LDSPMA

Empowering Latter-day Saints to spread light and truth by connecting them at the intersection of faith, creativity, and professional skill

Faith & Mindset

Religious Freedom: The Cornerstone of a Creative’s Work

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When Elder Ronald A. Rasband called for Latter-day Saints to “champion the cause of religious freedom,” it hit me with a ton of bricks. His words are still ringing in my ears because his message from the April 2022 General Conference landed a direct upper cut to LDSPMA artists to understand the issue of religious liberty and then apply our unique talents and voices in defending this god-given precept.

Today’s War over Religious Freedom

Elder Rasband is close to the fire of this conflict and feels the heat of contentious groups who are not merely seeking balance or equality in the discussion of rights but demand complete eradication of anything religious that stands in their way of living hwoever they choose.

We see various forms of this classic battle for religious freedom every day in the news, such as the bully leader of one country imposing its might on a defenseless neighbor through violence and raw brutality. 

Contentious groups…demand complete eradication of anything religious that stands in the way of living however they choose.

In Africa, we see the agony of millions who languish for want of food and security as their tyrannical leaders strip the once verdant farms of their resources for their gluttonous living.

We learn about the restriction of religious rights in high school classrooms where teachers use their authority to publicly humiliate and deride any student whose convictions vary from theirs.

Then there are those who are denied employment or career advancement because of Sabbath day worship. And there are many more stories we seldom hear about.

As I connect the dots of my life, I see that my passion for this issue began shortly after my mission in the mid-70s. The first incident was subtle, but on that day, lightening struck twice and left a mark.

My Discovery

I was going about my business in the production of my father’s newspaper when a news report on the radio quoted a particular politician in a European country who was red-in-the-face angry because the powerful economic engine of the U.S. was putting his country at a disadvantage. He demanded legislation to level the playing field.

I dismissed it. His comment didn’t deserve any further anxiety on my part.

A few minutes later, another news report described how the government of this same country was alarmed by possible threats from a growing minority population and was imposing religious restrictions to enforce their conformity to the country’s traditions.

On the surface these reports seem to have little in common. But with time and experience, I’ve come to see that religious freedom and a robust, safe society are two ends of the same stick. Mess with one, and you mess with the other.

The powerful economic engine this politician craved on the one hand was being suppressed by legislation that limited the rights of the people to innovate and create and aspire on the other.

Soon a new appreciation for the First Amendment developed as I studied journalism in college. Beyond learning about dangling participles and misplaced modifiers, I developed a reverence for the power and purpose of the right to speak and worship and assemble without governmental infringement.

This very right gives power to the economic engine, the exchange of ideas, and a deeper spectrum of understanding from which to draw meaning.

Religious Freedom and the Plan of Happiness

I believe the power of religious freedom is the bedrock upon which a robust and peaceful society is built. I believe it is absolutely foundational for the gospel plan of happiness to excel.

I see that religious freedom is essential to living life in a meaningful and productive way. Perhaps that’s why Elder Rasband’s call in a sacred setting to champion religious freedom resonates with me.

I suspect most LDSPMA artists have this same bedrock belief, but sometimes in life we are like the fish who have swam in warm waters for so long that they’ve forgotten what a blessing it is.

“Most of us drink from waters of religious freedom without even knowing it,” said Elder Patrick Keaton of the Seventy in the Conference on Religious Freedom in 2015. “We drink freely from the waters of religious freedom not aware of the contamination in the tributaries.

“We think of it as a river that will always flow but may not recognize the risks that exist in the tributaries that feed the river.”

In that address, Elder Keaton said that it might appear that rights just happen and are perpetuated without thought or effort on our part.

“We cannot forget the extraordinary resolve that went into protecting our abundance,” he said.

W. Cole Durham, a BYU law professor and proponent of religious freedom, once state that the challenge of preserving religious liberties is a “crisis of apathy, … of gradual erosion, … a crisis of lost moorings.”

Religious freedom and a robust, safe society are two ends of the same stick.

This drift is subtle. It proceeds in small steps, preventing public opinion from galvanizing. So gradual is the loss of religious freedoms, it’s as if a social anesthesia is gently lulling us to sleep, explained Professor Durham.

Our Duty as Latter-day Saints

While addressing this issue in a recent 2022 Church History Symposium, Elder Gerrit W. Gong taught that principles of religious freedom are part of the Restoration’s rich history and Latter-day Saints have a special duty to speak on behalf of religious liberty for all groups.

We may think that influencing society is the job of someone else who has more money or power. But who better to answer Elder Rasband’s call that us? He told us that we have the power and tools and skills for the task at hand. It is our turn as spiritual creators to do our part.

So, what’s an LDSPMA creative to do?

Counsel from Church leaders suggest:

  • Become educated on the issues and get involved in our communities.
  • Engage in amiable conversations with those with differing viewpoints.
  • Prayerfully create content that strengthens faith.
  • Realize your unique voice and share your perspective with passion and honest respect for others.

We have the needed gifts and tools

Perhaps more than any other industry, Latter-day media professionals are equipped with the gift and tools to educate the masses. Seen through this lens, our creative work takes on new relevance and meaning.

Faith-filled content is the antidote to preserving faith, family, and country from dissonant voices bent on destabilizing and destroying. According to Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Twelve, without religious freedom, other freedoms “wither and fade.”

Let us all keep his message ringing in our ears: “Religious liberty enables all to freely pursue truth and the meaning of life, and to live accordingly.”

Shaun Stahle

Shaun Stahle wanted to be an architect, but before he knew what was happening, he was graduating with a degree in journalism from BYU. Words and images have been his life ever since grabbing newspapers off his father’s little printing press at age five. Shaun’s lived a life rich in experience, writing for various weekly and daily newspapers, most notably the Church News section of the Deseret News for seventeen years, where he accompanied President Gordon B. Hinckley to visit members in the former Soviet Union. Now semi-retired, Shaun uses the power of words and images to heal and unite.

