Arise with Christ – Details, episodes & analysis

In John 6:35, we read, "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."   

Jesus is the Bread of Life and the Living Water. Bread and water are simple. Christ uses these symbols to teach us every week at the Sacrament.  As the Bread of Life, Jesus provides the essential nourishment that we all need.

What a gift! Feeding and gathering are Christlike characteristics, exemplified by Jesus, who miraculously fed and gathered people. 

We, too, can gather and feed God's children. Our guest in this episode, Rhonda Steed, delights in being a disciple by nurturing and feeding those around her in both body and spirit.

In Rhonda's words, "I'm a wife, mom, baker, photographer, collector of recipes, chocolate lover, and small town girl… and I love gatherings."

Rhonda Steed is married to Regan Steed and is a mother to 5 great kids: Alden, Lucy, Eli, Oliver, and Norah. They live in Raymond, Alberta, Canada.  She loves collecting Jesus art, baking, cooking, and feeding people. She is also often found hanging out with her husband or reading a cheesy novel. Rhonda is a professional photographer and loves capturing the beauty of other humans. She enjoys serving in her ward and stake and is currently a temple worker and a primary teacher. Rhonda also teaches "mom seminary" in her stake, which is a class she helped create. We are excited for you to hear more about how Rhonda nourishes others in this episode!

In a Worldwide Devotional to Young Adults, President Camille N. Johnson said, "God has prepared a way for healthy living for everyone on this planet, if we are willing to employ our gifts and talents for this good, remain worthy to receive revelation, and prudently use the earth's abundant resources to care for one another."

We can be confident that God will help us know how to care for one another. In that same message, President Johnson taught that we have stewardship for one another. She mentioned the parable of the talents from Matthew chapter 25 as a reminder of how we can use our gifts to help and serve others. 

Our guest for this episode is an excellent example of applying those principles. Carrie Kirk has sought to serve and stretch to help others through humanitarian work. As you listen to this episode, we hope you recognize how you use your gifts and talents to bless others.

Carrie Kirk is a devoted wife and mother of five children. Carrie holds a Master's degree in Instructional Technology from Utah State University. Carrie served a Russian-speaking mission in the Baltics, which sparked her lifelong dedication to helping others. She and her family have volunteered annually in Guatemala and Uganda for the past eight years, showing their desire to help underserved communities and their commitment to humanitarian work. Professionally, Carrie currently works as a part-time coordinator for humanitarian trips to Africa through an organization called Family Humanitarian. An adventurer at heart, Carrie loves travel, making new friends, and striving to make the world a better place. You can learn more about Family Humanitarian at FamilyHumanitarian.org.

Lee and Suzanna Livingston recently returned from serving a mission together in Samoa.  They are the parents of 6 children.  

Suzy grew up in Alabama and is the oldest child of convert parents: they were formerly Baptist and Church of Christ members.  Lee is from Wyoming and California, from generations of members of the LDS faith. Lee served a mission as a young man in Texas Fort Worth. Lee and Suzy met while attending school at BYU. Lee has degrees in chemistry and physics and works in finance and commercial real estate. Suzy graduated in Nursing.  They just welcomed their first grandbaby, Jack!  Their favorite thing to do is spend time with family, preferably in the great outdoors.

Rdean and Sheryl Clark met and fell in love as college students. Eventually, he asked her if he could linger longer. She said yes, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple. They moved from Utah to Portland, Oregon, where Rdean attended dental school at the University of Oregon Dental School. He later completed orthodontic training following two years as an army dentist. Sheryl taught English at a junior high school until she chose to be a full-time mom. They welcomed Cristen, Candice, Caralee, Carlton, Clifton, and Caprice into their family.

Rdean and Sheryl's lives focus on the Savior and His service. They have lived to realize President Nelson's promises: "Spending more time in the temple builds faith. And your service and worship in the temple will help you think celestial. The temple is a place of revelation…There you are drawn closer to the Savior and given greater access to His power. There you are guided in solving the problems in your life, even your most perplexing problems."

Clifton, or Clif as he is known, was born with Down syndrome and a severe heart defect that required open-heart surgery when he was just 4 ½ months old. His surgery was made possible by the heart-lung machine President Russell M. Nelson helped develop when he was a young doctor. Clif's life has been full of loving family members, friends, teachers, and church leaders. He has served as a missionary, temple worker, greeter, and self-appointed hugger.

