LDSPMA

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

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Showing Versus Telling to Write Compelling Dialogue

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By Emma Heggem   

To write a good conversation, you first need to be picky about what conversations make it into your book. A conversation that doesn’t affect the story, no matter how dynamic, realistic, and well-written, will feel like an unnecessary aside. Dialogue takes up a lot more space than narrating a conversation would. It needs to earn that space by showing readers something important. Characters need to learn valuable information through the conversation, whether that’s the password to their bank account or the state of another human being’s emotions. The things that are talked about must change the story or the character by being known.

There are some things that come across particularly well by being shown to readers in a conversation. One example is relationships. Readers don’t like to be told about a relationship between two characters. They want to feel the connection for themselves, which means that it is very important to show relationships and show them changing over the course of the book. Downtime or relationship-changing moments for characters, including dialogue, can help readers feel the bond between the characters and be invested in the relationship. This is true whether the relationship is improving or declining. Inter-character conflict is just as important to show as characters falling in love.

Decisions can also work well as dialogue conversations. Inner monologues can get tiring to read and can drift into angst or get repetitive. Real people mull over the same thing again and again when making a decision, but characters need to avoid boring their readers. One way to show them pondering a decision without sitting inside their head and going in circles is to have them talk their decision through with another person. This pushes them forward and forces them to move through each part of the decision and then move on. When the character weighing the decision gets bogged down, their friends or listeners can express the same frustration the readers will be feeling and cut them off.

Another excellent use of dialogue is to provide the reader with an active and dynamic account of events that your point-of-view character wasn’t present for. This can help tone down unnecessary telling in your novel. The characters who were present can retell the story, be asked questions, and even be unreliable when it suits your needs. That’s much more interesting than a factual summary of important events.

Speaking of things your point-of-view character doesn’t know, dialogue is a great way to show readers the emotional state of your other characters without necessarily cluing your POV character in. Is one of your characters keeping a huge secret? Is a side character madly in love with your oblivious main character? By showing the conversations directly to the reader, you allow the reader to pick up on things that the point-of-view character doesn’t notice. This can help fill in the blanks and explain complex side-character motivations without having to switch POV.

As with most forms of showing, dialogue takes up more time and space than narration does. Choosing which conversations to show your readers is a very important step towards making sure that the conversation will be compelling. Don’t waste time with dialogue that isn’t going to strengthen your story. Focus on the moments that readers truly need to hear (read) about and you will end up having a much easier time keeping them interested and invested.

Happy writing!

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Emma Heggem is the managing editor with Future House Publishing. She 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 attends writers conferences to take pitches, give critiques, and talk to aspiring writers about the mysterious world of publishing. Emma graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English language and a minor in editing.

Member Spotlight: Heidi Tucker!

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Heidi Tucker lives in Cave Creek, Arizona.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

3 award-winning nonfiction inspirational books: The Secret Keepers, Servie’s Song, and Finding Hope in the Journey

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I had a dream and saw my hands holding a book and knew it was mine. A voice told me to write the book. I knew it was a calling from Heavenly Father, so I summoned all the courage and faith I could and wrote Finding Hope in the Journey. I believe the other two books are callings as well. These two individuals, whose true stories I wrote, came directly into my path. I knew I was called to write their stories. I think of this journey as a mission to bring light and hope to the world.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Winning “Best Inspirational” and “Book of the Year” awards for my books is such an honor. But the true highlights come when readers contact me to tell me how my books have changed their lives. That’s why I continue to write.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

A copy editor is worth every cent. I can submit my best manuscript, but after a good copy editor’s review and input, it’s even better.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

You’re going to hear the word NO over and over again. Push through all the negativity or find another door. Writing and actually completing a book takes grit. Focus on your passion for the project and don’t let the world tear you down.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Whether I’m filming for my YouTube channel, posting on social media, speaking at a conference, or writing a new book, the mission is the same: to bring light and hope to the world. My work is viewed by both members of our church and those of other religions. It is my way of serving as a missionary. What inspires me to keep going is the feedback from individuals. Their emails and comments remind me why I’m doing this and it propels me forward to the next project.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

