Thinking Celestial - A ”Follow The Prophet” Series Podcast · SLCC Institute of Religion

Ep 180 S7 Andrea Shelly ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers’ Gary E. Stevenson

·31 min·1 clip

A rowdy child named Victor says “thank you” after Andrea answers him with kindness instead of punishment.

1. Thinking Celestial covers Gary E. Stevenson’s October 2025 General Conference talk “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” with Andrea Shelley. 2. The hosts are the podcast host and Andrea Shelley, who returns to discuss why this talk mattered to her personally. 3. The episode asks whether someone can become a peacemaker when “the world is in commotion” and the heart is “filled with fear.” 4. Andrea says she wanted to be a peacemaker from childhood, first by keeping everyone happy and stopping fights. 5. She then describes becoming more cynical as an adult and struggling with anger about tragedies and injustices. 6. Elder Stevenson’s opening line about “burdened” hearts and the Michigan tragedy is treated as an acknowledgment of grief before instruction. 7. The conversation notes that the talk begins after Dallin H. Oaks’ announcement that conference would continue rather than eulogize President Nelson. 8. Andrea says President Nelson’s prior joy-focused message and Elder Oaks’ BYU remarks on kindness and leaving judgments to God shaped how she heard this talk. 9. The discussion turns to the question of “perfect faith” and whether fear can exist alongside belief. 10. The host and Andrea distinguish between wanting peace and having the capacity to create it. 11. They use the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus asleep on a pillow, and the disciples’ panic to show that peace is not the same as calm weather. 12. The episode also revisits Peter stepping out of the boat, sinking, and crying, “Lord, save me,” as a picture of immediate help. 13. The hosts point out that the storm does not stop when Peter is rescued, which supports the idea that Christ can walk with people through turmoil. 14. Andrea highlights Elder Stevenson’s references to “Sermon on the Mount moments” through seminary, FSY, institute, and Come, Follow Me. 15. She says a class on symbols, combined with impressions from the Spirit and confirmation from her grandpa, has helped her learn through teachers and personal revelation. 16. The talk’s footnotes matter to her because they point listeners to President Nelson, President Oaks, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Matthew 5–7, Third Nephi 12:9, and John 14:27. 17. Andrea’s stories about children in daycare and at girls’ camp show kindness working in ordinary situations, not only in sermons. 18. The tone stays conversational and reflective, with long back-and-forth discussion and examples from family life, school, and church settings. 19. People who like scripture discussion, General Conference analysis, and practical peacemaking examples would likely enjoy this episode. 20. Listeners wanting a short, plot-driven episode with no church context may skip it.

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