Beth’s Story; Finding our Identity through Christ

When Beth's career as a professional dancer was abruptly halted by an injury, it seemed like her world had come crashing down. Yet, through this trial, she discovered a new purpose and identity as the founder of Salt and Hart, merging her artistic talent with her spiritual mission. Our conversation with Beth is a heartwarming tale of resilience and faith, illustrating how our darkest moments can lead to the brightest of paths. We traverse Beth's transformative journey, highlighting the significance of embracing our identity as children of God and how this understanding can profoundly influence our daily lives and the lives of those around us.

Throughout this episode, we share powerful personal revelations and discuss the Holy Spirit's role in guiding us toward our divine heritage. We reflect on the importance of choosing to live as true disciples of Jesus Christ, delving into what it means to embody our faith through our actions. Our discussion is a call to recognize the profound impact of our identities as followers of Christ, not just in name but in deed, and how this realization can change the way we approach life's challenges, relationships, and the pursuit of our spiritual missions.

We round out our conversation by addressing the responsibilities of modern parenting, the influence of faith in shaping young lives, and the strength found within the church community. The stories and insights shared in this episode serve as a gentle reminder of the beautiful destinations ahead when we align our lives with God's will. Whether you're navigating through personal trials or guiding the next generation on their spiritual journey, this episode offers a beacon of hope and inspiration for all who listen. 

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:23

Hey everybody, welcome back to the Remember Podcast. I'm your host, daly Butler, and I'm joined with Makayla, and we have an amazing guest with us today. We've been talking a little bit before we hit record and she is absolutely amazing. So, makayla, would you like to introduce her?

Speaker 2: 0:40

Yeah. So today we have Beth, who runs an Instagram and business, Salt and Heart. She is absolutely amazing and we've been, I've been following her account and I wanted her to be on here so bad and see, hear her testimony and why she wanted to start such an awesome business during the gospel. So we're so excited to have Beth on here and if you want to start your story, go ahead.

Speaker 3: 1:07

Yeah, so my name is Beth Martino and, like Makayla said, I run the Instagram account, salt and Heart and there's also a business it's called Salt and Heart. But my entire life I never in a million years ever thought that I would ever be doing this and I kind of want to talk about how it all began and your identity and how Heavenly Father guides you and directs you to the place that he wants you to be, and most of the time, that is new identity and it's pretty cool how he does that. So, growing up and through my early 20s and, yeah, and my 30s actually, I was a professional dancer for a long time and I had this long career and it was wonderful. And then I taught dance for 17 years and so it was a big part of who I was and what I did and honestly, truthfully, my identity as honestly, my identity as a person. And one day I had this feeling while I was teaching that I needed to quit my job and I thought there's no way I'm quitting my job. It was going well, my competitive dancers were doing well, we were having fun, we had great relationships. I was making a difference in their lives, honestly, like helping them grow as people and dancers and we had. I had the beautiful relationship with them, but I kept getting this feeling you need to be done, it's time to be done. And I would honestly say like, no, there's no way I'm doing that and I would ignore it and push it aside. Push it aside and the time came where I needed to quit my job and I was like I'm just going to say something, then I'm going to be like I'll think about it, I'll think about it.

Speaker 3: 3:04

And then a month later, I was teaching again and I did a leap and I tore my ACL and at that moment, when I fell on the ground, I said, okay, I need to be done. And I truly feel like it was, because I'm also kind of a stubborn personality. It was Heavenly Father's way of saying I told you, you're done. And it was at that moment I honestly felt like my wings were ripped off as a butterfly, like if that makes any sense. I had this beautiful life, everything was going well, it didn't make sense to be done and again, it was my identity. It was what people knew me as. It was my entire life, since I was five, like also a very long time. And that day, when I was at the hospital, like getting checked, it was the most heart wrenching moment, I would say, of my entire life Because, again, my identity was at that moment. I felt like my identity as a dancer, a teacher and who I was was ripped out and taken from me, even though Heavenly Father kept saying you need to be done and I honest, if you've ever had an ACL surgery, it takes, it's a long recovery and it's painful and it's definitely a really hard thing to go through. And my husband actually did the surgery and so I felt like it wasn't very it was more personal with that too, because it was he was helping me along the way and our relationship grew through that in a different way than I have ever thought it would. It was really it because he would take care of me and it was pretty awesome. So that was a huge blessing that came from it.

Speaker 3: 5:00

But the other blessing that came from it was Salt and Heart, because I through my rehab and I think it was because I was humbled and I knew that I needed to find something to fill my time with and the path was open I feel like this door was shut and now Heavenly Father opened this new pathway to do something beautiful and do something great. It's kind of the craziest thing. And so in never in a million years, in a million years, that I ever think I would be sharing the gospel online, sharing the gospel in any way, honestly, like and at this grand scale. So during rehab I would read my scriptures and study Come Follow Me and I would forget the Come Follow Me lessons. And then the idea of my Come Follow Me card started, started forming and everything was falling into place.

