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This episode of the Mission Stories podcast features Shawn hosting two "Gen Z" guests, Izzi (16) and Lara (17), who have attended his mission prep classes for several years. Shawn affectionately labels them "punk rockers" because they rebel against the Southern California cultural norms of partying and vanity. Instead, they choose to read the Book of Mormon and hold "righteous raves" (pizza and preaching), demonstrating true independence by bucking the system to follow God.

The discussion centers on Principle Two: Revelation Leads to Conversion, specifically focusing on the "pattern" God provides to discern truth and avoid deception. Shawn cites D&C 52:14, arguing that the only reliable pattern for knowing truth is through the Holy Ghost.

Distinguishing Events from the Spirit

Izzi shares a story about praying on a jetty while recovering from a surfing injury. Feeling low, she asked God to help her know Him. She immediately felt calm and peace, after which a rogue wave crashed over her. Shawn challenges Izzi to recognize that the revelation was the peace she felt before the event, not the dramatic wave itself. He teaches that reliance on physical signs rather than spiritual feelings can lead to deception.

To illustrate this, Shawn recounts a story from his mission in Russia. A woman claimed she saw the prophet Moses in her bedroom and touched his cloak. However, she reported feeling "scared to death" and full of fear. Shawn explains that this violated God's pattern; true revelation is accompanied by peace, joy, and comfort, not darkness or fear.

Listening vs. Hearkening

Lara shares an experience at a funeral where she felt she should sit by a lonely woman but didn't. She identified this as a spiritual prompting rather than her own thought because the feeling "dwelt" in her heart and "lingered" with her.

The group discusses the difference between hearing and hearkening. Izzi and Shawn define hearkening as "listening with the intent to act". They agree that one cannot passively wait for revelation; one must have a desire and dive into the scriptures with the intent to share and do.

Retrospective Revelation

Shawn shares a pivotal MTC moment where a teacher, Sister Wrencher, helped him identify the Holy Ghost. She asked the class to close their eyes and feel the words of 3 Nephi 11. Shawn realized the feeling he had was the same feeling he had as a child at Disneyland with his family—a feeling of pure joy. This taught him that the Spirit often manifests as joy and love, and we can look back at our lives to see where God was present.

Izzi shares a similar childhood memory of being swept out to sea in first grade. She heard a voice say, "Put your feet down," and felt a sensation of floating, which she identifies as a core memory of the Spirit protecting her.

Advice for Youth

The episode concludes with advice for aspiring missionaries:

• Izzi: You must "knock" to receive. You will find God's mercies only if you are actively looking for them.

• Lara: Stop waiting to be "ready." Act immediately on promptings that invite you to do good (Moroni 7:13) rather than doubting if it is truly the Spirit.

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In this episode of the Mission Stories podcast, Shawn and co-host Lauren welcome Carson Campbell, a returned missionary who served in the England Birmingham mission. The conversation focuses on Principle Two: Revelation Leads to Conversion, with a specific emphasis on how to define and recognize the Holy Ghost.

The "Brick" of Revelation

The episode centers on Carson’s unique description of the Spirit hitting him "like a brick",. Shawn notes that while we often use mortal words like "peace," "comfort," or "clarity" to describe spiritual experiences, these descriptions are ultimately inadequate for divine communication,. He compares Carson’s "brick" to Joseph Smith’s description of "brightness and glory," noting that Joseph himself admitted these things "defied description",,. Shawn argues that the "substance" and "evidence" of things not seen mentioned in Hebrews 11:1 is actually the Holy Ghost itself, providing a spiritual confirmation that transcends physical sight,.

Carson’s Conversion and Witnesses

Carson shares two pivotal moments of revelation:

• Confirming Prophets: While already serving on his mission, Carson realized he lacked a deep personal witness that the apostles and President Russell M. Nelson were truly authorized servants of God,. During General Conference, while watching Elder Holland, he received a spiritual confirmation so powerful it felt like a brick, convincing him of their divine calling,.

• The Mission Call: Before serving, Carson prayed specifically to be sent somewhere he could be "effective immediately" and serves to his best capacity. When he opened his call to Birmingham, he received an immediate spiritual witness—another "brick"—that God had heard his specific request and knew where he needed to be,.

