Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Addiction, Deception, and Living a Double Life — But God Never Gave up on Him: Martin Onken’s Story (Part 1)

What happens when bad choices and “small sins” spiral into life-altering consequences? Martin Onken’s raw testimony reveals how a single decision at age 16 to “sin a little” led to decades of deception and a double life that impacted countless people. Born to Dutch-Indonesian parents who survived Japanese prisoner-of-war camps, Martin’s childhood was marked by…

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Discovering Life’s Purpose through Singleness and Beyond: Sharon Lamar’s Story

What if the life you dreamed of for yourself never showed up—because God used it to write an even better story? This week on Latter-Day Lights, life coach and host of “The Single LDS Woman Podcast,” Sharon Lamar, opens up about spending 30 years of her life as a single Latter-Day Saint before marrying at…

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Having Faith to Stay with Carter Ellis & Jon Coakley | Faith to Stay Episode 5

When trials get steep and hope runs thin, what keeps you hanging on to faith? This Sunday, our 5-part “Faith to Stay” miniseries reaches its finale with a candid round-table discussion on “Enduring to the End.” Latter-Day Lights hosts Scott Brandley and Alisha Coakley welcome viral missionary Carter Ellis, and faith-forged father Jon Coakley—to unpack…

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Breaking the Cycle of Abuse with The Book of Mormon: Becky Sheffer’s Story

What if the darkest parts of your past were the very things God used to lead you home? On today’s episode of Latter-day Lights, we meet Becky Sheffer—a woman whose childhood was marked by addiction, neglect, trauma, and instability. But through it all, small miracles began to appear—moments that quietly pointed her toward something greater….

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Holding Onto Hope After the Hardest Goodbye: Larissa Dagley’s Story

How does a parent stand back up when every corner of home echoes with grief? For EMT, educator, and loving mother Larissa Dagley, tragedy began at her teen son Cody’s shooting incident—a moment that left Cody drowning in relentless nightmares and bullying for the remainder of his life. Overwhelmed by guilt and depression, Cody took…

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A Grieving Father’s Climb Toward Tender Mercies: Eldon Buchanan’s Story

When a father’s greatest nightmare strikes his family not once but twice, can Heaven still find a way to spark hope? Idaho rancher, husband, and devoted father Eldon Buchanan returns to Latter-day Lights to share the sacred tender mercies that steadied him after losing his son to suicide: Feeling the invisible strength of his son…

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Hit Head On by a Drunk Driver, Protected by Angels: Tracy Jo Rollins’ Story

What if the worst day of your life was actually part of a divine plan to save someone else? In this powerful episode of Latter-day Lights, Tracy Jo Rollins returns to share the miraculous story of her near-fatal car crash, the traveling angels who protected her, and the unexpected calling that followed. From life-threatening injuries…

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From Faith Crisis to “Faith to Stay” – The Origin of Latter-Day Lights: Scott Brandley’s Story

When pillars of certainty crumble, is it possible to rebuild something even stronger in their place? When two trusted ward members announced they were leaving the Church, newly called bishop Scott Brandley was rocked to the core. Overnight, the man called to strengthen spirituality in others found himself wrestling with his own doubts, spiralling into…

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Finding God in the Little Things – Stories of Hope & Inspiration: David Anderson

Have you ever stopped to consider how many small miracles have quietly shaped your life? In this week’s episode of Latter-day Lights, we sit down with David Anderson—a husband, father of eleven, and grandfather of twenty-eight—whose life is a beautiful tapestry of tender mercies, quiet revelations, and sacred moments. From losing his mother as a…

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Preserving Sacred Text with The Book of Mormon Census: Robert Messick’s Story

When a simple curiosity of well-worn scripture leads to a full-fledged passion, can the pages of history strengthen our faith even more? For family man and dedicated Book of Mormon collector, Robert Messick, the answer is a resounding YES! In this fascinating episode of Latter-day Lights, Robert takes us on a journey through centuries of…

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