Mission Stories

Get insights on having a powerful and successful full-time LDS mission. This podcast shares inspiring stories and practical principles for embracing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, overcoming challenges, and building a strong foundation for lifelong discipleship. Faith-promoting stories and lessons from real full-time LDS mission experiences to inspire and teach. Based on The Mission Prep Series by Shawn Record.

Mission Stories is a religion podcast hosted by Shawn Record, with 72 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Shawn Record hosts Mission Stories, a religion show with 72 episodes published.

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  Episode #72

  The Football Teammate Who Opened His Mouth: The Conversion of LJ Webb

  Sep 30, 202650 minS2

  Send us Fan Mail LJ Webb, a defensive tackle at Palomar College, joins Shawn to share a powerful witness of moving from a traumatic, fatherless childhood to discovering his true identity as a beloved son of God. Growing up in Ohio without a father, LJ was thrust into adult responsibilities as early as seven years old, helping sell drugs to ensure his four younger brothers had food on their plates. After being hit by a stray bullet during a gang shooting, his family relocated to Escondido, California, to seek a new start. Though he carried deep emotional scars and put on a mask to appear happy, LJ’s heart was secretly hurting—until a simple invitation set off a chain reaction of divine revelation. The Invitation that Changed Everything LJ’s conversion began through the simple boldness of a college football teammate, John Class. Demonstrating Principle Three: An Open Mouth Finds Listeners , John invited LJ to an Institute class with a simple promise of free food. Sitting in that room, LJ took a risk and asked a sincere question that had burdened him for years: "Who is God?" When another student answered, "God is love," the Holy Ghost bore witness to LJ’s heart with unmistakable clarity. For the first time in his life, LJ felt loved not for what he could perform or provide, but unconditionally. Growing up without an earthly father, he realized he had a Heavenly Father who had been watching over him all along. This single spiritual experience moved LJ from a survival-driven life into an active, intentional pursuit of truth. Identity, Scriptures, and Power over Darkness Meeting with the full-time missionaries, LJ was taught Moses 1 , a lesson that permanently anchored his spiritual foundation. As they read how God repeatedly declared to Moses, "Thou art my son," LJ recognized his own divine lineage. Understanding that he was a son of God gave him the spiritual authority and strength to reject past darkness and embrace a new life. LJ quickly learned that coming unto Christ requires consistent feasting on the word of God. Moving beyond a casual relationship with religion, he threw himself into scripture study, testifying that reading the word allows God to guide a person's life and reveal their true purpose. He warns against living as a "hypocritical Christian" with one foot in the world and one foot in the gospel, urging every disciple to dive into the scriptures to see Christ clearly. A New Family in Christ Through his baptism, LJ experienced the fulfillment of his sincere prayer for a loving family. Surrounded by ward members who offered unconditional love—specifically the Hoops family—LJ discovered that the gospel replaces transactional relationships with genuine, Christlike covenant unity. Today, LJ radiates a genuine joy that replaces his old mask as he prepares to serve a full-time mission. His journey proves that no matter how dark or traumatic a person's past may be, the Savior stands ready to heal, transform, and reveal the divine potential within every child of God.

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  Episode #71

  They’re in Salt Lake and That’s Where You Will Go To Find Them: Finding the Elect – Elder Ammon Hyatt

