The LDS Mission Podcast

In Episode 240, "Advice vs. Tools," I talk about something I feel deeply passionate about right now—especially as I work with younger preparing missionaries and get ready to launch Mission Prep Plus again—and that is the powerful difference between receiving advice and learning actual tools. Advice often sounds helpful and well-intended, but it's usually based on someone else's experience, personality, timing, or mission culture. Tools, on the other hand, are designed to help you decide what works best for you, based on your emotions, leadership style, background, and the kind of mission (and life) you want to build. In this episode, I break down why advice is often subjective, inconsistent, and hard to apply long-term, especially in emotionally intense missionary experiences like anxiety, rejection, leadership changes, or coming home from a mission. I explain how tools are skill-based, objective, internally grounded, and transferable—meaning they work on the mission, after the mission, in school, marriage, and beyond. Using analogies like building a house or learning how to fish, I show why having a full tool belt gives missionaries confidence, agency, and freedom instead of relying on someone else's blueprint. If you're preparing for a mission, currently serving, a returned missionary, or a missionary mom trying to support your missionary, Episode 240, "Advice vs. Tools," will help you rethink what actually creates emotional resilience, confidence, and long-term growth—and why learning the how of doing hard things is what truly changes everything. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook 5 Ways to Process Any Less-Than Happy Mission Memories Article: HERE Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

Episode 239 – Six Super Skills is all about the mindset and emotional tools that help missionaries (and humans) keep going when things feel hard. This episode was inspired by a powerful coaching session and a simple question: What skills do superheroes use that actually help them win in the end? Whether you're preparing to serve, currently serving, recently returned, or a missionary mom supporting from home, these six "super skills" apply directly to mission life, post-mission transitions, and everyday challenges. In this episode, I walk through six essential skills: moving forward instead of getting stuck in the past, adapting to constant change, supporting others without drowning yourself, holding onto dreams with patience, embracing discomfort as growth, and practicing humility. We look at real missionary examples—transfers, companions, post-mission letdown, dating, careers—and connect them to how emotional resilience, confidence, and agency are built over time. Growth doesn't require superhuman effort; it requires consistency, self-trust, and willingness to feel uncomfortable. I also share a powerful reminder from Elder Uchtdorf that growth happens gradually, patiently, and consistently—and that Jesus Christ already did the superhuman part. If you're feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or unsure of yourself, Episode 239 – Six Super Skills is here to help you reconnect with your inner strength, develop emotional maturity, and remember that you already have what it takes to keep moving forward. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook 5 Ways to Process Any Less-Than Happy Mission Memories Article: HERE Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

Hey there! Today, Episode 238 – Fear + Christ = Change is a deeply meaningful conversation I had with my friend Erin Ropelato from the Seek This Jesus Summit, and it's been sitting with my heart for a while. In this episode, we explore a simple but powerful truth I've been teaching missionaries, missionary moms, and leaders for years: fear plus fear only creates more fear, but fear plus Christ creates change. We talk about anxiety, sadness, shame, self-doubt, and discouragement—and why the real struggle often isn't the emotion itself, but what we add to it. We walk through how Jesus Christ consistently brought something different to human suffering—compassion instead of judgment, love instead of shame, confidence instead of fear—and how that shift created healing, miracles, and transformation. I share real missionary coaching examples, gospel stories, and practical emotional tools that help you stop fighting your feelings and instead partner with Christ to transform them. This episode is especially powerful for missionaries navigating anxiety, missionary moms supporting struggling kids, and anyone who feels stuck in emotional overwhelm. If you've ever wondered why trying harder, fixing yourself, or judging your emotions hasn't brought peace, this episode will offer a new framework rooted in Christlike compassion, awareness, and emotional maturity. Episode 238 – Fear + Christ = Change is an invitation to meet yourself where you are, add what Christ would add, and allow real change to unfold. Erin Ropelato is the owner of Seek This Jesus Study and host of the Seeking Jesus Summit. A former kindergarten teacher, Erin helps women discover their unique learning styles and use them to study the scriptures in simple, grace-filled ways. She loves teaching that connecting with Jesus Christ can look different for everyone, one small and simple step at a time. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Learn more from Erin: Website | Instagram | Facebook Learn more from Jennie: Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet My Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

