DEPRESSION, BIPOLAR & ANXIETY - LIVING AS A LATTER-DAY SAINT, LDS
A discussion about living a purposeful, gospel-filled life while struggling with mental illness, specifically depression, bipolar and anxiety disorders, from the perspective of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The podcast explores how to navigate mental health challenges within the context of LDS teachings and community. Listeners can contact the author via email for questions or comments.
Episodes
Episode #101 Self-worth - Self Esteem
Send us Fan MailUnderstanding one's value can be difficult process for anyone. Our world is a confusing place. Self-worth requires that we understand our value and feel that value and anytime feelings are required mental illness is going to make it that much more difficult.Support the show
Episode #168 - The Philosophies of Men and the Mingling of Scripture
Send us Fan MailWe should should be so very careful about our emotions and extending those emotions to our identity. Many of our emotional realities are not entirely real and can cause serious concerns in our lives.Support the show
Episode #294 - Morality OCD
Send us Fan MailOften as we battle mental illness we find ourselves overwhelmed by guilt. What can we do about this problem and does it have a name?Support the show
Episode #63 - A World Between (Temporary & Intermittent Mental Illness)
Send us Fan MailMental illness comes in many varieties and one of the most common is the temporary form. However, temporary doesn't mean its not problematic. Temporary mental illness actually accounts for many issues both in and out of the church.Support the show
Episode #126 - How Do You Hear Him?
Send us Fan MailOne of the most difficult spiritual skills we must acquire is to be able to hear and respond to the Spirit of the Lord, while we work through our mental illness. It is important as we do so to understand just how the Spirit works in our lives and avoid some of the more common misconceptions.Support the show
Episode #174 - Broken Vessels & Eternal Life
Send us Fan MailWhen we suffer from mental and emotional illness, questions of exaltation and celestial life can be difficult to reconcile. However, we must fully understand the mercies of Christ and their power to heal and exalt.Support the show
Episode #263 - Faith to Move Mountains
Send us Fan MailWhat does it take to develop faith to move mountains?Support the show
Episode # 293 - The Power of Deliverance
Send us Fan MailThe Lord may bring us into bondage from time to time but he always provides for a way of healing and relief.Support the show
Episode #292 - Lot's Wife and Looking Back
Send us Fan MailWhy was Lot's wife and family told not to look back. The answer provides value to everyone especially those who suffer.Support the show
Episode #258 - Repentance & Mental Illness
Send us Fan MailRepentance is such a different process when you live with mental illness.Support the show
Episode #247 - The Work of Happiness
Send us Fan MailThis week's episode is one of my favorites recorded in 2022.Support the show
Episode #291 - Returning Early and Calling Weakness
Send us Fan MailWhat does the Lord say when we return early or cannot continue in our current calling?Support the show
Episode #245 - The Character of Christ
Send us Fan MailWhen we understand the character and nature of Christ, we come to understand ourselves and the power of the atonement to change our natures especially when we find ourselves in difficult trials and circumstances.Support the show
Episode #290 - Long Roads and Difficult Sacrifices
Send us Fan MailSometimes we simply do not know how long the road will be or how difficult the sacrifices that will be required. But what we do know is that he will always be with us.Support the show
Episode #248 - Choices
Send us Fan MailFinding the Savior in our daily walkSupport the show
Episode #290 Enduring It Well
Send us Fan MailEnduring is one of the most misunderstood words in the scriptural cannon. To endure well means so much more than what is on the surface. And yet when understood brings a peace that few can achieve. Support the show
Episode #289 - Pausing Doubt
Send us Fan MailMany times to obtain the truth we need we must pause our doubt. Pausing doubt can be one of the most beneficial things we can do when afflicted with mental health concerns.Support the show
Episode #288 - Stress Triggers
Send us Fan MailStress is the motivational source for our symptoms. The greater the stress in our lives the more likely we are to have difficult symptoms. So what can we do?Support the show
Episode #287 - My Road to Happiness
Send us Fan MailWe are spiritual beings living a mortal life. It is important to remember that happiness is found in the journey not the destination.Support the show
Episode #286 - Resolutions
Send us Fan MailResolutions can be tough to tackle when you suffer with mental health problems. But there exist ways that it can be done successfully. Most of all, it is important to remember that placing undo stress upon oneself is never a good method of managing our illness.Support the show
Episode #285 - The Divine Gift
Send us Fan MailThere is much we can learn from and apply to our lives regarding the Savior's birth in Bethlehem.Support the show
Episode #67 Learning to Love Ourselves as we Are