Practical Insights on Seeking Wisdom

The group discusses how to cultivate a life of revelation:

• Ask Liberally: Drawing on James 1:5, Shawn emphasizes that God wants us to ask questions and will not "upbraid" or mock us for lacking wisdom, regardless of how many questions we have,.

• Holding Your Peace: Lauren shares her personal struggle with recognizing the Spirit due to health challenges. She highlights the importance of "holding your peace"—humbly submitting and being still—while diligently studying the word of God,.

• Spiritual Work: Carson advises future missionaries to prioritize spiritual work—prayer and scripture study—over social distractions, noting that these habits provide a "centerstone" for life,,.

Shawn concludes by reminding listeners that the singular purpose of a missionary is to lead souls to Christ through the gospel path of faith, repentance, and covenants, all of which are fueled by the convincing power of revelation,,. He invites listeners to "feast upon the words of Christ" for two weeks with real intent, promising that they, too, will receive revelation for their specific questions.

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This episode of the Mission Stories podcast features Shawn and guest Sister Kirra Eddington, who recently returned from serving in the Dallas, Texas mission. The conversation focuses on Principle Two: Revelation leads to conversion, specifically highlighting repentance not as a shameful burden, but as the "greatest gift" and a source of pure joy.

The "Lukewarm" Trap and Rock Bottom

Kirra describes her journey from being "blissfully unaware" and apathetic in high school to reaching a spiritual low during her freshman year at BYU. She slipped into a "lukewarm" state of indifference, eventually stopping church attendance and failing her classes. She describes this period as feeling "starved" and "miserable," as if she had no soul and no direction. Shawn notes that this passivity is dangerous because it leaves one being "acted upon" by the world rather than choosing to act.

The Turning Point: A "Train" of Revelation

While sitting in a basement at BYU trying to cram for a Book of Mormon class, Kirra read Alma 34:32-33, which warns: "do not procrastinate the day of your repentance". She felt hit by a "train"—a crushing spiritual realization that she was not prepared to meet God. This moment of revelation led her to immediately text her ward secretary to schedule a meeting with her bishop.

Redefining Repentance

Shawn and Kirra address common misconceptions about repentance:

• It is Not Shameful: While people may feel ashamed of their actions, the act of repenting itself is joyous and fulfilling.

• Commission vs. Omission: Repentance isn't just for "big sins" (commission); it is equally for the "sins of omission"—the good things we leave undone, such as failing to pray or seek God.

• A State of Being: It is a daily determination to change and work with the Savior, not a one-time event.

• The Bishop’s Role: Kirra emphasizes that her bishop did not judge her; instead, he offered love and a "weight-lifting" confirmation that the Savior loved her.

Conversion and the Call to Serve

The result of Kirra's repentance was a dramatic shift from a "4" to a "10" on the joy scale. This personal conversion through the Atonement of Jesus Christ created a deep sense of gratitude, which became the primary driver for her decision to serve a mission. She explains that she wanted others to feel the "exquisite joy" that replaced her pain.

Shawn concludes that the best way to prepare for a mission is to learn how to repent daily. He testifies that when a missionary understands how to fall on their knees and plead for the Lord's help, they gain the tools necessary to fulfill their singular purpose: leading other souls to Christ.

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This episode of the Mission Stories podcast features Shawn, co-hosts Lauren and Abby, and guest Erik Peterson, nicknamed "Erik the Swede". Erik, who served in the Oslo, Norway mission, shares a powerful narrative of shifting from a "lukewarm," passive missionary to a consecrated disciple of Christ by seeking personal revelation and feasting on the word of God.

The Vision: "Always Accept Change"

The discussion centers on Principle Two: Revelation Leads to Conversion, illustrating that God communicates personally to those who seek Him. Erik recounts a vivid dream he had while in the home MTC: he saw President Russell M. Nelson at General Conference walk through the crowd specifically to him, look him in the eyes with a tear on his face, and say, "Always accept change".

This vision proved prophetic; the very next day, Erik’s stake president informed him that due to COVID-related visa delays, he was being reassigned to Dallas, Texas. Shawn highlights that this was not a "convenient coincidence" but a substantive spiritual experience intended to prepare Erik’s soul for a jarring disruption to his plans.

Transitioning from "Liking" to "Loving" the Word

Erik admits that for the first three months of his mission, he was "lukewarm," merely going through the motions of missionary routines. A pivotal moment occurred during an interview with his mission president, President Montag, who asked Erik to describe his relationship with his brother. When Erik finished, the president challenged him: "By the time you leave this mission, I want you to be able to talk about Jesus Christ like he was your brother".