Episode 237 – I'm Not Good at Change is a compassionate, empowering conversation about what's actually happening in your brain when change feels overwhelming—especially on the mission, after the mission, or in any major life transition. In this episode, I break down why "I'm bad at change" isn't a personality flaw or spiritual weakness, but a normal human brain response rooted in survival, predictability, and energy conservation. We talk about how fear of change can quietly take away our sense of power—and how to gently take that power back. I share a real missionary coaching example and walk you through how resisting change keeps your brain stuck, while accepting discomfort actually creates clarity, confidence, and momentum. You'll learn how to calm your nervous system, stop reinforcing fear-based beliefs, and access your problem-solving brain so you can feel more capable, adaptable, and resilient. We also explore how traits we often judge—like wanting control, structure, or preparation—can actually be leadership strengths when used intentionally. If transfers, new callings, new semesters, new relationships, or new seasons of life feel heavy right now, this episode will help you reframe change as the pathway to growth rather than proof that something is wrong with you. Episode 237 – I'm Not Good at Change will remind you that you are not broken, you are human—and you already have what it takes to move forward with courage, trust, and self-compassion. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook 5 Ways to Process Any Less-Than Happy Mission Memories Article: HERE Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

In episode 236 – Cultivating Commitment, I'm talking all about what commitment really is, why it matters, and how it shows up in your mission and post-mission life. We'll look at the difference between feeling like life is just "happening to you" versus owning your choices with emotional maturity and agency. I share stories about my own commitment to this podcast, why December 26th is secretly my favorite day of the year, and how we can rethink phrases like "no excuses," "sleep when you're dead," and "winners never quit" in a more compassionate, Christ-centered way. In this episode, I'll teach you a simple definition of commitment as a feeling created by the thought "no matter what," and how that applies to missions, school, work, dating, goal setting, and even picking up your little sister or daughter from school every day. We'll talk about the difference between obligation and choice, how to stop farming out your emotions to companions, professors, bosses, or mission leaders, and how to step into being an agent and co-creator with God in your own life. If you're a preparing missionary, currently serving, a returned missionary, or a missionary mama who wants to feel more empowered and less resentful, episode 236 – Cultivating Commitment will help you see your decisions, your goals, and your future in a whole new way. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook 5 Ways to Process Any Less-Than Happy Mission Memories Article: HERE Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

In Episode 235, Love's Pure Light, I'm sharing the Christmas message that has been resting on my heart this year—one centered on light, love, Jesus Christ, hope, burdens made light, and the unique divine light within you. As I've rehearsed with Millennial Choirs and Orchestras this season, one lyric from Silent Night has stayed with me: "Son of God, love's pure light." This episode explores what that really means for missionaries, returned missionaries, and families navigating the highs and lows of December. We'll talk about light as a noun, light as an adjective, and light as a verb, and how Christ's light continues to guide, lift, and illuminate our personal paths. I also dive into how your own divine light—your gifts, traits, personality, and spiritual DNA—are meant to shine, not shrink. Christmas can be heavy. Expectations run high. Darkness feels real. But the beauty of Christ's birth is that His light not only fills the world, it fills you. We explore how to receive His light, share it, lighten burdens (your own and others'), reconnect with joy, and allow yourself to shine in the unique way Heavenly Parents designed you to shine. My hope is that this episode gives you a moment of peace, clarity, and warmth during the holiday rush. Whether you're navigating missionary work, coming home from the mission, preparing to leave, or holding down the fort as a missionary mama — may you feel loved, lifted, and lit from within by love's pure light. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook 5 Ways to Process Any Less-Than Happy Mission Memories Article: HERE Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

In Episode 234: Expectation Roadblocks, I'm diving into one of the biggest hidden barriers to connection—especially during the holidays, on the mission, and in our closest relationships: expectations. This time of year brings an avalanche of pressure—how we "should" show up, how others "should" behave, how family gatherings "should" feel. But in this episode, I unpack why expectations—spoken or unspoken—almost always create disconnection, frustration, resentment, and emotional distance. And more importantly, I show you how to shift from expectation to true connection, autonomy, compassion, and emotional maturity. You'll learn why expectations feel like safety to your caveman brain, why they function as subtle attempts at emotional control, and how they create unnecessary pain—for both the person holding the expectation and the person living under it. I walk you through real-life mission examples, family dynamics, missionary companionships, and holiday interactions to show exactly how expectation roadblocks form—and how to move beyond them using supportive tools like boundaries, requests, intentions, emotional ownership, and unconditional Christlike love. We'll talk about the signs you're stuck in expectation mode, the emotional fallout it creates, and the powerful mindset shifts that help you release pressure, drop resentment, and create genuine connection with the people in your life—companions, roommates, family members, mission leaders, friends, and even yourself. If you want more peace, more authenticity, and more connection this season (and always), this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook 5 Ways to Process Any Less-Than Happy Mission Memories Article: HERE Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