  Sep 23, 20261 hourS2

  Send us Fan Mail Shawn sits down with Ammon Hyatt (Elder Hyatt), who recently returned from serving in the Salt Lake City Mission (covering Sugar House, Bountiful, and Big Piney, Wyoming). Having attended Shawn’s mission prep class through multiple sessions prior to his call, Ammon shares his journey from a self-focused, lukewarm mindset to experiencing a mighty change of heart through consecrated service and outward love. The Transformation from Self-Focus to Outward Love Ammon reflects on the stark contrast between his pre-mission life and the mature disciple he became. He candidly shares that early in his preparation, his life revolved around himself and his own pursuits. However, turning his focus entirely toward loving, serving, and sharing the gospel with others changed everything. He defines a mighty change of heart not as flawless perfection, but as an overwhelming, permanent desire to turn back to Jesus Christ. By choosing to lose himself in the Lord's work, Ammon discovered that true joy and maturity come when we stop focusing on ourselves and start seeking the welfare of Heavenly Father's children. An Open Mouth in Big Piney and the Miracle in Sugar House The body of the episode highlights Principle Three: An Open Mouth Finds Listeners and Principle Six: You Can't Bring Me Down . Ammon recounts visiting an Elders Quorum President in Big Piney, Wyoming, whose non-member son-in-law, Braden Anderson , was nearby stripping copper. Rather than keeping the visit strictly casual, Ammon and his companion chose to open their mouths and share a scripture. Braden stopped working, listened intently, and within days requested baptism so he could be sealed to his wife and ten-month-old daughter forever—a promise fulfilled a year later when Ammon attended their temple sealing. Ammon also details a intense trial of faith in Sugar House, Salt Lake City—an area densely populated with members that had not seen a convert baptism in eight years. After six weeks of biking in the winter cold and teaching zero people, Ammon felt ready to give up. A conversation with his father re-framed the trial, reminding him that God sends valiant servants to hard areas because He loves those children deeply. Encouraged by his companion to give "one more day" of total effort, a call came at 10:25 p.m. that very night. A teenage girl called asking the elders to teach her friend Taylor Bray , a non-member who had been quietly attending seminary for three years. Taylor accepted the gospel immediately, sparking a spiritual culture shift that led to six convert baptisms in the area the following year. Lessons in Sacrifice from Tonga The episode also highlights Ammon’s companion, Elder Taufa from Tonga. Elder Taufa faced severe family opposition and physical discipline for choosing baptism, and received no financial support for his mission. Despite speaking limited English and lacking formal training, Elder Taufa’s quiet, soft-spoken testimony brought the Holy Ghost into every room. His fiery commitment taught Ammon that genuine conversion requires stepping away from lukewarm passivity and giving everything to the Savior. Closing: An Invitation to Serve Ammon concludes by testifying that serving a mission was the greatest decision of his life, providing a joy that no earthly pursuit or job could ever match. He testifies that Heavenly Father loves us through our faults and that Christ is ready to change anyone who chooses to turn to Him. Listeners are invited to stop hesitating, exercise their agency to serve with all their heart, might, mind, and strength, and allow the Lord to use them as instruments to gather His elect.

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  Episode #69

  From Angry Teenager to Dancing in the Streets: The True Joy of Repentance – Elder Jacob Pack

