Blessings Proportional to Repentance: A Life Anchored in the Atonement

What if the most powerful testimony is not built on a single miraculous moment but on a lifetime of quiet answers?

Dr. Kendall Peck has never seen a pillar of light. He has not experienced anything he would describe as dramatic or remarkable. Yet his faith stands firm on a foundation many overlook: daily repentance and the enabling power of the Atonement.

Dr. Peck is the Online Vice President at Brigham Young University - Idaho, a PhD chemist who left a promising pharmaceutical career to teach at a small college in Idaho, and a current stake president. He is a sixth-generation member of the Church who grew up on an Idaho farm, served a mission in Hawaii under Elder Kikuchi, and has spent his life learning what it means to be a striving but imperfect disciple of Jesus Christ.

In this episode of Why We Believe with host Nathan Gwilliam, Dr. Peck shares the experiences that shaped his testimony. What makes his story so compelling is not extraordinary events but the extraordinary consistency of God’s quiet presence throughout an ordinary life. His journey challenges what many assume a strong testimony should look like.

 A Mother Who Taught Him to Want to Pray 

Dr. Peck traces the anchor of his faith back to his mother. She did not force her children to pray. She did something far more lasting. She reminded him to pray when she knew he needed it.

Before a Primary talk or any experience that made him nervous, she would simply ask whether he had said his prayer yet. Had he asked for help? Then he would go and pray. Almost immediately, he would see the benefit. The prayer was tied to a specific need. The help was tied to a specific outcome. Through this approach, he learned not just how to pray, but why prayer matters.

That pattern of connecting prayer to real needs and real help became the foundation of his spiritual life. Growing up on a farm provided many opportunities to rely on the Lord, and that reliance never left him.

 Confirmation in the MTC 

Like many members raised in the Church, Dr. Peck always believed the gospel was true. He had read the Book of Mormon multiple times and felt its truth. But as he prepared to serve a mission, he realized he was about to ask others to do something he had never fully done himself: pray and ask God directly if the Church was true.

In the Missionary Training Center, he read the Book of Mormon again and knelt in prayer. For the first time, he experienced what the scriptures describe as a burning in the bosom. It was something he could not explain, but something he unmistakably felt. From that moment forward, he could never deny what he had received. That experience became the anchor of his testimony and the confidence behind his missionary service.

 Blessings Proportional to Repentance 

Toward the end of his mission in Hawaii, Dr. Peck heard a statement that reshaped his understanding of the gospel. Elder Kikuchi, a visiting general authority, met with a small group of missionaries and shared a single line that stood out above the rest: the blessings I have received in my life are proportional to the extent that I have repented.

The words stunned him. This was coming from someone he viewed as deeply righteous. How did repentance apply to a missionary who had spent two years teaching it but rarely reflected on it personally?

With only two months left to serve, Dr. Peck decided to apply the principle. He began reviewing his days, identifying areas that needed refinement, and striving to do better. The results were immediate. Within a week, unexpected opportunities appeared. A teacher invited them to share the gospel with an entire elementary classroom. A mother who had fallen away from the Church returned, wanting her children to learn the gospel.

He learned that repentance is not reserved for major mistakes. It is a daily practice of alignment, refinement, and reliance on the Atonement. That principle has remained central to his faith ever since.

 The Thousand Pound Envelope 

After earning his PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry, Dr. Peck was working for a large pharmaceutical company in Chicago. He and his wife loved their home, their ward, their neighborhood, and the trajectory of his career. Life felt settled.

Then a message arrived on their answering machine. Rick’s College had an opening in the chemistry department. Would he consider applying?

The decision was not obvious. He had never taught chemistry before. He doubted whether he would succeed. After prayer and a visit to the temple, he felt prompted to move forward.

The night before the application was due, he finished typing it and placed it in an envelope. As he walked across the parking lot to the mailbox, the envelope felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds. The moment he dropped it into the mailbox, the weight vanished.

When the offer came, he and his wife were given only twelve hours to decide. They prayed separately, then came together. Both had received the same answer. Though it meant leaving comfort behind, they knew it was right. God provided clarity when they needed it most.  

 Striving But Imperfect 

When asked what anchors his testimony, Dr. Peck’s answer is simple: the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He describes himself as a striving but imperfect disciple. Because of that, he clings to the Atonement. He repents regularly, and each time, he feels the healing power of Christ.

The most meaningful evidence of God’s hand in his life has not come through dramatic moments, but through quiet ones. Healing through the Atonement. Strength through the Atonement. Being enabled to do things that would be impossible without it.

He does not have a single pillar of light. He has countless rays of light gathered over a lifetime, forming a testimony that cannot be shaken.

 Choose Your Own Foundation 

Dr. Kendall Peck’s journey shows that a strong testimony does not require extraordinary experiences. It requires daily reliance on the Atonement and a willingness to repent consistently. Consider whether you are waiting for a dramatic moment to confirm your faith, or whether God is already showing up in quiet, faithful ways. Consider tying your prayers to specific needs and watching for specific help. That simple practice shaped Dr. Peck’s life, and it can shape yours. Take time to reflect on why you believe. Where have you seen God’s hand? The answers may feel ordinary, but together they form an unshakable foundation.

Loved this episode? Follow the show, share it with someone who needs the reminder that imperfect disciples can still cling to Christ, and leave a review for Why We Believe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Your support helps bring more faith-centered conversations to listeners everywhere. Thank you for reading this week’s blog inspired by Why We Believe. Explore more episodes and stories at WhyWeBelieve.com.

Follow the Why We Believe Show: Website: WhyWeBelieve.com | YouTube: @WhyWeBelieveShow | LinkedIn: @Why-We-Believe-Show | Instagram: @WhyWeBelievePodcast

Follow Nathan Gwilliam: LinkedIn: @NathanGwilliam

Follow Dr. Kendall Peck: LinkedIn: @Kendall-Peck