    How LDSPMA Changed My Life—- and Can Change Yours

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    Some lucky people know what they want to do early in their lives. Their career paths are clear straight lines. Far more frequently, though, career paths wind and twist and turn and tumble. They’re bumpy; they have ruts and potholes. They split off into the trees without road signs or mile markers. Maybe that’s why they’re called career “paths” and not highways or boulevards.

    A few years ago, I was on a particularly winding, rut-filled path myself. But in the world of creation, no matter whether you are on a straight path or a winding one, we all are going to need help at some point. We will need guidance, information, or encouragement.

    I needed all of that. And that’s what LDSPMA gave — and still gives — to me.

    Starting to find direction

    When I returned from my mission to Russia in August of 2018, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I had dabbled with health care and law in high school but found both unsatisfactory. I liked sports, I wasn’t interested in it as a career.

    When I first got home, I believed what many missionaries do, that I could continue my mission by teaching seminary. That idea faded quickly, and I was left in limbo. 

    We all are going to need help at some point. We will need guidance, information, or encouragement.

    While I drifted in uncertainty at Utah State University, I took a humanities class taught by former LDSPMA Education Director Joseph Batzel. In the class, we discussed various types of art and media, and learned to evaluate and think critically about their value.

    Near the end of the semester, we had a large assignment. I wrote a parody of Sherlock Holmes where he works as a janitor at an elementary school. Watson is split into two separate teachers, Ms. Watson and Mrs. John. There is a little mystery about a tipped-over garbage can and hidden treasure. It’s a piece I’m still proud of today — although I probably would have forgotten about it if it weren’t for Professor Batzel’s reaction.

    He wrote a thorough evaluation of my story, brought me in to talk about it, and sang a few of its praises to my classmates. I was embarrassed, but proud at the same time. I’d worked hard on that Sherlock Holmes story, and Professor Batzel recognized that. He knew it wasn’t going to win any awards, but he saw its potential and encouraged me. 

    Not long after that, he introduced me to another of his writer friends, who was another LDSPMA member. This friend was putting together an anthology of short stories. I submitted a story, and a few months later I had my first published work ever. And, my first milestone on my new path.

    Meeting others on the path

    I attended my first LDSPMA conference in 2019. I was nervous, and didn’t know what to expect. Beyond connecting and working with Professor Batzel and a few students in my creative writing classes, I had never really networked before. But on the first day that I walked into the conference, I felt welcomed. 

    We started in the Conference Center on the Brigham Young University campus. In the large crowd, I was waved down by Professor Batzel. He introduced me to a member of the Osmond family, Justin Osmond. 

    Five minutes later, I was listening to Elder John H. Groberg (as in John H. Groberg of The Other Side Of Heaven) give the keynote address on creating uplifting media. I checked the rest of the schedule. There would be presentations from Lisa Magnum and Chris Schlesinger from Shadow Mountain Publishing, T.C. Christiansen the filmmakers, Janice Kapp Perry the composer, and Jennifer Sterling, sister and assistant to Lindsay Sterling.

    I listened to professionals and enthusiasts from all branches of publishing and media present their advice and passion purely for the benefit of others over the course of the weekend conference. In those few days, I learned about networking, marketing, managing writing schedules, how to find an agent and a publisher, and so much more. I went from feeling like writing could be a hobby…to something that I could actually make into a career. 

    The power, purpose, and spirit of LDSPMA

    Since attending my first conference in 2019, I have attended other conferences and taken part in Zoom meetings with other LDSPMA members. Each interaction has uplifted and encouraged me. 

    I love writing for the LDSPMA blog from time to time. Working with the other writers and editors has made me a better writer. Every person not only wants to get better at what they do, but help others get better. 

    That’s the spirit of LDSPMA. 

    I went from feeling like writing could be a hobby…to something that I could actually make into a career.

    LDSPMA’s purpose is to “empower Latter-day Saints to become voices of light and truth in publishing, media, and the arts.” 

    And I’ve found that to be true. 

    LDSPMA gave me a foundation to start a career in something I love. I write for LDSDaily.com, I have published my first book, and I run a podcast called Mission Report designed to instruct future missionaries on how they can better prepare for their missions.

    I’m grateful for the resources and knowledge LDSPMA supplies me with. I look forward to attending more conferences, associating with the members of LDSPMA, and gaining more ability and understanding of how to uplift and inspire others. 

    From once feeling lost, I now love the path I’m on, and I look forward to what lies ahead down the road.

    Tyler Brian Nelson

    After serving a mission to Samara, Russia, Tyler graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in Creative Writing. Tyler is the author of Away From The Sun, a short collection of his written works, is the host of the Mission Report podcast, and runs the To Be Determined… blog. He lives in Provo with his drop-dead gorgeous wife, enjoys playing basketball, playing the banjo, studying history, and collecting Pokemon cards.

      Portrait of a Painter: The Journey of Latter-day Saint Artist Dan Wilson

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      Dan Wilson began drawing from the time he could pick up a pencil. “I doodled on everything,” he recounts. “My first sale was in 7th grade to one of my teachers. She had me draw John Wayne. I couldn’t believe she gave me $20. But I battled being an artist. I studied chiropractic, fire science, and business, but I always felt a tug to go back to art.”

      “Before graduation, Dan was all over the place,” said Heather, Dan’s wife of 13 years. “He couldn’t figure out what he wanted to do. I asked, ‘Why not art?’, but I never thought he would do it full time.” 

