The Art & Science of Ministering Interviews | An Interview with Steven Rogelberg

Todd McLauchlin served a mission to Japan and studied philosophy at Brigham Young University. In this conversation, Todd and Kurt delve into the concept of magnifying one's calling in the priesthood, emphasizing the importance of sacrifice and obedience, and discuss how leaders can magnify redemption to others. Links Shattering Triangles YouTube channel There is already a discussion started about this podcast. Share your thoughts. Transcript coming soon Scriptures related to this podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 88, 112, 109, 61, 1 Nephi 12, Mosiah 2-5 (King Benjamin's address), 2 Nephi 9, Jacob 1-2 Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 00:05:30 - Exploring the intersection of leadership, theology, and priesthood 00:09:57 - Understanding the concept of belief and repentance in the scriptures 00:13:14 - The significance of the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood 00:20:26 - The covenant of the priesthood and becoming clean from the blood and sins of the generation 00:26:53 - Magnifying one's calling and the connection to priesthood theology 00:36:40 - Sacrifice, leadership, and the impact on relationships and redemption 00:41:52 - The consequences of breaking covenant and the role of priesthood in delivering Christ's message 00:45:47 - Applying covenant principles to leadership roles like Relief Society and elders quorum presidents The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, Kirby Heyborne, and many more in over 700 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Over the last 45 years, Jim Ritchie has been the founder or principal of multiple business adventures, including serving as senior vice president for Franklin Quest (now Franklin Covey). He is a member of the Brigham Young University President’s Leadership Council for both Provo and Hawaii campuses, a member of the National Advisory Council for the Marriott School of Business, and has served as an adjunct professor at Provo. He has also served as a board member and NAC advisor to Southern Virginia University. Jim and his wife Carolyn Orton have spent over 20 years serving full time in Church service on four continents, including as bishop, stake president in Simi Valley, mission president in Roanoke, Missionary Training Center president in Ghana, Institute director in New Zealand, CES area director in Africa, regional representative in the Provo Region, director of the Willes Center at BYU-Hawaii, and most recently as the young single adult specialists for the Washington DC South Mission. The Ritchies have eight children and forty grandchildren. He is also the principal founder of the Ritchie Enterprises LLC which began in the late '60's, and part of The Ritchie Group, of which he says he is "the gray hair". Links Launching a Rising Generation of Leaders | An Interview with Steven Hitz and Michael Leonard There is already a discussion started about this podcast. Share your thoughts. Transcript coming soon Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 1:45 Jim shares his story. He got polio when he was 1 year old. When he started talking at two he had a stutter. Despite his impediments and inadequacies he was able to laugh it off and was in student leadership growing up. 4:45 He thought because of his problems that he wouldn’t serve a mission. He tried to run away but thanks to church leaders stepping in he ended up serving in Scotland. 6:30 Jim thought he would fail on his mission because of his stutter. He was the missionary that didn't speak until he got a companion that changed his life. 11:40 When Jim was about to come home from his mission in Scotland Elder David B. Haight gave him some advice. The formula for happiness and success is: Get up early Work hard Get your education Find your oil Make your mark in life Give back and serve others 13:05 The work ethic of Elder Haight 14:15 He was a limping, stuttering, chicken-farmer kid. In his patriarchal blessing it said that he would travel for the Church, have friends all over the world, and witness before many. Heavenly Father knows who we are and what we can become. 17:20 The organization of the mission. Jim was a mission president and applied a lot from what he learned from Elder Haight. 20:20 Give a kid a position, explain to him what it means to live up to it, and let him rise up to it and become a leader. Jim shares his leadership journey. 25:40 How can we be better mentors? Look at the story of Moses. 29:45 When Jim got home from his mission and went to BYU, got married, and had children. He started 27 businesses. 35:10 If he could go back in time and mentor himself as a new bishop. Jim shares what he learned from David Haight on his mission in Scotland and how it impacted his leadership in the Church. 43:50 The story behind getting called to be a mission president 45:40 Where do you start when becoming a mission president? 48:30 When a new missionary comes in how do you train them and get them into the culture of the mission? 50:00 Jim’s wife’s role in the mission 51:00 Striking up a balance between raising and mentoring your children and serving in leadership roles 54:00 How to get people on board and excited with new ideas, programs, and leadership? 57:50 Giving autonomy to mission leaders instead of giving orders. Creating a Zion mission. 1:01:30 Jim reflects on his life. By going on a mission and meeting David Haight it changed the course of his life.

