Advertise on podcast: Magnify

Taking everyday moments to testify of Christ becomes normal and natural the more we speak of Him. As we listen to promptings then act on opportunities to joyfully share about Jesus Christ and His gospel, we become more articulate in sharing our faith. And the more we act on promptings to share about Jesus, the more inspiration we receive to help and lift others which increases our happiness. It's a beautiful cycle, and we get to be part of it.   For today's guest, Shima Baughman, social media has become her way of not missing a moment to share about Jesus Christ's goodness. She's the first to say it doesn't take a big stage or a social platform to make a difference as we speak up and happily share the gospel. What matters most is how we minister one by one, showing up with the talent's we have and doing our best to radiate the love of Christ. Notes:  Hear more from Shima on the Magnify podcast!  Replacing our Worry with Joy! God's Love Feels Like Coming Home Jesus Makes Our Family Tree Whole

Creating a healthy relationship with scripture study moves it beyond the checklist to something we treasure and draw strength from. Being in the scriptures with the intent to receive personal revelation empowers us and emboldens our faith. When we seek guidance in scripture, we can receive inspiration to comfort and guide family members in the moment they need it, share our faith more boldly, and speak with confidence. And we fear the things of the world less because we learn even more deeply that God is in every story. To help us create a healthy and thriving relationship with scripture study, Shannon Foster is with us again. She's the perfect person to articulate the power that prioritizing scripture study can have in our lives. Shannon is the founder of the Red Headed Hostess, a trained gospel educator and former seminary teacher. Teaching people to love the scriptures has been her passion for over 20 years. She's also the author of the Red Headed Hostess guidebooks, written to help people connect to scripture in a meaningful way.   Notes: Watch Shannon's scripture workshop from Magnify's Lift Up Your Heart event! Be part of Magnify! Join us on Instagram @magnifycommunity

As daughters of Eve, we each carry an innate heritage of leadership, and courage. We also learn from today's guest that part of Eve's legacy is the important role of being a shepherd, like our Savior. When we follow Eve's example, we are women who nurture trust in our homes, communities, and in our relationships with God. Having a deeper understanding and appreciation of Eve helps us better understand ourselves as daughters of God, each of us like Eve with a unique and vital role to play in His kingdom.   Today's guest, Rebekah Call, is a professor at Utah State and a contributing author to Seeing Women in the Old Testament: What Scriptural Heroines Teach Us About Courage, Faith, and Action, available at Deseret Book. Her chapter on Eve is the basis for this conversation.   Show Notes: Read Rebekah's chapter on Eve in Seeing Women in the Old Testament: What Scriptural Heroines Teach Us About Courage, Faith, and Action Rebekah's forthcoming book: Rediscovering Eve: The Woman, the Garden, and the Plan of Salvation. Available for pre-order soon from Deseret Book! Join us on Instagram! @magnifycommunity Learn more about Magnify! magnifythegood.com

Today we're looking toward Jesus and His example, how He spoke and shared truth when He was on the earth, what we can do to model after Him, and how two women in scripture can help inspire us to be bold in our discipleship. As we take covenant steps to follow Him, we learn to recognize that He is always alongside us. Lori Denning is with us again to illuminate the scriptures for us in her joyful way. Lori is part of the religion faculty at BYU Idaho. She's also a gospel speaker, writer, and student. Her recent career change from supply chain manager to religion professor inspired part of this conversation, showing how God is always with us on our path—and that's something we can proclaim with joy! Show Notes: Hear more from Lori on the podcast! Finding the Many Joyful Messages in the Parable of the 10 Virgins Join us on Instagram! @magnifycommunity Learn more about Magnify! magnifythegood.com

As a Magnify community, we read "Personal Ministry: Sacred and Precious" by Bonnie D. Parkin, former Relief Society General President. In it she challenges each of us to identify our personal ministry and live each day finding opportunities to care for others as the Savior would. In this conversation, three women at very different stages of life, a widow and empty-nester, a mom of five kids ages 10 and under, and a young single adult, get personal and share what's in their hearts after reading Sister Parkin's address, and what it looks like for them to be on the Lord's divine errands and develop a deeper sense of personal ministry with the Lord. Sister Parkin said, "Most ministering opportunities are spontaneous, not planned in advance." The little things we do to share the light of Christ each day add up to make this world a better place and our daily efforts to care for each other the way Jesus would make a difference. Show Notes: Personal Ministry: Sacred and Precious by Sister Bonnie D. Parkin Join us on Instagram! @magnifycommunity Learn more about Magnify! magnifythegood.com