      Early Inspiration

      Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dan graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelor degree in fine arts. “My greatest mentors were Perry Stuart, a UVU art professor, and William Whittaker, who mentored me after college. I was inspired by Danish artist Carl Bloch and French artist William Bouguereau.”

      Dan is also inspired by his wife. “I wouldn’t be able to give it 100% if she wasn’t behind me,” he said. Dan first met Heather at Gold’s Gym. “I didn’t want to be that guy who gets her number at the gym,” he admitted, “then I ran into her at a dance two months later. The rest is history.” The couple has four boys and two girls ranging in age from two to eleven.

      Lightbulb Moment

      “I originally painted just to have a career. I did portrait art and wanted to get into galleries,” Dan said. “Then I painted my first image of Christ, and two families bought simple prints. One mother stopped me the next week at church, got emotional, and said, ‘You have no idea how much that image is uplifting us in our home.’ I thought, ‘That was really cool.’”

      The next week at the exact same spot, another woman stopped Dan. “She also got emotional and said, ‘I gave my print to my sister who’s trying to keep her family together. You have no idea how much it means to them and how much it’s helping.’ She said almost the exact same words. The lightbulb went off and I knew—I’m supposed to be painting for a reason, and that is to uplift people in their homes with images of Christ.”

      I’m supposed to be painting for a reason…

      “When Dan was deciding what he wanted to paint, he was up and down,” said Heather. “When he realized he wanted to paint the Savior, everything just fell into place.”

      Rigors of Aspiration

      But it hasn’t always been easy. To support his art career, Heather cleaned houses and Dan managed a freight forwarding business for FEDEX. “My first year I made $7,000 from my art,” he said, “but Heather never second-guessed the whole thing.” 

      In 2014, Dan started painting full time. “It’s not a normal nine-to-five job,” said Heather. “There’s no paid time off. His schedule varies. At six pm he may be in the middle of something he can’t leave. Sometimes he paints until midnight. But he’s a hard worker and takes on the responsibility of providing for the family. He constantly studies the work of other artists.”

      Inspiration is a Process

      Dan relies heavily on the power and process of inspiration. “If I’m painting the Savior for a temple, I just want to do Him justice. I’m intimidated every time,” he said. “I spend a lot of mental prep work getting ready to paint. I get a father’s blessing. I include it in my fast. Then I do the best painting I can with the Lord’s help.”

      Dan is quick to add that inspiration doesn’t come all at once. “I can take it only so far, and then I get stuck where I just don’t know what the best thing for the painting is. It’s then that I receive more answers.”

      Washington DC Temple Painting

      This process was repeatedly manifested in his largest work to date, “His Return,” a depiction of Christ’s Second Coming for the Washington DC Temple.

      Dan had already completed six paintings for temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he received a call from the Temple Department to do another: an eight-by-twelve-foot oil painting for the Washington DC Temple. It needed to be completed in time for the temple rededication in the summer of 2022.

      “This Second Coming piece was a big slice of humble pie. I ran into several things I didn’t know how to do,” said Dan. “I’ve never done a mural this size before with 300-plus angels. It stretched me. When I get overconfident and don’t rely on the spirit, I make a lot of mistakes I have to spend the next day fixing. It’s pretty easy to stay grounded when you realize you’re painting stuff you can’t paint by yourself. I learn something new each time.”

      “The temple department gave me the idea for the painting based on scripture, with the Savior coming in the clouds clothed in a red robe surrounded by numerous angels,” said Dan. “I produced preliminary sketches with graphite. When they were approved, I was asked to do a one-by-two-foot painting which the temple interior designer would use for their color palate. When that was approved, they let me loose.”

      Dan went to work finding models and clothing for them, creating concepts for the trumpets, and conducting numerous photoshoots before putting it all together. “I spent hundreds of hours in Photoshop just placing the angels so that they didn’t create a pattern and the diversity was not stacked in one section. I had about 30 models, but as you go further away from Christ the detail isn’t as apparent.” 

      God is in the very details of our work.

      There were more layers of approval for the painting, the last one being a member of the First Presidency of the Church. It took Dan an estimated 2,000 hours to paint “His Return”—a fourth of it in preparation alone. 

      Specific Revelation

      Dan’s original concept was for 120 angels. To give greater depth to the painting, the number grew to more than 300. “I painted one angel at a time,” he said. “It took one to three days per angel. All of them had slightly different contrasts. The hardest thing about painting 300 angels surrounding Christ is to have them not consume all the attention and to have them go back in space evenly and consistently. I was really stressed out about it, and I prayed and fasted a lot.”

      One morning Dan awoke early and visualized the use of a specific white glaze to apply in variation to make the angels complement and not compete with the image of the Savior. It gave them a glowing feel and helped them fit perfectly in atmospheric perspective. 

      “Such a specific revelation is a testimony to me that God is in the very details of our work. That doesn’t just apply to me as a Christian artist working on temple paintings, but it applies to anyone in any career. God is in the details of our work, and He can answer specific questions to help us be better providers, better employees, better employers, better husbands or wives, or wherever we need help. If we’re specific with Him, He’ll be specific with us.”

      Howard Collette

      Author Bio

      Howard Collett has two novels in production, Erika’s War, a spy novel set in contemporary Berlin, and Lost in the Wilderness, the tale of a 10-year-old girl lost in Utah’s Uinta mountains. He has published 1,600 articles and 300 photos in aviation, medicine, software, and education in national and international magazines. His capstone achievement documented life-saving humanitarian aid on four continents. Visit www.howardcollett.net for more information.

        Inspiration & Service in the Creative Process

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        Some years ago, I became friends with a man who was a Biblical scholar and a prominent Protestant minister. For several months we discussed the gospel. He agreed with almost every key doctrine and accepted my invitation to meet with our missionaries. When the day arrived, the elders did their best to look relaxed but were obviously intimidated. Then my friend said, “Elders before you begin, I want you to know everything you are going to tell me, I already believe!” With an almost audible sigh of relief, the elders proceeded with confidence.

