha, passed away and was buried. Jesus traveled several days to visit Mary and Martha, knowing Lazarus had passed away. When Jesus arrived, he used the power of God to raise Lazarus from the dead. If Jesus used the power of God to raise Lazarus from the dead, he can use that same power to bless you when you pray and ask. Our gratitude enables Him to provide those blessings.
Naaman - Naaman was a revered military leader. He became sick, and traveled to the prophet Elijah in hopes of being healed. However, Elijah instead sent his servant to instruct Naaman to wash himself in the River Jordan seven times to be healed. Naaman was doubtful and frustrated that Elijah did not attend to tell him directly. Nonetheless, he decided to wash in the river as instructed. Miraculously, Naaman was healed, and gave thanks and gratitude to the Lord for this blessing. Oftentimes we have family members or friends in our lives who act as our guide and mouthpiece for the Lord. If we listen to God, and give thanks for those people in our lives, God will continue to bless us.
The Adulterous Woman - A woman was caught in the act of adultery. The townspeople took her to Jesus and demanded that she be stoned to death for her sins. In response, Jesus spoke to the crowd and said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”. The crowd quickly dissipated and left Jesus alone with the woman. Jesus saved this woman’s life, and in return the woman showed gratitude by following Jesus' last command: “Go and sin no more”. God constantly forgives you for your sins. Are we being grateful to Him for His mercies towards us?

God constantly blesses those who are openly grateful to Him. Audio Credits to Soundstripe.

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Changing can take forms in many ways. From small elements to life-altering events, we constantly look for ways to better our lives. For today’s guest, a decades-long search for a church led her to a solid and lifelong relationship with the Heavenly Father. Cheryl Niedzwiedz learned changing is more than a Sunday activity, and that’s the story she shares on today’s episode.

Cheryl had fond memories growing up in the church.

Her earliest church memories are a feeling of warmth while singing worship songs.
She loved reading scripture, and she felt wrapped in love every time they were about Jesus.
When she blew out the candle for her eighth birthday, she wished for the wisdom of Solomon.

However, she quickly realized discrepancies in the way people acted outside of church.

The people who attended church seemed like different people Monday - Saturday. They weren’t trying to be Christ-like outside of Sunday school.
Cheryl learned that confessing her sins to the Father made them forgiven. But it bothered her that people would commit the same sins for the same reasons every time.
Why would the heavenly father forgive you if you didn’t intend to change?
She realized her childhood church was not for her when she was ten. Her Sunday school teacher was teaching about Jesus when a voice came to her and said, “this is not it.”

At 13 years old, she began to attend other churches to find one where she felt comfortable.

She went to many different churches over twenty years, and it wasn’t until her early thirties that missionaries of the Latter-Day Saints knocked on her door.
They explained the belief in changing after repentance. They explained the power of prayer. In these conversations, Cheryl felt calm and hopeful, knowing these thoughts were true.
It was the warm feeling she remembered as a child.

When she came to church, she didn’t find perfect people.

But she found a group of caring, supportive people whose goal was to be more Christ-like.
Since joining the church, she has felt like there was a lightning strike in her heart.
While her family was initially skeptical, they were pleased and accepted it once they saw the positive changes in Cheryl and her life.
Now, after fifty years of being in the church, she’s still working on changing. But we are all a work in progress.

For someone who needs a change in life, especially finding a church, Cheryl recommends praying to the Lord. Because our Heavenly Father will lead us to the answer.

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While the Lord is all-powerful, the messages he sends us are seldom loud or boisterous. Instead, these personal revelations are often small, still voices in the back of our minds, urging us on the Lord’s path when the moment is right. But how can you know when you’re experiencing a personal revelation? And, especially in today’s technological world, how can you make yourself receptive to hearing them? Find out on today’s episode of Changing.

Put yourself in a position to hear personal revelations:

Repent - Are your past sins blocking your communication with God? Address them and ask the Lord to forgive you.
Understand the voice - Do you know that small voice speaking to you? Study scripture and other resources to draw yourself closer to Christ.
Pray - If you’re unsure if God is speaking to you, ask him! Praying is a great way to ask God for help while also serving those in need.
Fast - Go without food or water for a period of time. Suppressing the needs of the flesh to show dedication to the spiritual puts you in a headspace conducive to reflection.
Know God - Read, learn, and, most importantly, emulate the LoThen, as. As we become more like him, we’ll see and feel God guiding us on his path.

Donald’s Personal Revelation Story:

At one point, Donald went on a two-year mission trip. To prepare for his journey, he spent time each day studying scripture and praying to be closer to God.
The night before he discovered where his mission trip would take him, Donald had a vivid dream of the great lakes.
When the mission call came the next day, he ran to open it. And what did the letter say? He was going to Detroit, Michigan. (Right next to the great lakes.)

The moral of this story? The Lord will reveal personal revelations to you if you are open to listening. Audio credits to soundstripe.

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Many people share common misconceptions about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the concept of repentance. In today’s episode, Donald will discuss 3 of these misconceptions and how we can free ourselves of the false ideas they portray.

1. I don’t need to repent

No matter who you are or what walk of life you are from, everyone needs to repent. Jesus Christ is the only perfect being. If we seek to become like him, we must utilize His atonement and recognize that we are never exempt from repentance.
As a young adult, Donald came to believe that repentance was only for bad people, for sinners. However, he later came to realize that the greatest difference between sinners and saints is those who repent and seek to become better.

2. I’ll be shamed/I’ll get in trouble

Before Donald became a Bishop, he thought that only sinners or bad people needed to repent. But come to find out, the complete opposite was true! As a bishop, Donald found new respect and love for the individuals who would come to him to confess their sins and mistakes. Those people were learning and growing. As you repent, you build a spiritual fortification for yourself.

3. God will not forgive me

This is simply a lie. Heavenly Father will always forgive anyone who truly seeks repentance. Some sins are harder to recover from, but God will never turn his back on us when we utilize the Atonement.
There are several examples in the scriptures, like Peter, who denied Christ but was later forgiven and led the 12 apostles. We are all capable of repentance.

Bonus #1. Bad thoughts still come to mind, which means I haven’t changed

We all receive occasional bad thoughts. Having a bad thought doesn't make you a bad person. What’s important is how you deny those bad thoughts in your mind. Try singing an uplifting song. Over time, as you deny those thoughts, they become weaker and less influential. The Holy Spirit will help you overcome negative and sinful thoughts.

Bonus #2. I keep making the same mistakes over and over again

Repeating past mistakes does not make you a bad person, but it does mean you need to continue progressing and improving yourself. A little desire for change will help you grow little by little.

“Repentance is reviewing one's actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs, which is accompanied by commitment to and actual actions that show and prove a change for the better.” (thechurchofjesuschrist.org). The ultimate goal is to improve ourselves and grow closer to Jesus Christ.

Do not let Satan make you feel unworthy of Christ’s Atonement. You are nothing less than a disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus loves you, and knows that you can make it back to Him. Audio credits to soundstripe.

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We all know how important our scripture studies are. The problem is, many of us struggle to find meaningful ways to engage with those studies on a daily basis. In today’s episode of Changing, Donald discusses 5 different powerful techniques that everyone can practice to develop a more meaningful daily scripture study.

1. Set apart time/location for studies

When he first started his walk with Christ, young Donald lived in a small apartment with his family. The TV in the living room was often distracting, as well as the outside porch and living area of the apartment.
Donald would find the only secluded place, his hallway bathroom, to study in peace and privacy for one hour every day. Often, he would study in the morning before the day got too busy. Other times he would block off an hour after school to study as a part of homework. He would even use the clothing hamper as his desk.
Find a quiet space, whether that’s your patio, closet, or bedroom. Minimize distractions. Set a time on your alarm/calendar to remind you daily.