Ganel-Lyn is a popular motivational speaker, known for inspiring others with her unique honesty, authenticity and spirit. She is dedicated to her family, faith, and inspiring others and loves teaching through speaking and writing. She has experienced healing from a major chronic illness and is the mother to two miracle children. After the heart-breaking suicide of her 40-year-old sister, Ganel-Lyn is constantly working towards prevention. She lives with an open heart and feels passionate about sharing principles that will empower others to live life with more joy. She is a regular television/radio guest and hosts the popular shows “Talk of Him” and “The Middle.” Links Why God Calls Some as Relief Society Presidents and Others as Cancer Survivors | An Interview with Ganel-Lyn Condie There is already a discussion started about this podcast. Share your thoughts. Transcript coming soon Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 4:20 Who is Ganel-Lyn Condie? She is an author, speaker, podcaster, mother, and now empty-nester. 6:30 Ganel-Lyn hosts a PMG, (Preach My Gospel) group in her home led by the youth. What is it? How can people start it? 7:30 How did the PMG group start? It was an amazing success and grew quickly. Very authentic and spirit led teaching. 14:30 It’s not just a mission-prep class, it’s a life-prep class. Open to anybody because Preach My Gospel helps you develop all sorts of skills. 16:30 If you want to start a group like this it can be once a month or even once a week. 18:10 Why would kids want to go to these meetings? It’s not like your normal church meeting. 18:40 The adults have to get out of the way. 20:00 What does home-centered feel like and why is it different from having a church meeting? These meetings are not strictly Preach My Gospel but a place to have vulnerable conversations about hard topics and addictions. Youth can show up in sweats if they want. 22:50 The rule is that the Spirit interrupts. 23:40 The structure of the PMG meetings. Review the rules and introduce who is new, announce new mission calls, kids that are leaving on a mission always giving a closing testimony and are sent off with the hymn, "God Be with You Till We Meet Again". They start a song and kneel in family prayer at the end. 24:15 Teaching the youth what it feels like to have to the Spirit lead the meeting is powerful. You don’t know how to teach it until you experience it. It might be difficult at first but the adults need to stay out of the way and let the youth learn through it. 26:00 It is not Ganel-Lyn and her husband’s calling to have these meetings. They felt inspired to do it. 29:00 The sweet spot for these meetings is age 16 and older. Missionaries and returned missionaries also come. It helps returned missionaries transition back into life. 31:30 This is a non-stress meeting. You don’t have to have treats or a formal lesson planned. 32:00 Ganel-Lyn and her husband were also called by the stake to teach mission prep classes but she noticed that it wasn’t the same as having the home-centered PMG group. 35:00 Have real life conversations that are connected to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They shouldn’t be two separate things. The PMG magic is the gospel and real life in action. It’s not adult-pushed or calling-pushed. 36:40 They use Groupme to communicate with the youth and the youth are over it. 40:30 Finding a youth member to be the facilitator. If you don’t have one you can rotate. 42:50 What if the topic takes a left turn? Do you step in? 45:00 Oversharing is not actually a thing. Something in you might be triggered but for other people it’s fine. It’s ok for it to be awkward. We need to create a safe place for people to open up. 52:00 You can do these meetings in your way and for your needs. Just create a safe place. The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part o...