        Serve God by Serving Others

        Although my friend did not join the Church, my experience with him was profound. In one of the missionary sessions, he picked up his Book of Mormon and read aloud King Benjamin’s words, “And behold I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17). He explained that to view helping our fellowman as a literal and direct service to the Savior was a fundamental principle among early Christians. Over time, this understanding was lost. Today, too many professed Christians fail to actively practice that belief. That this truth is stated so clearly in The Book of Mormon affected my friend deeply.

        Years ago, he corresponded with Mother Teresa of India. She and her co-workers would regularly visit a muddy, smelly field at night. They would stand in a line holding hands and stretch out so they could barely touch one another’s fingers. Then they would drop their hands and slowly walk forward—listening carefully for the sound of a baby—a baby thrown away by its mother. Once they’d hear the cry, they’d dig through the muck and rescue the child.

        To view helping our fellowman as a literal and direct service to the Savior was a fundamental principle among early Christians.

        This saintly woman walked through the sea of humanity flooding the streets of Calcutta, searching for those who were dying. Her workers carried them back to her home to wash and feed them. She would sit with a stranger’s head upon her lap for hours to give comfort and consolation in his or her last moments of life.

        My friend wrote Mother Teresa a letter asking how she could do this day after day. How could she continuously serve under such horrible, revolting circumstances? Her reply simply stated, “Dear Pastor, don’t you understand? When I am holding a baby covered with slime or a ragged beggar’s head in my lap, I am holding Jesus Christ.” Mother Teresa lived what King Benjamin taught. She followed his direction to “take upon you the name of Christ. . . .  (and) remember to retain the name written always in your hearts” (Mosiah 5:8,12; Emphasis added).

        Create in the Name of the Savior

        What does this have to do with the creative process? After all, there are practical guidelines to help us be effective writers, musicians, artists or any creative endeavor with which we are involved. Who hasn’t heard these principles for success before? Study what others who are successful have done. Get tutored by experts. Be open to honest critique. Practice, practice, practice. Don’t quit! Etc. Etc.

        Mastering technique, however, is not the same as creating something meaningful or life-changing. If our desire is to do that, King Benjamin and Mother Teresa’s perspectives and examples regarding our relationship with the Savior is key.

        The Apostle Paul said this in his letter to the Colossians, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17; Emphasis added). As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as creators, ALL should include the art we create, the novels we write, the music we compose, and so forth.

        Receiving & Recognizing Inspiration

        I strive to consider all my efforts as opportunities to magnify Jesus Christ. When I write, I want to bring about His purposes. I try to remember to do it in His name. Admittedly, I lack consistency here, but when I do this, it opens the door for inspiration. My writing becomes more meaningful…because it isn’t just me creating!

        How does God’s inspiration come? In my experience, the timing and process vary significantly. Usually, it is a slow, imperceptible flow of ideas, though at times I might have a eureka moment. Often, I simply remember something I’ve read, heard, or experienced that is relevant to what I am trying to convey. Either way, we must seek inspiration if we are to receive and recognize it. We should follow Paul’s admonition and do what we do in the name of the Savior. Then we need to listen and humbly receive that gift with gratitude.

        We must seek inspiration if we are to receive and recognize it.

        As creators seeking inspiration, we can apply God’s guidance from Doctrine and Covenants: We “must study it out in (our) mind.” Then “if it is right, (the Spirit) will cause that” we will “feel that it is right” (See D&C 9:8; Emphasis added). As we feel it is right, we are given means to convey that feeling and spirit to those who read, see, or hear what we produce.

        Through this process, we are as blessed as those whom we seek to bless. When we strive to uplift those who experience our work, and when we do what we do in the name of Jesus Christ, we become more like Him. As covenant-keeping creators, that is our eternal quest.

        Steve Dunn Hanson

        Steve Dunn Hanson is the author of several books, including inspirational and adventure fiction and self-help non-fiction, which have been traditionally published and self-published. In addition, he has had articles published in The Ensign, and writes poetry and hymns. He and his wife, Joyce currently live on a scenic hill in northeast Washington.

        Visit Steve Dunn Hanson at https://stevedunnhanson.com/

          The Power of Asking ‘Why?’: Improving the depth and credibility of your writing

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          When I emerged from the diminutive mosque in a remote African village, I had a burning question. It came to mind while sitting reverently during prayers which the Imam had graciously invited us to observe.

          I was a writer and photographer in Sierra Leone with two senior missionaries and a two-person video crew for LDS Charities filming a documentary on clean water projects (see more).

          The village was home to a thousand people: half Christian, half Muslim. After thanking the Imam for his invitation, I asked him, “How do you get along with the Christians?”

          Asking the right questions

          The puzzled look on his face mirrored his reply: “What do you mean?”

          Stammering, I said, “Well, half of the village is Christian, the other half is Muslim. How do you get along?”

          When he gave the same response again, I wondered how much English the Imam understood. Then I realized his point-of-view on world issues was vastly different than mine. The village had no electricity, no running water, no televisions, scant public transportation (unless you call the back of a motorbike or the top of a cargo truck public transportation), few cell phones, and no world news.

          To provide perspective, I mentioned that throughout history Muslims and Christians had battled each other. Then I repeated my original question.

          We work in the fields side by side just to survive. What is there to fight about?

          The Imam answered, “You don’t understand.” Then he gave me perspective. “The Christians helped us build our mosque. We helped them build their houses. We work in the fields side by side just to survive. What is there to fight about?”

          Perhaps I should have first asked “why.”

