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Hello everyone! On today’s show, I speak with Brent Basden who served in the Colombia, Cali mission from 1986 to 1988

And in my missionary minute, I talk about living the gospel.

So let’s get to it!

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A big thanks to my good friend Brent Basden. As you can imagine, the Basden family is well-loved in our ward and stake.

In today’s missionary minute I wanted to share a little more about Brent’s story. I had heard about Brent’s conversion story from my wife Jen previous to ever moving to Port Angeles, WA. The girl that he dated was actually my sister-in-law, Jen’s sister, and the family that he spoke about is my wife’s family, so they have an interesting history and tie to the story. What I find fascinating is that my sister-in-law, Terra, just seemed to be living the gospel. She followed the Church standards. The family lived a gospel-centered life and they were very close. That was one of the things that piqued Brent’s interest in the Church. It was how he felt in their home. It was the love that he saw among them.

I think that we can sometimes underestimate the power of example. Ye shall know them by their fruits.

There is a light about a young worthy member of the Church. They have the light of Christ in them. President Nelson has talked about turning our homes into sanctuaries of faith. Others can feel that Spirit when they come into your home.

Now Brent’s family are good people with good Christian values. President Hickley said, ”Bring with you all the good that you have, and then let us see if we can add to it.” I think that is what we see here. Brent came from a good family with good values and a solid teaching of Jesus Christ. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ adds to that. It enriches that. It adds eternal marriage, temples, and covenants with God.

When we moved to Port Angels, Brent was then President Basden. He was the stake president. He called me to be a counselor in the bishopric with Bishop Woodhouse, who I eventually replaced when he was released.

My inlaws went from seeing him as a nice young man who was a non-member dating one of their daughters, to joining the Church, to serving a mission, to going to BYU, to marrying a Char who he met at BYU, to getting a JD from BYU, to moving back to Port Angeles and serving in the Church in various callings and then servings as their bishop and then their stake president.

Brent was released as stake president after serving 9-10 years, I don’t remember exactly how long.

About a year later when I was called as bishop, I was praying about counselors I had his name come to my mind immediately. I tried to put it out of my mind because he had previously served as a bishop and stake president. It didn’t seem like I should call him as a counselor. I actually felt bad about even considering him.  But then a scripture came to my mind. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  And I had my answer. I knew who I wanted to call as one of my counselors. And as a side note, the other counselor who was a previous guest Matt Kiddle also came to my mind immediately, but I just didn’t have the same concerns that I had with Brent.

So there you have it. Our lives are intertwined and we never know who we might influence just by following the commandments, following the prophet, and in every way following our Savior Jesus Christ.

This is not an official production of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The opinions expressed are by the host and guest.