Everyone, this is Kurt Frank with Leading Saints and you may not know this, but I wrote a book. That's right. It's called is God disappointed to me removing shame from a gospel of grace, and it has been so well received. So many people buying multiple copies sharing it. And these principles in this book are are are crucial to not only process for yourself. But also to share with others. I wrote this book for the overwhelm Latter
saint. The person who just feels like there's never doing enough or God must be disappointed in them because I keep falling short. But there is so much more grace in this gospel, and so I truly encourage you to check out is God disappointed in me available on Amazon and other church stores. Give it a read, because in this book, I want you to understand. The true nature of God. His loving capacity. Why we must focus on the past wounding in our life in order to receive his
healing. The power of the divine identity is has given you. This gospel is so red because it leads us to Jesus Christ. So go check out is God disappointed to me or removing shame. From a gospel of grace. So my name is Kurt Frank, and I am the founder and executive director of leading saints, and obviously the host of the leading saints podcast. Now I started leading saints back in 2010. It was just a hobby blog, and it grew from there by the time 2014
came around. We started the podcast, and that's really when it got some traction and took off 2016. We became a 05:01 c 3 non nonprofit organization, and we've been growing ever since. And now I get the opportunity of interviewing and talking with remarkable people all over the world. Now this is a segment we do on the leading Saints podcast called how I lead.
And we reach out to everyday leaders. They're not experts, guru, authors, Phds, they're just everyday leaders who've been asked to serve in a specific leadership calling, and we simply ask them. How is it that you lead? And they go through some remarkable principles that should be in a book that should be behind a Phd. They're usually that good. And we just talk about us sharing what the other guy's doing.
And I remember being a leader just simply wanting to know, hey I know what I'm trying to do, but what's the other guy doing. And what's working for him. And so that's why every Wednesday or so, we publish these how I lead segments to share. Everyone in this how I lead interview were headed to brandon Florida, which is a suburb to Tampa, Florida. And we talk with Sierra Larson, who is... Man. The list goes on. She's a mother. She's a wife. She's return missionary. She is a soon to be Chaplain in
the air force. She's a therapist and a phenomenal child of god. Just so fun to just be in the... And experience the energy of Sierra, the... That stake is lucky to have for as a stake relief society president. She's a former really... Word cited president, and just has some phenomenal principal stories, moments of administering that will just touch your heart.
Listen for the the girl's night she threw for somebody that was in a, a physical therapy rehab center, just so sweet, so touching where she was literally washing her feet. I mean, talk about leadership. Right? This is 1 of those the... Those how I lead interviews that I live for. I think you will definitely appreciate it and send it on to your award and stake relief study president. I think they won't appreciate it. So here's my interview with Sierra Larson.
Alright, Sierra Larson from Tampa, Florida. Welcome to the leading saints podcast. Hi. Thank you. And, do you... You were just talking before? You love it in Tampa, so you you'd recommend it? Oh, absolutely. It's my favorite replace over. Nice. Nice. And, you... How long have you been in the Tampa area. About 2 and a half years. Yeah. Cool. And you're there... Because both you and your husband are in the military, and so that... Which leads to just a lot
of moving. Right? Yeah. Definitely. So, we're actually both res service, and so my husband, he is in the Air force... Or sorry. He's a marine, and I'm in the air force. So he is here stationed in Tampa for a little bit. Oh, great. And did... So did you meet... After you will fit enter the military or... No. He was in. He's been in about 17 years. We we met at the w say, in Chicago actually. So cool. Yeah. Nice.
So I mean, the what what was that conversation like, what then when you decided on the air force, was he trying to to coax you over to the marines or... No. Definitely not. He knew that I always wanted to join the Air force. It was actually a pretty funny has kind of a funny story, and he really appreciates the story solved I'll definitely do it. Let's... Yeah. Let's do that. But it was during Covid, and I had been thinking about joining the Air force.