Dr. Steven G. Rogelberg, an organizational psychologist, holds the title of Chancellor’s Professor at UNC Charlotte for distinguished national, international and interdisciplinary contributions. He is an award-winning teacher, has over 200 publications, been cited well over 12,000 times in the academic literature, and was recipient of the very prestigious Humboldt Award for his research on meetings. Dr. Rogelberg is the author of two highly-praised leadership books, Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings and The Surprising Science of Meetings: How You Can Lead Your Team to Peak Performance. He has been interviewed or featured on major TV and radio broadcasts, podcasts, and in most major newspapers and magazines. His keynotes on meetings span the globe and occur at the world’s leading organizations. He was the inaugural winner of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Humanitarian Award and just finished his term as president of SIOP, the world's largest professional organization for organizational psychology. Links The Science of Church Meetings (including Ward Council) | An Interview with Steven Rogelberg Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings The Surprising Science of Meetings: How You Can Lead Your Team to Peak Performance StevenRogelberg.com There is already a discussion started about this podcast. Share your thoughts here. Transcript coming soon Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 4:10 Steven shares his professional background. He is a professor and has been studying meetings for the past twenty years. He has written two books on his findings. 7:00 Steven’s newest book is about one-on-one meetings. He goes into why he wrote it and what he means by one-on-one meetings. 10:45 The importance of feeling seen. One to one meetings bring humanity to work and create business success. It’s a focus on the employee and gives them the opportunity to say anything they need to and receive guidance. 15:30 There are 3 principal phases of a one to one meetings: The start The heart The end 17:00 Start each meeting with two questions. How are you? Have them answer on a 10 point scale. 0 being terrible and 10 being great. Ask them to tell you more about it. The second question is, "I know you were struggling with X and were going to try Y. How did that go for you?" 18:00 The goal is to get the direct to share and the manager has to be an awesome listener. The manager should not be talking more than the direct. Instead they can say things such as, "Tell me more, help me understand, how can I help you with that?" 19:20 What do you do in the close of the meeting? Make a meaningful recap. End on a positive. 20:30 What setting should we be having these meetings? Managers can also ask the employee where they want the meeting and to come prepared with what they want to talk about. 22:00 Our behaviors signal what we value. When we meet with our people and show interest in them it shows a lot about who we are. If we don’t do certain things, the lack of behavior also signals who we are. 23:00 You will make more time by doing these one-on-one meetings. They will reduce rework time because they will get it right the first time. Retention of your best performers so it’s less time refiling these roles. 24:00 It’s so easy to focus on key indicators and the progress report but what we want in these interviews is to create psychological safety in the workplace. To do this we must lead with authenticity and create trust. 27:30 If your leader or manager is awkward, what can the interviewee do to make it better? You as an employee or member of the church can’t get your needs met if you don’t know what your needs and wants are. You can also engage and ask for constructive help. 31:40 Is it good to take notes? The notes become the story of that employee or person. They communicate engagement.