Send us Fan MailSo much of the pain and heartache surrounding church membership and mental illness is the guilt we feel when we don't have the capacity to serve. Our illness limits us in so many ways and when we are limited, we don't feel whole, complete or worthy. However, if we accept our limitations and work within them through the Lord, they can provide a unique perspective and unde
Episode #284 - Can You Feel So Now
Send us Fan MailSometimes the pruning we experience in life feels too much. But the Lord knows what he is doing and knows what we need.Support the show
Episode #283 - Trusting The Process
Send us Fan MailSometimes through difficult waters we must trust the processes of the Lord as he has born the same yoke that we are wearing.Support the show
Episode #7 To Be Healed
Send us Fan MailWhy would the Lord allow for an illness such as depression to continue? A discussion of what it means to be healed and the process healing within the context of gospel principles. Also a recounting of the author's experiences regarding healing, the power of the priesthood and the process that it takes to be healed.Support the show
Episode #17 To the Leaders
Send us Fan MailMental illness is more common among church members than most leadership would think and the leadership of a ward is most likely to encounter it on a regular basis. Sometimes everything about the illness is relegated to the LDS services black box. There are many good things that a leader can accomplish to aid the individual in their treatment and management of the illness. This p
Episode #282 - The Harder We Try
Send us Fan MailSometimes the harder we try the more difficult it gets.Support the show
Episode #281 - The Road to Emmaus
Send us Fan MailOften our road to Emmaus is filled with perils, roadblocks, inclines and danger and like the disciples we can be traveling with the Lord and not even know it.Support the show
Episode #231 - Simon Peter
Send us Fan MailSometimes we find ourselves doubting that we can complete our foreordained mortal missions because we experience emotional and mental illness. That somehow our illness has thwarted our divine purposes. This idea is simply not true. The Lord made accommodations for our divinely instituted weaknesses and has provided everything necessary that we may accomplish our missions and do
Episode #280 Strange Roads & Spacious Buildings
Send us Fan MailSometimes we find ourselves on strange roads with a yoke to heavy to bear.Support the show
Episode #279 Deafening Doubt in Depression-Anxiety
Send us Fan MailDoubt is the enemy of faith and during depressive episodes the chemistry of the body pushes the individual to doubt everything from their worthiness to their own personality. Understanding this principle of depression can help to overcome serious issues both physically and spiritually during an episode.Support the show
Episode #120 - Developing a Deepening Relationship with Christ
Send us Fan MailA relationship with the Savior and the Father is one of the most important aspects of conversion and mental illness feels like the perfect imperfection when it comes to the development of this relationship. There are however things we can do even when we suffer to better define and develop this relationship.Support the show
Episode #278 - Battling Social Anxiety
Send us Fan MailOne of the more common sides of mental and emotional illness that often goes undiagnosed is Social Anxiety. It can be paralyzing to anyone who suffers but more especially to a church member who is required by commandment to be actively engaged.Support the show
Episode #197 - Spiritual Giants
Send us Fan MailDeep spiritual reservoirs require difficult trials. Our trials are given in proportion to our spiritual nature.Support the show
Episode #277 - The Three Doctors
Send us Fan MailAs we navigate the world of mental health, we will need significant amounts of help and aid. Three of those aids will come in the form of doctors, Mental, Physical and Spiritual.Support the show
Episode #276 - Patience
Send us Fan MailPatience, while difficult to learn and apply, is the precursor to all other celestial attributes and is one of the pillars of celestial life. Celestial patience is the key to all other blessings that the Lord has for us in the eternities.Support the show
Episode #165 - The Lies He Tells Us
Send us Fan MailWhile we often speak of the Savior and his healing methods it is important to recognize the methods of the Adversary and the Lies He Tells Us. This episode discusses those lies and how to recognize them for what they are.Support the show
Episode #275 - Personality Disorders
Send us Fan MailPersonality disorders will not deemed mental or emotional illness tend to run high in individuals with mental and emotional illness. They are terribly difficult to eradicate in our lives and can be the source of deep divides and relationship problems especially within the church social circles.Support the show
Episode #274 - A Messy Reality
Send us Fan MailWhile I often talk about how the doctrine and principles of the gospel apply to our lives and our illness, the practical application can be somewhat messy.Support the show
Episode #223 - Moving Mountains of Doubt
Send us Fan MailI hope that you enjoy this episode. It has always been one of my favorites and perhaps one of the more relevant ones to my life.Support the show
Episode #273 - Talents & Mites
Send us Fan MailWhat is functional capacity and what does it have to do with our illness?Support the show
Episode #1 What it is all about?