          Getting to the point

          Not too long after my trip to Africa, I interviewed a science professor at BYU in Provo, Utah. He was renowned for his work in a particular field. I asked him why his work was so important. He answered with a barrage of scientific jargon, little of which I understood.

          Unfortunately, I repeated the mistake I’d made with the Imam by asking the professor the same question again. His answer was mingled with words such as “leading research,” “peer-reviewed trials,” breakthrough technology,” etc.

          Flustered, I blurted, “Why should I care?”

          Startled, he looked at me thoughtfully, then answered, “It’s a possible cure for cancer.”

          “Now I have a story,” I said. And a headline, I thought. People don’t care about a process until they can see the potential impact it can have on their lives.

          For example, when Joseph Smith walked into the Sacred Grove that spring morning in 1820 to ask which church he should join, he had little knowledge about the nature of God. He received an answer to the “which” question but also learned why. God revealed the nature of Himself and His Son, knowing it is easier for us to pray to a God we can comprehend rather than a nebulous, unknown being. And that understanding would be essential for the revelations that followed in the years to come.

          Who knows where “why” will lead

          My final story comes from a sister missionary in Germany. My wife and I were senior missionaries and district leaders for an all-sister district. Wanting to know why they decided to serve missions, we asked questions. Our dialogue with this particular sister went something like this:

          “What did you do before you started your mission?”

          “I played soccer at a junior college.”

          “How did you do?”

          “I scored a lot of goals.”

          When you think you have all the answers, ask one more question.

          I could have ended there, but I’d learned when you think you have all the answers, ask one more question.

          “Why?”

          “I was the smallest player on the team,” she said, “so I knew I had to be faster, smarter, and more determined than anyone else.”

          Now I had something to write about. I knew the why as well as the what and how. In fact, the physical characteristics and personality of the female protagonist in my novel are based on our missionary’s answer. You never know where asking why will lead you.

          Asking questions leads to discovery

          Asking questions while researching your book (or preparing for a presentation, podcast, interview, etc.) will add depth and understanding to your work. Ask questions of your characters to understand them better and make them more believable to your readers. We told our missionaries in Germany to ask questions before they started teaching. It not only endeared them to their friends, but their answers about their joys, concerns, successes, and failures often led to gospel discussions.

          The concept of asking the right questions is not new, as Simon Sinek described in his acclaimed book, Start with Why. His Ted Talk on the topic has 56 million views. Simon says every inspired leader or innovator asks the question “What.” A smaller number ask “How,” and very few ask “Why.”

          The essence of “why”

          The plot in my upcoming novel, Erika’s War, is about uranium being smuggled from Germany to Russia. There, the Russians will generate vast amounts of electricity and sell it to the Germans at an extremely low price. The conspiracy will drive renewable power and other sources of electricity out of business, eventually giving the Russians economic control over Germany on a scale not seen since the Cold War.

          Plausibility for my plot is strengthened when I discovered that growth of renewable sources of energy is already faltering in Europe. Asking the right questions gave me the why. For example, I discovered that villages in Germany are taxing wind farms for noise pollution and limiting encroachment to two kilometers. This raises the cost of land acquisition and wind farm operation, and increases the likelihood of acceptance of lower-priced energy from Russia.

          “Why” has to do with purpose, cause, or belief, not results. It’s the reason Christians and Muslims get along in Sierra Leone. It’s the reason the science professor spends untold hours of research. It’s the reason my soccer player was so good. And it’s the reason the protagonist in your novel just might prevail.

          Author Bio

          Howard Collett has two novels in production, Erika’s War, a spy novel set in contemporary Berlin, and Lost in the Wilderness, the tale of a 10-year-old girl lost in Utah’s Uinta mountains. He has published 1,600 articles and 300 photos in aviation, medicine, software, and education in national and international magazines. His capstone achievement documented life-saving humanitarian aid on four continents. Visit www.howardcollett.net for more information.

            Called to Create: Interview with New Host Connie Sokol

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            I am excited to introduce the new host of LDSPMA’s podcast Called to Create, Connie Sokol. Connie is a bestselling author, a national speaker, a media personality, and a program founder. She is a regular contributor on the top-rated lifestyle show Studio Five with Brooke Walker. She hosts Disciple Thought Leaders Retreats which teach women how to be influential writers, speakers, and media personalities. She is also the mother of seven.

            —-

            RACHELLE: The podcast’s name is Called to Create. Can you tell us what that means?

            CONNIE: Yes, we chose the title Called to Create because it resonates with creative people. There was discussion and prayer about what it could be that would reach the audience, which includes speakers, writers, musicians, publishers, and people trying to express the gospel through creative abilities. 

            RACHELLE: You definitely nailed the title. How did you get into media?

            CONNIE: I feel like Heavenly Father has plugged me in and out of experiences. I started speaking for the Church Education System. I was doing Education Week and Especially for Youth. One thing led to another, and I started doing professional speaking on the side. I had seven kids, so I would do a little bit at a time. 

            Then Bonneville Communications KSL approached me and asked me to be a host of a women’s radio show. You know that phrase, “Start as you mean to go on”? That was poignant for me. I was going to have another baby, and I said, “I cannot do every day from three to six, but I can give you two days a week from noon to three, because I’m a mom.” 

            They ended up having three hosts do one schedule for the week so we could all put our families first. And it was beautiful. The radio show kicked this off for me in a big way, and then I was invited to do TV with Brooke Walker. I’ve been doing that for 16 years now. I sort of fell into it, but I was looking for opportunities for the Lord to use me.

            It’s not a talk at you podcast. It’s very much like you’re sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a conversation with people who are extraordinary.

            RACHELLE: You’re a best-selling award-winning author, you’ve written 18 books, you do TV and podcasting, and you’re a media personality. How does that impact your ability to interview the guests on Called to Create? 

