Dec. 11 – Dec. 17
Choose at least 1 episode to listen to.
Option 1: Time for the Savior at Christmas: Elder Neil L. Andersen (31 minutes)
Summary: By following the prophet’s invitation to make time for the Savior daily, we can experience the special spirit of Christmastime year-round. BYU devotional from December 2021.
Option 2: Called to Create Podcast: Steven Sharp Nelson (44 minutes)
Summary: Steven Sharp Nelson is the only cellist in history to play atop the Great Wall of China, among the Chichen Itza ruins in Mexico, in front of The Christ Redeemer Statue in Rio, at the Petra sandstone city in Jordan, near the Iguazu Falls in Brazil and Argentina, on the grounds of the most iconic castle (Eilean Donan) in Scotland and, best of all, on the Death Star! He has written hundreds of compositions, including two full length symphonies, and sings, plays the piano, the drums, guitar, the bass, the mandolin, the ukulele, and the nose flute. Steven is considered a pioneer in a style he coined, called “cello percussion.” Steven feels grateful that he’s just barely famous enough to make a living, but plenty obscure enough to have a life. And that life, he has found, is best lived when striving to follow the teachings and example of his Best Friend and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Option 3: Faith Matters Podcast: Savior of the World-A Conversation with Esther Candari. (59 minutes)
Summary: As we imagine many of you have, we’ve been thinking a lot about Jesus these last few weeks. From the nativity we set up in our living room to the movies we’re watching to the hymns we’re singing in Church, this is a time that in so many beautiful ways, makes him more prominent in our lives and minds.
And one question naturally comes up from there: when we imagine Jesus, what do we see? For many of us, it’s probably heavily influenced by the art we grew up with. If you’re like us, you might even be imagining the famous Del Parson painting, featuring the red-robed Jesus with piercing blue eyes.
But as today’s guest, Esther Candari, points out, some of this imagery strays quite far from what Jesus, a middle-eastern man born 2000 years ago, probably looked like. But she’s also quick to point out that historical accuracy may not be the point either — none of us do know what Jesus looked like. And if Jesus is the Savior of the World, then couldn’t there be room for diverse images Jesus in religious art that allows members of a similarly diverse, worldwide Church to resonate deeply and personally with it?
That’s what we spoke about with Esther in today’s episode, and we found her perspectives fascinating. To give you just a bit more about her background, Esther Hi’ilani Candari is an Asian-American artist and educator from Hawai’i. She has an BFA from BYU-H, an MFA from Liberty University, studied at the New York Academy of Art, and interned with Joseph Brickey. One of her favorite projects so far was working on the Rome Temple Visitors Center mural with Joseph. Her work can be found in galleries and bookstores across Utah including Deseret Book. In addition to her studio work, she teaches art courses for Southern Virginia University, manages programming for Writ & Vision Gallery, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Dialogue Foundation. In her ward she serves as the first counselor in the Relief Society Presidency.
Option 4: The Come Back Podcast: Aaron opens up about his struggles with addiction stemming from his parent’s divorce and how he used the atonement to heal. (37 minutes).
Summary: CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains sensitive content that may be triggering or offensive to some audiences. Parental discretion is advised.
“I was able to bring suppressed memories to the surface, deal with it as an adult, go back and forgive my mom and forgive myself. That was when real healing began. If you are holding a grudge against someone — no matter how bad it was — number one you have to forgive them, or else you will get eaten up. You aren’t hurting anyone but yourself if you’re not forgiving someone. Number two pray, and God will guide you on how to do that. That is where healing came, it was still a process and work but then I was able to deal with committing to someone and not running. I no longer had the desire to use women anymore because I had dealt with that.”
Option 5: This week’s Come Follow Me study lesson.
Summary: Hank Smith and John Bytheway with special guests discuss this week’s Come Follow Me lesson.
Option 7: Power in the Word with Scott Read.
Summary: Scott Read, Weber Institute Instructor, discusses Christmas.