Kirby Heyborne is an accomplished actor, narrator, musician, and comedian. He is best known for his roles in Saints and Soldiers, The Singles Ward, The R.M., The Best Two Years, Sons of Provo, and The Three Stooges. He has also starred in numerous television series and national commercial campaigns. Kirby currently hosts the popular BYUTV show, “Making Good.” As an audiobook narrator, Kirby has been nominated for a Grammy, received two Odyssey Awards, and countless Earphones Awards for excellence in narration. He has narrated over 2000 audiobooks, including SAINTS: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days. At church, Kirby has served as a Primary music leader, Sunday School teacher, and bishopric counselor, and is currently the bishop of his ward. He loves spending time with his wife and kids. Kirby Heyborne, photographed by Justin Hackworth Links When Leaders Accidentally Limit Their Effectiveness | An Interview with Dustin Peterson Build an A-Team in Your Calling | An Interview with Whitney Johnson Are Leaders “The Chosen One”? Bearded Bishops, Rated-R Movies, & the Honor Code | An Interview with John Hilton III There is already a discussion started about this podcast. Share your thoughts. Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 4:40 Introduction to Kirby. His background as an actor and being bishop. Why did God call me? 6:50 Getting into acting and having faith it would work out 9:00 The Best Two Years movie. It’s still very loved even after 20 years. 10:20 We need to make a movie about the best five years, all about bishops. Kirby describes getting called and how he got started. 12:20 The importance of the law of the lid. Thinking that I have to do it all denies others the opportunity to grow, to strengthen their relationship with Jesus, and to use the talents that God blessed them with. It also took the pressure off him as bishop. 14:00 My job as bishop is to get out of the way and point people to Jesus. 14:30 The first few weeks of being bishop. Building a powerful team and what Kirby took into consideration when calling counselors and people for other callings. 20:00 The unique thing about Kirby’s ward. It’s a new ward with people from everywhere. 21:40 Kirby was called as bishop just as they were creating a brand new ward. He had to call all the leaders. 23:50 “I never thought I would have a testimony of a schedule.” Having a streamlined schedule has allowed him to have a touch point with every organization each month. 25:00 “I think that an executive secretary is the most important calling in the ward.” They are a critical part of the ward. 27:10 What a typical Sunday works for Kirby. What his schedule looks like. 30:15 You might feel a little uncomfortable as a male leader hanging out with the young women but remember that it's not about you. Let them lead and get out of their way. He shares what he teaches with the young women. 32:25 Ministering with the young women and young men so they have a mentor. The people in his ward know the youth and are very supportive of them. 34:00 Kirby never looks at his phone or has it out when he is in a meeting. It’s too easy to disengage from the person you are speaking with when you hear a buzz from your phone. 35:10 The importance of getting outside. The youth need to connect with nature. They created a calling in Kirby’s ward to create monthly activities that are outdoors and a little bit hard for the youth in the ward. 37:45 A lot of times the girls want to be included in more outdoor activities. They feel left out. They have started doing combined outdoor activities with young men and young women. 39:20 “There is something special about being outside, doing a hard thing.” These experiences are transformational. 41:00 We have to include women as much as possible. They have now called women leaders to also help with the...

Jennie Blaser is the ninth of 11 children and has lived all over the world: Hawaii, Utah, California, Arizona, Argentina, Slovenia, and Hong Kong. She served an 18-month mission in one branch in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and speaks English, Spanish, and Slovenian. She graduated in International Finance with a minor in Spanish from Brigham Young University, returning to earn an MBA. Jennie has taught early morning Seminary, Marriage and Family Relations, Relief Society, Sunday School, and Gospel Doctrine. She has also served as a second counselor in a Young Women presidency twice and second counselor in a Relief Society presidency five times. Jennie is currently the second counselor in her stake Young Women presidency. Dave Blaser grew up in an Air Force family and also lived all over. He served a mission in Mendoza, Argentina, graduated from BYU in Construction Management, and has worked in commercial construction management for 24 years. He is currently the executive vice president of operations for Layton Construction in Arizona. Dave has served as an elders quorum president, Young Men president, in a bishopric, and as a stake executive secretary. He currently serves as the bishop of his ward. Jennie recently published her first book, a short novel entitled One Plus One Equals Three. She was an adrenaline junkie until her body literally stopped producing adrenaline—one of the health challenges she deals with daily. Dave runs nearly every day and has finished multiple marathons. He is a parrot-head (Jimmy Buffet fan) and a Swiftie. The Blasers live in Gilbert, Arizona, and have three children. Links There is already a discussion started about this podcast. Share your thoughts here. Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 2:00 Kurt introduces Jennie and Dave and their callings. 3:20 Jennie shares how and why she got started researching the Church handbook. She has been on a journey of learning and has written a few articles about the youth programs. 6:30 Dave was a previous priesthood quorum advisor before he became bishop. He shares what he learned from the handbook and tried to apply it in his calling. 8:15 Always start with the handbook when beginning a calling. 9:20 Helping the young women have more interactions and feel comfortable with the bishop. The bishopric needs to be spending regular time with the young women. 10:40 The bishopric is not the Young Men presidency. Since Doctrine & Covenants 107 was written they have always been the presidency over the Aaronic priesthood and nothing has changed. 12:40 There are four different people that are critical to buy into the new system for the youth to make it a success. The first is the bishopric. They need to balance focus between Young Men and the Young Women programs. 16:10 The responsibilities of the bishop have changed in the past five years with the new focus on the youth. To help him focus on the youth, the Relief Society president and elders quorum president can step in and help with people that need help in their organizations. 18:30 Dave’s ward has begun support groups in the Relief Society for people struggling. It helps take some of the load off of the bishopric and allows them to do more with the youth. 19:40 Empowering the elders quorum president and Relief Society president and delegating to them. Dave shares how he does this. 20:40 When the new handbook now states that the bishop's role is to be over both Young Men and Young Women. With the release of the Young Men presidencies it allows the young men to step up and take on more leadership and responsibility. There needs to be training done to help get this done. 26:30 Helping the young women feel more welcome, more needed, and like they have a place in the Church. 28:30 There are numerous trainings in the handbook and those trainings should happen twice a year.

