Come Follow Me for Us

This week, I'm in Doctrine & Covenants 129–132, discussing how blessings from God come through obedience. I share some real-life chaos, then dive into family history, temple work, and powerful stories about ancestors and eternal families—and how all of it brings us hope, help, and joy. Here's a link to receive the podcasts and other content directly in your inbox.  You'll love it. Trust me.  SUBSTACK LINK

I'm in Doctrine and Covenants 124—"A House unto My Name." I recap the Saints' move to Nauvoo, why the Lord urgently needed a temple, and how faithful discipleship (taking counsel, staying humble, keeping the Spirit) helps us endure. I talk about being doers of the word, not hearers only; welcoming strangers like the people of Quincy did; and practical ways to serve—yes, including finding refugee and local needs on JustServe.org. I also touch on Nauvoo ordinances, baptisms for the dead, and making temple work part of daily discipleship. At the end, I invite you to pray about one specific thing you'll do this week—and then go do it.    Follow me on Substack to get this sent directly to your inbox each week.  And if you haven't bought my book about the power of the Book of Mormon, which includes a simple five-step method to getting the most out of your study, you can buy it here.  Yipee! Feasting on the Words of Christ

In this episode, I dive into Doctrine and Covenants 115–120 and talk about what it really means when the Lord says, "His sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase." I share stories from early Church history—like Saints who gave up everything for their faith—and what we can learn from their examples today. I talk about obedience, tithing, staying loyal to the Prophet, and how the Lord sees and honors our efforts, even when we fall. This one is about faith, sacrifice, and choosing to shine on—even when it's hard.

In D&C 111–114, I talk about how the Lord truly "orders all things for our good," even when life feels messy or distracting. I share what I learned from Thomas B. Marsh's story—how quickly we can lose the Spirit through pride or anger, and how repentance brings us back. I also share personal experiences where the Lord provided for me in simple, miraculous ways, reminding me that He's always aware of us. This episode is about trusting God, keeping the Holy Ghost close, and strengthening our testimonies every single day. Follow me on Substack to receive these podcasts and transcripts directly in your inbox.  https://substack.com/@melaniestroud/note/p-175067456?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=6jc14      

In my first episode, I process the prophet's passing and recent heartbreak, then share how Alma 12–14, guarding the Spirit, and a call to virtue softened my heart. I discuss why repentance matters, how peace returns, and why I'm finally starting this channel.  Here's a link to my Substack account. Click over there to get involved. https://open.substack.com/pub/melanie... I don't know what happened from my phone to here - something went wacky. I wasn't using some crazy filter to erase my face. I will work that out for next time. Sorry! If you'd like to read the book I talked about, Feasting on the Words of Christ you can get it here. Shine on!

In this episode, I share lessons from Zion's Camp in Doctrine and Covenants 103–105 and how they apply to our lives today. We talk about trials of faith, unity, and the need to be spiritually prepared through temple covenants. I also reflect on my own struggles with starting new projects, the importance of sharing the gospel in everyday moments, and Elder Bednar's reminder to ask: Who's on the Lord's side?

In this week's study of Doctrine & Covenants 102–105 ("After much tribulation cometh the blessings"), I walk through why the first high council was organized and the loving purpose of membership councils, then trace Zion's Camp and what it taught the Saints—and us—about obedience, timing, and building Zion through righteousness. I share stories like Reddick Allred's steady faith and 22-year-old Nathan Baldwin's instant obedience, plus a modern example of following prophetic counsel even when it's hard. My personal takeaway: I want to be the one who turns west the moment the Spirit whispers. Also…watch for my new joy project (on YouTube!)—I'm finally acting on that nudge.  Check out my book, "Feasting on the Words of Christ," where I share a simple, five-step method for receiving answers to your prayers through the scriptures. You're really going to love it!