2. Focus on a specific book or topic for studies

No matter which scripture you are reading, it is important to study a specific book, then read chronologically (i.e. Old Testament, then New Testament, then Book of Mormon, etc). Or...
Study by topic (ie faith, prayer, baptism, Atonement).
Always open your studies with a prayer. Ask to learn something new via His inspiration.
Study from General Conference talks.

3. Use a journal

Write down your spiritual thoughts and feelings in a notebook. Write insights from the Holy Ghost, no matter how subtle the feeling you get. They are important.
If you study the scriptures digitally, take notes in the Gospel Library app. You can tag notes, scriptures, talks, etc.

4. Share/discuss insights

Maybe you have a podcast, YouTube channel, friends or family. Utilize those opportunities to share your insights with those outlets. Share with a Christian coworker and ask for their perspective.
As a teenager, Donald stayed with a Christian family. At the dinner table, they would ask about everyone’s day. Donald would share what he studied.

5. Study with specific questions

As a bishop, Donald would often receive questions from his congregation members that he did not know the answers to. He would search for those answers in his daily scripture studies.
Focus on characteristics of Christ, and form questions around who he was (ie “how can I improve who I am?” or “How can I protect my family from the influence of pornography?”).

If you have any questions for Donald, you can contact him at Donaldckelly09@gmail.com. He is also happy to pray with you for guidance and inspiration.

As we focus on studying the word of Christ, we walk with him. Audio credits to soundstripe.

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No matter who you are or what your background is, there’s always someone there for you. And that’s the Lord. Regardless of your pains, trials, and turmoils, the Lord knows how you’re feeling and can lead you on the path to salvation. On today’s episode of Changing, Donald is joined by Barbara Velasquez, who will share her story of how the Lord gave her the help and guidance she needed to find happiness.

Barbara’s early life was unstable.

Born and raised in Guatemala, she experienced homelessness and an unstable childhood.
Her mother wanted her to have opportunities beyond what she could provide in Guatemala, so she sent Barbara to the United States for an education.
Because of that sacrifice, Barbara graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University with a degree in Business Management and Marketing.

Moving to the United States exposed her to the Lord.

Growing up with her aunt in North Hollywood, California, Barbara’s best friend took her to various LDS church activities, which Barbara enjoyed attending.
While Barbara eventually moved to live with her mom and step-dad, she stayed in touch with that friend, who taught her lessons with the assistance of missionaries.
The missionaries were allowed to see Barbara, but they were not allowed in her mother’s home. So, they gave Barbara lessons in the parking lot of their apartment complex.

When Barbara told her mother she was getting baptized, she was very accepting.

Throughout her life, Barbara suffered from anxiety and depression, and finding the Lord helped ease some of those feelings.
Because of the Lord, Barbara has finally found the stability she’s been looking for, and her mom is thrilled.

The main takeaway from Barbara’s story? If you don’t feel okay or experience a trial in life, it’s okay to look for help. The Lord will always be with you, even if you don’t feel with him.

Want to get in contact with Barbara? Connect with her on LinkedIn to reach out!

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Today’s episode of Changing features college student Junior Germain. While he grew up in a religious household, he did not have a relationship with God himself until he made a change. The change? He made a prayer for truth.

Junior wasn’t always religious.

While his mom would drag him to church every Sunday, Junior hated it. He just didn’t want to make room for religion in his life. And his relationship with religion stayed like that until he was 14.
It was partly because he wasn’t sure how or why he should develop a relationship with God. He didn’t own a Bible, the sermons were in a language he didn’t fully understand, and he was never taught to pray. Junior just didn’t have a lot of resources.

His desire to live a better life made him start caring.

Knowing that he wouldn’t go to heaven (because he never repented for his sins) inspired Junior to take action.
While he had never truly prayed up until that point, Junior knew that’s what he needed to do. He got on his knees, talked to God, and asked him for a message.
After that prayer, Junior kind of forgot about it. But the next day, two men came to his door with a message from Jesus Christ.
One thing led to another, and two weeks later, Junior was baptized.

This experience has changed Junior’s life.

His life has made a complete turn, and Junior attributes all the positive changes in his life to Jesus Christ.
He no longer cares only about himself; his relationship with Christ has made him more empathetic and caring towards others.
It has inspired him to be his best self, both for himself and the people around him.

Junior’s word of advice for people looking to change? Never stop trying. It can be easy to feel left behind but remember it is all a part of God’s plan, and he loves you unconditionally. To get in contact with Junior, connect with him on LinkedIn and Facebook. Audio credits to soundstripe.

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Overcoming a traumatic event can put a strain on any relationship, especially our relationship with God. Today on Changing, Donald is joined by Debby Montgomery to learn her journey to find acceptance and forgiveness after her husband’s sudden passing.

Debby’s husband unexpectedly passed during their 26-year long marriage.

Because he died so suddenly, Debby had to figure out who she was personally and professionally—all while being a mother to four kids.
Debby thought she would do everything herself and that she wanted to be self-sufficient.
She now realizes there’s no problem with asking for help. Why go through something alone when there are people there to help?

Debby relied on Christ as she processed her husband’s passing.

She prayed frequently, and she tried to go back to the temple. However, it was uncomfortable returning to a place she used to frequent with her husband.
But she went anyway, and it helped her realize that day-to-day things come and go, but the plan God has set for you is eternal.
She realized that dying is a part of living, and once she figured that out, she was able to move forward.
Debby still runs her husband’s company and started a nonprofit that aims to bring awareness to women opening up and being transparent with situations they go through.

A while after her husband’s death, Debby joined online dating.

She thought she was forging a relationship with a handsome British man. Instead, she gave over a million dollars to a man who turned out to be a young Nigerian man for nearly two years.
He asked for her forgiveness, and she was able to heal and move forward.
The scam was a massive awakening for Debby, and she had to learn how to forgive someone who hurt her to the core.
Forgiving strangers is easier than people you know. But life is too short to hold grudges or be mean.

To contact Debby, you can visit her company website or her nonprofit’s website to connect and learn more. Audio credits to soundstripe.

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There are many situations in the world today where we justify being unkind to one another. But what if we instead looked for ways to uplift each other and make the world a better place? In today’s episode of Changing, Donald tells us how he thinks we can start that process.

It’s easy for us to make judgments.

We all do it. In fact, 80% of our daily thoughts are negative (which is a lot more than most would expect.)
We’ll never be perfect, and we’ll continue to have negative thoughts. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive for the example Jesus provided us.

The Savior meditated to understand his thoughts.

He would take time to focus on his relationship with God, and he would seek opportunities to meditate and be with Him.
Modern technology is both a blessing and a curse. While we can find great content (like this podcast), there’s also a large amount of gossip, drama, and negativity that clamors for our attention.

Unplug and spend time away from technology.

Go outside, be in nature, listen to uplifting music.
How can we make the world a better place? Ultimately, be more like Jesus.
He put himself in a position to be perfect. While we can’t be perfect, why not strive for it?
Look for ways to spread positivity. The more you do it, the easier it will be!

Audio credits to soundstripe.

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Apple Podcasts Title: Teach All Nations | Donald Kelly

Artist: Donald C. Kelly

Category: Religion

Tags/Keywords: Christian | Religion

Album: Changing | Boynton Beach Florida Stake | Donald C. Kelly

Album Artist: Donald C. Kelly | Stories of Everyday People Coming Unto Christ

Composer: Donald C. Kelly | Boynton Beach Florida Stake

Grouping: Changing | Christian | Saint | Donald C. Kelly

Many people who live without God do so because they don’t know how to find his message. But that’s the job of any follower of Christ; spread the word of God wherever we go, because it helps those who couldn’t find it otherwise. It’s our duty to teach all nations how to be a follower of Christ, and in this episode Donald explains how to do just that.