Kayla Shields works as a Certified Personal trainer and Nutrition Coach. She earned an associate's degree from LDS Business College and is now headed back to Ensign College to finish a Finance degree. Her church callings have included Primary teacher, Activity Days leader, Relief Society counselor, and Relief Society president. She recently accepted the best calling in the Church: Primary music leader. Despite Kurt and Kayla's recommendation, we did not title this episode "When Salmonella Forms Friendships". You're welcome. Links “The Atonement Works for Me”: One Couple’s Recovery from Sexual Addiction Unashamed/Unafraid When Being Released Hurts There is already a discussion started about this podcast. Share your thoughts here. Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 3:00 Kurt introduces his conversation with Kayla, a recently-released Relief Society president. 4:15 Kayla tells her story of getting called to be the Relief Society president, fear, imposter syndrome, and calling counselors. 9:20 Doing ministering interviews. Take the time to check in with the sisters and see how they are doing and their relationship with God and then you can get to the ministering questions. 11:00 By sharing her story and the hard things that she has been through, Kayla has been able to deepen her connection with the women in Relief Society. 12:45 Ways that Kayla has shared her and her husband’s story of sexual addiction and been vulnerable in her ward. She has decided to remove the shame from it and has found that people have been much more open with her. 15:10 Principle 1 - Acceptance of all 17:10 How Kayla and her presidency did ministering interviews and scheduled them. They decided not to meet with the companionship but have one-on-one meetings. 19:20 Principle 2 - Lean into the awkward 22:10 Working with the bishopric and elders quorum presidency 23:30 Ward counsels, correlation meetings, and personal interviews with the bishop 24:40 Doing monthly activities 27:45 The first year of being president they didn’t call any teachers and had lots of different women teach. 30:00 The overwhelm of organizing the women into ministering routes. Just start and it will work out. 32:30 The shocking grief of being released as the Relief Society president. Kurt shares some advice on ways to still connect to people and gather. 38:00 Kayla shares her final thoughts and testimony of Christ. The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Scharman Grimmer serves as a member of the Young Women General Advisory Council for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has served as stake and ward Primary president; ward Young Women president, Primary and Relief Society counselor, stake Young Women camp director, Sunday School teacher, Seminary teacher, and in Primary as a music leader, teacher, and Nursery leader. Scharman and her husband, Matt, have five children and live in Alpine, Utah. Scharman earned a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in Child and Teen Development from Syracuse University. She currently works as a child and teen development specialist, consulting parents on best developmental and relationship practices and healthy habits in families. Scharman is proud to be from Humble, Texas! Growing up in an area with few members of the Church, she learned valuable lessons as she watched her parents faithfully lead in their ward and stake. Her own experiences as an adult in Texas and New York have given her an appreciation that every member can contribute and is needed. Links Finding Strength in the Lord: Emotional Resilience There is already a discussion started about this podcast. Share your thoughts here. Read the transcript of this podcast Scriptures referenced in this podcast: Acts 8, Acts 3, Doctrine & Covenants 104 Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 3:00 Getting called to be a part of the young women's general advisory council. 5:20 What does Scharman’s calling entail? Council meetings Working groups 7:30 Scharman has a masters degree in child and teen development and has been able to use her degree not only professionally but in her calling and personal life. She works a lot with parents and helps them find holy, healthy habits as a family. 8:50 Her experience in Young Women started as a young woman herself and callings in Young Women in her early twenties. She learned to mentor. 