I call it my writing cave. I have to dedicate a period of time each day to solely focus on my project. I silence all emails and phone calls and listen to inspirational music while I write my books. I’m most creative in the morning or late at night, so I schedule writing during those times if possible. I kick-off every writing session with a prayer of gratitude for my gift of writing and to “feel” the story enough that my words will inspire others.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

I believe every story not only teaches a gospel principle but can make the reader FEEL it. I’m drawn to true stories about people who have risen up from the ashes from really difficult struggles and tragedy. Their relentless perseverance and ability to cling to faith motivates all of us to move forward in our own lives. We can ALL do hard things and reading someone else’s story inspires us to stand up and take another step. Their stories become ours—the details are just different.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

Website: https://www.thepickledsunflower.com
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9iNhtoorcGrOSvBn6iJ2jg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidi.tucker.10

What Is LDSPMA Really About?

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By Michael I. Judson

Years ago, I worked for Novell, a company that, at one time, was the world leader in computer networking software. You might think the way the company got so big was by focusing on beating out all its competitors, but our mission statement was just the opposite. It was: “To grow the networking industry faster than it would without us.”

That mission statement seemed counterintuitive at first. Why spend time and resources helping everyone else in the industry when we had our own company’s success to look after? But over time, the wisdom of that approach began to manifest itself. You see, personal computers were relatively new at the time, and networking them together was a novel concept, so we needed help to create awareness and demand for products in our industry.

Without the infrastructure of the industry, our leaders knew the company would never succeed, so we developed our own trade show and aggressively invited other companies to participate. We sponsored training and professional certification programs, started our own industry magazine, and published newsletters for resellers and dealers. And we sought out mutually beneficial partnerships with other technology companies.

So, what has all of this got to do with the Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association? Of course, we are not out to dominate some “industry.” Rather, we want to bring the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as we can through the creative works of gifted writers, artists, musicians, filmmakers and more. And the best way to do this is by helping everyone who has a similar desire, to reach their goals—including organizations that may look a bit like ours.

Borrowing a well-known metaphor, we want to be a part of the “rising tide” that helps to “lift all boats.” Yes, we want to succeed as an organization; otherwise, why exist? By collaborating with other organizations and individuals with a similar vision, we can help to inspire more creativity, develop more opportunities for sharing ideas and creative works, and establish more connections with more people who share a passion for spreading praiseworthy works to a sometimes dark and dreary world.

Announcing . . .

With that as a backdrop, we are thrilled to announce a partnership with the American Night Writers Association (ANWA), which will begin with LDSPMA and ANWA each promoting the other’s annual conferences.

ANWA is a professional organization for writers and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose purpose is to encourage, assist, educate, and motivate Church members to write, and, if they desire, to publish their works.
Learn more about ANWA at their website or on Facebook or Instagram, and watch for additional announcements from LDSPMA about partnerships and sponsorships to help us serve and inspire more Latter-day Saints who are interested in publishing and media.
And if you are part of an organization that shares our vision and would like to explore partnership or sponsorship opportunities with LDSPMA, please contact me at mjudson@ldspma.org.

Mike Judson is a professional communicator, author, and the LDSPMA Director of Development.

Member Spotlight: Sharla Goettl!

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Sharla lives in Newberg, Oregon with her husband and three daughters.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

Spiritual Resilience: Leading Our Youth to Go and Do, is a Latter-day Saint nonfiction book about how to make a greater impact as parents.

The Goal Maker is a guided questionnaire to help determine the next best step in building your faith.

Am I a Good Enough Leader For My Family? is an article written for the Leading Saints organization.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

As a stake Young Women president, I have felt inspired to find deeper answers to the questions youth and their parents ask all the time. The youth of today will be the heroes of tomorrow. It will be their ability to give more relevant answers and apply innovative solutions that will bring about future miracles. I feel it is our responsibility as their parents and leaders to support them any way we can.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I have been a youth leader almost every year of my adult life. The families I have interacted with frame my testimony with their experiences. There have been moments when youth were not receiving the support they deserved at home, yet they remained resilient anyway. There have been times when the youth have supported me in my own shaky moments. It has been a pleasure to relive some of these treasured memories in the principles I discuss in my writing. But truly, the honor was being welcomed into their lives in the first place.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