Scripture outlines the correct approach:

Matthew 28:19-20 explains exactly how a follower of Christ should interact with another man.
It’s important to remember the difference between teaching and being overbearing. Everyone has choices, and it’s ultimately up to them whether or not they choose to follow the word of God.
It’s all about teaching the principle and making an outward sign of an inward promise.
Teach them to observe all things Christ has commanded.

Many followers of Christ do not spread his message.

So many of us don’t share the Gospel with others because we’re afraid of the reaction those people will have.
But nothing in that verse tells us to hate others, because Christ is love.
If someone doesn’t agree with you, that doesn’t mean you hate them. Instead, set a positive example through your response and your actions to glorify God.

Building the perfect message:

Don’t worry what people will say.
Share God’s light through example, and people will gravitate towards you.
Share the truth through invitation. Invite people to service, to help the homeless, or to choir. Don’t just spread the word of Christ, but the actions those words represent.

What happens if you don’t share the word?

Think about the blessings people around us are missing out on
Don’t let fear of someon’s reaction prevent you from sharing this blessing with others.
Think of the positive impact your message can have on those around you, and use that to motivate you to share the word.

We’re still battling the pandemic, loss of work, and other factors. If you encounter someone facing a challenge, ask if you can pray for them. Share the message, and do what you can to spread the message of love and everlasting life everyone should have the opportunity to hear.

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Apple Podcasts Title: My Family Needed Me | Scott Schlofman

Artist: Donald C. Kelly

Category: Religion

Tags/Keywords: Christian | Religion

Album: Changing | Boynton Beach Florida Stake | Donald C. Kelly

Album Artist: Donald C. Kelly | Stories of Everyday People Coming Unto Christ

Composer: Donald C. Kelly | Boynton Beach Florida Stake

Grouping: Changing | Christian | Saint | Donald C. Kelly

Scott is a financial advisor

If you’re not changing, you’re not progressing.

He was a sales manager traveling internationally, having a really good time

He’d be gone two weeks at a time and he had young kids

While he was in Columbia, he was face timing his wife one evening. His wife was trying to get the kids ready for bed while talking when one of their kids had a bloodcurdling scream so she quickly hung up. And his heart just sank

He called back, and she said now’s not the time. Their son had slipped and fell in the tub, and the webbing between his toes got caught in the drain and popped it.

His wife had to deal with everything, and he felt helpless.

He wanted to go home immediately, and there were no flights. He called the neighbors, called emergency services, and did what he could.

But this event made him realize he needed to change. While he loved the cultural experience it wasn’t what was really important to him (his family was) and he needed to be there for his wife and kids

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Apple Podcasts Title: Of You It's Required To Forgive All Man Part 2 | Donald Kelly

Artist: Donald C. Kelly

Category: Religion

Tags/Keywords: Christian | Religion

Album: Changing | Boynton Beach Florida Stake | Donald C. Kelly

Album Artist: Donald C. Kelly | Stories of Everyday People Coming Unto Christ

Composer: Donald C. Kelly | Boynton Beach Florida Stake

Grouping: Changing | Christian | Saint | Donald C. Kelly

In our last episode, Donald spoke about the importance of forgiveness. And on today’s episode, he shares his own story about his path to forgiveness. After all, if Christ can forgive us for our sins, how are we unable to forgive other people?

Donald’s horrible step-father:

Donald’s mom began to date a man when Donald was about 12 years old.
He moved into their home, where things took a turn for the worse.
He started to verbally abuse Donald’s mom. And when he drank, he would break stuff. That later led to physical abuse.
While he never hit Donald or his little siblings, he did hit Donald’s mother.

A particularly traumatic experience happened:

One night he came home and started to argue with his mom. Donald’s mom was in the kitchen, and he knocked her down to the floor, stomping her head into the linoleum floor.
Donald ran out screaming and yelling, trying to stop the situation. He called his aunt and the cops because his mom was lying in a pool of blood.
While the ambulance came and took his mom to the hospital, and the cops came to arrest his stepfather, Donald was still angry.

The aftermath:

They (thankfully) never got back together. But while he wasn’t the best figure, the money Donald’s stepfather brought was helpful.
Because he no longer contributed, Donald’s family couldn’t afford their home because his mom wasn’t able to work.

Donald’s faith saved him:

Luckily, Donald started to go to church again. And while Donald was on a church mission, he realized he was preaching about how God forgave us for our sins, yet he could not forgive his stepfather.
Donald sent a letter to his stepfather detailing the emotions he was feeling. However, Donald realized when he got back from his mission that it never made it to him.
Fast forward a few years later, Donald was working on a speech about forgiveness. But he still had that hate in his heart. So he called his stepfather.
He told him on the phone that he forgave him, and it was one of the hardest things he’s ever done.

After that, Donald was in a much better place.

Is Donald 100% healed from the experience? He’s close. But it took him nearly half his life to get to that point. And it’s a continual battle.
If Jesus can forgive us for our shortcomings, who are we not to forgive the sins of our fellow humans?
To those who are still holding on to the mistakes of others: let it go.
We’ve all made mistakes in our lives. We’ve all done things we aren’t proud of. All we can do is ask for forgiveness and look for ways to liberate ourselves from hate.

Who’s the person you need to forgive? Who do you need to ask for forgiveness? If you need help or want to speak with Donald about your own path to forgiveness, email him at donaldckelly019@gmail.com or post it in our Facebook group.

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 Apple Podcasts Title: **Of You It's Required To Forgive All Man Part 1 | Donald Kelly**

Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice to forgive us for our sins. He was able to forgive us despite us being completely unworthy. Despite this, we are quick to judge others. We are quick not to forgive our fellow man. How can we let go and forgive? We must learn about and practice forgiveness, and on today’s episode of Changing, Donald shares an important parable that stresses just that.

We all have our problems, difficulties, and skeletons in our closets.

But whatever our past holds, the Lord will forgive and heal us.
This is a gift God gives us; he gave his only son so we could be saved.
If he can forgive you and make you whole, why shouldn’t you forgive other people?
Many beliefs, religions, and ideologies can cause us to be angry.
If we were to forgive people, but much happier would he be if we could forgive others?

The parable of the indebted servant.

A servant owned 10,000 talents to his lord. But, upon hearing the servant’s plea for patience and mercy, the lord was moved with compassion and forgave the debt.
Then, that same servant would not forgive a fellow servant who owed him 100 pence.
Upon hearing this, the king lamented to the one he had forgiven.
To make it comparable to modern-day, let’s say the 100 pence equals $100. With that in mind, the 10,000 talents debt would’ve totaled about $1 billion (or more.)

What can we learn from this story?

This number is so incomprehensible because that’s what the Lord was trying to show us in this parable.
We can’t repay the Lord for Jesus’s sacrifice. We were freely forgiven for an unpayable debt.
So who are we to not forgive someone for an infinitely smaller debt?
That doesn’t mean you have to be best friends with the person. And it doesn’t have to happen instantaneously. But it should happen.
When you carry around the burden of unforgiveness inside you, it’s like carrying around poison. It only hurts you, not the other person. Forgiveness gives you freedom.

