How do you keep your faith in God when grief keeps rewriting the life you always dreamed of?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Emily sit down with author, mother, and Praiseworthy Award Winner Anneka Walker, to explore how faith, loss, and creativity brought about healing and renewed purpose into her journey as a writer.

When multiple miscarriages and high-risk pregnancies crushed her dreams of becoming a mother to 13 children, Anneka’s belief in God still led her to unexpected miracles—including a life-saving experience with her miracle baby, and a newfound calling to write. She reflects on how storytelling became a sacred refuge during seasons of grief, helping her process pain, preserve hope, and uplift others through wholesome romance and historical fiction.

Having received a Praiseworthy Award for her book, “The Lady Glass” from “The Enchanted Regency Romance Series,” she affirms that God was still shaping something beautiful from her broken plans, and that the stories born from her deepest grief could become a source of inspiration for countless readers.

Tune in as Scott, Emily, and Anneka discuss the power of counting blessings amidst loss, navigating doubt and criticism, creating real-life character development, and trusting that God can still write a redemptive life story, even when it doesn’t go according to plan.

*** Please SHARE Anneka's story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/3LQn9OSZBQg

-----

To READ Anneka's Praiseworthy Award Winning book, "The Lady Glass" from "The Enchanted Regency Romance Series," visit: https://a.co/d/3sMeP9X

To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

-----

Keep updated with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latter.day.lights/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

When life feels uncertain and stakes are high on the operating table, how do we learn to trust in the Lord’s plan?

On this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Emily sit down with Dr. Mark T. Saunders, a semi-retired OB/GYN whose quiet, faithful listening opened the door to dozens of sacred and miraculous stories. While conducting his routinely in-home medical visits, Mark found that his patients—often without prompting—felt compelled to share their deeply personal experiences of divine intervention, healing, and guidance from the Holy Ghost.

From a young student almost facing the loss of his leg, to near-death experiences, and unmistakable moments of revelation, Mark reflects on how these encounters strengthened his testimony that God will always a God of miracles no matter the circumstances. This conversation explores the difference between trusting in the wisdom of the world, and learning to rely fully on personal revelation, spiritual sensitivity, and the intentional direction of the Spirit.

Rooted in scripture, lived experience, and divine inspiration, this episode is an invitation to slow down, listen more closely, and rediscover what it means to place unwavering trust in the Lord—even when the path forward feels like it's coming to an end.

*** Please SHARE Dr. Saunders' story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/bihxYdh6GzM

-----

To READ Dr. Saunders' book, "Learning to Trust in The Lord," visit: https://a.co/d/0OLMSuK

To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

-----

Keep updated with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latter.day.lights/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

When depression shapes the life of the person you love the most, will your faith hold—or begin to break under the pressure?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Emily sit down with Amanda Harms — a counselor, mother of six, and newly minted PhD in social psychology — to share her personal journey through supporting a spouse living with chronic depression.

With mental illness and frayed communication leading to years of financial hardship, cross-country moves, spiritual denial, and seasons of uncertainty in her marriage, Amanda reflects on how compassion, understanding, and Christlike love slowly transformed the way she perceived her husband and herself.

Through stories of resilience, motherhood, and the concept of “eternal perspective,” Amanda’s journey invites listeners to consider what long-term endurance really looks like — not as a single turning point, but as years of small choices to remain faithful, present, and compassionate. It’s a reminder that while answers don’t always come quickly, the Lord walks with us through the slow, sacred process of becoming.

*** Please SHARE Amanda's story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/GukEY_jB1-k

-----

To READ Amanda's book, "Breaking Free from the Shame of Addiction," visit: https://a.co/d/jawXlJT

To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

-----

Keep updated with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latter.day.lights/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

How does Jesus reach for us when we’re convinced we can never return back to Him?

In this week's episode of Latter-Day Lights, Tyler Christen—a returned soldier and lifelong Latter-Day Saint who spent years in and out of the Church—shares his raw, unfiltered journey through addiction, isolation, spiritual darkness, and repeated attempts to walk away from the Gospel.

From battling the temptations of pornography and party culture in the military, surviving serious car accidents, grieving a miscarriage, and experiencing terrifying demonic encounters and sleep paralysis, Tyler describes what it felt like to believe he was beyond forgiveness... Until the night he finally gave in and cried out the name of Jesus Christ.

From then on, doors began to open as Tyler found himself guided through dreams, spiritual impressions, and moments of unmistakable divine intervention that led him back to the scriptures, the temple, and a renewed sense of purpose in the Gospel. In this episode, Tyler talks about learning to recognize the Savior’s voice and his realization of being a dream interpreter—all while discovering that the gifts of the Spirit are real.

If you’ve ever questioned whether Jesus can still use you, Tyler’s story is a bold reminder that Christ’s grace can reach into the darkest places and turn a "lost cause" into a disciple on fire.

*** Please SHARE Tyler's story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/P9csAvu5PFw

-----

To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

-----

Keep updated with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latter.day.lights/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

How can the ancient Hebrew language unlock a deeper way of listening to Christ with our whole heart, soul, and might?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott Brandley and guest co-host Emily Hemmert sit down with Dr. Trina Boice—university professor, longtime author, avid scripture educator, and Hebrew enthusiast—to explore the “Via Dolorosa,” more commonly known as the sorrowful path Christ walked from condemnation to crucifixion. Dr. Trina shares what it’s like to trace the traditional stations through Jerusalem, why this journey can reframe the Atonement as more than a single moment, and how sacred spaces (even outside our own faith tradition) can invite powerful spiritual reflection. Together, these experiences point to a discipleship that is not only believed, but lived through both body and spirit.

