Leading Saints is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help Latter-day Saints (LDS, Mormon) be better prepared to lead.

Here are 4 ways Leading Saints accomplishes the above mission statement:
1. Connect Latter-day Saint Leaders
2. Enhance Leadership Ability
3. Present Leadership Scholarship & Research
4. Celebrate Divine Guidance

Ministering to the Doubter

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in January 2018. Terryl L. Givens, PhD, did graduate work in Intellectual History at Cornell and studied Comparative Literature at UNC Chapel Hill. He taught courses in Romanticism, nineteenth century cultural studies, and the Bible and Literature and was the Jabez A. Bostwick Professor of English at the University of Richmond. Currently, he is a Neal L. Maxwell Senior Fellow at Brigham Young University. He has published in literary theory, British and European Romanticism, Mormon studies, and intellectual history. Terryl has authored or edited 20+ books, and some of his favorites include his collaborations with his wife, Fiona. Together they are the authors of The God Who Weeps, The Crucible of Doubt, The Christ Who Heals, and All Things New. Baptized initially in the Presbyterian faith by his minister grandfather, Terryl and his family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when Terryl was eight or nine. He served as a missionary in Brazil and has served as a bishop. Whether hosting insightful podcasts for Faith Matters or speaking to saints the world over at intimate firesides, Terryl’s mission is to help everyone–no matter where they are in their journey of faith–come closer to Jesus Christ. Highlights

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Expanding the Possibilities of Your Calling

Tyson Bradley is the future #1 New York Times bestselling author of the book Reclaim Your Inherent Identity: The 5 Steps To Bypass Your Brain and Create Lasting Change Instantly. He has studied mindset and behavior change over the past 10 years and has finally cracked the code on the fastest way to make habits happen. Tyson has a masters in Human Resources and an MBA. He is a certified life coach and specializes in time management, identity-based habit creation, and teaching people the skill of neuro-bypassing. Tyson has served as an elders quorum president, stake executive secretary, and currently serves as a ministering secretary. He is happily married and the proud father of two redheaded girls and one brown-headed boy. Highlights

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The Root of Pornography Use

Sara Brewer is a certified life and faith-based coach, and a Latter-day Saint. She has helped hundreds of people quit porn through her coaching programs and helped thousands of people through her highly-rated podcast, Overcome Pornography for Good. In this podcast, Sara shares a presentation that is now part of the Liberating Saints Virtual Conference. Links

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Breaking the Latter-day Saint Mold

Ofi (oh-fee) is an American pop rock artist from Victorville, California, featuring frontman/vocalist/songwriter Burke "Ofi" Laidler, bassist and backing vocalist Jessie Gomez, and Nate Smeding on drums. Ofi left a 9-year career in the finance/retirement industry and a beach home in Huntington Beach, California to pursue music full time. This podcast interview was recorded on the Renew23 East cruise in January 2023, where Kurt and Ofi were both guests. Highlights

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Leading‏‏‎ People to Do and Be Like Jesus Christ

Elder Lynn Grant Robbins was sustained as a General Authority Seventy in 1997. After serving for over 25 years, he was released and given emeritus status on October 2, 2022. Elder Robbins served as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, as President of the North America Southwest Area, and supervised the North America Southeast and Southwest Areas. He has served as President of the South America South, Central America, and North America West Areas. He has also served in the North America Central Area. In his professional career, Elder Robbins was one of the founders of Franklin Quest. He concluded his career there when he was called to preside over the Uruguay Montevideo Mission. Born in Springville, Utah, he married Jan Nielson and they are the parents of seven children and 21 grandchildren. Highlights

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Youth Trek in Hawaii

Marlisa Ahuna, Germaine Tauati, and LaRae Mortensen of the Hilo, Hawaii Stake, joined Kurt for an online conversation about their unique Huaka'i youth trek over spring break 2022. Marlise is currently the stake interfaith specialist in the Hilo, Hawaiʻi Stake. She has previously served as stake communications director, Primary president and music leader, and Relief Society counselor and president. Marlise grew up in Bakersfield, California, served a mission in Fukuoka, Japan, and graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in International Studies and Diplomacy, and from the University of South Dakota with an MM in Vocal Performance. She is the owner of Marlise Ahuna Music Studio, married to Joseph for 20 years, and they are the parents of four children. LaRae Mortensen is currently the stake Primary music leader in the Hilo, Hawai’i Stake. She has previously served as the stake Young Women president, ward Primary president, music leader, counselor, secretary, and pianist, as well as ward Young Women president and counselor. LaRae grew up in Punalu’u, on the island of Oahu in Hawai’i, and graduated from Brigham Young University–Hawaii with a BS in Business Management. She and her husband Hans own H&L Services LLC, a landscape maintenance company, and have been married for 27 years. They have five children and seven grandchildren. Highlights

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Former Bishop, Recovering Addict

Pre-register HERE for the Recovering Saints Virtual Conference Evan Hathaway owns the Time To Smile Dental practice in Eagle, Idaho, just outside of Boise, specializing in cosmetic and sedation dentistry. He particularly loves serving those needing reconstruction from fear-based dental neglect. Evan grew up in southeastern Idaho and attended Rick’s College and Brigham Young University. He earned his doctorate degree in Dental Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and a general practice residency in Northern California prior to settling in the Boise area. Evan served a mission to Leeds, England, and has served in an elders quorum presidency, a bishopric, as a Young Men president, high counselor, YSA bishop, and high priest group leader. He is currently serving as the elders quorum instructor and as a senior service missionary for the Addiction Recovery Program. Evan loves art and creating, reading and learning with his wife of 39 years, Missy, and enjoys weight lifting to stay fit, but his greatest passion is his family and serving and ministering to those recovering from addictions. Evan and Missy have four children and 13 grandchildren.

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Feeling at Home in Your Ward

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in January 2020. Melody Warnick is the author of two books about thriving where you live: This Is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are and If You Could Live Anywhere: The Surprising Power of Place in a Work-from-Anywhere World. Her books have been featured in the New York Times, Time magazine, Fast Company, Psychology Today, and others, and her writing has appeared in such publications as the Washington Post, the New York Times, Slate, Reader’s Digest, The Guardian, Good Housekeeping, and Woman’s Day. A regular speaker about creating connection with your community, Melody lives in Blacksburg, Virginia, where her husband serves as stake president. Highlights

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Addiction Was My Vehicle to the Savior

Register HERE for the Recovering Saints Virtual Conference Kelly Thompson Clark is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic who spent three decades battling the disease of addiction. Plagued by the effects of mental illness and addiction, she eventually descended into homelessness and prostitution. In 2016, after finding faith in Jesus Christ and entering twelve-step recovery, Kelly’s life of tragedy and despair transformed into one that overflowed with purpose and hope. Kelly is a published author, public speaker, podcast co-host, and social media influencer. She has dedicated her life to sharing the reality of hope with those who continue to suffer from the devastating impact of addiction. Heather Granata Warren and her husband are the parents of nine kids, her two nieces, a daughter-in law, and two dogs. They reside in the Lehi, Utah area, and she owns Little Adventures, a company that manufactures clothing-quality princess dress ups. Her full-time job, however, is as a wife and an Uber driver (for the kids), and handling the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of all those young people. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. Heather currently serves as a Young Women 13–15-year-old advisor. Her favorite callings—and most of the last twenty years—have involved serving the youth and in the Young Women organization.

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