In Episode 233 – Not So Happy Mission Memories, I'm diving into a topic I know so many missionaries and returned missionaries quietly carry: the moments from the mission that didn't feel joyful, spiritual, or "life-changing" in the way we were told they would. In this episode, I talk openly about disappointment, unmet expectations, mission culture, emotional complexity, grief, and the real challenges that come when people—including mission presidents, companions, district leaders, roommates, or members—don't show up the way we hoped they would. I also share more about the new article I wrote for the Church and why this emotional work matters so deeply, especially with the recent age-change for sister missionaries. I walk you through five gentle but powerful themes for healing: finding safe support, grieving unmet expectations, exploring your inner narrative, understanding others through compassion, and offering yourself the same gentleness that the Savior offers you. Together, we'll talk about reframing your mission experience, processing emotions instead of avoiding them, navigating disappointment, creating new meaning, and how faith, agency, and emotional resilience help you move forward with confidence. Healing doesn't mean condoning what happened—it means reclaiming your power, your peace, and your future. Whether you're freshly returned, years post-mission, preparing to leave, or supporting someone who served, this episode will help you feel seen, validated, understood, and reminded that transformation often comes through the messiest parts of our story. You are not behind. You're not broken. And you're never alone as you sort through your not-so-happy mission memories. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook 5 Ways to Process Any Less-Than Happy Mission Memories Article: HERE Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

Episode 232 — "Intentions and Attitudes." In this episode, I dig into why an attitude of gratitude actually works on your brain and your day-to-day experience. We talk about the lower "caveman brain" (seek pleasure, avoid pain, conserve energy), confirmation bias (what you focus on grows), and how setting intentions ahead of time can shape the attitudes you'll have later—in district meetings, at family gatherings, on the mission, and post-mission. I share simple ways to direct your higher brain to look for connection, faith, abundance, calm, and purpose—especially during Thanksgiving week when emotions and expectations can run high. I also explore how prayer functions as powerful intention setting—expressing gratitude and asking for blessings tells your brain what to pay attention to while inviting divine help. We connect this with Doctrine & Covenants 29: creating things spiritually first (in thought and feeling) so they're more likely to appear physically in your life. Whether you're a preparing missionary, currently serving, a returned missionary, or a missionary mama, you'll get practical tools to train your focus, regulate emotions, and choose thoughts that fuel connection over comparison. You'll leave with doable practices: pre-deciding what you want to notice, choosing language your brain understands ("I want more peace" vs. "I don't want stress"), and building a simple gratitude rhythm that resets perspective fast. If you're ready to experience more calm, clarity, and Christ-centered confidence this season, this conversation on intentions and attitudes will help you create it. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

In Episode #231: About Wasting Time, I dive into one of the most common thoughts I hear from missionaries, returned missionaries, and even missionary moms — the fear that we're somehow "wasting time." Whether it's not being productive enough, not using P-day perfectly, or feeling like we should always be doing more, this mindset creates unnecessary stress, guilt, and disconnection from what really matters. In this episode, I explore where that pressure comes from, why it's so common, and how we can start seeing time through a more peaceful, purposeful lens. I'll share my own story of struggling with "time guilt," how I learned to trust divine timing, and what it means to stop labeling time as wasted or productive. Together, we'll talk about how every season has a purpose, how to recognize your internal clock, and how to align with your own divine rhythm — whether you're serving a mission, transitioning home, or managing the busy pace of post-mission life. If you've ever felt behind, lazy, or like you're not doing enough, this episode will help you breathe easier and reconnect with the truth that you're not behind — you're right on time. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

In this episode, #230 - There's No Place Like Home, I dive into one of my favorite stories of all time — The Wizard of Oz — and explore the lessons it holds for missionaries, returned missionaries, and anyone navigating the twists and turns of personal growth. Drawing on the symbolism of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion, and even Elphaba from Wicked, we'll talk about what it really means to come "home." Spoiler alert: home isn't a place — it's you. If you've ever felt caught in a tornado of emotions, uncertain about your path, or searching for peace after change or transition, this episode will help you find your footing again. I'll share practical tools for pulling yourself out of the whirlwind, learning to observe your thoughts without judgment, and remembering that you already have everything you need — the heart, courage, and wisdom — within you. We'll also talk about the yellow brick road as a metaphor for your journey — how detours, delays, and unexpected turns are all part of your divine path. Whether you're serving a mission, coming home, or figuring out what's next, this episode will help you reconnect with your inner power, create emotional safety within yourself, and rediscover the truth that you are your own safe place. Because truly, there's no place like home. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