12:00 How can you become a mentor for youth? Scharman shares scriptural examples. 15:45 Leading youth to have covenant relationships. The focus of the Young Men and Young Women programs is to build a foundation on Christ. Gathering to Christ. 17:20 Do what works for the youth. Sometimes you have to switch it up for the group you have. 21:40 Build on Christ as your foundation, gather to Christ, and covenant with Christ. The focus of the youth programs are based on these three things. 22:45 What is an AOA? Area Organization Advisors. Women around the world that are trained by the general presidencies and then take those teachings and minister to the people in their areas. 24:00 How can we get the Young Women and Young Men groups to work together better? 27:20 Studies show that participation in religion as teenagers doesn’t mean belonging. When youth are connected to five or more adult members of their congregation and they feel known, seen, loved, and cared about, their feeling of belonging goes sky high. 30:30 How can we make youth-led activities? They need to be idea generators and the adults are the support team. 33:40 Helping stimulate activities with the youth 38:00 Youth can tell when you are genuine and authentic. Be open with your struggles but be careful of oversharing. 41:00 Helping the youth with emotional resilience. Combining the skills of mental health with the gospel of Jesus Christ’s eternal truths is what is life changing. The Church has an emotional resilience course that is a resource for youth age 16 and older. 46:45 Girls camp. Have a strong group of YCLs. Have youth leaders help pick a scriptural theme. 50:15 Questions that Scharman hears the most How do you balance leaders and the young women speaking in class? How do you work together with the young men’s presidency? 51:45 Scharman’s final thoughts and testimony The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top inde...

Bryan Murray was born and raised in Long Beach, California, served in the Japan Sendai mission, and met his future wife, Kristine Clawson, while attending Brigham Young University when they went skiing together with their home evening group. Bryan attended medical school at the University of Kentucky then completed an internal medicine residency with the UCSF San Joaquin Valley Program. He worked with a small group practice in Payson, Utah, before moving the family to Anacortes, Washington, where he joined a small internal medicine group and helped start a hospitalist program at Island Hospital in Anacortes. Bryan has served in five bishoprics and as bishop of the Anacortes Ward. He retired from medicine in February 2022 and two short months later he and Kristine began a full-time mission as Area Medical Advisor to the North America Northeast Area. They also filled a mission assignment as support to a Young Single Adult branch in the Hingham, Massachusetts Stake. Bryan currently serves as the ward music chairman and Kristine serves as the Relief Society president in the newly-created Fidalgo Island Ward in Anacortes. Bryan and Kristine enjoy spending time with their six children, five in-laws, and 15 grandchildren. As a family they enjoy skiing, kayaking, biking, hiking, sailing, and camping. Links Why Your Ward Needs a Podcast There is already a discussion started about this podcast. Share your thoughts. Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 3:10 Kurt introduces the guest, Bryan Murray. He served as Area Medical Missionary Advisor in Boston, Massachusetts. 5:30 Bryan explains his mission as Area Medical Advisor and some of his responsibilities. 7:40 What led up to Bryan serving a mission with his wife. 11:00 Bryan shares a behind-the-scenes view of what it's like to be a medical advisor for missionaries. What kinds of issues he dealt with. 15:15 When does a missionary need to go home? Can they stay if they have a medical problem? 16:15 Who helps with the missionaries’ mental health? 18:30 A service mission is great for missionaries that are struggling with mental health or medical problems. 19:40 Advice to bishops and stake presidents sending out missionaries that have medical issues. Helping them prepare missionaries for the field. 21:40 Some of Bryan’s wife responsibilities. They had an area assignment as medical advisors but they also had a mission assignment in the Boston mission in a Young Single Adult ward. 23:30 Bryan encourages other medical professionals to do a medical mission. You will have a lot of other experiences beyond medical. 25:30 What Bryan is doing now 26:30 Bryan has created a podcast for his ward. Even though we go to church with each other we really don’t know each other. A ward podcast can help ward members share their lives and stories. 31:00 How leading has brought Bryan to Christ The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission,