In this episode covering Doctrine and Covenants 94–97, I talk about how the Lord gives us patterns—whether in building temples or in building our lives—and how following His plan brings blessings we can't find in the world's way of doing things. I share a listener's touching review about the power of the Book of Mormon, insights on the Lord being in the details, and lessons from Joseph Smith's insistence on building the Lord's house His way. We discuss chastening as a sign of God's love, Hyrum Smith's eagerness to begin the Lord's work, and how temples and Zion invite us to become pure in heart. Most of all, this episode reminds us that the Lord wants to refine, bless, and multiply us when we humbly follow Him.   See Saints, 1:169–70; "A House for Our God," Revelations in Context, 165–73. Below is the talk I referenced, The Lord's Strange Act by Rex C Reeve. https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/rex-c-reeve-sr/lords-strange-act/

This week I'm diving into Doctrine and Covenants 93—"Receive of His Fulness." I talk about Elder Renlund's message on "Infuriating Unfairness" and the importance of being stone-catchers instead of stone-throwers, share some powerful listener stories about following the prophet, and explore how we grow grace by grace, just like the Savior did. We'll look at what it means to climb the ladder of exaltation one step at a time, how light and truth fill our lives as we keep the commandments, and why setting our own homes in order really matters. I hope this episode reminds you that you are a child of God with divine potential and that little by little, you can receive of His fulness. From the manual:  "When you climb up a ladder," Joseph Smith taught, "you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 268). Sometimes that ladder of exaltation seems impossibly high , but we were born to climb to the top. Whatever limitations we may see in ourselves, Heavenly Father and His Son see something glorious in us, something godlike. Just as Jesus Christ "was in the beginning with the Father," so "ye were also" (Doctrine and Covenants 93:21, 23). Just as He "continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness," so also "you shall receive grace for grace" (verses 13, 20). The restored gospel teaches us about the true nature of God, and so it also teaches us about ourselves and what we can become. Despite the efforts of the "wicked one" (verse 39)—and despite what you feel you may lack—you are a literal child of God with the potential to "in due time receive of his fulness" (verse 19). https://youtu.be/3mzj-gBeAZg?si=2JS0EzsTV4gm4bkB https://youtu.be/JBX-InLxObI?si=F-5cI1YIb6x3UeAD https://youtu.be/tMRm1NfpQYQ?si=FECvAJzW-_fBCuAy https://youtu.be/VZljNTyemcU?si=LL_Bz98ayO9-pNN1 Check out my book, "Feasting on the Words of Christ," where I share a simple, five-step method for receiving answers to your prayers through the scriptures. You're really going to love it!

In this episode, I continue with Doctrine & Covenants 88 and move into sections 89–92, "A Principle with a Promise." I share the wrestle I had over releasing this episode that talks about the vaccine, why I ultimately felt impressed to publish it, and how it ties into following the prophet and learning by faith. We'll look at what it means to submit our will to God, seek answers in the scriptures, and embrace the Word of Wisdom as both temporal counsel and spiritual promise. "… the submission of one's will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's altar. The many other things we "give," brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God's will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!" "Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father" Swallowed up in the Will of the Father Alan Jackson - Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus "Seek Learning By Faith," Elder David A. Bednar The Power of Sustaining Faith - Elder Eyring Synonyms for Sustain assist defend help aid approve back comfort confirm endorse support uphold validate verify lend a hand stand by stick up for Antonyms of sustain hinder obstruct condemn contradict deny disagree disapprove discourage disprove ignore invalidate oppose refuse reject Melanie's Video about the Vaccine Check out my book, "Feasting on the Words of Christ," where I share a simple, five-step method for receiving answers to your prayers through the scriptures. You're really going to love it!

In this episode, I dive into Doctrine and Covenants 88, an amazing revelation about light, glory, and the peace Christ offers us, even when life feels hard. I share how this section came in the middle of challenges for the early Saints and how it teaches us to seek God's will, not just our own. We'll talk about what it means to be sanctified, why consolation is just as much a gift as joy, and how the story of the brother of Jared shows the importance of doing our part before asking for miracles. Along the way, I share personal experiences, tender mercies, and lessons the Lord has been teaching me about trust, preparation, and finding light in dark places. What a Friend We Have in Jesus Hannah Kerr - Emmanuel Neal A Maxwell - Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father Neal A Maxwell - But for a Small Moment Sharon Eubank - Christ: The Light That Shines in Darkness