My grandmother was a novelist, poet, and long-time teacher. She poured over her words with tender care while living in a tiny tribal outpost surrounded by her five rowdy sons and eager students. She found joy and solace in her writing. In her patriarchal blessing, given when she was a young woman, it reads “spare not in lifting up thy voice to take a full part in every endeavor.” Commitment to the craft of communicating Christ’s gospel and eternal truths is an endeavor I am motivated to “take a full part.” My task will be to spare not my voice.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

Pray often. The task of writing this first book has taken many months of writing and many months of editing and many months of publishing and many months of marketing. The task could have gone much more smoothly if I had remembered to consistently pray before starting my work. If I ever forgot, I would consistently come to a point where I would need to start over. The reminder that I was not doing my work alone was constantly in my mind. Regardless of the task before you, prayer will always help the process go more efficiently.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

I have three teenage daughters who are consistently out-performing me. They are artists, friends, designers, thinkers, and givers of testimony. They will continually do things better than I can do myself. They inspire me every day to support them and their peers. I eagerly seek their guidance and am improved by it. I ask how they would handle a situation and am changed by it. I leverage their creativity and am amazed by it. I try to keep up so they will know their mama tried so hard to teach them in a way they deserved to be taught.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

My answers are not my own. The insights I write about were first written in the scriptures by the men and women who were authorized to speak on behalf of our Savior. My task has been applying their words in a modern context. The concept of eternal truth is always in my mind. Christ is a good enough creative director to not let any words or any experience go to waste. The knowledge is there and always has been. The only difference between now and the end of the Restoration will be our ability to understand what we already have.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

I hope I have offered a voice of confidence to parents and youth who feel overwhelmed or not quite good enough for the task at hand. I hope I have laid out my arguments well enough to counteract the doubtful words in their heads. I truly believe we have a purpose and every capacity needed to fulfill it. I hope I have provided a connection between daily life and eternal covenants so that more people can benefit from the guarantees they offer.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

http://www.sharlagoettl.com
https://www.facebook.com/authorsharlagoettl
https://www.instagram.com/authorsharlagoettl/

Member Spotlight: Mariah K. Newton Porter!

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Mariah K. Newton Porter lives in Utah County.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?
Tomorrow I Will Make a List: Managing the Depressive Habit of ProcrastinationRecovering Happily Ever After: That Prince Guy; This Glass Heart; These Extraordinary ThornsSilenced No More (podcast)
What inspired you to become a creator of media?
I have depression and anxiety and it’s made me feel incredibly alone. I want to create media that helps people like myself to feel like they’re not suffering in silence, that they are seen.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I’ve started a podcast that features people affected by mental illness, and the answers we’ve gotten from participants so far are phenomenal.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?
Write through the writer’s block. There’s no other way.
What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?
You are not alone! It’s going to feel impossible and it’s going to feel like what you want to do is bigger than you. That’s a good thing. Whatever you create IS bigger than you and it’s supposed to be that way. Just trust in yourself and your finished product will do what it’s supposed to do.
What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?
The fact that I still feel alone! I hate that I’m suffering, but it reminds me that there are other people suffering, too. All I can do is get my projects out there to help ease the burden of others.
What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?
It’s a very spiritual process for me. I rely heavily on intuition, and I prioritize the mental health themes, so my finished products may look different than mainstream products.
In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?
I HAVE made people feel less alone! I’ve shown people that they aren’t the only ones that suffer, and that there is hope for them.
You can learn more about Mariah Porter and her projects at:
mariahkporter.com

7 Ways To Help Readers Discover Your Books

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By Karlene Browning

When you publish your first book, you aren’t just putting a story out there. You are launching a brand and an identity that will travel with you over the course of your writing career. If you do it right, it will help lead readers to you in a natural and organic fashion. If you do it wrong, it will confuse readers and they will get lost on their way to finding you.

While each of these tips has its own set of pros and cons, whys and wherefores, rules, and reasons to break the rules, this tip list will help your readers find YOU when they’re looking for a good book to read.

1. Pick your name

As your brand, your name needs to be unique enough to differentiate you from other authors with similar names. Do a Google search. If you happen to share a name with another author or a famous person, consider adding an initial, using a middle name, or using a less common pen name.

When a reader finds an author they like, they will Google the name on the cover of the book. You want them to find you online wherever you are. Whether you’re Jane Doe, Jane S. Doe, or Jane Smith Doe, that is your brand and you need to use it on every book cover and on all your online author accounts.