            CONNIE: I see profoundly how Heavenly Father has placed me in different situations so that when I’m interviewing these guests—like Lisa Valentine Clark, Al Carraway, The Jets—I’m able to connect. I understand what it takes to publish a book. I’ve done traditional publishing and self-publishing. I’ve had an agent. I have all these different experiences that the Lord has plugged me in and out of, just enough to be able to connect. 

            That’s one of the things I love about this podcast. It’s not a talk at you podcast. It’s very much like you’re sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a conversation with people who are extraordinary. They’re showing us by their process how they made it happen. My experience really helps me to go deep, fast. Through shared experiences we can laugh and learn together and have juicy, enriching conversations.

            RACHELLE: We are lucky to have you. Tell us how you connected with LDSPMA?

            CONNIE: Well, I’ve had my own podcast. We’re coming up on 180 episodes, and it’s been great. I’ve had wonderful guests on there, like New York Times bestselling authors. Then at the beginning of last year, I had this feeling like I needed to do more with my podcast. But it was already going well, and I didn’t understand what it meant. 

            A few months later, the thought of LDSPMA resonated, and I was like, I wonder if they have a podcast? When I asked, it just so happened that their original host, who had done a great job, was leaving and they were looking for a new host. 

            I contacted them and we immediately connected. We had the same vision, of getting this out and increasing the reach, and it’s been incredible already. We put 14 episodes in the can within two and a half months. It was unbelievable. The miracles fell into place.

            RACHELLE: Can you tell us what’s your favorite part of the podcast process?

            CONNIE: We have a beautiful team, and we laugh, and we have all these incredibly talented volunteers. We’re all volunteers. We’re just doing this for Him. So that’s a really fun piece. 

            But I think the guests have been incredible—the things that they’ve shared from their heart, the way they’ve shared the gospel in unexpected ways. I’m interviewing The Jets, and they’re talking about a Book of Mormon with Boy George; and then Al Caraway and how when she first came on the scene she was so passionate about the gospel, and then people just shredded her, and she really had to get tight with Heavenly Father. Moments like that where one minute you’re laughing, and one minute you’re crying. 

            It’s just the most wonderful experience and blessing to peek into the lives of these amazing people, and I am bettered by every single interview that I have done.

            If you have felt called to share His message through your creative abilities, this is the podcast for you.

            RACHELLE: What will audience members get from listening to this podcast?

            CONNIE: So much. I think tools might be your biggest surprise. We make sure they give takeaways so that you’ll come away with something every podcast to help on your creative journey. What are some of the how-tos? How did they get started in the speaking business? When you hear a show tool, you will just be blown away. You will want to jump out of your chair and become a speaker.

            But it’s these tools, these takeaways, these tips that you can start putting into your life regardless of what genre you’re in. You can apply them and start seeing the difference. You’re going to get great stuff.

            RACHELLE: For people who don’t listen to many podcasts or don’t think they have the time, what would be a reason to check this one out?

            CONNIE: Because it will impact your life. If you have felt called to share His message through your creative abilities, this is the podcast for you, even if you don’t listen to any other podcast. If you have felt a rumble, if you felt called to speak or write a book, or to do something in social media, or to be a musician or an artist or whatever, this will help you on your creative journey for Him. 

            This is all about: How do we apply the gospel? How do we navigate the intersection of faith, creativity, and professional skill? How do we make those hard choices that keep us on the straight and narrow to do what we came here to do? That’s the difference in this podcast. It is part devotional, part scripture, part life experience, part kitchen table chat. You’re getting all the things in one podcast.

            RACHELLE: Connie, what is one thing that you feel Called to Create?

            CONNIE: As you know, I help women with the Disciple Thought Leadership Retreats to do this very thing, so they can get in and make it happen. But beyond that and my family, it’s this podcast. 

            I really do feel “called to create” with this wonderful team. We feel so strongly about Elder Bednar’s invitation to sweep the earth as with a flood on media, particularly social media. 

            We yearn to help every person who feels called to be able to get their message out, to be distinct and different and articulate, to have the tools and the inspiration. And when they’re like, “I’m so done,” like in Alma when they talk about “when our hearts were depressed and we were ready to turn back,” right? They listen to this podcast, they listen to an episode, and they’ll be like, I can do this. I can keep going. I get what He wants me to do, and I’ll just take the next right step. That’s what we hope.

            —-

            Fabulous. I love that. This is such a treat. I am really glad that we got to know Connie Sokol a little bit better today. We are so fortunate to have her, I am so excited for the podcast this new season, so everybody listen in. We have a lot of great information in store for you.

            Author Profile

            Rachelle J. Christensen is the award-winning author of over 20 books, a mother of 5, and organizer of 75+ chickens raised annually by her family. Rachelle enjoys online marketing and harnessing the power of social media. She has worked with a multi-million dollar worldwide company, publishers, and dozens of authors, including New York Times bestseller David Farland and celebrity Merrill Osmond.

            Rachelle carves out writing time in between home-schooling kids and her work as a writing and marketing coach for authors. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Music.

              Sometimes Things Do Work Out

              By 28 Comments

              By Steve Dunn Hanson

              I first met Bill in 1987. He was a regional representative for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was visiting our stake in Orange County, California where I served as a counselor in the stake presidency. To this day, I can’t tell you why there was almost instant bonding between us, as he was over 20 years my senior. Maybe it was because we both loved to write. In any case, virtually from the git-go we traded writings. Mine, fiction and self-help articles. His, memoirs and personal history. And what a history! From a boy of small stature with a horrific stuttering problem and son of a coal-dust-eating railroad engineer, to a man known throughout the world for his accomplishments and contributions.

              I got the best of the bargain in our exchanges. Bill was not only the consummate “Martha” with his practicality and I’ll-figure-out-how-to-do-it genius, but he was a spiritual, poetic “Mary” as well, an extraordinary hybrid whose writing skill dwarfed my own.

