Claim OwnershipLDS Podcast "Latter-Day Lights" - Inspirational LDS Stories
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© 2025 LDS Podcast "Latter-Day Lights" - Inspirational LDS Stories
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Popular LDS Podcast "Latter-Day Lights" gives members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the opportunity to share their stories of inspiration and hope to other members throughout the world. Stories that members share on Latter-Day Lights are very entertaining, and cover a wide range of topics, from tragedy, loss, and overcoming difficult challenges, to miracles, humor, and uplifting conversion experiences! If you have an inspirational story that you'd like to share, hosts Scott Brandley and Alisha Coakley would love to hear from you! Visit LatterDayLights.com to share your story and be on the show.
170 Episodes
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What if the struggle that nearly broke you was the path God used to bring you back to His light? Aussie mom and former maximum-security corrections officer, Jac Woodhouse, hit rock bottom in a myriad of ways—dehumanizing workplace misogyny, parting from a 15-year career, navigating her son’s serious health challenges, and fighting her own battle with suicidal ideation. It felt as though one more misstep would’ve broken the camel’s back, until one tender mercy flipped everything around for th...
What if your child's youth nights became adventures modeled after Book of Mormon heroes? On today’s episode of Latter-day Lights, we’re joined by Josh Chapman, a creative father of six from Ogden, Utah, who retired from his day job to create 'Nephi’s Apprentice'. Nephi’s Apprentice is a gospel-centered program that takes life skills like compass work, tool-making, and conflict resolution, and ties them directly to the stories and examples of Nephi and other Book of Mormon heroes. Designed...
What happens when years of faith-formed grit turn minutes of daily discipline into record-breaking triumphs? This week on Latter-day Lights, Scott and Alisha welcome Guinness World Record holder, book worm, and Gospel-loving Latter-Day Saint—DonnaJean Wilde—to the show, whose once broken wrist and five-minute planking challenge sparked a decade-long journey of fitness fueled by scripture study and mindset training. More than just a story, she unpacks the habits and “living toolboxes” th...
How far can mercy reach when a decades-long double life finally unravels, shaking a ward’s trust and a family’s heart? This week on Latter-day Lights, Scott and Alisha welcome back Martin Onken for Part Two of his story—the hope-filled conclusion to his twelve-year journey of repentance. In part one, Martin opened up about a lonely, complicated childhood that left him hungry for love and belonging. Leaning on his relationship with God to seek out the acceptance he was lacking, he found purpos...
What happens when bad choices and "small sins" spiral into life-altering consequences? Martin Onken's raw testimony reveals how a single decision at age 16 to "sin a little" led to decades of deception and a double life that impacted countless people. Born to Dutch-Indonesian parents who survived Japanese prisoner-of-war camps, Martin's childhood was marked by emotional disconnection and a desperate search for love. Finding temporary solace in Catholicism, he developed a relationship ...
What creativity sparks within when one faith-led author blends scripture, sci-fi, and service to inspire a community? This week on Latter-day Lights, Scott and Alisha welcome back M.D. (Michael) House—novelist and president of LDSPMA—to walk us through his unlikely path from corporate finance to an anthology of stories that intentionally spread the light of the Gospel. Michael shares eye-opening insight into all the best pieces of advice from various books and talks that inspired his writin...
What if the life you dreamed of for yourself never showed up—because God used it to write an even better story? This week on Latter-Day Lights, life coach and host of “The Single LDS Woman Podcast,” Sharon Lamar, opens up about spending 30 years of her life as a single Latter-Day Saint before marrying at 52. With humor, candor, and resilient faith, Sharon unpacks the quiet heartache of unmet expectations, the societal pressures we inherit from romcoms to fairytales, and the backhanded stateme...
What if the perfect once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ended up being the one God meant for you to turn down? This week on Latter-day Lights, Scott and John Brandley sit down with animator Pablo Smith to share the story of how he combined his two greatest passions in life: teaching the gospel, and animation. Having worked at legendary studios in the industry such as Nick Jr., Disney, and Dreamworks, Pablo took his skills into his own hands by independently crafting his most cherished and personal...
What unfolds when faith-driven creators stop flying solo, and start building together? This week on Latter-day Lights, Scott Brandley and co-host Larry Johnson sit down with publishing veteran Steve Piersanti—founder and CEO of Berrett-Koehler Publishers, and the driving force behind LDSPMA (Latter-day Saints in Publishing, Media & the Arts). Together, they retrace Steve’s path to success; from launching BYU’s Century Two journal, to rallying 45 volunteers in 2015, and growing that circle...