This challenge transformed Erik’s approach to the scriptures. He moved from simply "liking" the stories to "loving" the word of God by looking for Christ in every verse. Lauren adds that through a similar study of the Gospels, she discovered that Christ’s primary motivation for every action was compassion. Shawn notes that this shift in "will and intent" allows the Holy Ghost to move a person beyond the "letter of the law" into a truly converted state.

Key Lessons for Preparing Missionaries

The episode concludes with several actionable insights for youth preparing to serve:

• The Power of Intent: Reading scriptures to find the Savior’s mannerisms and personal voice changes a cognitive study into a spiritual relationship.

• Seeking a Witness: Every missionary has the right to receive revelation, and even visions, if they act in faith and "hold their peace" to listen.

• Willingness Over Perfection: Christ does not expect perfection immediately; He requires a heart that is "willing" to repent and follow His footsteps.

Erik’s final advice to listeners is to find and read one new story of Jesus Christ every single day. Shawn summarizes the episode by testifying that revelation is the only way to lead souls to Christ, and that seeking the Savior through the scriptures will "tune the spiritual radio" to hear God's voice.

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This episode of the Mission Stories podcast features Shawn and guest Ethan Johnson, who recently returned from the Houston South Mission. Ethan shares how his mission was a life-changing experience that transformed him from a self-described "lukewarm" member into a disciple "on fire" for the gospel. Shawn frames the discussion around the first three principles of missionary work, showing how Ethan’s stories illustrate each one.

Principle One: Actively Choosing to Serve

Ethan’s journey began with a period of spiritual "indifference". While attending BYU, he felt disconnected from the church culture and became "lukewarm," which eventually led him to choose a "cold" path of non-participation. He describes this year as living in "black and white," marked by severe depression and poor mental health.

At a "rock bottom" moment, Ethan felt a spiritual whisper in a dark room telling him to pray. This prayer resulted in a profound revelation of light and love that changed everything, teaching him that God is happy when we use our agency to turn back to Him. This experience set the foundation for his decision to serve a mission.

Principle Two: Revelation and the Atonement

Shawn and Ethan discuss how conversion is a process of learning to rely on the Savior. Ethan recounts a heavy experience in Sealy, Texas, where he met a woman on Mother’s Day weekend whose husband had just committed suicide. Despite his limited Spanish, Ethan felt an overwhelming love for her and shared scriptures about Christ's yoke.

Initially, Ethan struggled with the burden of this experience, questioning if he had "done enough" to save her. His mission president, President Richards, taught him a vital lesson: missionaries do not save people; only Jesus Christ does. Ethan realized he had been trying to "earn" his worthiness through works. He learned to use the sacrament as a weekly "altar" where he could place his burdens and mistakes in a "box" for Christ to take, finally understanding the true power of the Atonement.

Principle Three: Opening Your Mouth Through Innovation

Ethan’s mission took a unique turn when his second mission president, President Garn, allowed him to use his professional film talents for missionary work. Ethan helped run a Facebook page called "Near Him," creating digital content that reached five million people—a massive increase compared to traditional door-knocking.

These digital ads targeted people searching for meaning and led to more baptisms than any other finding source in the mission. Shawn notes that this is a modern application of the command to "open your mouth," as the voice of the shepherd can be carried through social media to find those ready to hear the gospel.

Shawn concludes by encouraging listeners to turn to Christ, no matter how "dark" their circumstances might be, promising that the Lord will reveal Himself to those who seek Him.

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In this episode of the Mission Stories podcast, Shawn and Lauren are joined by Sister Micah Bullard to discuss Principle Two: Revelation Leads to Conversion. The conversation explores how true conversion requires a specific companion attribute: humility. Micah shares her powerful "hero's journey" from self-reliant perfectionism to a deep, joyful reliance on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

The Trap of Perfectionism

Micah describes herself as a lifelong perfectionist who initially felt successful on her mission because she was "good at it". However, Shawn and Lauren point out that relying solely on one’s own talents can lead to an "unintentional neglect of the Atonement". This self-reliance is a form of pride where a person chooses to rely on themselves rather than the Savior.