I originally wanted to be a therapist for the, Air force a social worker. So I had been thinking about it, but I wasn't sure, and it was during, like, Covid, we we were doing, like, this, like, fun, like, spa thing, like, he was teaching me some of his marine moves and things like that. And he taught me how to do, like, like, a arm... Like, a choke out. Oh, wow. We talking like. So, I I like, kinda slid in and I I did 1 and I got him to tap out and I was like,
I just tapped out a marine. I couldn't definitely be in the air force. And so we went right to the recruiter that day. Love it. Science great. So... Yeah. That's awesome. And, you're currently the steak site present, will. Am. We'll talk about. But you're also in the process of becoming a a chaplain in the air force. Is that right? Yes. So I I was in the Chaplain canada program, got everything done for that and now just waiting on my my promotion. So excited about
that. So help us understand the dynamics of of being a Chaplain in the military? Like, is that something you always wanted to do? Are there benefits to it? Is there... Or is it just more of, like a spiritual urge that kinda led you that way. For me, it was really just a special urge. It was actually... I really... So like I said, I started out wanting to do therapy to be a social worker. There's a huge need in the military community with, mental health.
And I definitely knew that I wanted to be a part of that. And and helping in in that area. I didn't know what a bill it was. So that's basically just like, how many jobs are available. So there weren't any social work bullets and so... But I felt... I still felt compelled, like, I need to do this. I need to do this.
So I looked up, just different jobs that I could do that were, like, mental health feel they're related, and I came across Chaplain, and I was like, oh, that's cool, but I would really wanna be indoor by the church, and I don't think I could do that that's it's probably a thing, like, okay, You know, No problem. And the spirit just is, like, look into it. Look into it, And I was like, oh, well, okay. So I looked, and they changed it 2 months before I
looked. They had A wow. Shit. Yeah. I don't know if you're familiar with Jenna Carson. So you had that article. Yes. Yeah. So her. I I... We actually communicated for a while, and it then fell through the cracks. So I need to follow with her again and get her back on Genesis on the podcast. She's so. She's a good friend. But, yeah. Was a big, part of that of, you know, allowing women to, like, pushing Dell out women to be chaplain. And so I would I was just gonna, you know,
okay. Whatever, you know, but she just really, you know, worked really hard on that. And so now, I was like, oh, great. And so I called the military Relations office, and I found out I had to go back to school. So to go get another stir. Oh. So that was fun. But, no. It really was fun. It was a great experience. And, yeah, and I joined the Chaplain candidate for the Air force, and I've been doing that, and it was an amazing experience. I got
great hands on experience. I've done a couple tours and, great leadership experience as far as spiritual leadership and administering and just building so many skills that helped me, you know, and and calling and other things in life. So it's been a really great process. Yeah. And is there a way to summarize just, like, once you're a chaplain like, the day to day responsibilities? Is it change depending on where you're stationed or what's that like? Yeah.
It's a... It depends on where you're station. It also depends on, where you are. So you could be embedded in a unit, and you would do... And that looks a little bit differently than if you were at a chapel. If you're at a chapel, you would do some of the stuff that in a in the chapel, like,
trying to think. It's just... It depends on the day, you know, It's it's such a cool position because it's, like, you're gonna do something different every day, but, you can participate, like, religious services, making sure facilitating for groups to get together to meet, you can do, like, bible studies, seminar, you would be in charge of funerals, making sure those happen and then, also weddings, holidays, and then a lot of, like, resiliency events and things to build up the service members
and then in counseling. So a lot of that is counseling, which the cool thing, which I didn't know before. Getting into the Chaplain candidate program, But the cool thing about being a Chaplain versus being like, a mental health therapist in the military is that Chaplain have a hundred percent confidentiality. Whereas as a therapist, you have to report certain things, but As a chaplain, you don't have that requirement, you have absolutely, like, a hundred percent privilege
communication. So when a when a service member comes in, they can feel free and comfortable to talk to you about anything they need to. And that is... Really, really useful, especially in the military, there can be kind of a stigma with a lot of mental health issues. So being able to go in and know that, like, they can say whatever they want without it affecting their career is is important and allows a lot of access to be able to to help these service members?
Yeah. So, yeah. It really is more clergy than than counselor. Right? Definitely. Yeah. Awesome. But you have your therapy background that that probably just adds to all that Right? It does. It's really nice. It's nice to be able to use both. Yeah. Nice. So let's pivot maybe towards your you're calling as a least Perez. I mean, and and your you're a mom, and a wife, and, I mean... You're just in a busy stage of life? Does it feel that way?
