Posted on Jun 07, 2024

Faith-Filled Improvements with Troyce Miskin

Faith-Filled Improvements with Troyce Miskin

In this week’s episode of the Why We Believe show, I sat down with my close friend and spiritual role model, Troyce Miskin. Troyce, the deputy fire chief of the Rexburg Fire Department and an educator for EMTs, paramedics, and firefighters, shares his powerful story of why he believes.

Troyce opened up about his experiences that have shaped his unwavering belief in God's presence and love. He has found his own “sacred groves” on his path of discipleship, and the experiences that have shaped him into the man he is today have never left him. Troyce's journey serves as a testament to the transformative power of turning to Heavenly Father.

In this blog post, we will explore how we, too, can find our sacred spaces, recognize God's miracles in our lives, learn to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and seek inspiration to become more like Christ.


Seeking Your Sacred Grove


The Sacred Grove is located in Palmyra, New York. It is where a young Joseph Smith had a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ. While this location holds special meaning for many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and is often associated with powerful spiritual experiences. Troyce pointed out that we don't need to the one and only Sacred Grove to have similar experiences because we can make spaces of our own to invite that kind of spirit. 

Some of the most prominent spiritual experiences we have in this life happen in places like our homes or the temple or on top of mountains. It is different for everyone, and that is a part of what makes spiritual experiences so special. The fact that God knows each of us so individually that he knows what experiences we need to progress in the best way. 

As we seek to strengthen our faith, our sacred groves don't have to be limited to specific locations. God speaks to us in the moments when we are ready and when He knows we are prepared to hear His voice. By creating sacred experiences with our loved ones and opening our hearts and minds to the promptings of the Spirit, we can find our own personal sacred spaces that will fortify our testimonies.


God is a God of Miracles


It is no surprise that life is hard and complicated. One of the coolest things about miracles is that a miracle for one person will not be seen as a miracle by another. We pass through hardships, and we are told in scripture that all these things will be for our good. Sometimes, we don’t see God’s hand in the matter until the trial has passed. 

This was the case for Troyce when he and his family embarked on a road trip. Their car was having noticeable amounts of trouble as they were trying to make their way to the temple. They said a prayer that the car would not break down as they were driving and they were fine for a bit. As they followed the GPS, they were not at their location at all. Troyce was infuriated to be stuck in the little podunk town. It wasn’t till after the fact that Troyce realized that their GPS had led them to the only location that would be able to service their car as soon as it was having problems.

As we navigate life's challenges, it is crucial to trust in God's plan and have faith that He is leading us toward something great. And even if we don’t realize it until later, we should give thanks for the miracles and blessings God gives us when we can’t see the big picture yet. By recognizing the miracles in our lives, no matter how small or unexpected, we can strengthen our belief in God's love and guidance.


The More We Listen, The More We Hear


By heeding the promptings of the Holy Ghost, Troyce was able to bless the lives of others and strengthen his own faith. In church callings and as a parent, he has chosen to listen and heed these pomptings leading to more opportunities for the spirit to keep helping him. 

The more we pay attention to the whispers of the Spirit, the more God will trust us and guide us in our lives. When you ask someone for help, and they give you advice, you normally take it. So, give God the same courtesy. If you ask God for help and receive a prompting about it, no matter the outcome, what results will be something that will help you in the long run. As we act upon them, we open ourselves up to receive greater inspiration and direction.

Here are some tips for prioritizing the voice of the Holy Ghost:

  1. Create a quiet space in our lives to listen for promptings
  2. Act upon the inspiration we receive, no matter how small
  3. Express gratitude for the guidance and direction we are given
  4. Continue to seek opportunities to serve and bless others


Finding Inspiration to Become Like Christ


A big part of this life is the connections we build with others. We are capable of inspiring one another to do the best we can and continue to fulfill our potential. For Troyce, his wife, Wendy, is one of his inspirations. Despite his struggles with anxiety and feeling spiritually disconnected, Wendy's unwavering commitment to the gospel and her ability to see Troyce's potential inspired him to search for the truth as well as their love for each other.

We can find inspiration to become more like Christ through the love and example of those around us. As we observe the light and goodness in others and open up to others, we can be motivated to develop those same qualities within ourselves.

The Atonement helps us overcome our weaknesses and mistakes. By creating a relationship with the Savior and allowing His love to work within us, we can experience the enabling power of the Atonement and progress on the path toward becoming more Christlike through our interactions with others.


Fueling Your Faith


By finding our own sacred spaces, recognizing God's miracles in our lives, seeking inspiration to become more like Christ, and learning to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, we can strengthen our testimonies and develop an unshakable belief in our Heavenly Father.

Take a moment to reflect on your own faith journey. What steps can you take today to nurture that spark of faith? Consider setting aside time for personal prayer and scripture study, seeking out opportunities to serve others, and spending quality time with your loved ones. As you do so, you will feel the love of God and Jesus Christ encouraging you, uplifting you, and guiding you along the path of discipleship.

Thank you for joining us for this episode. I pray Troyce’s message building faith will lead you to experiences that will strengthen your testimony.

If you would like to learn more about the Why We Believe show, please visit WhyWeBelieve.com.