In this new episode, 229. When Friendships Change, I'm diving into something we all experience but rarely talk about — the evolving nature of friendships. Whether you're serving a mission, have recently returned home, or are navigating changes in your ward or family relationships, this episode will help you understand why friendships shift and how to move through those transitions with compassion, honesty, and emotional maturity. I'll share real coaching stories from missionaries and RMs who've felt guilt or confusion as their friendships started to look different — and what it means when you're no longer aligned with the same people or interests. We'll talk about how to release that pressure to "keep things the same," why friendships have seasons and cycles, and how letting go of people-pleasing allows for more authentic, Christlike love. If you've ever wondered how to handle a friendship that's changing, or you've felt guilty for growing in a new direction, this episode will help you find peace. You'll learn why honesty with yourself is the kindest path, how to redefine connection without overexplaining or "DTR-ing" every shift, and how to hold gratitude for what was — while making space for what's next. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

Hey friends! Happy Halloween and welcome to Episode #228 — Am I Losing My Identity? Today we're diving into a topic that so many missionaries and returned missionaries struggle with, but rarely talk about out loud: identity. Whether you're seven months into the mission field, navigating the stress of keeping up with goals and routines, or you've just come home and feel like you're not sure who you are anymore — this episode is for you. Serving a mission often puts us into a world where everyone dresses the same, talks the same, studies the same, and follows the same routines. And while structure can be a blessing, it can also leave you wondering: What happened to me? So we're breaking down why identity matters spiritually and psychologically, how the pressure to "fit the mold" leads to wearing emotional masks, and how your worth, purpose, and divine identity are NOT based on what you do — but who you ARE. We'll explore what President Nelson taught about our most important eternal identities (child of God, child of the covenant, disciple of Jesus Christ), how to reconnect with your strengths and personality on the mission, and practical ways you can bring your uniqueness back into your missionary experience — without breaking mission rules. You were never meant to become a cookie-cutter version of everyone else. God called YOU because of your gifts, your personality, your authentic heart. And reconnecting with that truth might just be the biggest spiritual transformation of all. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

In episode #227, "Hitting a Language or Growth Plateau," I dive into what it really means to feel "stuck" — whether you're learning a new language on your mission or working toward any kind of growth goal. We'll talk about how powerful your thoughts are, how labeling yourself as "stuck" can actually keep you there, and how to shift your mindset to get unstuck with more compassion and intention. I'll teach you how to move from fear-based motivation—like pressure, judgment, or comparison—to love-based motivation rooted in purpose, connection, and service. In this episode, I also explore a new way to think about the gift of tongues: what if true communication isn't just about perfect words, but about heart-to-heart intent and the Spirit? We'll look at how to reframe your progress, appreciate the middle moments of learning, and keep growing—not because you "should," but because you genuinely want to. Whether you're a currently serving missionary, preparing to go, home from your mission, or a missionary mom or leader, this episode will help you strengthen your emotional resilience, faith, and love for the process of becoming. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

In this new episode, #226 - Training a New Missionary, I'm sharing some heartfelt thoughts inspired by a question I once received from a missionary: "I'm training a new missionary, and I'm worried my bad habits will ruin him." If you've ever felt pressure to be the perfect example—whether as a trainer, a leader, a parent, or even a friend—this episode is for you. We'll talk about what your real job as a trainer actually is, how to let go of the fear of "ruining" someone, and why it's so much more powerful to teach from love and compassion than from worry or perfectionism. I'll share the difference between being book smart, street smart, and heart smart, and how focusing on that last one—heart smarts—can transform both your mission experience and your relationships. You'll also hear reminders that your "bad habits" don't define your worth or your influence, that everyone is learning as they go, and that God, the Spirit, and experience itself are the greatest teachers. When we train from humility, love, and self-compassion, we create ripple effects that bless every missionary who comes after us. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

Hey missionary family! This podcast episode is #225 - Applying the Rule of Thirds. In this episode, I'm sharing something new I've been thinking about called the Rule of Thirds—and how it applies to missionary life, post-mission life, and really, all of our human experience. You've heard me talk before about the 50/50 rule—how life and missions are made up of both joy and struggle—but this time, I'm introducing a new way to see it: the top third, the bottom third, and the middle third. That middle third—the "meh," in-between space—might not feel exciting, but it's actually where we build consistency, clarity, and growth. Whether you're serving a mission, preparing to go, or finding your rhythm after coming home, learning to value this neutral space can help you find balance, peace, and stability through life's roller coaster of highs and lows. I'll also explain how this idea came to me at a business conference, why it reminded me of photography composition and music triads, and how seeing life in thirds can bring more compassion, grounding, and gratitude to your missionary journey—and beyond. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