Yeah. It definitely feels busy, but I've also felt blessed in that. And been able to balance at all if, I think it's just divine intervention. They've been able to balance everything. So but definitely very busy. Yeah. That's great. Maybe... So you were... You've been a the steak release say present for about. 6 months now. But before that, you were were a award release site present, How long were you
the award release site president? So I got called... I went on my first tour in January of 20 23. I went on a tour. And as soon as I got back, they waited till Got back and then they called me, so that would be February of 23. And so I served as the ward release society president from, like, February of 20 23 to November of 20 23, and then I got called to be the stake society present.
Awesome. And are are these roles that you feel generally comfortable And I mean, nobody really feels fully comfortable, but didn't did you just, like, take it and stride or was it Did buy side idea or you nervous about it? I was definitely nervous, go both, I think going into it. The... I would...
Yeah. Definitely the first when I got called to be ward released the City president, the bishop had asked to, like, come to our house and talk to us, and I told my husband, I was just, like, wouldn't be funny if I got called to be released to say president, because we knew, like, you know, we were we needed 1, that they were re... We they were redoing it. And, like, this is a joke. And no, that would be funny. And he called that I couldn't answer because I was
just laughing so hard. I was like, I think I changed myself with us okay. Yeah. That's awesome. And yeah. And then I've I really felt like I was like, okay. I got this. Like, I figured it out, like, I'm really excited. Like, it took a little bit, but, like, I'm good on the learning curve. I'm excited to get my goals, you know, tackled and everything, and then I got called to be the steak or society resident. I was, like, my good. Okay.
This keeps going. Yeah. Right? Blue shift. But it was really off them because 1 of the things that... The... After I got called to be the word released society present, then I couldn't sleep the whole night, I got up, like, 05:00 in the morning. And I just started praying for a vision. I said, you know, Emily father, like, I need... If you want me to lead I'll lead, but I need to know where I'm leading. Need to know where we're going. What do
you... What what do you want? What do you where what are we doing? And I just sat down and I wrote down this vision statement of what I wanted for the, you know, brandon state or not brand music. Sorry. My award at the time. And I just wrote down this, like, incredible vision statement, and I was just like, okay. This is what we're doing. And so I just kinda focused on that. And I remember reading it and being, like, you know, I really feel
like this is for the steak. That should have been my second clue. But I was like, man, you know, I really feel like, this could... Like, the whole stake could do this. Could could be in this place. And then I got called to be the stake released Say president Said like, okay. So this was for this stake. And I worked with our stake president on it and he approved it and everything, and it was really in line with what he envisioned for the stake and So... Yeah. So that's what we're kinda working
towards and we're getting... Out it I think it's been announced. So I think I can say this because it's been announced publicly. But we're getting the Tampa temple in our stake, and it's, like, right up the street from my house. Like I can walk there. Wow. So just really focused on preparing, you know, for the temple and focusing on, you know, Christ and the temple and then Yeah. Getting where we need to be. Oh, yeah.
Excited. Yeah. And and I looked that step, You know, it seems like, I don't know. Maybe it seems obvious to so many. But, you know, when you get called in these roles, you wanna make sure that you know, you got the you get the handbook out and you read that through, and make sure you're coming all your bases. Right? But just just take this moment of almost like surrender of saying, Alright. Like, I... What's your vision Got? Like, what do you want me to
do? And I'm willing to listen and and start from there, and that's just... I feel like a good powerful step he could could learn from? Yeah. Definitely. It's it's helped me have a focus and help... It's helps me also communicate, like, what we all need to do and why? You know, why are we doing our administering? Okay. Well we'll here it, you know, why are we serving? Why are we helping. Why are we doing all of these things? You know, like,
this is lying. And it's been really powerful and to see all of these women joining together for a common purpose and goal. Talia. Yeah. That's awesome. Anything else as far as just, like, walking into these calling as far as needed did to prepare or or see some early progress, whether that's on the ward level at the state level, Anything else come to mind? Like he said, coming through the handbook was huge. Yeah. Seek Revelation and read the handbook. Alright. Like those 2 things. Solid.