Another example:

Leo Tolstoy wrote of a priest who was criticized by one of his congregates for not living as resolutely as he should.
The critic concluded that the principles the priest taught must be erroneous because he’s a hypocrite.
To that, the priest responded, look at my life now and compare it to my former life. You’ll see I’m trying to live out the truth I proclaim.
Unable to live up to the ideals he taught, the priest admits he has failed. But he states, ”Attack me if you wish. I do this myself, but don’t attack the path I follow.”
Everyone makes mistakes. But just because we’re all sinners doesn’t mean the path is wrong.
When you forgive God, he will love you, care for you, and help you.

The takeaway from this podcast? You’ll feel happiness and joy by forgiving those around you. Focus not on judgment but on helping the people around us and putting grievances behind us. Because we’re all God’s children. \

Subscribe and share this message with someone you feel needs to hear it! Listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and on our website.

MUSIC CREDIT: Audio Jungle

(Note: This podcast is not an official podcast of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

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Apple Podcasts Title: I Was Humbled By The Lord | Donald Kelly

Artist: Donald C. Kelly

Category: Religion

Tags/Keywords: Christian | Religion

Album: Changing | Boynton Beach Florida Stake | Donald C. Kelly

Album Artist: Donald C. Kelly | Stories of Everyday People Coming Unto Christ

Composer: Donald C. Kelly | Boynton Beach Florida Stake

Grouping: Changing | Christian | Saint | Donald C. Kelly

In today’s episode, we’re going through the story of none other than our host Donald Kelly. While he grew up with a sense of spirituality and religious values, it wasn’t until a specific moment made Donald change and grow closer to God.

Donald grew up with a sense of spirituality.

Because he grew up in Jamaica, everyone knew they were supposed to go to church.
Donald immigrated to the United States at nine years old, and he and his family continued to attend church. While it wasn’t every week, it was consistent. But it slowly grew less and less frequent.

His friends weren’t the best influence.

While walking home from school, Donald and his friends jumped a fence to watch people making out (they were middle school boys, after all.)
An older man who lived in the building simply saw three African Americans by his building, so he thought they were breaking into his home.
He came out with a bat and chased them. While Donald’s friends ran away, the guy managed to grab Donald’s backpack, forcing Donald to abandon it to escape.
When he got home, his mom knew something was up. So she and Donald went back to the building to collect his backpack.

The plot only thickens:

When they got there, the police were there collecting statements. The man said he saw Donald break into his house.
The police had Donald come to the station, where they took his statement. Afterward, the officer read Donald his Miranda rights, put him in handcuffs, and drove him to the detention center, where Donald was charged with attempted burglary.
After fighting the case with his lawyer, Donald accepted a plea deal for a misdemeanor, resulting in 50 hours of community service and a year of house detention.
Because of house detention, Donald didn’t go to church or church activities because he didn’t want to explain to people why he couldn’t go to things or do things.

Donald began to go to church again.

One day, his friend told him about scouting, something Donald always wanted to do. But he was on house detention.
His friend invited him to the Easter Sunday church service, and at that service, Donald began to take spiritual ownership. He listened and asked questions.
He began to read scripture, participate in church activities, and even go scouting. As Donald continued to read and learn, he realized he was changing.
Christ took an opportunity to mold Donald into a humble servant. Without that experience, Donald wouldn’t be on the right path.
Don’t wait to be humbled. If you know you need a change, have temptations or addictions, or just want to impact your life positively, make the change today. Just look to the Lord for help.

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Apple Podcasts Title: Christ Strengthened My Mental Health | Jordan Jensen

Artist: Donald C. Kelly

Category: Religion

Tags/Keywords: Christian | Religion

Album: Changing | Boynton Beach Florida Stake | Donald C. Kelly

Album Artist: Donald C. Kelly | Stories of Everyday People Coming Unto Christ

Composer: Donald C. Kelly | Boynton Beach Florida Stake

Grouping: Changing | Christian | Saint | Donald C. Kelly

Nearly 2.2 million people in the United States are impacted by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While it might seem overpowering and debilitating, today’s guest Jordan Jensen relied on his strong relationship with Christ to make a change in his life, overcome his OCD, and grow closer to Christ.

Jordan began to display signs of OCD at 13 years of age.

His father had bipolar disorder, so there were elements of mental illness in his family.
After his dad received professional help, it dawned on Jordan that there might be mental illness affecting him.
In 1996, he used the limited internet acess available to research his symptoms, and was diagnosed with OCD in 1997 by the same psychiatrist who saw his father.
While Jordan’s family couldn’t relate to his OCD, his father’s illness meant his family was supportive and understanding of those with mental illnesses, which makes the situation dramatically better.

It was a long, difficult journey to gain control.

At 19 years old, Jordan traveled to Canada on a mission with his church. The president over his mission was very supportive with helping him by finding professional counselors.
While Jordan received professional support, the president also gave him spiritual support that was a crucial component in working through his demons.
The president said his OCD might impact his marriage later in life. Jordan interpreted that to mean that it might prevent him from becoming a husband completely.

This realization made him determined to overcome his illness.

At first, Jordan struggled after returning home. He hit rock bottom and realized he’d never have a family if he stays the way he is now.
From that point on, he prayed, fasted, read scripture, visited professionals, and took medication to minimize his symptoms.
Over time, he started to see the fruits from his labors. Christ magnified his efforts to help his heart and mind.

Jordan began to live the life he wanted.

In 2001, he couldn’t even get a girlfriend. But as Jordan grew more confident and social, he eventually met his future wife in 2006 and they married in 2008.
To this day Jordan takes medication and visits healthcare professionals every six months. But as long as he practices what he’s learned, Jordan functions on a plane that’s brought him personal and professional success.
While he’s put in a lot of work to get where he is, Jordan knows it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Jesus Christ.

Jordan’s advice to people dealing with mental health issues:

Some regions have a cultural perception that mental health issues can be shaken off and don’t need support.
His spiritual faith was what helped him persevere, because he wouldn’t be able to finish God’s plan if he let his mental illness run his life.
Before you think or do anything else, find a quiet place and speak to your heavenly father. Talk to him, be transparent, and tell him everything you’re feeling.
After that, go to someone you trust, and talk to them about your problem. God will eventually lead you to the person who can help, but you have to remain committed and determined to make progress.

To get in touch with Jordan, go to freedomfocused.com or email him at jordan.jensen@freedomfocused.com. He also writes a weekly blog about personal change, which you can sign up for free.

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Apple Podcasts Title: I Found Christ In a Foxhole | Jim Henderson

Artist: Donald C. Kelly

Category: Religion

Tags/Keywords: Christian | Religion

Album: Changing | Boynton Beach Florida Stake | Donald C. Kelly

Album Artist: Donald C. Kelly | Stories of Everyday People Coming Unto Christ

Composer: Donald C. Kelly | Boynton Beach Florida Stake

Grouping: Changing | Christian | Saint | Donald C. Kelly

As we kick off the second season of Changing, we’re thrilled to welcome Jim Henderson to share his changing experience with Christ. Even when we grow up with Christ in our lives, it can take a specific moment in life to remind us of his importance. This holds for Jim, as he was reminded of Christ’s importance while in the foxholes of Desert Shield.

Jim grew up with Christ in his life.

Jim’s father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were pastors, so he grew up knowing the value and sacrifice of Christ.
He was never called to be a pastor, so after college, he joined the army.
While he hated his first six years, after gaining rank, he grew into the position.
However, his deployment to Desert Shield suddenly made his theoretical training became real.

Jim’s night in the foxhole:

On January 17, 1991, the rules of engagement changed when President Bush decided to take the metaphorical gloves off.
Jim was in a foxhole at that time, and he and his friend were stationed at an observation post. In that position, you serve as a tripwire - alerting people if and when something happens.
Jim and his friend were doing everything they were trained to do, working to make sure they could protect their brothers and sisters in the event something happens.
While they were preparing, it suddenly dawned on Jim that he hadn’t prayed.

