Shannon Foster didn’t grow up in a Latter-day Saint home where scriptures were regularly studied—and her father wasn’t a member of the Church. But rather than see this as a setback, Shannon considers it one of her greatest blessings. That unique perspective has shaped her ability to relate to others and to inspire confidence in anyone seeking to better understand and love the scriptures. In this episode, Shannon shares her journey and explains why she’s so passionate about helping others develop a personal, meaningful relationship with scripture—no matter their background.

1:56- A Home Without Gospel Learning
8:06- The Lord Qualifies
14:05- Compelled to Share
17:18- Scaffolding
22:50- Family Scripture Study
27:25- The Power of Families
34:31- Think Like a Coach
42:12- Imperfect Practice
46:25- What Does It Mean to Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“I feel like I can stand in my spot and relate and say I was that girl who knew nothing about the scriptures and now I have found great power in the scriptures.”

Link:

The Red Headed Hostess guidebooks- https://www.deseretbook.com/category/church-resources_teaching-helps_the-red-headed-hostess/church-resources_teaching-helps_the-red-headed-hostess_guidebooks/

In 1830, the same year the Church was organized, a former slave named Peter became the first documented Black member of the Church. Nearly 200 years later, Mauli Bonner first heard Peter's story when he started exploring his own faith as a Black member of the Church. This journey led him to Paul Reeve, a professor at the University of Utah who has studied Blacks in Church history extensively. On today's episode, Mauli and Paul explain not only the importance of the stories of early Black Latter-day Saints, but also how their stories can strengthen our faith and our testimonies of the restored gospel.

"The beauty of it all is that we are here now and have an opportunity to learn and do something good. That's what we have control over. We can't change what was, we were not there. But we are here now. " -Mauli Bonner

Show Notes

3:24- Blacks in the Early Days of the Church
8:50- Legislation with Theological Implications
12:00- Learning the History as a Black Latter-day Saint
15:22- Green Flake and Brigham Young
25:28- Strengthening Testimony Rather Than Weakening
31:44- Historical Accuracy
37:12- What Needed to Change?
44:22- Why Monuments Matter
51:22- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Find the full episode transcript at ldsliving.com/allin.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout history and across religious traditions, countless individuals have been honored for their holiness and devotion. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have this word in the name of our church—it is what we purport to be. But do we fully understand what that entails? Jamin and Ann Rowan recently led a study abroad trip exploring what it means to be and become a saint and on this week’s episode, they share what they learned.

2:20- A Study Abroad They Couldn’t Refuse
12:07- Peacemakers Needed Everywhere
22:15- The Sacrifices Saints Have Made To Follow Christ
26:34- Unreasonable Hospitality
33:55- Mission Calls Centuries Apart
38:10- Coming Back and Trying Again
39:59- Martyrs
42:41- The Magic of Real Places and Real Stories
46:23- President Hinckley’s Mission Letter
52:07- Modern Latter-day Saints in Europe
57:55- The Power of Storytelling
1:04:12- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“These differences within our families—our immediate families and within our larger human family—are what help us become like God is. We have to come in contact with people that are different than us and listen with those ears of the heart and learn to love each other better...” -Ann Rowan