For sure. I I definitely approached it in a very, systematic way. I read the handbook, and then I created, you know, templates and things to make sure that I was covering all my pieces.
Focusing on, you know, a lot of the responsibilities that I, you know, had to focus on, especially with the change from bishop having to focus more on the youth and a lot of the other responsibilities being divided up between the release society president and the elders from president, making sure that we were able to support the bishop in that way as much as we could and So I think that part of it just figuring out what what we're supposed to do and make sure we're we're doing.
You know, we're focused on it, and we're doing it in the right way and the Lord's way and, a above all else seek revelation and do do what hell many does you do? Yeah. Right. And tell me just about the makeup of your ward or or your stake? Is it is it like, obviously, a military ward or a military stake or you just, 1 of a, you know, a minority of military families? There are a few there are probably
2 other military families in my ward. There might be a few pepper around, but Tampa usually gets more of the military since we're in brandon. So we're in the kind of the suburbs, but the... We have 7 words and 1 Spanish branch so the just became a branch, so that has been really awesome. To work with them. They just got a new release society president and who's amazing and just working with her, which been really cool because I I served
a Spanish speaking mission. I I served in, Santiago on the Dr. And so being able to kinda of brush off my rest see Spanish and used that has been awesome too. So it's a great area. Everyone's amazing and the words are just amazing. Just amazing all of them. Nice. And how would you describe just your week to week approach to it because there's... All, maybe there's this pressure of like, visiting different words maybe? Or do you have a routine? How do to use your counselors on it? Yeah. Oh,
can I just can I just say? My counselors? Are You got them Oh, my goodness. 1 thing that I've just have noticed and I've loved is understanding my own, like, string and weaknesses and seeing the lord makeup for those weaknesses through my counselors and using them and their talents in a way that just can, like, covers all the bases. And it's just been so amazing and productive to see how we all just work together as just like, really cohesive team, and I I love them.
I could sit here and talk about my counselors all day long, but I definitely just I trust them so much, and they're amazing women, and they they're not much older than me, but they're a little older than me, So they guide me and it's been nice to just have their wisdom too and just listen, and and they've been really respectful and listen to me even though I'm younger, but they they are just... Like, it's just amazing. So I just wanted to say that because I love them so
much. Cool. Give a shout out. That's awesome. So each of my 2 counselors and, our our secretary, we have 8, words and branches. That we we work with. So we each have a release society sister that we directly minister to. And then we also have just trainings with just the relief society, president sometimes of just checking in and supporting it's been really cool to move from being a release society word release society president to the stake.
Released society president because there was a time where our state releases society president had moved. So we had about
wanna say 4 months without 1. And so knowing kind of the need and the support that they needed was helpful because then I knew what I would need and how I need the connection that I needed to the stake and being able to provide that and really just administer to these women that are giving everything every day as and some really with to these awards and and are facing a lot of really hard challenges within the ward and their own lives, and it's just been amazing to minister to them.
So I have 2, we have 2 like, mainly Spanish speaking, relief the society president, so I have them, and then we split up the rest, and so we her to them, monthly, go to their house and see what they need, answer any questions and just try to support them, and then we also have some training meetings, and then we have this really big conference in them. So excited about coming up in November and have some amazing speakers I don't, I I think I can say
that she agreed. So hopefully, she'll be here, but, do you know Portia Louder? She has this butt living louder? Okay. I'm gonna shout out Porsche she's amazing. She has this book called living louder. She just just wrote another book called born Born to be brave. I think, sorry if... Sorry, Portia. I didn't get that right. But she's coming to speak, I think virtually because it's... She's gonna speak virtually in November, and then we're gonna have some other speakers, Jenna is gonna come and
gonna be really amazing. And... So it's just, like, so many things that are just so awesome and exciting and that I'm... I'm excited to do. So I'm curious with with this conference. This just, like, just a women's conference for your stake. Is that the the idea? Yeah. It's this super early exciting conference. So... Nice. Yeah. And and you're just gonna have a bunch of different speakers and the ladies can come and just just learn and and
benefit. Yeah. So, part of how a vision, I also have 3 values that I really wanted to focus on. The first is authenticity and vulnerability. I think that's a really big part of leading, But I think it's a part of church, like, being at church and and just not pretending, like, everything's okay, and I try to model that. I just tried try say, you know what? Some... This is something I'm struggling with, and this is how the gospel helps me with
it. And I think that model really helps us utilize the gospel of Jesus Christ to help 1 another our struggles because we're all struggling with something and there's no use in pretending or not. So we might as well just, you know, talk about it and build each other up. So she's gonna talk about that and how you know, and the how Jesus Christ helps us with our struggles and our trials and our life.