That realization changed Jim’s perspective:

It wasn't that he found God - he just finally remembered where Jim put him. Jim realized that God was always with him, and he had allowed other things to come in and clutter up a space that was his.
When he finished praying, Jim had confidence he’d never known up to that point. Not emotional confidence, but assurance that if he didn’t live to see the sun come up, everything would be okay. Because God had it handled.
He realized that what he’d been concentrating on was religion when the answer was faith.

How do we retain that level of commitment throughout our lives?

Have a daily realization of who you are and what your goals are for that day. More importantly, realize that God is who got you to this point. To be the kind of person God wants you to be, be mindful of who you are and your dependence upon God.
There are things in your life that help you stay where you need to be spiritually or help lead you away from where you shouldn’t be spiritually.
Take life a day at a time. Live your day not regretting yesterday or thinking of tomorrow, but making an effort with today.

To get in contact with Jim, email him at jamesa_henderson@yahoo.com.

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On the last episode of Changing, Donald explained that Changing would take a one-week break as the studio prepared for an exciting season two. While we love publishing fantastic episodes for you, that break is now going to extend for about a month.

Here are three reasons why:

We want to make sure we’re fully prepared to deliver an awesome season of content.
Based on our guest’s schedules and availability, it would be difficult to get quality content out so rapidly.
All the fine folk of TSE Studios need time to relax and refresh. So consider this our Sabbath; it’s time to prepare and relax so that season two is even better than the last (if that’s even possible.)

A Season Two Sneak Peek:

In an upcoming episode, guest Jim Henderson tells the story of how he got reacquainted with God: in an actual foxhole.
Another guest Jordan Jensen will tell his story of finding God while overcoming his problems with mental health.
These incredible stories (and many more) are what you have to look forward to for an incredible season two of Changing. We’ll see you then!

In the meantime, go back and watch season one of the podcast. Improve your discipleship with Christ, and subscribe to the podcast for more stories of Changing and growing closer to Christ.

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As we wrap up the first season of Changing, Donald looks back at the main takeaways from the first season and remembers the challenges, takeaways, and times of growth through the stories we’ve heard.

Some of the first season highlights:

Converting from Judaism to Christianity was a process for Andy Lustig.
Reggie Taylor was willing to leave the life he was comfortable with to follow Christ.
Despite being a devout follower of Christ, Shay realized something was missing in her worship and searched for a solution.

We are all changing and becoming better each and every day. If you look at yourself, what is something you could change in your life?

Some people are prompted with experiences like Gustini Nelson. Others, however, might just have a thought or something minor that brings on a change.
Gina Dorsan shared how it was tough for her to stop sharing her parent’s testimony and start sharing her own. Even though she was always a believer, she realized it was necessary to make a change.
Our friend Michael and his experience reminded us that we all have challenges.
COVID threw a wrench in everyone’s lives. But these experiences are all a testament to one thing - we need to come back to Christ.

Look forward to the future.

There are many more stories to come - stories of anxiety, overcoming years of neglect and doubt, and stories of growth. We’re thrilled to go on that path with you and learn from the experiences of others.
During our one-week break, listen to a couple of episodes and share them with someone you think needs a change. And let’s make the world a better place.

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Many of us have an experience in our lives that significantly impacts us. It could be something big or something small, but it moves us in a way that delivers us back to Christ. For Jonathan Plummer, he encountered a major event many of us cannot fathom that changed his trajectory and showed him the true power Christ has.

How did Jonathan join the church?

When missionaries came to his house in 1986, his mom wanted his sister to tell them she wasn’t home. His sister responded, “Mom, I thought you told us not to tell lies.”
Because of that, his mom invited the missionaries inside. She had a notepad with questions no religious person had been able to answer. And, little by little, the missionaries resolved his mother’s concerns.
Once her questions were answered, Jonathan wanted to join.

One major life event changed his life.

Jonathan and his friends went out one night. Before work the following day, he checked in on his friend, Sean. He stopped by his home to find Sean wasn’t there.
Jonathan walked to the sidewalk, only to find a police car with Sean in the back seat.
The policemen then handcuffed Jonathan and put him in the backseat of the car.

Why were they arrested?

After they got home from their night out, Sean realized his doors were locked. And because his incredibly strict step-dad had the keys, he decided to stay outside for the night.
Sean decided to go to another party. But, on his way there, he stumbled across a crime scene.
People had broken into a store and stolen merchandise, setting off the alarms. Soon the shop owner, residents, and police arrived, only to find Sean instead of the perpetrators.

Jonathan’s time in prison.

He and Sean were questioned at the police station, but their matching stories made the officers split them apart.
They moved Johnny to a cell with murderers and robbers, figuring Jonathan would be truthful once they beat him.
Luckily, a man in the cell recognized Jonathan, and another knew his dad. Because of that, nobody messed with him.
That night, Jonathan awoke around two o'clock in the morning and completely broke down.
At this low point, he reached out to God, saying, “If you help me to get out of this situation, I will serve you for the rest of my life.”

Jonathan’s release from prison:

The next morning, the prisoners decided to have a boxing match.
As the new guy, they volunteered Jonathan to fight against a much larger guy.
The man landed a hit right in Jonathan’s eye, and he saw stars. Enraged, Jonathan went in on him like Mike Tyson and took him out.
About an hour later, the officers let Johnny go because they had no charges against him.
On the other hand, Sean spent about two months in jail because he was at the crime scene.

What did Jonathan learn from this experience?

Jonathan never looked back from the experience and continued to serve Christ with all his heart.
When you put your trust in the Lord, he never deserts you. And if you reach out to Him, the Lord will answer.
Jonathan later received the Melchizedek Priesthood and served a full-time mission in Jamaica.
After his mission, he moved to the United States and served in multiple religious organizations and schools, pushing the Lord’s word forward.

Jonathan’s advice to someone trying to change:

If you genuinely want to change your life, go on your knees and ask the Lord for help.
God might not do drastic things to change your life, but what's important is recognizing when something in your life is the Lord speaking to you.

Did Jonathan’s story speak with you? Contact him on Facebook or LinkedIn, at plummer35@gmail.com, or (954) 588-9918.

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Almost 40 million Americans today deal with anxiety, and it can be challenging to overcome if you don’t have the proper tools to work through it. Our guest, BJ Allen, faced those challenges, and on today’s episode of Changing, he shares how he overcame his anxiety with the help of Jesus Christ.

BJ’s history with anxiety.

BJ had struggled with religious-based anxiety ever when he was a young child, obsessively worrying if he was enough for God or if God was disappointed in him.
A lot of his family struggles with anxiety, and it was his mom’s bad bout that encouraged her to learn how to manage it thanks to psychologists, counselors, and books.
Because of his mom’s efforts, BJ’s anxiety was calmed.

His mission reengaged his anxiety.

Going on his mission meant leaving his safe place. He felt vulnerable, especially as a representative of Jesus Christ.
He became aware of his weaknesses and mistakes. However, now as an adult, he changed the way he looks at his relationship with God.

When was his anxiety the most challenging?

Growing up as a teenager and hearing the various commandments, asking himself if he’s truly following them.
These obsessive thoughts manifest into other areas of his life, making him doubt himself in his profession and family.

BJ sought divine help.

Instead of praying to take it away, BJ asked God what he wanted him to learn from these experiences.
God changed how BJ viewed his religion and the commandments, teaching him that everyone, including himself, is worthy of love and admiration. God doesn't just love the perfectly obedient; God loves everybody.