2. Claim your name

Before your name is set in stone, make sure you can get it as a .com, a Google ID and gmail address, and on the social media platforms you prefer. You want identifiable and consistent name branding across as many platforms as possible.

Here again, Google is your friend. If the .com is taken, adjust your name until you find a variation that you’re comfortable with, then grab the URL and social media account names as fast as you can. Even if you aren’t quite ready to publish, get them NOW!

3. Avoid too many pen names

There are several valid and legitimate reasons for having multiple pen names. Just know that for each name, you start all over from scratch to build a brand and platform. You’ll need a website, social media accounts, and emails for each one. Is it worth it?

In most cases, differentiating genres is not a good reason to create a new pen name. Readers usually find you through the genre they like best. If they like you, they will give your other genres a try. A good website will let them know what to expect in each genre.

The only time it truly serves you to use a second (or third) name is if one area of writing would offend established readers or damage your reputation. For example, if you write both Middle Grade and soft porn, use a pen name. Or if you write academic papers on quantum physics and Regency Romance, use a pen name or your academic peers will snicker behind your back.

4. Get a website

You need an online presence with a permanent URL and an easily searchable website or blog. (Facebook and Twitter are add-ons, not adequate author sites.) Unless you know you are only going to write one book, your URL should be your name (see tips 1 & 2), not your book title. Not only will a website help people find you, but it gives them something to link to when they want to share your books with their friends.

While you can start with a free site, I recommend a hosted domain as soon as possible. Free sites can change policies or close down at any time. At the very least, point that URL from tip #2 to your free blog, and use that URL on business cards and book bios.

5. Post your books on your site

You would think this is one of those “duh” statements, but you would be surprised at how many author sites and blogs I go to that have absolutely no mention of their books. At all.

Somewhere on your site, you need a tab or button that says BOOKS. A simple list of each book and/or series in suggested reading order is the minimum. Ideally, each book would have its own page with a large cover image, title, release date, publisher, ISBN #, genre category, description, and links to where the books can be purchased. Keep this information current!

6. You need an About Page

Readers want to know who you are, not just what you write. A good website always has an About page with a photo, a short professional bio that bloggers and news media can use, and perhaps a longer bio just for fun. It also needs to include links to all of your active social media sites and a way to contact you.

Your photo should be a nice image that will clearly identify you everywhere. Use this same image on your Amazon, GoodReads, Facebook, Twitter, and all profiles where you are acting as your author identity. Even if you’re camera shy, you can come up with something.

This isn’t to say you can’t change it up sometimes or use more casual photos on social media. The goal is to have your readers recognize you, no matter where they find you.

7. Email

You MUST have a way for people to contact you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to reach an author for an interview, presentation, or tell them they’ve won an award, only to discover there is no way to contact them.

As to the email address itself, no self-respecting author would use missfancypants@whatever.com. If at all possible, it should be your name as it appears on your books, JaneDoe@whatever.com.

These seven simple tips will make it easier for readers, new and old, to find your newest releases.

Karlene Browning is a publisher, editor, typesetter, and book designer at www.Inksplasher.com

Member Spotlight: Sarah Hinze!

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What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

My husband Brent and I are the executive producers of the feature documentary, Remembering Heaven. I am also the author of five books in print: The Announcing Dream, The Castaways, Memories of Heaven, The Memory Catcher, and my first historical novel, A Pawn for a King (based on the life of my 24th great grandmother). For almost thirty years, I have prepared books and related media on a phenomenon called the announcing dream. By definition, an announcing dream is “an announcement in dreams or visions of a child waiting to be born.” A new book, Waiting in the Wings, is coming soon!