Our stake president, his wife is gonna help or is gonna come in and talk about inclusion and be really inclusive in the church and just loving everybody, you know, loving god and loving people, and how do we do that when we have differences. And just being welcoming and loving to everyone, which everyone does... It's gonna be pretty acquire. Everyone does love so well. It's just so nice Everyone is just great friends, but just how... What does Christ teachers about that?
And what... What does Christ teachers about inclusion? And then Jenna gonna come in and talk about, the... I wish I had the topics memorized, but also women and just their strength and the ability and power that they have to do the Lord's work and how they can draw on the power of heaven to to accomplish the work the Lord, and she is just amazing and I know it has so many insights on that as well. So I am just... I'm gonna a gu months talk. I was so excited
about it. Anyone wants to come to Tampa for this. Like, come on on. That's awesome. And those are just fun things. Right? To put... Organize something thing that hopefully, will benefit so many that's related to your calling and and hopefully, you're, you know, bless the lives of so many sisters in that and that part of the world. So that's
cool. Yeah. Awesome. Anything else to any other ideas or things you've done as so the really exciting that maybe is is out of the normal that from the, you know, that's a unique idea. So unique idea, when I first got called, is this kinda weird, but when I first got called, we were trying to... I had been on order. So they were doing, like, ward conferences and things, and they were like, we got a new release to say president or steak released to say aggressive about no 1 seen. Like,
everyone's like, where is she? And I'm like, I'm sorry on order. Like I'll be back. I promised. So I really wanted to do something and just get all of the presidents, the word released society presidents together. But I didn't want it to be formal. I didn't want it to be a formal meeting. So 1 thing we did was we made the release study room at the stake a, like, kind of like a living room.
My my first counselor, sister Stale is an amazing just writer and cater and so she, like, made it so cozy, and it was so cute. And then we had, like, a like, a Pj party, but it wasn't like, a sleep over anything. But it was just... Everybody showed up in, like, comfy clothes and pajamas and blankets and had pizza, and we, like, some of us sat on the floor. Some of us sat on the couches and stuff. When we played games and chat, and we just got to chat, and it was
it was really good. It was really good way to, like, get to know everybody and make sure that we were able to minister to them. And just to be kinda personable, I didn't wanna come in and be like, oh, stick they said, you know, I just wanted to just say, hi, you know Yeah. See what's going on and we definitely talked about a lot of things that they were going through and, got to build that relationship really well. So that's kind of unique, I think. Yeah.
I love that. And, you know, no dresses, no pants suits, like, or just showing up and and what whatever's is comfortable Yeah. And in connecting. Right? Mh. I think it's cool. It's all about connecting, making sure that we're here to build up 1 another and focus on Jesus, you know? Well, you sent me a handful of leadership principles that maybe have helped you in in your service. And the first 1 is lead yourself to Christ and rely on him to accomplish his work. Maybe expo on that. Sure.
I think the first thing is, you know, Are you doing the things that you want to help others do? Are you praying? Are you reading your scriptures? What's your relationship with Jesus price like right, like, in focusing on that and strengthening that as best as you can and making sure that you know, you're keeping your covenants. Like, let's start there. Like, keep your covenants and and have a covenant relationship with jesus chris I love that and and making sure that you
have that connection. And then from there, asking, you know, what do what what would do you have me do today? Where who needs me? Where do I need to go? What do I need to do and involving him in every stop of the way. I think that's the temptation of mine really is to just, like, charge ahead. Right? I just wanna go and do it. Like, I have this idea. Gonna go and do it. Which is great, but I I have learned that I need to check in and say,
okay. Lord wait. Like, you're we good. We wanna do this you're is and we wanna do something else, you know, making sure I'm seeking in that revelation before I just, like, go and do. Yeah. Yeah. No. I'm the same way for sure. Because you get excited about things. Right? Yeah. Definitely. And sees you just jump on and go. So next 1 is be a servant leader. How do you Yeah you make sort of already talked about that a little bit, but how how else do you do that? I just wanna make sure that I am
paying attention to the needs. Like, if so if I if I see it or if someone mentions it and there's something that I can do. I'm gonna do it. Like, don't tell me you're sick and not expects me, like, to show up with soup 1 day like, because I probably will, like, you know, and just being creating the habit of acting on those things. A story. It was it was really powerful.