In this new episode #224 – Why Resentment Builds, I'm diving into one of those sneaky emotions that can quietly shape your mission and your life: resentment. We've all felt it—whether it's with a companion, a roommate, a family member, or even in marriage. Resentment often builds when we expect someone else to meet our needs instead of learning how to meet them ourselves. I'll share stories from my own life, experiences from missionaries in the field, and tools you can start using right away to shift from emotional childhood into emotional maturity. Together, we'll explore what resentment really is, why it keeps us stuck, and how to fill our own "gas tank" with validation, appreciation, and love—without waiting around for someone else to do it for us. If you're preparing, serving, or adjusting to life after your mission (or supporting someone who is), this episode will give you practical strategies to stop outsourcing your emotions, take ownership of your feelings, and create the confidence and freedom you're looking for. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

Welcome to the LDS Mission Podcast! This week on the podcast, Episode 223 - How To Say Goodbye, we are talking about how, goodbyes are never easy—and yet, they're part of every stage of missionary life. In this episode, I'm diving deep into how to say goodbye with intention, compassion, and strength. Whether you're a preparing missionary leaving your family, a currently serving missionary facing transfers, a returned missionary saying goodbye to your mission, or a missionary mom learning how to let go—this conversation is for you. I share practical tools and emotional insights to help you face the reality of goodbyes without sugarcoating, honor the emotions that come up, and create rituals that bring comfort and connection. You'll learn how to embrace the grief, find closure, and reframe endings as new beginnings. Saying goodbye doesn't have to break you—it can actually be a powerful moment of growth and resilience. This episode will give you strategies to navigate transitions with courage, whether it's sending a child to the MTC, leaving behind an area you've come to love, or adjusting to life after the mission. Remember, the pain of goodbye is really a sign of how deeply you've loved and connected—and that's something beautiful. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

In this week's episode of the LDS Mission Podcast, Episode 222: Trading Out the Tough Stuff, I'm sharing a concept that has been on my mind as I've worked with missionaries, returned missionaries, and missionary moms. Life on the mission—and after—can feel really tough. Whether it's stress, overwhelm, loneliness, or self-doubt, it's easy for our brains to shut down and say, "this is just too hard." But what I've learned, and what I want to share with you, is that most of the time we're not escaping the tough stuff—we're simply trading one set of hard emotions for another. In this episode, I'll walk you through how to notice this pattern, how to stop resisting the difficulty, and how to choose which "hard" is worth it. You'll hear real-life examples from missionaries, service missions, jobs, relationships, and even my own family. Together, we'll explore why confidence is less about capability and more about being willing to feel discomfort, and how emotional resilience comes from making peace with the fact that life is always 50/50—half good and half hard. My hope is that Trading Out the Tough Stuff will help you recognize the power you have in deciding where to put your energy. You get to choose the tough emotions that move you closer to the person you want to become. Instead of trying to avoid the hard, you can lean into it with intention, faith, and confidence—and find freedom in the process. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here

In this episode of the LDS Mission Podcast, I'm diving into Ep. 221. The Feelings Formula—a simple but powerful way to process emotions that missionaries, returned missionaries, and missionary moms can use every single day. Too often we think feelings like anxiety, stress, homesickness, or discouragement mean something has gone wrong. The truth? Feelings are part of being human, and learning how to notice, name, allow, and release them is one of the most important skills you can take with you on your mission and into life after. I'll share practical mindset tools and emotional resilience strategies that help you stop resisting your emotions and start moving through them with confidence and compassion. Whether you're preparing for a mission, serving in the field, adjusting post-mission, or supporting a missionary you love, The Feelings Formula will help you develop emotional strength, mental clarity, and spiritual growth without needing to "fix yourself." If you've ever felt stuck in overwhelm, anxious about the future, or weighed down by self-doubt, this episode is for you. Listen in and learn how to create peace in the middle of hard days, build resilience through emotional awareness, and show up as the missionary, RM, or mom you truly want to be. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Grab your spot for the In-Person Prepared to Serve Website | Instagram | Facebook Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE Free PDF Download: Podcast Roadmap Free PDF Download: Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet Free Training for Preparing Missionaries: Change Your Mission with this One Tool RM Transition Free Video Series: 3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home Free Guide: 5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary Schedule a Free Strategy Call: Click Here