Hitting "Rock Bottom"

Micah’s turning point came just twelve weeks into her mission when she was asked to train a new missionary. Overwhelmed by the pressure not to "mess up," combined with a difficult companion who did not enjoy her presence, Micah hit a spiritual rock bottom. She began to doubt her worthiness and felt that because her "numbers" weren't high, she was failing God. She viewed the Yoke of Christ not as a partnership, but as Christ shaking His head at her for not being "good enough".

The Shift to Humility

Exhausted by her own efforts, Micah finally turned to God in desperate, constant prayer. Through revelation, she was led to the story of the Brother of Jared. She realized that, like the brother of Jared offering small stones to be lighted, her "measly" humble offering was enough because God could touch it and make it perfect.

Lauren shares the Parable of the Bicycle to illustrate this: a child provides the few dollars they have, and the father pays the rest. Similarly, Shawn explains the Yoke of Christ using the analogy of two oxen; Christ is the powerful partner pulling the heavy weight, asking us to simply join Him so the burden becomes light.

Joy Through the Atonement

Once Micah shifted her confidence from herself to Christ, her experience transformed. Even when she was asked to switch to Spanish—a language she had never spoken—and then train in that language shortly after, she felt indescribable joy instead of stress. She realized that using the Atonement is not a burden to Christ, but a gift born of His specific love for her.

Shawn concludes by emphasizing that humility is the vital catalyst for accessing the Atonement and finding the same "overflowing joy" described by Ammon in the scriptures.

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A quick Christmas episode. Merry Christmas.

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This episode of the Mission Stories podcast features Shawn and Lauren welcoming guest Garrett Baxter, who has just been set apart as "Elder Baxter" and is preparing to serve in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana mission. The discussion focuses on Principle Number One: Choosing to Serve the Lord ("Choose you this day").

Shawn lays the foundation by explaining that this principle addresses whether a missionary chooses to be a person who acts or a person who is acted upon, emphasizing that exercising agency determines the mission's outcome.

The Choice Between Hot, Cold, and Lukewarm

The episode uses the scripture from Revelation 3:15-16, where the Lord expresses that he desires us to be either hot or cold, but not lukewarm, because he will "spew thee out of my mouth". Shawn highlights that a lukewarm state leads to being acted upon, rather than acting with purpose.

Elder Baxter (Garrett) shared his personal story of living in a lukewarm state that caused him significant unhappiness and misery.

Garrett's Struggle with Depression and Lukewarmness

Throughout high school, Garrett struggled with severe depression and was diagnosed with scrupulosity OCD (the inherent fear of doing something morally wrong, often leading to guilt and the conviction that he was going to hell). He noted that while therapy helped with the OCD, the depression persisted, leaving him "at rock bottom".

Shawn, Lauren, and Garrett discussed how this feeling of despair can stem from a misunderstanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the difference between the law of works (which requires perfection) and the law of the gospel (which requires faith, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost). Garrett felt immense pressure to be perfect and described his spiritual efforts (reading scriptures, praying) as simply going through the motions—a practice that gave him no real insight or spiritual benefit. He felt he was constantly being "acted upon" by his circumstances and the overwhelming sadness. He admitted that during this period, his misery was rooted in selfishness, as his central focus was on himself and his own suffering.

The V-Day Epiphany (Victory Day)

Garrett reached his "V-Day" (Victory Day) while at BYU, where he realized that happiness was a choice. This realization was spurred by a class lesson, his patriarchal blessing, and, notably, studying figures who suffered rock bottom but maintained faith: Job, Joseph Smith (in Liberty Jail), and Jesus Christ on the cross. Garrett was deeply moved by the fact that even the Savior cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" during the Atonement, realizing that even the most perfect being understood his feelings of isolation and abandonment.

Garrett's breakthrough involved choosing to forget himself and get to work serving others. Instead of praying, "Heavenly Father, please help me be happy," he changed his prayer to, "Heavenly Father, put someone in my path who needs my help today.". This choice to act and serve others, even in small ways (like complimenting a cool shirt), immediately brought immense joy and peace, shifting him from a miserable, lukewarm state to an empowered, hot state.

Shawn emphasizes that this active choice to serve others and build them up is the core of the gospel, mirroring Christ's example and leading to true joy. Elder Baxter's final advice to listeners is simple: "Wake up and choose" to act and forget yourself in the work.