I I gotta be careful about the stories because this and it's a little sensitive for the person, but there was an accident, and this person she was in the hospital for a while, and then she was in, like, a a rehab physical therapy rehab. And so the biggest thing, you know, everybody was bringing food and, you know, doing all these... All of these things, which was wonderful. I just kinda noticed that she was alone you know, like, in this hospital and
bored. And I was like, you know, It'd be really fun to do a girl's night, Like, get a couple sisters and go over and do face masks and snacks and, you know, paint nails. And, you know, it's just something fun and just a lift or spirits. So we did that. Right I at the hospital. At the U. At the. At the rehab the rehab Yeah. I think you she see me coming in with, like, bags of stuff there? Like, are you moving in? No. Just just having a girl's night, you know? So we come and we're we're doing that
and I go to painter nails. And she had like, the sort, like, surgical residue on her feet. And So I got these gloves and I got, like, these wipes, and I'm like, literally washing her feet, so I could, like wear her nails and stuff. And it was just such a powerful moment of, like, I would an amazing opportunity to be, like, Christ in that. Like, how... I mean, it's kinda weird otherwise, but there was just, like, such a cool opportunity to, like, like, wash feed. Like... That sounds weird. Sorry.
That's weird. Yeah. In 20 24, you typically wash other people speak. Oh, yeah. You know. Talk about Christ life, you know... It was just such an amazing opportunity, and I was just, like, so grateful to have the opportunity to just, like, like, do something that was so literally christ. And not to be like, oh, yeah. I got to do that. But like, it was just how I try and live Like, how I try and serve is in that way. And then the way and do the things that I think that the lord would do.
And so I think serving others in that way, and making sure that I'm never too big for that. Like, I'm never too big to wash someone's feet. I'm never too big to take out the trash after an activity. I'm not like, oh, I'm the release Sad president. I don't have to take out the trash. Now if my husband's is there, he might do it for me, but it's not, like I'm I'm logging it to the to the dumpster. Like I never in in military. Like, if I have Airman, you know, that are the enlisted that
are taken out trash. Like, I'm gonna help. I'm gonna get up. I'm gonna help bring stuff to the dumpster because I'm not, like, I'm here to serve. I'm here to serve them. I'm here to serve whomever who needs it and Making sure that, like, I'm humble enough to be able to go and do those things, and I'm not and anytime I'm, like, well they you can do it and like, no. No. Be humble. Like, go go get it. Go go take out the trash, you know, because that's I think
where we can... The way that we can continue to fight that pride instinct. Right? That pride temptation of, like, okay. You know, we're here to serve, and it's not about us. It's about the lord. It's about his we need to... If we need to get down in the dirt, we need to get down the dirt and... That's cool. Yeah. Yeah. And and just that personal touch, you know, having a girl's night at the rehab center is that's powerful. You know, that just a little bit out of the ordinary. Right? Like, sure.
You... We can all visit and that's great and sometimes that's Sometimes, all we have to give. Right? We're just, like, I can I can stop by? But when you do have it to just give a little bit more and make it really special That's awesome. That's inspiring. For sure. You talked earlier On about, you know, that moment of being called and and seeking a vision from god, like, what what do you want me to do in this role? And that was related to your third principles have
an inspired vision and plan. Anything else that you would... You would add to that principle? Yeah. I think not only having it, but being reminded of it. I was... I was at the mall. This kind of silly store, but I was at the mall with all 3 of my kids, and
my kids... Her are wonderful. They're wonderful children but their children, and they wander And it was kinda... I hadn't planned on going to them all that day, so I didn't have all the stuff, like the, you know, the stroller and things that would keep them contained. So I was trying to keep these children contained. And it was such like a parable in
my mind. I like, saw the parable as it was happening of all of the flashy and shiny things that were coming and and I needed to get them from point a to point b. And they were getting distracted because there were toys and the merry rounds and, you know, cotton candy and all of these things at the mall, and I told my son, I'm, like, do you see that store right there? Do you see that, like, red with the red sign? He's
like, yeah. And I said, you gotta look at it and you don't take your eyes off of it until you get there, just walk straight towards it. And like, and that was the only way we could get there. And I think that's kind of a parallel or metaphor for us of where do we wanna go? And we can get so distracted and and in this life, but we we need to focus on where we wanna be? Like, and take keep your eyes on it and and don't look away.