Send us Fan MailThis podcast is an introduction to living with depression as a Latter-day Saint and an introduction to the author of the podcast. The entire series is a personal look at living the gospel from the perspective of the author who has living with Bipolar Disorder throughout his life from teenage years through a mission, marriage and eight children. The first podcast is meant only to
Episode #272 - Lot's Wife & Healing
Send us Fan MailWe are not sure why exactly Lot's wife was told not to look back or why she did but the command to not look back has been part of the gospel for a very long time. And for good reason.Support the show
Episode #271 - Anger Addiction
Send us Fan MailHave you ever thought of anger as an addiction? It is a terrible vice that can destroy your life and others. And we who suffer with mental illness have deep tendencies to find our way into this addiction very easily.Support the show
Episode #1001 - Norm Walda's Story
Send us Fan MailThis is the first episode in our mid-week series highlighting individuals who suffer with mental and emotion illness and are working to live the gospel. The interview is raw and uncut and you will even notice a solar flare problem during the episode. We hope you will find something inside of his story that helps you.Support the show
Episode #269 - The Catalyst to Charity, Hope and Patience
Send us Fan MailHave you ever thought that there might be a celestial benefit to your mental and emotional illness?Support the show
Episode #268 - Foreordination, Destiny & Trials
Send us Fan MailHave you ever wondered if God truly knows everything. Omniscience can be a difficult concept alongside agency but the two can live together. And when they do, the impossible becomes possible and the Atonement of the Savior demonstrates its divine power.Support the show
Episode # 267 - The Healing Process
Send us Fan MailWhat does it mean to be healed? In my experience with healing and mental illness, healing is far more about the process than the destination.Support the show
Episode #266 - Learning Happiness
Send us Fan MailCan one be happy and suffer with mental and emotional illness? The answer to that question depends upon you.Support the show
Episode #265 - The Power of Silence
Send us Fan MailWhen the Lord is silent is when I most listen in my life. I have found that silence brings blessings given time and effort.Support the show
Episode #264 - Spiritual Healing
Send us Fan MailWhat does it take to be spiritual healed? And what do our trials have to do with it.Support the show
Episode #262 - Why We Don't Receive Revelation - Laying Aside Sin
Send us Fan MailThere exist many good reasons why our communication with our Father and Savior gets interrupted. Yes sin is always a hinderance. But there exist many other good reasons why we are not hearing the voice of the Lord.Support the show
Episode #261 - Premortal Identity
Send us Fan MailWhen we consider identity and seeking out our personal identity, we should always consider our premortal identity our true natureSupport the show
Episode #260 - Tomorrow
Send us Fan MailWe often get lost in the idea of tomorrow without realizing the consequences.Support the show
Episode #259 - LGBTQ+ Issues & Covenant Desire
Send us Fan MailLGBTQ+ Issues & Covenant DesireSupport the show
Episode #257 - Who Are You?
Send us Fan MailWhile the world wants to define your identity, the Lord already has.Support the show
Episode #256 - Spiritual Practicality
Send us Fan MailSometimes we just need to hear it from a practical sense.Support the show
Episode #255 - WHY???!!!>>...