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

To be a creator of media came to me as a calling from the still small voice. I told the Lord, “You’ve got the wrong girl.” He said, “I’ve got the right girl.” I could not argue myself out of doing what I felt were His directives to me. So, I prayed. listened, and worked, crossing off in a notebook the directives I put into action. That led to my first book. After that, I knew what it took to write and publish a book. The Lord sent help all along the way. I am a team player.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

My books on souls waiting to be born tend to heal, and even soften hearts toward unborn children. That has been a highlight. It is rewarding to hear from people who write me or come up to me with a child in their arms with the message, “This child is here because of your book.” That has kept me going for so many years. Now, with our film Remembering Heaven, with the stories or pure testimonies of many people who have had these experiences, more will be touched and informed that we are children of God.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

My husband told me years ago, “You won’t reach everyone with your books, but you will help and heal some.” That helped me to know I am doing my best and to enjoy the journey along the way. I do enjoy the journey and the people I meet. It is joyful work and a message to share. We are the children of God and come from His presence before we are born.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

Enjoy your talents. Do not hide them under a bushel but develop them. Let your light shine to the world. The Lord will help us. He knows our missions as artists, writers, and filmmakers. His timing is key. I am in my later years, but it has been worth persevering with what I feel our Father in Heaven wants me to do as a writer and filmmaker. “I’ll go where you want me to go, I’ll say what you want me to say, I’ll be what you want me to be” is my mission statement.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

I need the Lord’s strength and inspiration each day or I am stuck. Scripture study and prayer give me the fuel I need to work each day. I know God wants to give me guidance, so I ask in faith. I have a notebook by my side after prayer and with faith, I ask, “What do I need to do today?” Ideas come to serve others, to visit or call a family member. Almost every day, I spend some time, or lots of time, on my mission as a writer.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

I love the work it takes me to create. I write and rewrite. I’ve rewritten some books many times before I publish them (The Castaways). One book sat in my files for ten years before I felt impressed to publish it (Memories of Heaven). I take my orders from above because it is a sacred work to teach others that they are a child of God. I try to be patient with myself and I try not to beat myself up when a project takes a lot of time and thought. And I love to develop my talents. We were born to create.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

The Lord says in Matthew 7:16-20, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” I have seen children given the gift of life, children invited to be born into a family, and others emotionally healed and comforted from so many of the trials of life. That has been the reward, to feel I am bringing hope and healing to others. It has not always been easy, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I have learned to never give up and to always trust in the Lord’s timing. I have learned to listen to the still small voice.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

Website: www.sarahhinze.com 
Facebook: Sarah Hinze
Email: sarah@sarahhinze.com

Remembering Heaven: A Documentary and My Appreciation to LDSPMA For Making It Happen

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By Sarah Hinze

For many years I have collected stories about heaven. My collection includes not only the heaven we go home to when we graduate from earth life, but the heaven we come from before we are born. The quest to understand these concepts has been a personal one. My search to know my spiritual origin and destiny has always been with me, even as a child.

From an early age, I was especially eager to learn about God. I ached deep in my heart for an understanding of where I came from. I sensed that I was a child of God and lived with Him before I was born. I missed him and, well, I was homesick for heaven, I guess is one way to put it.

Our family regularly attended our local Protestant church and every Sunday, together as a congregation, we would stand and recite a creed that went something like this, “God is so small he can dwell in your heart and He is so large He can fill the universe.”

In my heart, I never believed God was like a cloud or a seed. I knew he was a man with a son named Jesus. I knew he didn’t live in the entire universe but in a special place called heaven. I knew heaven was my home and God was my Father.

My strong desire to know Him continued throughout my young years and on into college. A pivotal moment for me came when I first heard in my University English Literature class the following poem by William Wordsworth.

Ode on Intimations of Immortality

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come,
From God, who is our home.

The poem was electrifying. The words sang out like beautiful music to my soul. A strong spirit of holiness rested upon me in my class. I thought, “So that is where I come from. I come from God, who is my home.” But where and how can I learn more?

My search for God expanded into a search to learn all I could about the human soul, however, many of the philosophies I studied, existentialism for example, left me confused and even depressed.

One evening, I was with my new friend Mavis, sitting on her front lawn in Brigham City, Utah.  As we looked into the darkness of the evening sky watching for shooting stars, she turned to me and said, “You know we lived in heaven with God before we were born.”

I sat in silence, amazed at how easily she said something I had only believed in the deepest and most sacred place of my heart. This was the first time I had heard another person say that we lived with God before we were born.  All of my life I had known it was true, but here with this new friend, who was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she shared it like it was common knowledge. This impacted me greatly. I had found people who believed as I did.

Within weeks I requested the missionary lessons and in September, 1968, I chose baptism into the church.