And so with a vision of, you know, where where do we want the stake to be... Or this... The women in the stake to be and where do we want to be personally? We wanna live with our heavenly father again. Right? So focus on that and don't look away. Don't don't turn away. Focus on Christ. Don't don't get distracted. Put those blind on, I think is is such an amazing way to look at it because there's so much that we'll distract you. Right? There's so much that we'll deceive if and distract, and...
But if we just focus on Christ and just don't stop till we get there. I think we'll we'll be okay. So just just focusing on that and reminding ourselves where we wanna be consistently. I think helps us to get there. Yeah. So powerful. I love that. Well, this has been so insightful and encouraging, and I love these of as I love the stories, and I think a lot of people will benefit
from this for sure. So last question I have for you is as you reflect on your time as stake study president award study president. How is being a leader helps you become a better follower of Jesus Christ? I think because of my first principle of, you know, leading yourself to Christ. I never want anyone to look at me and say, Well, sister Larson doing that, so it must
be okay. So making sure that I am strictly obedient, making sure that I am you know, careful about everything that I I say and do and and and my input, you know, movies I watched music, I I listened to everything. I'm very careful about that because I never...
Like, if I'm doing it, then it it needs to be something that's okay to do or at least, I, like, I really am doing this thinking that it is okay and not something that I know is wrong and and that people are watching and thinking it's okay to do if it's not. So I'm very, very careful about that and making sure that I am very strict about the things that you know, I allow into my life, in that way, and that has helped me personally follow jesus Christ more because I'm very, very focused on
keeping my connection and my... And developing of that relationship and feeling the spirit as strongly as I possibly can because I rely on that, I've had so many just sacred experiences where I am just praying for people and and these sisters and not even just sisters, like, I've had really amazing experiences where I'm
doing hospice work. And as a, you know, in Chaplain and as a released society president just doing a lot of hospice work where I am just praying for people as they pass through the veil and just being feeling close to Christ and and close to a spirit and feeling the ability to have that heavenly power to minister to others is so important.
And is... I rely on that, and I rely on that to be able to minister in a way that is strong and it is powerful and have the faith to see these miracles happening for these people in their lives, and I can't jeopardize that with disobedience. So knowing that I'm in this position to serve and the minister in that way. That's a sacred trust, and I and I trying to be worthy of that. And that concludes this how I lead interview. I hope you enjoyed it, and I
would ask you. Could you take a minute and drop this link in an email on social media in a text. Wherever it makes most sense and share it with somebody who could relate to this this experience And this is how we how we develop as leaders just hearing what the other guy's doing, trying some things out, testing, adjusting for your area and that's that's where great leadership discover. Right? So we would love to have you share this with somebody in this calling or a related
calling. And that would be great. And also, if you know somebody, any type of leader who would be a fantastic guess on the how I lead segment, reach out to us go to leading scenes dot org slash contact, maybe send this individual email, letting them know that you're going to be suggesting their name for this interview. We'll reach out to them and See if we can line them up. So again, go to leading saints dot org slash contact, and there you can submit all the
information and let us know. And maybe they will be on a future I lead segment on the leading saints podcast. And remember, grab your copy of my new book is god disappointed to me on Amazon or in select Costco stores. It came as a result of the position of leadership, which was imposed upon us by the God of heaven who brought fourth a restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And when the declaration was made concerning the own and only true and living church upon the face of the earth.
We were immediately put in a position of loneliness. The loneliness of leadership from which we cannot shrink nor run away. And to which we must face up with bold and courage and ability.