  Sep 9, 20261h 3mS2

  Send us Fan Mail Shawn Record sits down with his longtime friend and legendary missionary companion, Elder Jacob Pack , who served in Ukraine. Their conversation centers on Principle Two: Revelation Leads to Conversion , focusing on the reality that we cannot truly love the people we serve until we first experience the healing, sanctifying power of personal repentance. Pack shares a profound spiritual journey of moving from a state of heavy, anger-fueled guilt to becoming a consecrated instrument filled with Christlike charity. The Burden of Guilt and the Walk of Joy As a teenager, Jacob carried a heavy emotional weight, struggling with unresolved guilt that manifested as a constant, underlying anger. At age sixteen, during a Thursday night meeting at EFY, a counselor posed a piercing question about the reality of the Savior’s individual suffering. In that moment, Jacob experienced a deep godly sorrow, realizing his own sins had directly contributed to Christ’s agony in Gethsemane. This awakening set him on a rigorous path of repentance. After months of trying to carry the burden alone, he finally followed the Spirit's nudge to meet with his bishop. Walking out of that office, he received a clear, undeniable spiritual witness that he was clean, leaving him literally jumping and dancing for joy in the middle of the street. Perpetual Readiness and the MTC Covenant While in the Missionary Training Center, Jacob faced a painful lesson in spiritual preparation. Following a rough day of complaining about his struggles with the Russian language, his companion asked him for a priesthood blessing. Feeling spiritually unprepared, Jacob declined. This refusal brought back a familiar, heavy sense of guilt. That night, he knelt in deep humility, pleading for forgiveness and making a covenant with the Lord that he would never again allow himself to be spiritually unprepared when called upon to bless another soul—a promise he has kept to this day. From Competitive Pride to Consecrated Charity Two months into his mission, Jacob received a joyful call from his close friend, Elder Cody Akuda, who had just baptized a large family. Instead of rejoicing, Jacob found himself wrestling with bitter feelings of competitive jealousy over his own lack of baptisms. Ashamed of his selfishness, he immediately fell to his knees in repentance. He recognized that he did not yet truly love the people he was called to serve. From that night on, Jacob fasted and prayed daily for the spiritual gift of charity. The Lord answered his prayers, completely changing his heart, allowing him to lose himself in the work and view the Ukrainian people through the lens of pure, Christlike love. Witnessing the Sanctifying Power of the Spirit This transformation of heart unlocked a ministry of remarkable spiritual power. While teaching a seeker named Yuri, who described feeling the Holy Ghost like "static electricity" when reading the Book of Mormon, Jacob was asked to confirm Yuri's wife, Tanya. Terrified of his limited Russian, Jacob spent two weeks fasting and praying for spiritual strength. When he laid his hands on Tanya’s head, human words faded away; he was enveloped by a powerful, sanctifying peace, feeling as if he were standing in the very presence of God. Later, at the baptism of an investigator named Zena, Jacob watched as her countenance literally glowed in white during the singing of "The Spirit of God," serving as a physical witness of her cleansing. Closing Elder Pack’s experiences stand as an inspiring witness that repentance is not a shameful punishment, but the ultimate gift of joy that unlocks our capacity to love. True conversion is a process of sanctification that begins when we choose to lay down our burdens at the feet of the Savior. We are invited to stop waiting, step into the repentance process today, and let the Holy Ghost transform our hearts from the inside out.

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  Episode #68

  “What is Special About That Man?”: A Palestinian Seeker’s Witness of the Prophet & a Nigerian Convert – Elder Chase Lindsey

  Sep 2, 202652 minS2

  Send us Fan Mail Elder Chase Lindsey , recently returned from the Ireland Scotland Mission , joins Shawn to share how a missionary's willingness to "invite boldly" acts as the catalyst for gathering prepared souls. Even while temporarily home recovering from a sudden shoulder injury, Chase models Christlike patience—defining it not as passive resignation, but as cheerfully doing everything within our power to serve God. His experiences in Dublin demonstrate a profound truth: when we open our mouths with faith, the Lord guides us directly to the "sleepers" who are actively seeking the light of the Restored Gospel. The Gathering on "Sketchy Street" The power of an open mouth is beautifully illustrated in the conversion of Samuel , a journalist who fled violent Christian genocides in Nigeria after receiving personal revelation to seek peace in Ireland. Only two weeks after arriving in Ireland, Samuel was found by Chase on a Dublin street famously nicknamed "sketchy street". Although Samuel got lost trying to find the church on his first Sunday due to having no phone data, his desire to find the truth was undeniable. Chase and his companion took the bus with him the following Tuesday to show him the way, feeling a deep spiritual confirmation that Samuel had been strategically placed in Ireland. When Samuel later stood up in fast and testimony meeting—boldly thanking the elders and declaring he had found "God's true church"—every doubt about his sincerity vanished, proving that the Lord prepares His elect to recognize His voice. From Palestine to the Covenant Chase also recounts the miraculous conversion of Rafat , a Muslim from Palestine who was contacted on the street. When Rafat walked into the chapel during General Conference, he looked at the prophet on the projector screen and felt an immediate, overwhelming spiritual witness. Despite intense opposition from his family—including an uncle who flew from Palestine to intervene—Rafat's conversion was swift and uncompromising. He read the Book of Mormon in Arabic and immediately abandoned his lifelong habits of smoking and drinking coffee the moment he understood they were commandments from God. Rafat’s story highlights the power of eliminating human "fluff" and inviting seekers to act on plain, bold truth. The Global Vineyard Shawn and Chase discuss how the Lord is utilizing global immigration as a divine tool to gather Israel. Out of ten baptisms Chase witnessed in seven months, nine were immigrants from Brazil and Nigeria. This pattern fulfills the ancient prophecy in Ezekiel 37 , where the Lord promises to place His children where He chooses, using the "stick of Judah" and the "stick of Ephraim" to bind them to Him. Conclusion Elder Lindsey’s testimony is a stirring reminder that the Lord's sheep are actively waiting to hear His voice. When we speak with boldness and simplicity, substituting our own logic for the power of the scriptures, the Lord promises He will not make us liars. We are invited to examine our own lives: Are we actively lending our voices to help the Master gather His sheep, or are we letting fear keep our mouths closed?