Speaker 3: 6:01

And then I was playing around more with graphic design and all of this stuff, because I was just sitting on the couch doing nothing, so I had more time to learn how to do all of this graphic design. And then I was praying one day and I literally felt like this is what I was supposed to be doing and what Heavenly Father was telling me I needed to be done because I have something more grand for you and something I have planned for you. Because, on the same time, my patriarchal blessing talks about my talent, my artistic talents, blessing the lives of people, and I always thought that was through dance. And it was through dance because I did help a lot of girls strengthen their relationship with the Savior and with Heavenly Father, and but I never thought it would be this way, you know.

Speaker 3: 6:47

So it's amazing to see how, when you're going through a trial and you humble yourself and you have those moments of being still and listening, and because I couldn't do anything, I was, I was stuck on the couch, honestly, for most of it, and so I was humbled, I made space for the Lord and I think at that time I received the personal revelation I needed to become the person that Heavenly Father was wanting me to become, and so I I look at salt on the heart as a blessing from Heavenly Father and, truthfully, I am an instrument in His hands. It is not me doing this at all, because I know how it started and I know that I always cry. I always cry. I guess it's not mine. I guess is what I'm trying to say, because I see how he created this way of sharing the gospel online and sharing the gospel in a different way than I ever imagined possible. So that's my story and how my identity changed because of a trial that I went through, but it's pretty cool.

Speaker 2: 8:07

That is awesome, because I relate to that like a lot too, because never in a million years would I think I would be a part of a podcast or doing something like this, because I have always been kind of like shy, not really talking to people, you know. But even in my story is so similar because in my patriarchal blessing it even says you know, you will be like a part of the gospel and sharing it throughout the world and I'm like what does that mean? But now I'm like realizing like me and Diane have talked about this a lot but like His says something similar, but it's like I never knew what that meant and I was like intimidated by it. So I was like what is that? Like I didn't go into mission and all it says is like that couldn't have been it. You know, maybe like in the future, if I go, you know. But now I'm like seeing this as you know what this is happening, because we get listeners from all over and it could grow into something amazing. I mean Diane keeps saying like this is something that we cannot give up, even though we're in college and our lives are crazy. If we keep working at it, this will turn into. God will let this turn into something bigger than what we could have imagined.

Speaker 2: 9:23

And I was going through when I met Diane and Diane and served his mission with my brother, and we were both like, in Logan we attended Utah State and I didn't know like he was gonna. He was even there. I didn't know who he was until, like, I met him and he was friends with my roommate and he said, oh, aren't you? My brother's name is Riley, aren't you Riley's sister? And I was like, how do you know, anyways? And so that's how we met. And then I was going through a really, really hard time with identity, with what I believed in, what I wanted, and especially like in the gospel. And through Diane and his amazing example, I was able to, you know, find, like he started inviting me to come follow me, like he did a little group discussion, like group little things with a bunch of people in college and through that. Then we started him and Zane, which was the one of the original people on the podcast Now he's on a mission, but he, they had this idea to create a podcast and get people to share their testimonies, from different religions even and just from all over, and I was like I'm such a great idea and I was like I'm in because, like I want to be a part of that, and so we created it.

Speaker 2: 10:41

But ever since we started it, I have felt a tremendous like change in my perspective and meeting people and hearing their testimonies and their trials, I felt united with them, like what I talked about previously, like I don't know, like if this doesn't help anyone else, it's helping me and it's amazing Like I have grown so much from this and I never want to stop because it's just awesome and I just feel so blessed and I feel like I have so much like potential and like like it's given me the opportunity to be an instrument and God's hands, you know, like helping other people too, and I just it's been awesome and so knowing that that happened to you and it's continued, like it can happen to so many people and you just don't expect like God can do amazing things and in the most weirdest situations, I know it's just like you don't expect it and it's just been so awesome and every time I meet someone, I just feel so blessed to hear their story and see that God loves them just as much as he loves me and my identity, like I found my identity through Christ and like through this too, because I'm like, wow, these people are so amazing and I know God has blessed them, but I know that he's also blessing me and helping me and loves me just the same.

Speaker 3: 12:02

And I think that identity change right. Like you, your understanding of a disciple of Jesus Christ is strengthened and you start to receive more for me anyway more personal revelation of who you are as an individual disciple of Christ, because I always felt like and that's the theme for that's the youth theme this year, which I think is amazing but I do think sometimes we're like, oh, it's just a blanket disciple of Christ, but when you allow the Savior to help you find who, what your identity is as a disciple of Jesus Christ, I feel like everything clicks right. That personal revelation comes, your relationship with the Savior strengthens, everything kind of just clicks together and it's a beautiful. It's just a beautiful thing, honestly, right, I don't know. No, it is.

Speaker 2: 12:53

I have a scripture that goes perfectly with this. Actually it's Romans let's see what exactly Romans. Chapter eight and it's verses 14. And, like the whole, the whole chapter is amazing. But I want to focus on verse 14 and 16. I'm going to read it, for as many are led by the spirit of God. They are the sense of God. And then verse 16, it says the spirit itself bears, bear witness, with our spirit, that we are the children of God. So, yes, I like believe that if we serve and put those efforts and trying to find God and find our, you know, our identity with God, the spirit will bear witness that we are sons and daughters of God and that he loves us.

