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

Ep 186 S7 Jesika Woodall 'Look to God and Live' D. Todd Christopherson

·29 min·1 clip

A bus rolled down a hill in Lesotho, caught on fire, and several young women died.

1. Thinking Celestial - A ”Follow The Prophet” Series Podcast discusses D. Todd Christofferson’s talk “Look to God and Live,” with Dr. Kirk Burbage and Jesika Woodall. 2. Dr. Kirk Burbage says he is an institute teacher at the Salt Lake Community College Institute of Religion on the Redwood campus in Taylorsville, and Jesika Woodall joins him as a first-time guest. 3. The episode asks what Christofferson’s talk is for: how to turn to God during grief, deception, and ordinary decisions. 4. Jesika says her family left the church, but she kept going with her grandma and found her testimony by herself. 5. Kirk connects that to President Oaks’ BYU devotional on how to battle deception and missing important truths. 6. The first major story is the bus accident in Lesotho, Southern Africa, where a bus rolled down a hill, caught on fire, and many people died. 7. Kirk names the losses as the branch president, his wife, young women leaders, and six young women in the ward. 8. Jesika says a survivor in the hospital testified, “Jesus Christ loves us and is with us even though our hearts hurt.” 9. Jesika describes losing her mom on her mission and feeling peace through prayer when she asked God to heal her. 10. She also describes an Ohio Columbus mission conference in the Kirtland Temple, with gray clouds outside and a sudden feeling that the Spirit was “so thick.” 11. Kirk says the sky turned from a blanket of clouds to “brilliant blue,” and he treats that change as a tender mercy. 12. Jesika compares that experience to God being present in “the small details of things” even when the situation is hard. 13. The brass serpent story becomes the next focus, especially Alma’s example of looking at a raised serpent instead of hardening the heart. 14. Jesika says that taught her not to overcomplicate turning to Christ and to use sacred music, scriptures, and prayer. 15. Kirk asks how a person keeps believing when there are reasons to explain belief away, and Jesika answers by comparing herself to Nephi remembering personal experiences. 16. The talk then shifts to “prosper,” which Kirk and Jesika define as guidance, blessings, economic wellbeing, and the capacity to rise above hardship. 17. Kirk and Jesika discuss Peter walking on water and use that scene to describe reaching for Christ before sinking. 18. The episode stays reflective and conversational, with Kirk asking follow-up questions and Jesika answering from mission, family, and sacrament-meeting experiences. 19. Listeners who like Latter-day Saint scripture discussion, General Conference reflection, and personal testimony stories would likely appreciate this episode. 20. Listeners who want fast pacing, debate, or non-religious commentary would probably skip it.

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