LDS Podcast "Latter-Day Lights" - Inspirational LDS Stories

What if the stories we create can help us better understand our own trials, and even change the way we see those who are different from us?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with fantasy author and Praiseworthy Award winner Christie Valentine Powell, who shares how her lifelong love of storytelling became an unexpected way to process grief, prejudice, and judgment. Through writing her book s...

What if some of the things we do to strengthen our faith are actually getting in the way of truly connecting with Jesus Christ?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott sits down with longtime Seminary and Institute teacher and author John Bushman to explore the message behind his book, “King Before Kingdom.” John shares how even well-intentioned Latter-day Saints can fall into a checklist mentality&mdash...

Could a single photograph strengthen your testimony of the Restoration?

For years, countless images have claimed to be authentic photographs of the Prophet Joseph Smith—but none have been universally accepted. So what happens when a long-forgotten daguerreotype is discovered in a family heirloom, and the evidence begins pointing in an unexpected direction?

In this fascinating episode of Latter-Day Lights, researcher Curtis Webe...

Could God do more with your talents than you ever could on your own?

From concert halls around the world to Christ-centered productions that have touched thousands, Jenny Oaks Baker has learned that the Lord often leads us in ways we never expect.

In this week’s uplifting episode of Latter-Day Lights, Jenny shares how following quiet promptings transformed her career from simply performing music to creating productions that tes...

How do we move forward from being healed to being truly cleansed?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, filmmaker Taylor Riley of “Scripture Central” and “Messages of Christ” shares the remarkable story behind “The Cleansing of the Leper”, a Praiseworthy Award-winning short film that brings one of the Bible's most overlooked passages to life.

Together with Scott and Darla, we explore t...

What can an everyday tradition reveal about a community's faith and culture?

In this week's episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with documentary filmmaker, Madison Pope, to discuss her upcoming film, Saints and Sodas—a deep dive into the unique soda culture that has captured national attention. Madison shares the fascinating story behind the documentary, from interviewing self-proclaimed soda addicts and hea...

What if forgiveness goes beyond seeking justice—and actually becomes the path to healing?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with four-time New York Times bestselling author Roger Connors to explore the life-changing power of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Roger shares his remarkable conversion story—from secretly reading the Book of Mormon despite his parents' opposition, and ...

Can the stories of the Restoration inspire your own story of faith?

In this inspiring episode, Sandra Meaders shares how a lifelong love of books and a growing fascination with Church history led her on a journey that deepened her own faith in unexpected ways. Through countless visits to historic Church sites, studying the lives of early Saints, and immersing herself in the stories of the Restoration, Sandra discovered that ...

How does a fantasy author end up writing the autobiography of a music legend?

In this inspiring episode, author Debbie Ihler Rasmussen shares her remarkable journey from writing stories as a young girl to becoming a published author, editor, writing instructor, and eventually the ghostwriter behind Alan Osmond's life story.

Along the way, she discovers how a teacher's encouragement, unexpected mentors, and a series o...

 Can God use a difficult season to reveal your purpose?

When COVID brought the world to a standstill, sisters Kandy, Kassidy, and Kalli found themselves searching for purpose, peace, and direction. 

What began as a difficult season of uncertainty became a defining hinge point in their lives—one that ultimately led them to form the Christian music group Hinge Point and dedicate their talents to sharing the love of Jesu...

Can God still guide your life when your dreams seem to be on hold?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with author and Storymakers Winner, JoLynne Lyon, who shares how a lifelong passion for creativity and writing often took a backseat to raising children, building a career, and caring for her aging parents. As she navigated the demands of family life, the loss of a sister, and years of caregi...

Can God turn our darkest moments into the beginning of something greater?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with author and father Juan Panchano. Growing up in Colombia amid cartel violence, political unrest, and family instability, Juan carried deep wounds from abandonment, rejection, and loneliness.

After moving to the United States as a child, those struggles only intensified, eventually l...

How do we recognize the gifts God has given us, especially when fear, grief, or self-doubt make them hard to see?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, award-winning author and illustrator—Fay Klingler—shares a heartfelt conversation about creativity, spiritual promptings, and learning to trust the quiet ways Heavenly Father guides our lives. From writing bestselling books and raising a blended family of 12 ...

What do you do when the career you worked so hard for leaves you feeling burnt out?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla sit down with author and Praiseworthy Award Winner, Vanessa Thurgood, to share how stepping away from the career that caused her burnout, unexpectedly led her toward a new calling: writing epic fantasy novels filled with themes of courage, faith, and resilience.

What began as merely an...

What happens when a forgotten piece of Church history becomes a personal calling?

In this episode of Latter-Day Lights, Sherrie Dunford shares the story of her ancestor, Dr. Frederick G. Williams—early Church leader, counselor to Joseph Smith, physician, and one of the most misunderstood figures of the Restoration.

Through spiritual promptings and years of research, Sherrie felt compelled to finally tell the story of a man whos...

What if a single moment could completely reshape how you see your life and your purpose within it?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, Jerald Simon shares his remarkable journey as a composer, author, and lifelong student of faith and creativity. After surviving a traumatic fall from a 100-foot cliff as a child—an experience that erased his early memories and led to years of recovery—Jerald began to view l...

What does it look like to step away from expectations and into a life of true purpose?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, mother, educator, and faith-driven humanitarian, Karen Bates, shares her powerful journey from people-pleasing and self-doubt to living with courage, intention, and deep devotion. As she began confronting lifelong patterns of overextending herself and losing sight of her own needs, Karen l...

What happens when a creative prompting turns into something that can change one person’s life?

In this week's episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Darla Brandley sit down with author and Praiseworthy Award winner Jason Jones, who shares his 8-year journey behind writing his debut novel, “One Day a Year.” From making simple screenplays with his coworkers to boost company morale, what began as a simple ide...

What role does music play in helping us feel closer to God and find peace in our everyday lives?

In this week’s episode of Latter-Day Lights, we sit down with pianist, musical arranger, and father, Michael Boyd, whose lifelong love for music has become a powerful way to invite the Spirit into his heart, and strengthen his faith. From his early experiences in learning piano, to developing a deep appreciation for hymns during hi...