This episode is about journals, how the spirit feels and how it testifies to us, and about standing in holy places.   From the manual: Christmas Day is usually a time to ponder messages like "peace on earth" and "good will toward men" (see Luke 2:14). But on December 25, 1832, Joseph Smith's mind was occupied with the threat of war. South Carolina had just defied the United States government and was preparing for battle. And the Lord revealed to Joseph that this was only the beginning: "War," He declared, "will be poured out upon all nations" (Doctrine and Covenants 87:2). It seemed like this prophecy would be fulfilled very soon. But then it wasn't. Within just a few weeks, South Carolina and the U.S. government reached a compromise, and war was averted. But revelation is not always fulfilled at the time or in the way we expect. Nearly 30 years later, long after Joseph S mith was martyred and the Saints had moved west, South Carolina did rebel and civil war followed. Since then, war throughout the world has caused "the earth [to] mourn" (Doctrine and Covenants 87:6). While the prophecy was ultimately fulfilled, the value of this revelation is less in predicting when calamity will come and more in teaching what to do when it does. The counsel is the same in 1831, 1861, and 2021: "Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved" (verse 8).   Some of the apps I talked about were: Chatbooks for printing your Instagram accounts Happy Feed daily gratitude posts Day One Journaling App StoryWorth website sends email prompts that you fill out and return and they make it into a book.

This episode discusses the influence of the priesthood in our lives and the importance of taking the Book of Mormon seriously. Click here for a link to the talk, "Men and Women and Priesthood Power" By Elder M. Russell Ballard Click here for a link to the talk, "Revealed Realities of Mortality"  By Elder Paul B. Pieper Click here for the resources, "The Book of Mormon, they Keystone of our Religion," By Ezra Taft Benson  Below is the great talk, "The Book of Mormon – Keystone of our Religion" by Ezra Taft Benson

This episode is about "Where much is given, much is required." I also discuss how the Lord is bound when we do what He says.  This is the conference talk I referenced. If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments

In this episode, I sit down with Standard of Truth podcast hosts Dr. Garrett Dirkmaat and Dr. Richard LeDuc—two brilliant minds who somehow make 19th-century church history as fun as late-night comedy. We talk about what makes a source reliable, why passion doesn't equal expertise, and how to respond when someone says, "If you only knew what I know..."  If you've ever felt overwhelmed by anti-church content or wondered how to help a loved one struggling with their faith, this episode is a must-listen. It's funny, smart, and anchored in testimony. Listen in, laugh with us, and leave reminded that truth is worth seeking. Here is a link to their website, Standard of Truth.  Check it out.

This is a new episode that I recorded quickly this morning before work.  It briefly covers Doctrine and Covenants 76.   Shine on!

This episode includes the story about Levi Hancock and the preface to the Book of Commandments.  I share the story of the Spanish Branch and my husband's watch story from when he was young.  It talks about being excited about the gospel, letting the Holy Spirit guide you in sharing the gospel, and raising your kids.  And it talks about parenting.  A Sin-Resistant Generation Parents: The Prime Gospel Teachers of Their Children

This episode includes my interview with Amber Bell.  She is so inspiring!   Doctrine and Covenants 59 2 For those that live shall ainherit the earth, and those that bdieshall rest from all their labors, and their works shall follow them; and they shall receive a ccrown in the dmansions of my Father, which I have prepared for them. 3 Yea, blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion, who have obeyed my gospel; for they shall receive for their reward the good things of the earth, and it shall bring forth in its astrength. 4 And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with acommandments not a few, and with brevelationsin their time—they that are cfaithful and ddiligent before me. 5 Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt alove the Lord thy God with all thy bheart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt cserve him. Doctrine and Covenants 58 27 Verily I say, men should be aanxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; 28 For the power is in them, Please don't forget to do kind acts of service and post them online with the hashtag #tumorsandblooms Here is a link to Amber's Blog.  Go read it.  So inspirational www.cancerourthoughtsmystory.blogspot.com Here is the link to a  story about Amber https://nbc16.com/features/acts-of-kindness/acts-of-kindness-survivor-gives-back-to-oregon-cancer-foundation-with-flower-bouquets   https://youtu.be/UbsU3b2srQA?si=SzBpJDFtC9CduLLC  

In this podcast, Colton shares his journey of wrestling with faith after his mission—facing trials, addiction, and doubt. It was a deep, honest study of the Book of Mormon that brought him back. Through scripture, support, and the Spirit, he found renewed clarity and conviction. His story is a powerful witness of the Book of Mormon's ability to anchor us in truth. You can find him on Instagram @colton_b_miller