BJ’s advice to anyone facing anxiety:

Don't battle it alone. Talk to your church leader, counselors, or even get on medication because God has given all those tools to help us.
Jesus Christ plays a central role in calming your anxiety. Remember that your worthiness and validation don’t come through yourself. They come through Jesus Christ.
The only one who can make you complete is Jesus Christ, and because he is always with us, you’ll always be complete through him.

If you have any more questions or want to learn more about BJ’s story, connect with him on LinkedIn, or email him at bjallen03@gmail.com.

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Today’s episode of Changing features Gustini Nelson. We’ve all felt like the lone sheep at one point, waiting for Christ to be our shepherd and lead us back to his flock. Gustini shares his story about this and how Christ guided him back onto the right path in life.

Gustini grew up with the church.

Born and raised in Haiti, Gustini moved to the United States when he was sixteen.
Growing up in his house meant there were three places more crucial than anywhere else: home, school, and church.
He attended Catholic school, participated in additional services throughout the week, and felt a spiritual connection to Christ.

His move to the United States affected his relationship with the church.

When he initially moved to the United States, he visited a Haitian church with his mother. While he felt fellowship and community with this new church, he didn’t feel the spirit. He knew this isn’t where he needed to be.
He started going to a church of Latter Day Saints and found the spiritual connection he needed.

Gustini had difficulty sticking with his faith.

While there were ups and downs, he met good people and felt he was growing in his faith.
But life started getting in the way, and Gustini began to miss service. He became complacent, and he stopped reading scripture. And then, everything went downhill.

So what changed?

After his son was born, Gustini knew he wanted his son to grow up with the right values.
This meant going to church to learn those values.
Gustini began attending again. And, one day, Donald Kelly spoke at his church.
Donald’s speech invigorated Gustini, and he began to attend church regularly.

Gustini thanks Christ for leading him back onto the right path.

He still had challenges in his life, but now they all seem more manageable.
Rather than get frustrated with his obstacles, Gustini asks God to teach him whatever lesson he needs to overcome or learn from this obstacle.
Gustini’s final advice? Don’t let outside judgments influence your decisions. When you ask the Heavenly Father for help, he will give it to you.

Want to reach out to Gustini and learn more about his story? Follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

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Today’s episode of Changing features Scott Romney. A long-time follower of Christ, Scott has been a devout church-goer his entire life. But despite being a follower of Christ, Scott still experienced a change that made him realize he wasn’t the best version of himself.

How did Scott realize he wasn’t his best self?

His story of change started in high school. While he was a friendly and open person, he typically avoided the questions or situations that would lead him to encounter experiences that weren’t his own.
Growing up in Utah, his minority friends did not share the same experiences as Scott.
His friends opened up new perspectives for Scott, and he began to realize nativity is not an excuse to ask hard questions.
Christ didn’t sacrifice himself for one particular group or area; it was for all people of this earth.

What were the hard questions Scott didn’t want to address?

He didn’t want to address any questioning of his religion because those questions made him doubt his devotion.
With his friendship and later marriage, there were times he would do or say something, intending to be helpful but instead hurting those people he cared about. He had to acknowledge that he hurt them, even though he had the best intentions.

Scott’s religious views guide his actions.

There are many things Christ could have said in the Old Testament and New Testament through prophets’ mouths or could have been written.
God chose to start start with the most important commandments: love God and love thy neighbor. And that was it.
Christ didn’t set out to say that he “I’m right,” he set out to say, this is what is right. We should all follow that example.
God doesn’t only work miracles through his followers; he works miracles through all people.
Scott’s final piece of advice: Have a sincere heart and make the appropriate changes. Focus on the intent of every conversation on what is right and not who is right.

If Scott’s story speaks with you, connect with him on LinkedIn.

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Today’s episode of Changing features Jared Easley, a man whose daughter blessed him with the motivation to renew his relationship with God. While his entrepreneurial work might’ve influenced his departure from God, he now thanks the small voice that encouraged him to pursue that relationship again.

Jared’s daughter is the reason he went back to Christ.

Jared grew up in church, but that doesn’t always translate to personal faith. He found himself slipping away from that foundation as he grew older.
But he wanted to be a good father to his daughter, Lana, and maximize her potential. To do this, he took her to church.
While he was there, Jared asked God to use him and help him reflect who God is to others.

His renewal of Christ led to changes.

He started writing out scriptures on three-by-five note cards and hanging them around his house.
Psalm 32:8 - “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.”
John 16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Once you start reading the Bible and praying, God answers that prayer; he'll put things on your heart and mind.

His renewal of Christ led to changes.

Jared was driving one day and passed by a daycare. He sensed in his spirit to go inside and tell the main person that he’s donating money to help a single parent pay their bill.
When he talked to the principal, she had just gotten off the phone with a mother having a difficult time.
Jared made the payment for the amount he believed he was supposed to make, and he moved on.
Later on, Jared was able to have a phone conversation with the mom.
She said she was so discouraged and distraught, praying and asking God to help her find a way to pay that bill. And then, all of a sudden, Jared showed up with the exact amount she needed.
Jared walked away feeling good, not about his own ego, but that God helped someone in a time they needed it.

What is Jared’s takeaway from this story?

When you’re encouraged by God to do something, do it. Maybe it's to bless someone else; maybe it's something completely different. But he hopes that people will pray about it and listen and take that step of faith because you don't know what results will come.
Jared’s parting advice? God has made you; he knows you. He wants you to trust Him, and He wants you to know him. And when you do that, He will guide your life.
If you want to connect with Jared to talk about his story, find him on Twitter or his company website.

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On today’s episode of Changing, we’re joined by fellow podcaster Stephen A. Hart as he describes his relationship with Christ and how he gained faith amid multiple obstacles in his life.

Stephen was incredibly successful as a business owner.

After graduating from college in ‘99, Stephen found himself in the mortgage industry before starting his first business in the financial sector in 2005.
In 2007, his business was thriving. Because of that, he purchased things like a million-dollar brownstone and a Jamaican wedding.
His success was cut short, however, when he discovered a massive investment had tanked.

How did Stephen recover from the tanked investment?

Having everything ripped from under him three weeks into marriage had a massive blow to his pride.
Shortly after the business collapse, so did the real estate and financial market.
Everything fell apart. Left with personal debt, Stephen had to dissolve his business and start over with a new structure.

Amid this turmoil, he found God.

After this ordeal, Stephen wanted to understand what life was really about.
He realized he needed to look to God for what's next. He changed his entire mindset and began to focus on new goals.
And so, over the next ten years, he reframed everything. The way he looks at money, his life, and his legacy.

How does Stephen maintain his relationship with God?

Throughout the pandemic, Stephen anchored himself in Matthew 6:25-34 and Phillippians 4:6-8.
His focus this last year was to go not one day at a time, but one hour at a time.
Stephen’s lasting advice: change happens. We’re always working on ourselves, but over time, those changes will lead to positivity in your future if God is at the center.

Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as his website. Reach out to him if you have any questions or want to know more about his journey to Christ.

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Today’s episode of Changing features Linda Yates as she shares her journey with Christ. More specifically, what events in her life led to a departure and eventual return to a strong and thriving relationship.

Linda loses her relationship with Christ.

While she grew up with Christ in her life, Linda found herself in a career that involved constant travel. That lifestyle made it difficult for her to attend church.
She and her husband found themselves at a crossroads six months into their marriage after a significant event. Her relationship, combined with her infrequent church attendances, left Linda angry at herself, her situation, and God.

What brought her back on her spiritual journey?