Meanwhile I enrolled at Utah State University in Logan, Utah.  My future husband Brent also enrolled there after his mission. We are both converts to the church and were drawn together on a beautiful April afternoon as we shared our testimonies with one another. A few days later Brent invited me on a drive up Logan Canyon, which manifests some of the most majestic views imaginable.

After about half an hour we had wound our way up the narrow twisting road until we reached a mountain pass.

We parked the car near a shady meadow alive with wild flowers surrounded by groves of white birch. Brent took my hand as we walked.

The scenery, the sounds, the smells—it all seemed so familiar. The feeling was sacred and we were quiet, almost reverent. We didn’t speak for a time. Finally I broke the silence. In an unusual display of boldness I said, “I think I have walked with you before. . . . in heaven before we came to earth.”

“I feel it too,” Brent whispered. From that moment, we sensed one another as we had in the world before we were born and our spirits seemed to renew a relationship from long ago. We could feel there had been love between us before and a divine spark seemed to rekindle those memories.

Eventually it was time to drive back down the canyon and return to the real world. Our surroundings looked the same, but we were not. Our marriage came a year later in the Salt Lake Temple.

Soon our children came along. Several of our children’s birth’s were preceded by what I later learned is called an announcing dream.  An announcing dream can be defined as dreams, visions and other spiritual connections concerning a child waiting to be born or conceived.  In some cases one is told what the child’s chosen name is to be.

It is a humbling experience for a spirit waiting to be born to announce their desire for birth   into your family.  None of us are perfect parents by any means, but it seems our children love us and want to be with us, seeing past our imperfections, perhaps seeing our potential more than  we can.

I wondered if other parents had these experiences and soon discovered that I was by no means the only one. But what began as curiosity became a quest when I received profound impressions that part of my life’s mission was to research, teach, and write about this special experience occurring to people worldwide. Collecting stories was one thing I could do, but writing about it was something else. I was frightened. It seemed like more than I could possibly do. After much prayer and contemplation, I realized that I needed to be faithful to this assignment.

As I began doing so, I was soon joined in my research by my husband, Brent, who has a Ph.D. in psychology. We proceeded to conduct interviews, collect case studies, give talks, and publish about the marvels and mysteries of announcing dreams.

Brent and I coined the term “pre-birth experience” or “PBE” to refer to any experience that relates to souls prior to birth or conception. We learned through an analysis of the data that unborn children can warn, protect, and enlighten us from another plane of existence. Most often they appear to announce it is their time to be born.

Social scientists coined the phrase “announcing dream” to identify dreams about unborn children and other types of PBE, not only in the western world but in cross-cultural studies around the world. It is our belief that PBEs, like NDEs, are universal and occur among all peoples, now and in the past

After I had published several books, Brent and I had the chance to visit with Elder Hartman Rector Jr. who was staying at a friend’s home after speaking at our stake conference. She had given him one of our books to read, and he was very encouraging. “There will be books, films, music, art, and various forms of media that will share this important information,” Elder Rector said.

The word film caught my attention. I knew nothing of filmmaking. It seemed like an impossible dream, but I took Elder Rector’s counsel to heart that someday, with the Lord’s help, we would have a film. I knew that with God’s help, all things are possible.

In 2018, while Brent and I were serving a mission at the London England Temple, I received an email announcing the LDS Publishing and Media Association’s Annual Conference in Provo, Utah which would convene soon after we returned home. While reading the email, I was at our table in our little flat on the grounds of the London Temple. I felt strongly impressed by the Spirit that I needed to be there. I dismissed it, thinking we would barely be home from our mission on the dates of the conference and I would have my seriously annoying jet lag going on!  The promptings continued, so arriving home from London about a month later, my suitcases still packed from our mission, I packed a small suitcase and headed to the conference. I have learned if I do not follow the promptings of the Spirit, I will probably miss out on opportunities the Lord has arranged for me.

I arrived early the morning of the conference. I recognized a woman who looked familiar as I headed for the door.  It was a Facebook friend I had never met in person, Dr. Trina Boice, who recognized me as the author of a book she had read after she had her own announcing dream with her unborn son.  It was a good feeling to at least have one friend there!  I felt comfortable and welcomed as I walked in, greeting many with smiles and good mornings. 