              An Act of Kindness

              One of his stories was particularly poignant. As a boy, Bill lived in Provo, Utah, and his diminutive size and severe stuttering problem contributed to his painfully shy disposition. He was always the last one chosen for a team—if chosen at all—and was the subject of constant derision from many of his peers. He was maybe eight or nine-years-of-age when his grade school teacher gave the children an assignment to write an essay and then read the essay in front of the class.

              Bill’s turn came, and he fearfully stood, knowing what would happen next. His stuttering was so overwhelming that he didn’t get more than a few words out before he stopped. Embarrassed to tears, he started to take his seat when the teacher told him to stay where he was. “You will finish, Bill,” she said. She probably meant well, thinking that forcing Bill to go through this would help him overcome his stuttering. For Bill, though, his teacher’s act bordered on cruel.

              For the longest time, Bill just stood there. Then a remarkable thing happened. One of his classmates, a young girl by the name of Millie, who was sitting on the front row, reached out her hand, took his, then smiled up at him. That simple act of support calmed and strengthened him, and he finished his reading.

              That simple act of support calmed and strengthened him.

              Making Connections

              Such were the Bill Gould stories he shared with me, and for the next few years, we kept in close touch. Bill’s wife, Erlyn, was a beautiful woman. How he idolized her and cared for her. She was a cancer victim and graciously and courageously struggled to stay afloat. She passed away in 1992, and it was as though a chunk of Bill died with her. For the next nearly two years it seemed as though Bill just disappeared, and I had little contact with him.

              Then one day when my wife and I were in the Los Angeles Temple, I saw him. And he was not alone! When he saw me, his face turned total smile, and he pulled the woman he was with close to him. “Steve, do you remember one of my stories about a girl named Millie who held my hand to help me get through an agonizing ordeal when I was a boy?”

              “Yes!” I answered. “Who could forget that story!”

              Bill’s smile got wider. “This is Millie. Millie Gould now. We were married last week.”

              My turn to smile!

              Bill then talked about his funk when his wife, Erlyn, died. He was in an I’m-going-no-where morass, and he finally determined to get out of it. His plan was straight Bill Gould. He reviewed his life to determine those who had given him grace, who had made all the difference for him at critical times. Then one-by-one he sought them out to tell them thank you and to now impart his own grace to them to the extent he could.

              While this was happening, Bill’s daughter, who lived in Provo, was talking to her neighbor, a widow, about her dad. She explained how difficult his life was since his wife’s death and what he was now doing. When the neighbor heard that his last name was Gould, she asked what his first name was.

              “William,” Bill’s daughter replied.

              “Billy Gould?” the neighbor asked surprised. “As a boy, did he go to school in Provo by any chance?”

              The daughter nodded, and her neighbor, Millie, grinned. “Billy Gould and I were classmates in grade school.”

              Bill’s daughter told him who her neighbor was, and Bill put her on his thank you list to contact. The rest, as they say, is history.

              We Must Act for Ourselves

              Sometimes, things do work out, but I think things can just about always work out, but I believe it is our choice. I don’t mean in a Pollyannish kind of way, or that the results will always be what we initially desired. Rather, we can choose how any situation or circumstance we find ourselves in will ultimately affect us. We can literally shape the results of all our experiences. I believe that’s what Lehi meant when he said, “…The Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. … They have become free forever, …to act for themselves and not to be acted upon” (See 2 Nephi 2:16,26 emphasis added).

              Things can just about always work out, but I believe it is our choice.

              For a long time, my friend Bill was in a funk because of his wife’s death. Who wouldn’t be? But he was being acted upon. He let his circumstance dictate his mood. It controlled him. He was not free. Then he chose to be grateful. Instead of looking at his wife’s death as an emotional and debilitating black hole, he made her life a symbol of his gratitude. A catalyst for him to act. And, as I said, the rest is history.

              Bill’s experience and example has been an inspiration to me in my writing and in my life. While rejection, writer’s block, and a zillion other things can be gut-punches, I’m finding I can choose to turn the experience: To learn from it. To be a better writer. To be a better person. To make my experience a positive one for me. Granted, how it works out is not usually what I thought or hoped it would be. But because I choose to act, it becomes a blessing. Hopefully, it can for you too.

              Steve Dunn Hanson

              Steve Dunn Hanson is the author of several books, including inspirational and adventure fiction and self-help non-fiction, which have been traditionally published and self-published. In addition, he has had articles published in The Ensign, and writes poetry and hymns. He and his wife, Joyce currently live on a scenic hill in northeast Washington.

              Visit Steve Dunn Hanson at https://stevedunnhanson.com/

                Presenting Moral Themes for a Secular Audience

                By 2 Comments

                By Emma Heggem

                Most of us don’t work within an entirely Latter-day Saint community. Many of us work with audiences, co-creaters, gatekeepers, and financial backers who are not of our faith. Sometimes,  in the secular publishing community, it feels like we have to pack our beliefs away during professional moments and save them for personal time. But that approach is never truly possible. Some of our beliefs may be easily removed from our creations, like letting characters drink coffee or swear. On the other hand, some of our beliefs are so deeply rooted that we don’t even realize they show up in our work. We may accidentally include topics such as what makes a good leader, whether people are primarily good, or if good is capable of overcoming evil. Sometimes these influences will be subtle and readers won’t consciously notice them. Other times, these beliefs become an active participant in the plot in the form of a theme. 

                When our beliefs become a theme in our fiction novels, we can still make books that can be published and appreciated by general readership. We just need to make sure we are making these ideas palatable for readers who are not of our faith by handling the theme with honesty and complexity. 