Bobbie Sandberg is a member of the Young Women General Advisory Council. She loves teaching and learning and has degrees in linguistics, TESOL, and instructional psychology and technology from BYU. Bobbie and her husband, Steve, have six children; their family loves traveling together and hiking, kayaking, and skiing in the mountains. She runs almost every day of the week, both for health and to have time with friends. Bobbie spends lots of time attending sports events, going to the theater, and making and eating delicious food. As evidenced by her actions, family relationships and the gospel of Jesus Christ are the most essential parts of Bobbie's life.

Jane and Eli Griffin became good friends when Jane moved into Eli's ward in Lindon, Utah. They received their mission calls a week apart, both to the Philippines. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they were each reassigned to California. When Eli got home six months after Jane, he didn't waste any time asking her out, and one year later, they were married. 

Jane and Eli just graduated from BYU, Jane with a degree in Medical Laboratory Science, and Eli with a degree in molecular biology. In July of this year, they moved to Dallas, Texas, where Eli is attending medical school and Jane is working.

Laura Miller grew up in Provo, Utah, in a family of 8 kids and attended Timpview High School. She graduated from BYU in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and ASL.

While raising three children, Laura and her husband Derek lived in metro Washington, D.C., for several years.

Professionally, Laura has demonstrated her leadership as the financial manager, events director & fundraiser for three gubernatorial campaigns. She also runs a political action committee in Utah.

Laura has served in various callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and currently serves as a missionary for The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square on the external relations committee, helping to host visiting dignitaries and organize VIP events. She has recently served as a member of Utah's Interfaith Committee, which includes the Light the World Giving Machines.

Laura supported Derek as he served as a stake president over the Salt Lake Bonneville YSA Stake and is currently serving with him in his calling as an Area Seventy in the 12th quorum of the Seventy in the Utah Area. 

Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution by President Dallin H. Oaks

Kody Garrett was born and raised in Farmington, UT. He served a full-time mission in the West Virginia Charleston Mission, where he met Phoebe Brinton, his future wife. Following their missions, they were sealed in the Pocatello, ID temple. Kody and Pheobe have a precious 10-month-old daughter named Virginia, whom they love and adore. Kody is currently balancing fatherhood with his studies at Utah Valley University and plans to attend medical school in the near future.

In this interview, Kody shares how the Atonement of Jesus Christ became real for him when he was a young man applying the Savior's redeeming power in his personal life, how family challenges growing up inspire him to be a diligent husband and father, and how temple worship fits into his busy schedule as a student.

Courtney Russell is from Bakersfield, California. She is the wife of Tom, the mom of Spencer, Rebecca, Isaac, Jarred, and Taylor, and grandma to six of the "greatest kids on the planet."

She has been a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for almost 18 years. She loves gospel education, family history, and temple work. She strives to seek the Savior in every place, circumstance, and person she encounters.

Courtney enjoyed a 16-year career in advertising before moving to Utah and has spent the last 17 years producing film and television projects and teaching Film Production Management and Faculty Mentored Productions at BYU. Her prior resume includes things like an antique dealer, realtor, phase contrast microscopist, and various retail and restaurant jobs.

In this episode, Courtney shares how the Lord prepared her to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. He gave her that opportunity when the time was right for her. As a single mom, she embraced the gospel and soon after married Tom, whose wife Angie had passed away following a battle with cancer. Courtney gives us a glimpse into the sacred and unique process of blending their family.

Plan to be enlightened as Courtney shares her Christlike perspectives and Divinely orchestrated journey along the covenant path.

Linda Winegar refers to herself as a warrior- a warrior mother, warrior wife, and warrior sister. She is passionate about arming women with their God-given gifts who, like herself, have experienced trauma from betrayal. Linda believes our gifts are the weapons we have been given to take control and fight back against evil to accelerate healing. Linda's experiences opened her eyes to the adversary's tactics to destroy individuals and families. Linda finds that acknowledging those tactics strengthens her ability to live confidently within her covenants through Jesus Christ.

Linda and her husband Clark created the Clark N Linda show, sharing their journey and path to healing the effects of pornography on their family. Linda also hosts Warrior with Linda Winegar, a podcast geared toward women who have experienced betrayal.

Find the Clark N Linda Show here.

Find more about Linda Winegar and her Podcast, Warrior with Linda Winegar here.

Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys by President Russell M. Nelson

Alma 49:8-9