And, as we look ahead to the 2026 "Come, Follow Me" study of the Old Testament, Trina introduces a foundational Hebrew word, “Shema,” and how its layers of meaning (to hear, to hearken, to obey) can transform the way we approach scripture study and prayer. Along the way, she shares moving experiences from the Western Wall, insights into Jewish worship and devotion, and a renewed invitation to find Jesus Christ woven throughout the Old Testament.

Ultimately, this conversation invites us to move beyond simply reading the scriptures to truly living them. Through language, history, and lived experience, Dr. Trina reminds us that discipleship is not passive, but a wholehearted response to the Savior’s voice in every season of our lives.

*** Please SHARE Dr. Trina's story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/ZsmC_RzdGeg

-----

To LEARN MORE about Dr. Trina, visit: https://www.TrinaBoice.com

To LEARN MORE about Dr. Trina's author coaching services, visit: https://www.frombook2business.com/

To READ Dr. Trina's book, "The Language of Heaven," visit: https://a.co/d/4j5b4kX

To READ Dr. Trina's book, "Via Dolorosa," visit: https://www.cedarfort.com/products/via-dolorosa-christs-path-to-the-cross?srsltid=AfmBOoriQlGGDu7ngEuLrfu0GN38cg1FUe-z7ovPv7bYXO6i-NCc9pD6

To LISTEN to Dr. Trina's podcast, "Daily Inspirational Quote," visit: https://open.spotify.com/show/17RPUlzByZQVu4zmqktoZ0?si=86c6033495a048f1

To WATCH Dr. Trina's movie reviews, visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/MovieReviewMom

To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

-----

Keep updated with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latter.day.lights/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

What if the trials in your life were actually invitations to hear God more clearly?

In this episode, Leilani Speck shares her touching story—from being adopted and growing up in a foster home, to early encounters with real spiritual darkness, sacred moments with angels, and a life of service that included a rare stake mission pilot program and the Hill Cumorah Pageant.

Along the way, she faced some incredibly hard things: a marriage that slowly fell apart, six miscarriages, multiple car accidents, skin cancer, and a major nose reconstruction. Yet woven through all of it were quiet miracles—a father’s presence felt after his passing, a DNA test that revealed a sister, a long-awaited reconnection with her brother before his sudden death, and temple experiences that made the veil feel very thin.

Through her challenges, Leilani has learned a lot about recognizing the adversary’s patterns, understanding how the Spirit speaks to us personally, and doing hard things with the help of Christ.

If you’ve ever wondered whether faith could survive repeated storms, Leilani's life is proof that it's possible.

*** Please SHARE Leilani's story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/PZi7idwhhqo

-----

To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

-----

Keep updated with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latter.day.lights/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

#LDSPodcast #ChristianStories #LatterDayLights

How do you hold onto faith when life takes a turn you never expected?

On this week’s episode of Latter-day Lights, early-returned missionary Kenley Broadbent opens up about the day everything changed on her Peru Lima East mission. What started as occasional migraines spiraled into debilitating dizziness, nausea, and unexplained symptoms that eventually sent her home just nine months into her service.

Kenley shares the heartbreak of facing the stigma of being an early returnee, living with chronic illness, and her darkest months when depression made her question her purpose in the world. But through it all, she discusses the scripture in Philippians that stopped her spiral, her simple reminder of “but God.”, and how this ongoing trial has drawn her closer to Christ—even while she still doesn’t have all the answers.

Scott and Alisha relate through their own family health challenges as the conversation explores how physical trials can impact mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Together, they discuss finding purpose in unexpected paths, accepting service from others, and discovering that God can still work through us—even when life doesn’t look the way we planned.

*** Please SHARE Kenley's story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/HqM4OkHphB0

-----

To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

-----

Keep updated with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latter.day.lights/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

What if God called you to build something far bigger than yourself?

In this inspiring and educational episode of Latter-Day Lights, former plastic surgeon-turned-sculptor and painter Steve Neal shares how a lifetime of small artistic promptings—and a powerful temple experience—led him to an unexpected divine calling: building The Monument of The Americas, a large-scale Book of Mormon and American covenant sculpture park in Heber Valley. What began as what Steve describes as a “barely adequate” talent grew into decades of paintings, sculptures, and spiritual mentorship that shaped his mission in ways he never imagined.

Steve takes us through what the monument is all about—from his process of sculpting each individual piece, to the spiritual experiences that guided the project, to the meaningful ways we can support this legacy through our own contributions. Steve also opens up about his sudden cancer diagnosis, the miracle of remission, and how keeping his covenants has strengthened and sustained him through every challenge. His story is a powerful reminder that the Lord magnifies ordinary gifts, prepares us through every season, and calls us to do His work in His timing.

If you’ve ever questioned whether your contributions in the world matter, Steve’s journey will remind you that God can turn the softest of talents into a light that blesses generations.

*** Please SHARE Steve's story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***

To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/Lpi5Oq8M-is

-----

To LEARN MORE about the Monument of The Americas, visit: https://www.monumentoftheamericas.org/

To WATCH The Monument of The Americas recap video, visit: https://youtu.be/YKrKsJLmykU?si=pyL95TkqQ98XaQiI

To READ Scott’s new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/

-----

Keep updated with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latter.day.lights/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Also, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.