As Magnify women, through life's many and varied adventures, we hold tight to the Lord's promise in D&C 122:7 "that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." We've learned that one of the ways we reap from this goodness is in how we can turn around and share what we've learned with others and help them along their path. Our lives become a collection of opportunities and testimony of moments that we can pull from later to be of service to each other.  Maria Eckersley, is here to share how three women in scripture show us how the Lord constantly prepares us to be part of His great work, giving us opportunities to care for each other as our Savior would. Even if we can't tell in the moment, we can trust that He has equipped us to step forward in His strength.   Maria is a multi-hyphenate gatherer of goodness from being a devoted fun mom to mega party planning to gospel teaching tips in the home. She is a mom to six amazing kids and grandma to three darling grandsons. Notes:  Hear more from Maria on the Magnify podcast:  5 Questions to Illuminate Women in the Scriptures

Trusting that our loving Heavenly Father made us for a divine purpose helps us realize that our God-given gifts aren't competitive, they're complimentary! When we come together as women, we have the chance to praise each other, reminding one another of our worth and divine potential. When we embrace our unique talents and gifts, it helps us become our best selves and enables us to lift others along our way.  Today's guest, Natalie Hill Jensen, is a former Broadway performer who has learned through many life experiences that her talents and personality are God-given and when she is exactly herself, she's better able to lift others and share God's love. She delights in complimenting other women so they see their strengths and feel amazing.  Links and notes:  Parley P. Pratt quote Natalie shared:  "[The Holy Ghost] quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being."  Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology Patrica Holland quote that inspired this episode:  "Somewhere somehow the Lord blipped the message onto my screen that my personality was created to fit precisely the mission and talents he gave me. For example, the quieter, calmer talent of playing the piano reveals much about the real Pat Holland. I would never have learned to play the piano if I hadn't enjoyed the long hours of solitude required for its development. This same principle applies to my love of writing, reading, meditation, and especially teaching and talking with my children. Miraculously, I have found that I have untold abundant sources of energy to be myself, but the moment that I indulge in imitation of my neighbor, I feel fractured and fatigued and find myself forever swimming upstream. When we frustrate God's plan for us, we deprive this world and God's kingdom of our unique contributions, and a serious schism settles in our soul. God never gave us any task beyond our ability to accomplish it. We just have to be willing to do it in our own way.  We will always have enough resources for being who we are and what we can become." 

Sister Elaine Dalton joined us for this very special episode of the podcast, recorded live at Magnify's Lift Up Your Heart event in Salt Lake City! Sister Dalton shares how we are the women spoken of by President Kimball and later by President Nelson, women who will change the world in distinct and happy ways through our testimonies and covenant conviction to the gospel of Jesus Christ. With warmth and love, she reminds us that we're not meant to sit on the sidelines—we each have a divine mission and part in the Lord's great work.  "The impact that you will have in these latter days is just phenomenal!" —Sister Elaine Dalton Sister Elaine Dalton served as Young Women General President from 2008 through 2013, and since then she has continued her mission of reminding women of their divine identity and unique capacity to lift, strengthen, and change the world around them for good.  Notes:  Join us on Instagram! @magnifycommunity Learn more about Magnify! magnifythegood.com Read more from Sister Dalton: A Return to Virtue

BYU-Pathway helps people around the world get a higher education, develop their talents, and provide opportunities to serve. We had the privilege to learn more about the scope of this incredible program and how we can get involved. As we seek to develop our God-given gifts, and support others to do the same, we increase in our ability to serve and lift those around us as we go about our divine errands.   Today's guest, Melinda Ashton, is the wife to BYU-Pathway President Brian Ashton. They are the parents of seven children and grandparents to a new grand baby. Melinda is a BYU graduate and attended Northwestern Medical School in Chicago. Melinda and Brian give frequent online devotionals to the 85,000 BYU-Pathway students around the world.     Links: Pathway to Hope documentary with Jane Clayson Johnson on BYUtv BYU-Pathway Worldwide Ways to get involved and support BYU-Pathway