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  Episode #67

  Bringing the Comforter into a Dark Room in London & the Concentrated Power of Temple Square– Elder Alex Tyltin and Sister Leila Tylitina

  Aug 26, 20261h 9mS2

  Send us Fan Mail When we align our faith with the Lord's timing, the boundaries of language, distance, and circumstance dissolve. In this powerful reunion episode, Shawn is joined by returned missionaries and husband-and-wife duo Alex Tilton (England London Mission) and Olya Tyltina (Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission). Together, they explore Principle Five: Miracles and Angels Are Your Right , demonstrating that the miraculous is never a product of mere coincidence, but the mathematical "if-then" result of faith and consecrated preparation. The "If-Then" Pattern of Miracles Alex illustrates this divine pattern through the story of Steve, a London barber who had been inactive for twenty years, and his Ukrainian wife, Zena. Following a sudden prompting in traffic, Steve brought his family back to church, but Zena could not understand the missionaries' English lessons. In a showcase of perfect timing, Alex—a native of Ukraine—was transferred to the area the very next day. Prepared with a Ukrainian Book of Mormon in his bag, Alex was able to teach Zena in her native tongue. This miracle bore immediate fruit when Zena's father unexpectedly passed away shortly after her baptism; because of the Plan of Salvation she had just embraced, her grief was anchored in hope rather than despair. The reality of the Comforter's power is further highlighted in Alex's experience with Will and Clarissa, a young, struggling couple. On the morning of a long-awaited temple trip, Alex received a frantic 7:00 A.M. call. The couple had experienced a violent domestic conflict, leaving the husband injured and the room filled with heavy contention. Choosing the "spirit of the law" over rigid rules or personal desires, Alex and his companion rushed to the home and called their bishop. When the bishop arrived, he brought a spirit of peace so dense it immediately dispelled the darkness in the room. This turning point teaches that when priesthood keepers live worthy of their calling, they carry the light of Christ to heal any crisis. A Mission of Pure Testimony Olya shares the unique power of her mission on Temple Square, where the work of finding was replaced by the constant privilege of testifying. She recounts the miraculous baptism of Elizabeth, a 16-year-old Ukrainian orphan recently adopted by an American family. Because Elizabeth spoke no English, her parents brought her to Temple Square once a week, where Olya taught her the gospel in Ukrainian in quiet, sacred rooms. The journey culminated in Elizabeth's baptism inside the historic Salt Lake Tabernacle—a stunning testament that the Lord will prepare a way for every one of His children to hear the gospel in their own tongue. Conclusion The ultimate takeaway of these experiences is that spiritual things can only be discerned by those who exercise faith. Miracles do not precede belief; they follow it. Preparing missionaries are invited to daily do the hard work—studying the word, serving others, and purifying their hearts—so they can be prepared to step into any room and bring the healing power of the Holy Ghost with them.

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