What if you had a front-row seat to literally watch the Spirit of Elijah sweep across the earth? In this powerful episode of Latter-day Lights, we sit down with Rachel Crump Mathews, a devoted disciple, Relief Society president, and one of the inspired leaders behind the global RootsTech conference. What began as a temporary job over a decade ago soon became a sacred calling—one that placed Rachel on the front lines of helping to grow and expand the Church's family history and genealogy eff...
When Heaven hands you another chance at life, what legacy will you protect for your bloodline? This Sunday on Latter-Day Lights, hosts Scott and Alisha welcome Joseph Smith Skeen to the show. As a direct descendant of Hyrum Smith, Joe unveils how near-death and a second chance at life became the spark that led him to safeguard his ancestor’s relics—from Alvin’s toolbox that once cradled the gold plates, to Hyrum’s bullet-scarred pocket watch, and even Civil War rifles used at Carthage. Now ...
When decades of lies and betrayal suddenly unravel, can the atonement stitch a marriage back together? On today’s episode of Latter-day Lights, we meet Heather and Cameron Berry—a couple whose world collapsed the instant one accidental photo exposed Cameron’s hidden, 30-year pornography addiction. In a single breath, trust was gone, and a once-steady marriage felt like moments from ending. Yet, from inside the wreckage, a different kind of miracle began to form. Through individual he...
When trials get steep and hope runs thin, what keeps you hanging on to faith? This Sunday, our 5-part “Faith to Stay” miniseries reaches its finale with a candid round-table discussion on “Enduring to the End.” Latter-Day Lights hosts Scott Brandley and Alisha Coakley welcome viral missionary Carter Ellis, and faith-forged father Jon Coakley—to unpack why staying aboard the gospel “ship” matters more than ever. From Carter’s galvanizing testimony that ignited social-media firestorms, to Jon’s...
When you discover ancient artifacts and petroglyphs near Nauvoo Illinois that support the Book of Mormon, do you keep it to yourself or share it? Episode 4 of our 5-part miniseries “Faith to Stay” unearths several ancient artifacts & petroglyphs—a vivid chapter in Latter-Day Lights host & founder Scott Brandley’s new book on standing firm through spiritual storms. This week, the Brandley family—Scott, and his uncles, John & Myron—retrace their 2019 trip to Illinois by showcasing...
When guilt feels heavier than hope, can forgiveness still rewrite our story? Episode 3 of our 5-part miniseries "Faith to Stay" tackles “Repentance & Forgiveness”—a burning topic in Latter-Day Lights host & founder Scott Brandley’s new book about navigating life’s fiercest spiritual storms. How are repentance and forgiveness interconnected, and how do we walk through them to achieve lasting peace? This Sunday, we welcome back prison therapist Kellen Winslow and excommunicated bishop...
How do you keep your faith when questions feel louder than answers? This Sunday, episode 2 of our 5-part “Faith to Stay” miniseries dives into the idea of “Primary vs. Secondary Questions”—a core principle from Latter-Day Lights host and founder Scott Brandley’s new book on weathering spiritual storms. Joined by returning guests—near-death survivor, Jerry Paskett, and Catholic-turned-Latter-day Saint, Dr. Fred Dodini—Scott and Alisha unpack Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge’s landmark talk “Stand...
How do you keep your faith strong in the world we live in today? This Sunday, we kickoff a special 5-part miniseries called “Faith to Stay”, that discusses topics from Latter-Day Light's host and founder, Scott Brandley’s latest book on “strengthening faith during the storms of life.” In episode 1, past guests Sheri Ramirez, Shane Baldwin, and Dusty Smith return to the show to share their eye-opening insights on the concept of “Faith in The Church Today.” Together, they tackle how faith cri...
This is the full streaming audiobook for Faith to Stay. This is my gift to you. It was written to help those who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who may be struggling with their faith. Please feel free to share this with anyone who you feel could use it. For more information about Faith to Stay, or to get the Free Digital version, go to www.faithtostay.com. Enjoy! Scott Brandley
What if the darkest parts of your past were the very things God used to lead you home? On today’s episode of Latter-day Lights, we meet Becky Sheffer—a woman whose childhood was marked by addiction, neglect, trauma, and instability. But through it all, small miracles began to appear—moments that quietly pointed her toward something greater. From squatting in abandoned homes and riding across the country in a broken-down car full of chickens, to living off-grid in a makeshift compound in the...
How does a parent stand back up when every corner of home echoes with grief? For EMT, educator, and loving mother Larissa Dagley, tragedy began at her teen son Cody’s shooting incident—a moment that left Cody drowning in relentless nightmares and bullying for the remainder of his life. Overwhelmed by guilt and depression, Cody took his own life almost 2 years later, plunging Larissa into a darkness so crushing, she feared her heart would literally break. Yet in the midst of excruciating grie...
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