Send us Fan MailWhy? Why must we suffer?Support the show
Episode #254 - Between Faith and Fear
Send us Fan MailWhat does is mean to have faith? What does is mean to fear? Have you ever thought that fear might be reduced to the emotion we feel when we know our ability to choose is about to be restricted. Faith and Fear is about agency.Support the show
Episode #253 - Mirrors
Send us Fan MailWhen you look in the mirror what do you see? If you do not see what the Lord sees then you are projecting a false image of yourself, a masked image and masking has consequences.Support the show
Episode #252 - A Journey of a Thousand Miles
Send us Fan MailIt is often that revelation and miracles are not seen or recognized until long after they have occurred. Such is the case with the story today.Support the show
Episode #251 - The Devil's Playground
Send us Fan MailThere exists two major forces inspiring Lucifer's dictatorship. The first is fear. And the second is contention. Both work in the dark to inspire pride, jealously and a host of difficulties.Support the show
Episode #250 - In Defense of Emma Hale Smith
Send us Fan MailThis week seemed appropriate to bring back Emma to our memory. She was and is a valiant servant of God. I believe that she was valiant to the end, even given what has been written. She did not travel west. She may have had some issues with Brigham and others. What I see in her is a brave, kindhearted, determined woman. Much of what occurred in her later life can be reasonably
Episode #249 - Mortality and the Anti-Christ Within Us
Send us Fan MailThe mortal natural man within our body chemistry is a powerful force that is necessary but can be turned against our spiritual nature. It can act as a powerful Anti-Christ force if we allow for it to occur. However, seeing these philosophies in their true light can help us avoid our mortal failings especially when we suffer with mental illness.Support the show
Episode #246 - The Prodigal
Send us Fan MailWe can all feel like the prodigal son or daughter and yet we find that both the older brother and the prodigal were wrong in their perceptions.Support the show
Episode #244 - That Guilty Feeling
Send us Fan MailGuilt is a primary emotion of the body that allows it to maintain habit formation but it can also be a terrible obstacle to mental and emotional illness.Support the show
Episode #243 - Broken Vessels & Eternal Life
Send us Fan MailGiven that mental health awareness month is upon us. It is important to understand that we are children of God and Christ and broken vessels are the Lord's specialty.Support the show
Episode #242 - Spiritual Origins & Mortal Shells
Send us Fan MailMortality can be a difficult place for someone suffering with mental and emotional health issues. It can very much feel as though your mortal body is controlling you rather than you your body. And yet with all of this it is so important to remember that the your spirit is perfect in form and function and one day we will be resurrected perfect and "Finally Free".Support
Episode #241 - Grace, Mercy & Covenant Protection
Send us Fan MailWhen we partake of covenants and live the gospel, we will find grace, mercy and protection, but it is very important to remember just how individual those blessings are to each of us. Support the show
Episode #240 - Anxiety Disorders & Sharing the Gospel
Send us Fan MailAnxiety and sharing the gospel may seem like incompatible ideas. And yes anxiety certainly causes issues. Many individuals see their weakness as failure but that is not what the Lord sees.Support the show
Episode #239 - How Do I Know?
Send us Fan MailThe path of the disciple is marked by our relationship with the Savior. Often we look for the divinely appointed steps of exaltation, thinking that all must be revealed to us as we walk the path. The truth is that beyond the revelation we know to be revelation exists a strong undercurrent of revelation that we don't see keeping us moving ever forward on the path. The Lord c
Episode #238 - The Path of Discipleship
Send us Fan MailWe so often in our lives want to define our personal path of discipleship and then tell the Lord what the blessings should be. Yet that is not the definition of a disciple. It is He who determines our path and so often his path is nothing like ours.Support the show
Episode #237 - The Balm of Gilead
Send us Fan MailIs Medication really right for me? What to consider and what medications are available?Support the show
Episode #236 - Can You Feel So Now
Send us Fan MailAre you on the path? Are you in good standing with the Lord? Are you enough and can you feel it? So often these questions cause us deep reflection and trouble when it comes to living the gospel with mental and emotional illness. Support the show
Episode #235 - Joy - Happiness and Mortal Chemistry
Send us Fan MailWhat is joy? What is happiness? So often in the church we talk about ideas such as joy and happiness but have a limited idea as to what they truly mean in our lives.Support the show
Episode #234 - Bad Days
Send us Fan MailWe all face bad days and troubling moments. That is no secret. But do we understand their purpose in the celestial realms and trials.Support the show
Episode #233 - Perfectionism - Faith Crisis
Send us Fan MailPerfectionism is a very unique coping mechanism built to calm our personal anxieties. However, it can be an often is problematic to life in this world and the church. We can view the church and world's requirements as daunting, overwhelming and difficult to bear. Yet when we come to understand why we use perfectionism as a coping mechanism we can better come to know the Sa
Episode #232 - The Second Mile
Send us Fan MailSo often in life the answer to our problems in life or when we are seeking blessings is do more, serve more, be more. The difficulty with this approach is that our personal spiritual efforts are only part of the equation.Support the show
Episode #230 - Faith and Fear
Send us Fan MailFaith can be a troubling subject when you suffer with mental illness. It is important to understand what faith is, what fear is and how we can work through the difficulties we face.Support the show
Episode #229 - Job
Send us Fan MailFaith that brings forth miracles is certainly a foundational faith but remaining faithful without seeing the miracle and even in the face of severe trials is the faith that builds the temple.Support the show