                Explore Your Theme

                When tackling a belief that some of your readers may disagree with, you can’t present a singular and unequivocal answer. For example, in a book with a theme about lying, stating that lying is bad is not going to be convincing. An author can touch their readers much more deeply by exploring the pros and cons of lying. For readers who do not already agree that lying is bad, this exploration—as opposed to explanation—will allow them to inform their own decisions rather than feel as though they are being force-fed your answers.

                Posing your theme as a question can help you make sure that you are exploring both sides of the issue in your book, though not all questions are going to lead to true exploration of a theme. For example, the question “Are serial killers bad?” is likely going to provide a single and fairly predictable answer. I think you’ll be hard pressed to find situations that do anything but show serial killers being bad and will have an even harder time convincing readers that there is any confusion over the answer.

                A better theme might be “Are sociopaths destined to be evil?” as the book I am not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells asked. While related to the topic of serial killers, it is a question that readers had not previously considered, and the book’s main character was determined to prove that sociopaths didn’t have to be serial killers. People were interested in seeing if that answer could hold up.

                Another option, if you don’t want to try to convince people of an unlikely (but possible) answer to an obvious question, is to present one answer out of many. This is the case for the question “Is lying always bad?” Many people will have different answers to that question, and your book can explore several of those answers and which might be right in various circumstances.

                Proposing a Natural Theme

                In order to explore a theme, you need to match it to the right story. The events of your story should naturally lend themselves towards questions and conflicts over the topic. A story about the morality of war will need a war. A story about honesty will need secrets and lies. A story about repentance will need a main character who has made a terrible mistake or who has suffered from someone else’s sins.

                Themes should also match the story in tone. A kids’ book about unicorns would likely not be the right place for a plotline focused on the murky, gray areas of life. An adult novel about deadly political conspiracy would probably fail to carry a theme about the importance of friendship.

                Sympathize with Multiple Sides

                As your story develops and the theme becomes relevant to the plot events, your characters will begin to be affected. They may deal with the fallout of other people’s decisions, or they may make their own decisions and have to deal with the consequences. As this happens, the characters may begin to have opinions or even dialogue about the “answer” to the theme question. 

                No matter what you feel is the “correct answer”, your characters need to come to their own conclusions. A good example of this can be found at the end of the film Doctor Strange. (If you haven’t seen it, the climax is a fight with a demon who was summoned from a realm of destruction by magicians who want to use his powers for their own means. The hero, Doctor Strange, chooses to use forbidden magic of his own to fight the demon.) The overarching question in this movie is: “Can dangerous magic be used for good, or will it always cause destruction?” Doctor Strange and his friend both enter the climax to stop the demon, but they leave the fight with very different conclusions about the overarching question. 

                No matter what you feel is the ‘correct answer,’ your characters need to come to their own conclusions.

                In the end, Doctor Strange believes that forbidden magic could be used for good because he has just saved the world with it. This ties in with his arrogance, which is an important personality trait for him throughout the story. 

                On the other hand, his friend leaves the movie with the opinion that using forbidden magic is what brought the demon to their world in the first place, so not using forbidden magic, or maybe even any magic at all, is the safest course of action. This lines up with his own established personality as a man who believes rigidly in rules. He also has recently learned that someone very important to him has been lying to him. This betrayal breaks his trust in people, and that carries over into his trust in Doctor Strange’s use of dangerous magic. 

                In your own stories, the line between characters who believe in the “correct answer” and the “wrong answer” should not one hundred percent follow the line of “good guys” and “bad guys.” Their backgrounds, personalities, and experiences may lead them to come to different conclusions from you and from each other. Always treat the differing opinions as valid and intelligent. If the only proponents of the “wrong answer” are misguided idiots or actual evil people, you will lose your readers and come across as preachy.

                Proposing an Answer

                When writing a story with a theme, you may frame your plotline around a specific answer, or you may keep it more open-ended and leave readers thoughtful about the topic. If you choose to provide a single answer at the end, you’ll have to be careful to do so gently and without invalidating the individual characters’ beliefs. 

                Have you ever watched one of those twenty-minute kids’ shows where, at the end of the episode, the main characters say, “And that’s why we always tell the truth,” and everyone nods sagely. Yeah, me too. And it wasn’t at all that convincing. Instead, it usually made me want to laugh. And possibly start lying ridiculously. 

                The reason this drove me nuts was because the idea is unbelievable. When was the last time that you got caught having lied to a friend, and they said, “Wow, now I see. I’m never going to lie again.” Never? Me neither. 

                In this example, the character who lied and the character who was lied to are going to have different experiences in the same scene. This may lead to different conclusions and reactions. The liar may feel as though the truth coming out was what got them in trouble, while the character who was lied to feels that the lie itself was the problem. Despite these differing beliefs, you can still have the plot demonstrate a clear answer. When the main character makes a correct decision, the plot should move forward. They should conquer an obstacle and make progress towards their final goal. Likewise, when the main character makes an incorrect decision, the plot should stall, their progress should fail, and negative consequences should occur. This pattern of being punished and rewarded by the plot will leave readers seeing how the “correct answer” is useful, and the “wrong answer” causes problems. Individual characters may believe or react differently, but the overall plot will still clearly send the message. 

                Using a Theme to Share our Faith

                Writing is a deeply personal art form, but we don’t need to hide our religious beliefs to write books for nonmembers. Including complex and nuanced themes will leave room for our beliefs in our books while still creating a story that people from any background can enjoy.

                Author Bio

                Emma Heggem specializes in content editing sci-fi and fantasy novels. She has worked with authors from around the world to prepare their manuscripts for publication. When she’s not editing, she loves to attend writers conferences to give critiques and demystify the publishing industry. She also runs an editing advice blog (www.editsbyemma.com). Emma graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English language and a minor in editing.