Brett and Kristin Walker are a dynamic couple, each thriving in their professional and personal lives while deeply committed to their family and community. Brett is a seasoned marketing consultant specializing in professional development and deep technology sectors. He currently serves as a Young Single Adult bishop and is deeply committed to helping others grow. He’s an award-winning writer and loves the outdoors. Kristin is a professional interior designer known for her innovative designs and attention to detail. She currently serves as a YSA Institute teacher, where she passionately teaches and shares her deep faith in Jesus. Kristin finds joy in traveling, reading, and spending time outside, cherishing every moment with her family and friends. Together, Brett and Kristin embody a life full of adventure, faith, and continuous growth, always eager to explore new places and help others achieve their potential. Links Healing through the Savior: The Addiction Recovery Program 12-Step Recovery Guide There is already a discussion started about this podcast. Share your thoughts here. Read the transcript of this podcast Scriptures referenced in this podcast: Philippians 4:13, 2 Nephi 25:23 Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 3:45 Introduction to Brett and Kristin. Working with the young single adults and using the 12-step program in an Institute class. This program is not just for addiction but it applies to everyone. 7:10 How Brett and Kristin got involved in the 12-step program. Making it applicable to everyone through their curriculum. Helping people understand and use the Atonement in their lives. 12:15 If you are called to facilitate 12-step meetings then you need to start using the steps in your own life. The steps can bring you to Christ, improve your relationships and any problem you might have. 15:10 The program isn’t just for addiction but can help you with unrealized hopes or something you are struggling with. 16:10 The enabling power of Jesus Christ gives us power to do things we can’t do by ourselves. 17:15 Some leaders think that they are good and don’t need help because they don’t have any big problems. They are not truly using Christ’s Atonement in their lives to heal every part of them. 20:50 Does the 12-step program have to happen in a group setting? If you do things alone then you feel alone. When you do things together, it creates connection. 23:50 How Brett and Kristin run their class. It’s very tight-knit. 26:50 A summarized application of the steps 28:45 Why can’t God part your personal Red Sea? 30:00 Be careful not to adopt a label, like "I’m an addict." It might be something that you are currently struggling with, it's not who you are. 31:30 2 Nephi 25:23. We know we are saved by grace after all we can do. This is a confusing and misunderstood scripture. A better translation would be, ‘despite’ all we’ve done. 32:50 Brett and Kristin team-teach their class. The back and forth brings more energy and power to the class. They can both share their experiences. They recommend this approach. 34:00 Give people more bread, more Jesus. Brett has found many of the single adults in his ward stop taking the sacrament because they feel guilty but he wants them to have more Jesus in their lives, not take Him away from them. 37:30 Most of us don’t have the tools we need. The right tool makes all the difference. Create a triangle of support when working out deep problems. For example, a therapist, bishop, and support group can create a triangle of support. 40:00 The bishop is the place of resources and tools. The bishop doesn’t have to have all the answers. 41:10 Helping people find Jesus in their lives. He is the advocate. He is taking your prayers to Heavenly Father. 42:50 Kristin shares a Sherri Dew quote. Helping people past the guilt and to the hope of Jesus Christ. 43:40 Let’s talk about Jesus more.