We're thrilled to welcome President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society General President, to the Magnify podcast. From President Johnson's powerful testimony and example of Christlike discipleship we learn ways to let the light of our personal conversion shine above the darkness in the world. President Johnson shares the daily acts of devotion that strengthen her testimony, practices we can emulate to put Christ at the center of our lives. From her unique perspective as the president of a worldwide organization, we learn more about the power we have as covenant-keeping women to individually make a tremendous difference for good as we minister one-by-one.   President Johnson was sustained as the 18th Relief Society General President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 2022. She also served as the Primary General President. She and her husband, Douglas R. Johnson, served as a mission leaders in Arequipa, Peru. They are the parents of three children and eight grandchildren. President Johnson graduated from the University of Utah in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in English followed by a law degree from the University of Utah in 1989. She practiced law for nearly 30 years. Links: Read or watch President Johnson's devotional address: Righteous Stewards—Disciples of Jesus Christ

Rosemary Wixom is with us again! Through her example, personal experiences, and interactions with others, Sister Wixom shows us that when we prioritize our time in the temple, even when time seems like the only thing we don't have enough of in our lives, the blessings are immeasurable. She shares how she learned the truth of this promise from President Nelson: "The Lord will bring the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples." This episode is one that leaves us inspired and feeling emboldened to spend more time in the temple, either as regular temple workers or through more frequent temple worship. Rosemary and her husband served as temple president and matron of the Salt Lake Temple before it closed for renovations. Many of us also recognize her from her time serving as Primary general president. She also served on the Church's Temple and Family History Executive Council. And, fun fact, she has a twin sister! Links: Hear more about the temple from Sister Wixom on the Magnify podcast: Three Spiritual Guideposts for Finding Jesus in the Temple Learn more about temple blessings with these books: The Holy Sealing by Anthony & Cindy Sweat An Endowment of Love by Melinda Brown

Our willing hearts are enough for the Lord to send us on divine errands, even if we feel like outsiders, outliers, or full of shortcomings. How can we know? Looking at the examples from women in scripture helps us see that our part in the Lord's work is never small, rather, it's expansive. We don't have to second-guess—moving forward to act on promptings can help us understand that any time we're on God's errand, it's divine.   Kaylen Nelson joins the podcast to help us learn more about our personal divine errands from remarkable women in scripture who lived out their own. Kaylen recently retired after thirteen years of teaching in the church education system so she can stay home with her two baby boys. Links: Join us for Lift Up Your Heart, a Magnify gathering, October 25, 2025—Register today! Be in the conversation — follow on Instagram @magnifycommunity

Shannon Foster, co-founder of The Red Headed Hostess, joins us to share how we can teach children to study the gospel so they learn precious truths for themselves—no matter their age. She also shares how to slow down our personal scripture study to help us be better gospel teachers in our homes and church classrooms.  Shannon taught seminary and institute for 13 years and now helps families learn and love the scriptures through her brand, The Red Headed Hostess. Whether or not you have children in your home, or a calling to teach children, Shannon's way of approaching gospel study creates more connection, deeper conversations, and real conversion.

Life rarely goes how we plan, but we can find deep meaning, peace, and joy, despite the detours and trials. When we recognize God is always with us, our lives can be rich with purpose and we'll find fulfillment despite experiencing loss, heartache, and unmet expectations. Camille Fronk Olson, professor emeritus from BYU's department of ancient scripture and pioneer for women in the Church Education System, joins the podcast to share how she's learned to see God's hand in her life, even when things went off course from how she thought they would be. She explains how as she stayed close to God and embraced opportunities as they came, He helped her grow and become more than she ever thought she could. Links: Read the book! But If Not: Finding God in Unmet Expectations and Unwanted Detours Camille is a speaker at Magnify's Lift Up Your Heart event! Register today! More from Camille — Magnify episode 97: "How Prophetic Revelation Intersects with Personal Decision Making"

When President Camille Johnson spoke about the parable of the ten virgins, she highlighted how it teaches that "each of us is a steward of our own conversion." With so many mentions of this parable in recent remarks, we're diving in to gain deeper understanding of Jesus's words so we can carefully tend our testimonies and have enough oil for our lamps. Lori Denning, BYUI Professor who brings elements of fun into the study of ancient scripture, helps us see the inherent joy in this parable, what it shows us about our personal relationships with the Savior, and how it teaches us to joyfully anticipate the His coming. Join us! Register today for Lift Up Your Heart, a Magnify gathering featuring keynote speaker, Sharon Eubank! Links: President Johnson's recent remarks on the parable of the ten virgins: Righteous Stewards—Disciples of Jesus Christ, May 2025 Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults Spiritually Whole In Him, April 2025 general conference address