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  • Jun 07, 2024

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In this week’s episode of Why We Believe, I had the pleasure of speaking with McKinley Willardson, a collegiate basketball player from Brigham Young University who has chosen to put her athletic career on hold to serve an 18-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. McKinley's story is truly inspiring. As a freshman on BYU's women's basketball team during their inaugural season in the Big 12 conference, she had a promising future ahead of her. However, she felt called to serve a mission and made the difficult decision to pause her collegiate athletic career. McKinley's choice to sacrifice her time and talents for the Lord's work is a powerful example of faith in action. In our conversation, we explored the blessings that come from dedicating ourselves to God's service, the challenges of making such a significant decision, and the importance of trusting in the Lord's plan for our lives. McKinley's experiences offer valuable insights for anyone considering how they can best serve the Lord and make a difference in the world.

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Brady and his wife Andrea have witnessed miracles as they've opened their hearts to adoption, welcoming 11 children into their family, including a sibling group of four from Colombia. 7. Brady believes that when we allow ourselves to get caught up in a cause bigger than ourselves, we will witness miracles time and time again. 8. The gospel principle of consecration resonates deeply with Brady as he strives to use his time, talents, and resources to serve others and further God's work. Thank you for joining us for this episode. I pray Brady’s message of trusting in God to lead you to experiences that will strengthen your testimony to do the same. If you would like to learn more about the Why We Believe show, please visit WhyWeBelieve.com.

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Because of Him, we are not lost to sin and death. We can progress in this life, and we can someday become perfected through His sacrifice. Anyone who chooses to turn to Christ and apply the Atonement in their lives can feel peace and healing that cannot be found or felt anywhere else. By learning about the Atonement and applying it in her life, Priscila found the strength to continue pursuing her goals and responsibilities, even in the face of mental health struggles such as OCD and anxiety. She sought help from trusted family members, friends, and professionals, while also relying on the healing power of Christ. A big part of the Atonement is change. And change is never “comfortable.” It shouldn’t have to be. Part of the transformative power of the Atonement comes from the opportunities we are given to make choices that help us come closer to Him. And without these numerous opportunities to make these decisions, we would only have so many chances to do that. Christ gives us every opportunity. The Impact of Small and Simple Acts of Faith Small but significant acts of faith have guided Prescila’s journey of faith. Throughout her life, she has experienced numerous moments where seemingly small decisions or actions have had a profound impact on her spiritual growth and the lives of others. You don’t need to move mountains to help someone come closer to Christ. Priscilla was able to share her testimony with friends at school, which led to some of them learning more about Christ. Her mission in Santiago, Chile helped her to develop a deeper relationship with Christ. Putting aside time to work on simple things like studying the scriptures, sincere prayer, and following the Holy Spirit made a difference in her own life. Choosing to share her testimony every Fast Sunday, even when it was difficult, and learning that her words could be exactly what someone needed to hear helped her understand how God could use her for His work. These experiences demonstrate that it is often the small, consistent choices we make that have the greatest impact on our spiritual journey. By being faithful in the little things, we open ourselves up to the blessing and guidance of the Holy Ghost, which can lead us to make a profound difference in the lives of others. Starting a Spiritual Foundation Priscila Teodório da Silva's story is a beautiful reminder of the power of faith and the transformative impact of Christ's Atonement. Through her experiences, we learn that personal commitment, perseverance in the face of adversity, reliance on Christ, and small acts of faith are all essential elements of a strong spiritual foundation. As we navigate our own spiritual journeys, consider how you can apply these lessons to your life. Let us strive to be more self-motivated in our church attendance, find strength in the challenges we face, turn to Christ's Atonement for healing and guidance, and recognize the significance of small and simple things through acts of faith. By doing so, we can develop a deeper, more meaningful relationship with our Savior and find the purpose, hope, and joy that comes from living His gospel. Take a moment today to look for God's hand in your life, and trust that He is guiding you through the small and simple things that will lead you back to Him. Key Takeaways: 1. Priscila Teodório da Silva, a software developer from Brazil, shares her inspiring story of developing faith in Jesus Christ and His restored gospel from a young age. 2. Despite facing challenges such as family issues and living far from church, Priscila remained committed to attending church and seminary, even if it meant going alone. 3. Priscila found that the most meaningful spiritual experiences often occurred during the most difficult times, such as when it was raining and hard to get to church. 4. Discipleship is not easy because the Atonement of Jesus Christ was not easy for him, and as members of the Church, we must uphold the truth and face our own challenges. 5. After returning from her mission, Priscila faced challenges such as the pandemic and dealing with anxiety and OCD, but she turned to God and trusted in Christ's Atonement to overcome these difficulties. 6. Small yet significant experiences, such as feeling the Holy Spirit in the temple or during baptisms, helped build Priscila's testimony over time. 7. Serving a mission in Chile helped Priscila understand that developing a deeper relationship with Christ is based on simple things like studying scriptures, sincere prayer, and following the Holy Spirit. 8. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ has positively influenced every aspect of Priscila's life, from making better choices to meeting positive influences and discovering her passion for programming and computer science. Thanks for joining us for this episode of Why We Believe! We wish you the best as you look for the small and simple ways God has been guiding your life. If you would like to learn more about this podcast or see past episodes, head to WhyWeBelieve.com to find more!

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