It was easy to get into conversation with people, so I networked and talked to people about many of my interests in media, writing, and a film on my prebirth studies.  After attending a panel presentation of several film editors and filmmakers, I waited outside the door to talk to one in particular, Wynn Hoggard, who gave me the name of his friend Tom Laughlin. Within days, Tom and I talked on the phone and my dream of a film began to take shape.

Tom and I arranged to soon start the filming of our untitled film. We filmed for a total of five days.  Tom had enough footage to spend an entire year editing, and he did it with dedication, heart, and soul. By January, 2021 the film Remembering Heaven was ready!

Tom went into the film never hearing about the pre-birth experience, not knowing what he would find. As we interviewed people with stories, he was moved by the tender sacred feeling that accompanied the interviews. Later in going through the footage, he stated he was “overwhelmed with the beauty and power of the content.”

We are so grateful to scholars Terryl Givens, Ph.D. and Daniel Peterson, Ph.D. for their major contributions. Givens and Peterson’s scholarly contributions bring us stunning detailed teachings from major cultures and religious foundations which should make the case for premortality at least a consideration for any true seeker of their spiritual origin.

Here are a few story previews from the film:

Christine was a young mother expecting another child. She was aware even before she left to visit her doctor that afternoon that her unborn child had not moved for a time. She was praying at home while waiting for her husband to come home from work. Then a remarkable thing happened… the spirit of her unborn child appeared and spoke to her.

Corenna was dating a young man, but she was confused where to go with the relationship. She had doubts about marrying him. After praying most sincerely, she fell asleep. In a dream she saw this same young man, but then he faded away. A young boy stood before her and called her Mother. She was very drawn to this child, and felt convinced he held a message for her. After the dream, she broke up with the other young man. Years later, she met another young man from the Congo in Africa. Almost immediately they felt very connected to one another. They were married and a year later a wonderful son was born to them.

Ned is from the East Coast and owned a nightclub in the Hamptons. He himself claims that he was hedonistic, materialistic, and had no interest in God.  One evening after a fight with one of his business associates, Ned died and experienced a near death experience. What he saw on the other side included children who could have been his had he not insisted on his girlfriends terminating them—a startling and shocking revelation.  A Lady of Light showed him a child that could be his son on earth if he would improve his life.

The legwork of Remembering Heaven was put together by a team of people including Brady Dunn (cinematographer), Tom Laughlin (filmmaker), my husband and I (Executive Producers) and all who have so generously contributed.

Special thanks to Tom Laughlin who has given of his time and talents in an untiring and dedicated way. Tom has put together some of the most exquisite photographs, videos, and music that bring life and passion to this unique information.

Plato and Socrates spoke of a pre-life. In biblical times John declared that in the beginning the Son (Jesus) was with God who sent His Son into the world with a mission. (See John 3:16-17) Scriptures, prophets and pre-birth studies suggest this is a pattern for all of us.

I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Spirit of the Lord for guiding me to attend the LDSPMA Conference and to meet the people who helped to make Remembering Heaven. 

Remembering Heaven won Best Feature Documentary and Audience Choice Award at the LDS Film Festival in February, 2021.  We are nominated for Best Documentary at the Utah Film Festival and Most Inspirational Documentary at the International Christian Film Festival in Orlando, Florida May, 2021.

**We are looking for stories for our next film, international pre-birth experience stories as well as stories close to home. See my website www.sarahhinze.com for more information on pre-birth experiences or you can read my book The Announcing Dream: Dreams and Visions of Children Waiting to be Born 2016 (On Amazon)

Please contact Sarah for questions or stories you would like to share at sarah@sarahhinze.com

Sarah Hinze has collaborated with leading experts on near-death experiences and pre-natal psychology while conducting extensive research and hundreds of interviews. She has presented workshops, seminars, and lectures at conferences and universities, as well as on Capitol Hill and at the United Nations. Sarah has been featured in articles and radio and TV shows in the US, Canada and Japan. In addition to English, her books are published in Spanish, Portuguese and German. Her writings have been the source of healing and hope for individuals worldwide. Sarah and Brent Hinze are the parents of nine children and thirty-two grandchildren, so far!

**Check out the story and journey of our film by following Sarah Hinze and Tom Laughlin on Facebook as well as my website and blog at: sarahhinze.com/home/books/remembering-heaven