The only person aware of her relationship issues was her younger brother. She was afraid he would judge her when she first confided in him, but he accepted her with open arms.
Her brother was going through a repentance process after losing his membership in the church.
As he was rebaptized, Linda realized she wasn’t spiritually where she needed to be to make these major relationship decisions in her life. She needed to change.

Linda finds herself back on the right path.

When she was on the road, she made church a priority and saw improvements in her mentality and well-being.
She spent the next couple of years developing spiritually when a significant career change moved her family to Florida.
While at that new house, she realized she didn’t want to lose her marriage and missed her husband.

Where is she in her relationship with Christ?

God knows her struggles, and Linda knows she can look to Him for strength when she needs it.
She is humbled by her relationship with her children and grandchildren and hopes they know they can always look to Christ.
Linda’s journey to Christ didn’t happen instantaneously. It took years. But it was all a part of his plan for her.

If Linda’s story impacted you, or you want to talk with her about her journey with Christ, email her at linda@lhyatesconsulting.com.

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On today’s episode of Changing, we’re joined by Michael Simmons. An account executive at Atris Technologies, Michael tells us his story of departure and return to a life following Christ.

How did Michael grow apart from Jesus?

Michael grew up in south Georgia, where attending church was a Sunday staple for just about every family.
While church was a weekly family activity, his father’s untimely death from lung cancer led Michael to an abusive situation with his step-father.
Feeling betrayed and angry, Michael didn’t understand how God could exist in a life of chaos and abuse. He stopped regularly attending church and largely renounced his relationship with Christ.

What changed?

It wasn’t until his late 20s that Michael finally began to let go of his feelings of anger and betrayal.
He was now a working professional, yet he still felt empty despite attaining money and a successful life.
Michael thought back to what made him happy as a child and realized it was when he had a strong relationship with Jesus.
After going back to church, Michael realized that material possesses fade, but a relationship with God will last forever.

Michael developed his relationship with God.

God didn’t force Michael to follow him because God doesn’t take away your agency. Instead, God gave Michael the gentle nudge needed to get back on the right path.
Michael admits that people are often afraid to deal with issues they don’t want to talk about. But even if they think nobody is listening, God always is. And if you have problems, you don’t have to deal with them alone.
Some people think they have to be a certain way to go to church. But God doesn’t expect perfection; God uses rejected people to transform the world. Jesus says, “come as you are,” and God will do the rest.

If Michael’s story resonates with you, reach out to him on LinkedIn or email at michael@atris.net.

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Today’s episode of Changing features Andres Escobar as he shares his journey that led him both away and back to Christ.

Andres grew up in faith. However, he struggled to fit in with those around him while maintaining his faith.
When he reached high school, he was determined to fit in with those around him. He turned to drugs, porn, and other vices that led him away from God.
Andres liked how these vices made him feel. He didn’t want to address the consequences associated with his actions. But he knew his current path wasn’t fulfilling, and he was living without purpose.

What changed?

At his lowest point in 2009, Andres had an emotional love affair. His wife, however, was able to forgive him, thinking, “if Jesus can forgive, so can I.” Her forgiveness inspired Andres and allowed him to develop his own relationship with Christ after seeing her strength.
While his relationship with Christ was growing, Andres was still unable to give up porn.

How did Andres surrender his vice?

At a church retreat in November of 2018, Andres found the right path. In a retreat activity, each attendee wrote something they wanted to surrender to God. Different people then threw one another’s struggles onto a fire. Andres chose porn.
Shortly after the retreat, he got fired from his job. Andres realized that fruit doesn’t grow in the mountains, but in the valleys - God was leading him on this path for a reason.
He met a man at a business conference, and that man eventually offered Andres his next job. That same man even credits Andres for leading him on his own path to God.
Now, Andres and his family live through Christ and live by the message “We must preach the gospel, and when necessary, use words.” - St. Francis.
Andres’s advice for someone starting a relationship with God? Find a few people with whom you connect, and do life with them. Be accountable for one another in your relationships with God, and be yourself.

Check out Andres’s business reviewbiz.io, and reach out to him via reviewbiz.io’s Instagram.

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Today on Changing, we’re joined by Alan and Christiane Hawkshaw, who talk about how they began their relationship with Christ and what that looks like today.

Alan is a professional musician who toured all over the world, meeting Chris while in Germany. Self-described as “love at first sight,” Alan and Chris met one fateful date in a department store when Chris sold Alan a cheap coffee grinder. This led to a 53-year marriage still going strong today.

How did they start a relationship with God?

Neither Chris nor Alan grew up in church. But one day, two missionaries came by their house and intrigued Chris when they mentioned a family could be together forever. After a lengthy conversation, the two missionaries challenged Chris to stop drinking; a challenge honored to this day. Her favorite scripture soon became Alma 32:27, which she lovingly interprets to mean “get up and do something with your life.”
Shortly after, she joined the church. It only took two years for Chris to become baptized, but it took Alan many years to develop a similar relationship.

Why was Alan reluctant to create a relationship with God?

He didn’t want to interact with the people. He had a negative perception of church-goers and felt he couldn’t trust them. However, after interacting with them through Chris, he slowly realized they were genuine people.
He also realized that there were truths in scripture he was hesitant to admit. But, after the untimely loss of his close friend, he decided he needed to have faith and create positivity in his life.
It dawned on him that Jesus was the answer to a lot of his problems associated with his old life. The church’s teachings began to make more sense to him, and he felt Jesus become a companion rather than a figure.

What advice do they have for people?

Family is forever. Chris knows that whatever happens, she’ll be together with her family again. Whatever goes wrong in life, Jesus forgives her for her mistakes.
Alan knows firsthand that you can’t be expected to convert overnight. Don’t try and believe everything at once. Just start doing good things, and your life will begin to mean something.

Want to get in touch with Alan and Chris? Email Christiane at chawkshaw1@me.com and Alan at bigal3001@ymail.com.

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Today on the podcast we’re joined by Shay Daniel, who details her journey to a relationship with Christ.

Her religious experience started on the wrong foot.

There was no communication or relationship amongst her fellow churchgoers, yet they still judged her for the color of her skin. This made her resent people she believed to be religious.

She considered church an obligation rather than a spiritual time, and she felt no relationship with God.

What changed?

After a difficult argument with her family while at college, Shay asked God for help.

Shortly after, she encountered a girl with a similar story. A fellow Catholic-youth with unsatisfactory church experiences, they connected over their shared history.

One day two missionaries invited them to church, and Shay dismissed them. But Shay was eventually convinced with the promise of free food. Shay kept going, and ultimately, it became about more than the food.

She noticed a change happening as she continued to attend. However, she didn’t want to admit it to herself.

When did she accept the change?

After a church activity one night, she noticed something on her car. She suspiciously approached her vehicle, only to be shocked by what happened - a heart attack.

Thankfully, not the medical condition. She was “heart attacked” - sticky note testimonies from all the church members were plastered over her car. This thoughtful act had a significant impact on Shay and made her ready to take the first step to try and develop a relationship with God.

She realized those people so quick to judge in her youth were just like her - wounded.

“You’ll never hate someone if you know their story.” - Fred Rogers, one of Shay’s favorite quotes.

How did she start to develop her relationship with Jesus after that experience?

She read scripture and started praying. Most important? She was positive, hopeful, and faithful.

Her family saw this change and saw her light. While her family is no longer religious, she hopes she can inspire change in them as well.

Ultimately, her prayer to God gave her a path to the relationship she’s always wanted, and her trials were all part of God’s plan for her.

Best way to connect? Danielchaniqua@gmail.com - she’ll certainly get back to you.

