Tribe of Testimonies Andrea Hales

Ah...where to begin with this one. Geoff and Akasha came to my house. And they didn't use a tissue once. You might need one though. This is a tough, tough story. They lost their son out of the blue. Their son just didn't wake up one day. The baby of their family. And I'm so sorry for their loss. I asked them after we recorded how they felt this loss compared to suddenly losing someone in a car accident or some other freak accident. The loss would be as sudden, but they pointed out that this loss doesn't leave them any one to blame--which is a burden they are glad to not have. Throughout this conversation, you will hear how they are seeking many ways to heal. But their best healing comes through seeking our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ. They know that the covenants they have made in the temple are a strength to them and their other children. They know that one day they will have answers. And they also know the pain will always be with them. Their testimonies are amazing. I am so grateful for their time and their story. https://littlewisebear.org

One of a kind. Literally. Jacob is Navajo and Nigerian. No siblings. He's one of a kind. But something else that I love about Jacob is that he has dedicated his life to sharing his love of Jesus Christ. He wants people to see Jesus through his actions, speech, and works. It's interesting how sometimes I some of my guests surprise me with how deep their testimonies really are. Jacob is that way for me. He sees Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in such a way that I simply want to know Them more. I'm grateful for the time that we could spend together--you will probably feel the same as I do.

One of the first people that has sent me multiple emails is LaRue. She often sends me a note to tell me how much something someone said on Tribe of Testimonies has affected her. It's taken me a couple years to get her to agree to be a guest. I'm glad she finally accepted my invitation. She has a strong testimony. During the interview, she mentions that she hasn't always had a perfectly strong testimony. And then she talks about how she's continued to work on it. You could say that she's worked on her testimony "muscles" for years--strength training it. She's a good example of learning and relearning the basics of the Gospel. Like President Oaks just taught us at General Conference this past weekend: the basic doctrine of the Church is simple and can be tested. LaRue is a testament of the doctrine.

In a few days from the posting of this episode, a full eclipse will pass over much of the United States. In this conversation, Ira explains a Seneca story about making promises of peace during an eclipse. He is planning on doing a similar pledge with his family and friends during the eclipse. I think that's beautiful! (I wish I could be there!) But Ira is seeking ways to mend hearts, to establish love and connection with people. It seems to be a life mission at the moment. Ira also talks about tithing--one of the commandments we have that has a promise attached. He can witness the law of tithing is a blessing. In fact, it helped him return to full activity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'd say THAT is a blessing!

The longer we talked, the more I appreciated the things Josh had to say about life and family. We talked a lot off the recording as well. There is just so much that I could appreciate about his experiences. Josh shares about some of his family's trials of mental and physical health--and the toll those have on his mental health. I can commiserate! Having to deal with others' mental health problems is a weight! But I love the ways that Josh and his wife work together to find a balance. I love the way they love their children as much as possible. I love the way Josh has found an outlet (running) that is soothing his soul and teaching him so much about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the earth, ancestors, and so much more. (I said he almost has me convince to start running.) This is a very vulnerable and amazing conversation. I'm so grateful for Joshua Freeman.

I remember when I was a student at BYU, I saw this sweet little girl dancing at the Harold A. Cedartree powwow. She was there pretty much every year that I was. Her name is Tamera Wheeler. So, I've seen her around for a long time. She told me that she remembers me coming to her house with my friend, Sommer, to get help making regalia. Tamera has grown up now. She's lovely. And she has experienced, firsthand, the blessings of our Savior in her life. There was a time when she stopped practicing the precepts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When she decided to come back, she saw how it really did bless her life. Now she weaves all parts of her life together in hopes of pleasing our Father in Heaven and our Savior. She sees how They love her unconditionally and want her to be with Them. Her testimony is pretty powerful.