Feeling Isn’t Failing: Eden Johnson

In this episode, Lucy sits down with Eden Johnson to talk about something every missionary experiences but we don't always know how to navigate—our emotions.Eden shares her experience serving a mission in Mexico, something she knew from a young age she wanted to do, and the emotional highs and lows that came with it. They talk about why sadness and difficult emotions aren't necessarily bad things, how to build emotional and mental resilience, and why learning to actually feel your emotions can help you better understand yourself and grow.Now a graduate student at BYU studying mental health, Eden also shares practical tools and resources that future, current, and returned missionaries can use to better navigate their mental and emotional health.

What if one small act of faith could change someone's life forever? 🤍In this episode, I'm joined by Lexi Johnson, who shares how giving a Book of Mormon to a bus driver in Peru completely changed her perspective on missionary work. After learning that he was baptized, Lexi felt a deeper desire to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and eventually served in the Canada Montreal Mission!We talk about the miracles she witnessed on her mission, including watching a family come unto Christ, the power of the Book of Mormon, and how Heavenly Father can accomplish incredible things through ordinary people who are willing to follow Him.Lexi reminds us that missionary work isn't about what WE can do, but what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can do through us! 🫶🏼

In this episode, I sit down with Maycie Tilley to talk about her mission, the difficult decision to come home early, and how she eventually found peace with a chapter of her life she once carried a lot of regret around.Maycie shares about growing up in Arizona, serving in Colorado, navigating the emotions that came with returning home early, and meeting her husband shortly after. Now raising their three little kids in Utah, she looks back with a completely different perspective on how her story unfolded.This episode is a reminder that life doesn't always go according to plan—and sometimes it takes looking back years later to see how God was still leading you through it all. 

In this episode, I sit down with David Covey, author of The Highly Effective Missionary, to talk about what it really means to be an effective missionary.David shares about his growing-up years and the people who had the greatest influence on his life—from his parents to the mission president who completely changed the way he viewed missionary work while serving in London, England.He shares stories from his time in the field, how his mission president helped transform missionary work in South London, and the lessons he learned about leadership, conversion, and relying on the Book of Mormon.David also shares practical advice and principles from The Highly Effective Missionary that future and current missionaries can start applying today.

In this episode, I sit down with Alessia to talk about her journey from feeling far from God and the Church to eventually serving in the Nebraska Omaha Mission at 21.Alessia shares about her challenging upbringing, the choices and experiences that shaped her, and the spiritual experience that changed everything when she realized that God was real. Through prayer, the Book of Mormon, and people God placed in her life, she slowly began building a relationship with Jesus Christ that was truly her own.She also opens up about how the parts of her past she may have once viewed as weaknesses became some of her greatest strengths as a missionary. Her experiences allowed her to understand and connect with people in a real and personal way.

In this episode, I sit down with Halle Murdoch to talk about her journey of coming to know that God loves her, her unique experience serving in the Temple Square Mission, and her decision to come home early due to an ED. Halle shares how she found God through unexpected changes and what she’s learned about trusting Him through trials, hardships, and seasons that don’t go according to plan.

In this episode, Rilee opens up about her decision to serve a mission, what it was like serving abroad during COVID, being reassigned to the U.S., and the unexpected joys that came along the way. She shares her story and puts a special emphasis on what it looks like to wait on the Lord—and how those seasons of waiting can become sacred opportunities to grow closer to and find greater unity with the Savior.

In this episode, I sit down with Bria Ritchie to talk about her experience serving in the Texas McAllen Mission and the lessons that shaped her testimony along the way.From being adopted to eventually marrying her high school sweetheart, Bria shares how gaining a testimony for herself has blessed her life both during her mission and after coming home. She opens up about the challenges, growth, and experiences that helped make her faith her own.Bria also shares one of her biggest pieces of advice for future missionaries: have fun! Your mission is meant to be filled with joy. She talks about learning to embrace the experience, enjoy the people around you, and find happiness even through the hard days.Whether you're preparing to serve, currently in the field, or recently returned home, this episode is a reminder to make your testimony your own, soak in the experience, and find joy along the way. 

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Kaymie to talk about what it looks like to find true joy and happiness through Jesus Christ—even in the hard seasons of life.Kaymie shares her story, from growing up in Highland, Utah, surrounded by a family she loves, to her time at BYU–Hawaii, her decision to serve a mission, and the experiences that shaped her while serving in the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission. She opens up about the challenges she faced, the lessons she learned, and how Christ has remained the constant source of joy throughout every season.We also talk about life after the mission, navigating change, dating, and the advice Kaymie would give to girls preparing to serve or figuring out what comes next.A reminder that life doesn't have to be easy to be good—and that lasting joy can always be found through Jesus Christ. 🤍

In this episode, I sit down with Bailey to talk about trusting God’s plan, even when it looks completely different from the one you had in mind. Bailey shares how she entered college planning to step away from the Church, only to eventually make the decision to serve a mission in Vietnam.We talk about how her mission changed the direction of her life, learning to dream big with God, and how those experiences eventually led her to start Native Scripture.Bailey’s story is such a beautiful reminder that you don’t have to have your whole life figured out. Sometimes the path you never planned for becomes the one that leads you somewhere better than you could have imagined.Dream big—because your dreams will never be bigger than God’s dreams for you.