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In this episode, host Donald Kelly talks to Reggie Taylor about going from street life to church life.

-Reggie Taylor’s parents had brought him up knowing Jesus Christ, visiting different denominations, and singing along in church.

-Reggie grew up in the Bahamas and came to America when he was younger where he was exposed to a variety of churches.

-When Reggie was just 4 or 5 his older brother, Romeo was baptized in the Church of Latter-Day Saints as a teenager and the rest of the family followed suit.

-Romeo would go on to serve a mission in Chicago, a program whereby someone at the age of 18 can serve two years in the mission field as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

-Romeo and his mother were integral in getting Reggie to church but being so young, Reggie didn’t understand the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result, the family visited many different churches and the visits were sporadic.

-At 13 or 14, Reggie’s mom saw an ad on TV for a Bible so she ordered one. One day, missionaries knocked on their door and they were delivering her the Bible she ordered from the TV! The family learned they were doing their mission work in South Florida and offered to teach them more while they were there. Reggie wanted to learn more and from there, he got baptized on July 4, 1999.

-During this time, Donald and Reggie met and would form a brotherhood that continues to this day. Unfortunately, after Reggie’s baptism, he still didn’t understand Jesus Christ and was only going to church to hang out with his friends. Reggie had no testimony and his faith wasn’t strong so he eventually started going to church intermittently until he fell away completely.

-As his friends got older and some of their group went off to missions or school, Reggie became a product of his environment around the age of 16. It was from this neighborhood that Reggie found new friends and in these worldly influences, he was led away from the church.

-Reggie’s neighborhood was rough and he thanks the Lord he didn’t end up dead or in jail like so many of his friends. It was normal for Reggie to see people dealing drugs, murders, and people being shot at. After having seen all that, and surviving, Reggie truly believes the Lord has a plan for his life.

-Even after all that Reggie had seen, however, it wasn’t his circumstances that woke him up to the possibilities of Jesus Christ, it was an ex-girlfriend who cheated on him. It would be the worst pain he’d felt in his young life, even after everything he’d witnessed. He felt hopeless that he would ever feel better. It was in that despair that he finally got on his knees to pray for the Lord to take the pain away.

-In the next month, the Lord started leading Reggie back to church and by this time, Donald was coming off the mission field and they were able to reconnect. Little did Donald know, he was re-entering Reggie’s life at a very critical time.

-As these two men were reconnecting, Reggie’s ex-girlfriend came to him to ask him to help her with an abortion. Reggie didn’t believe in abortion but still thought about helping her, even though her motivation was so that the man she cheated with wouldn’t leave. Knowing that his heart and mind were being compromised, Reggie called Donald for counsel. After they talked, Reggie knew what he needed to do and denied her any part in facilitating the abortion. Unfortunately, Reggie’s ex would go through with it anyway and guilt consumed him.

-As Reggie mourned his ex’s actions, his childhood friends from church surrounded him and he was able to lean on them during such a difficult time. He felt Lucifer trying to distract him from staying at church but Reggie was determined to change his life and give it to God. He would experience the atonement of Jesus Christ, even when he didn’t feel like he deserved it.

-Since coming back to church, Heavenly Father has blessed Reggie tremendously. He has not only changed spiritually but temporally as well. Through the light the Lord has put inside of him he can now see that young black kid coming from nothing can see the world and not be scared of the world. Reggie now feels he can accomplish things in the world as he surrounds himself with positive people.

-Reggie reminds us that you tend to become the people you hang around so be sure they are people that reflect what you want to become. Reggie chooses to be with people who are in the Gospel, love Jesus, and want to bring good into the world. It has saved his life.

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In this episode, host Donald Kelly talks to Jonathan and Audra Pankrez’s experience with miraculous physical and spiritual healing.

-Jonathan and Audra have seven children between them and were together 15 years before they got married. As blessed as their life is now, their individual lives started very differently.

-Jonathan grew up in a place he nicknamed The Badlands in North Philadelphia. By 7 his father was no longer in the picture and by 12 he was working to purchase clothes. In 9th grade, he was finally expelled and at 17 was emancipated from his parents and went to Texas with a lot of rage to get clean from drug addiction. He was also suffering from a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder.

-Audra had a difficult childhood as well, with her parents divorced and her mother a severe alcoholic.

-After Jonathan and Audra got married and despite arguments loud enough to have the police called, they are still together. Why did Audra stick around? Jonathan could be just as sweet as he was sour. Unfortunately, not knowing which version of Jonathan she would get was hard to live with and the couple would find themselves separated in the house and sometimes, in different homes, just to get a break from Jonathan’s rage. Even the neighborhood kids knew about Jonathan’s temper, especially when it came to their lawn and their car. It was a reflection of his OCD. Jonathan and Audra are happy to report that now, these days are long behind them and a distant memory.

-What changed? Kenneth, their fifth son, got very sick around middle school. The doctors wanted his colon removed but Jonathan knew this wasn’t the answer. As it turned out, an endocrinologist accidentally discovered that Kenneth had a very slow-growing cancer in the stalk of the pituitary gland and pineal gland in the brain, a bifocal brain cancer. The course of treatment for their son would cause many arguments and they didn’t know if they would last as a couple. At this point, they were in a common-law marriage because they’d been together so long but not in the eyes of God.

-While Kenneth was sick Audra and Jonathan met their first missionaries. One of their other kids was trying to fix an inner tube on their bike when the missionaries came up and offered to help. They told the missionaries they could visit anytime but had zero interest in conversion.

-When Kenneth was well enough to go to high school, he’d barely had any friends because he’d been in the hospital. When the missionaries said he could go with them, Kenneth was very excited to be part of the young men’s group.

-When Jonathan and Audra finally started thinking about going to church Kenny was in and out of ICU and his prognosis was bleak. There was even talk of in-home hospice care because despite national conferences being held about Kenny’s prognosis they were at a loss.

-At one point when Audra was in the waiting room, she was told that the family had visitors and twenty-five men from Kenny’s Young Men’s group were at the hospital. The missionaries came to do a blessing, anointed Kenny with oil, and the young men came to pray. National conferences were held about Kenny’s prognosis and they were at a loss.

-On Valentine’s Day Kenny was scheduled to get baptized and his birthday was shortly after, coinciding with a CT scan for the cancer growth in his brain. He was supposed to hear his results on a Monday but the doctors called Kenny the Friday before on his actual birthday, not wanting him to have to wait on the results. They couldn’t find cancer or a tumor anywhere on the MRI.

-This healing in Kenny started to also transform something in Jonathan. Regardless of the rage he had previously known, his love for his kids was always there. When he was baptized Jonathan wanted to drown whatever he had previously been.

-At this point, however, a few more years would go by before they met more missionaries, even though they were friends of the LDS church. During a move, they were driving when they came across two missionaries filling their water bottles and Audra was eager to get them cold water and a snack instead. As they talked they felt compelled to ask the missionaries to follow up with a call once they got settled into their new town, which they did. They had grown out of their current church and were looking for more.

-How has their life changed since becoming part of the church? They have learned to count everything as joy, even the hard times. They know that Jesus Christ healed their son and their hearts.

-Jonathan recommends you find a proper teacher that has the proper knowledge and authority.

-Audra says to follow the simple commands of the Bible and the teacher does not speak during the testing and it would help her to know that.

-Knowing Jesus helps the Pankrez family walk happier because they know they aren’t walking alone. They know Jesus is true and real and in control. And Jonathan’s OCD? That’s gotten better too.

If you’d like to get in touch with Jonathan and Audra, you can email Pankrezfamily@gmail.com.