Speaker 2: 13:45

And I have found that in my life through doing this and do multiple other like little moments of helping and serving others.

Speaker 2: 13:54

Doing that Like I've had moments where I'm like God, like I love people so much, but like do like um, think you know the song like love one another and like that phrase, like love one another as I have loved you, love your neighbor, and so like I love my life, like I love people so much, even though, like sometimes I don't get treated the same back, and so like I've had multiple moments or I'm like talking to God and I'm like, look, I love these people so much and I know that you love them, but why don't I feel the same back?

Speaker 2: 14:27

And he's like you know, love yourself, as I have loved you too, and love just as you love your neighbor, love yourself, and it's just the both ways. Like God loves everybody, and just as much as you love other people, you should love yourself the same. And the spirit can help you identify that and identify that you're a child of God, just as everyone else is, and sometimes people have a hard time loving other people. It's just but that's my case and I know that that's true that the spirit can testify to us that you know God loves us and that, no matter what's going on Through our trials or anything, he's still with us and he's holding us by the hand. He can, he even picks us up at times and it's just awesome.

Speaker 3: 15:13

So redirect us Like with the redirect is so, and I think sometimes we're afraid of that redirect, but it always ends up to be exactly where we're supposed to be and we are blessed because of it. It's it's kind of cool, you know, it's kind of cool, yeah.

Speaker 1: 15:36

I love that we're talking about identity, because identity is such I don't know it's more important now than it like really ever has been, because everyone's like oh well, I identify, you know, whatever, whatever, whatever I'm not even going to get into that, but walk on eggshells there for a second. But I, you know, just like you both were saying, and I'll connect the makeup a little bit in this, because we have basically the same story in the creation of this podcast, like my, I got my patriarchal blessing really, really young. And one thing that it said is I thought it talked entirely about my mission, like when I would go off for two years and serve the Lord, and I was like, well, that kind of sucks that there's not like a lot more about my life. But one thing that I mentioned was that I would become a master teacher. Do I feel like a master teacher? No, definitely not. But it says that that is something that would happen in my mission. Having served my mission and coming home, I am am I much better of a teacher? Absolutely. Am I perfect? Am I a master teacher? I do not think so, but it's funny, I remember three quarters of the way through my mission.

Speaker 1: 17:01

I served during COVID, and so we were like hunkered down in our apartments for most of my mission. But right after it opened up enough that we could meet together for his own conferences again, we my mission present brought us all to the Redlands Temple and it's a beautiful, tiny little temple, but it is beautiful. And he had us just kind of disperse and read our patriarchal blessings on the temple grounds and I was like, well, I know exactly what mine says, like I could quote it word for word. I can't quote it word for word, but I was very prideful and I was like this is going to be kind of pointless, but I'll read it anyways, you know. And so I go find a bench and I sit down, I'm reading it. I get two sentences into it. I'm like what am I reading? I've never read this before.

Speaker 1: 17:55

Like I blew my mind but I realized that my patriarchal blessing talked about my life mission, so much more than my mission. There was like one or two lines about my mission and I was just like, yeah, you'll serve one, like if you want, but it saying that I will become a master teacher. Like I always thought that I was supposed to become an actual teacher, like in a public school and over the last two years, when I first came here to school, that's what I wanted to be was a woodshop teacher. And I thought that's, you know, following along the lines of my patriarchal blessing and that something was itching at me like the whole time that I was going to school, my first semester, and especially well, it was actually during the summer, between my first semester, because I started in the spring and the fall semester something was itching at me and I was working on a pig farm with Zane and we were like talking, we were walk waiting through the wheat fields picking out the weeds, and we just started talking about podcasts and things like that.

Speaker 1: 19:02

And then it's just like we came up with this cool idea. Because I was listening to the follow him podcast and a couple of other podcasts, I was like, you know, like what we're missing is stories, people's stories. We have so many podcasts about the scriptures, which are stories from way back in the day, but I want to hear about today, what's going on today in people's lives. And we had this idea. We ran it by Michaela I'm just repeating everything that she said and Michaela is the one that made us start it and that was a funny story, but it is so amazing how the Lord can just shape you and mold you and put you exactly where he needs you to be, without you even knowing it.

Speaker 1: 19:49

And I think when, like reverting back to identity, I think when we identify as children of our Heavenly Father, when we identify as disciples of Christ, he can do that and like identifying and living, I don't know. I think identifying as a disciple of Christ is so much more than just saying yeah, I'm a Christian. In fact, I think the term Christian it seems so showbody to me, especially in today's world. So many people like, oh, I'm a Christian and they just throw it out there into the, you know, massive abyss of nothingness, thinking it means something, and then they go home and do something terrible, like it's so showbody and I don't like it. But to identify as a disciple of Christ, that takes a lot more work.

Speaker 3: 20:48

Well, and if you think about when you sorry, but if you think about and identify, well, anyone let's use I don't know a sports figure right for their identity, they automatically do things that a sports person would automatically do right, like they go to practice, or they act that way that you act a certain way. So, when we literally take the identity of disciple of Jesus Christ, I think we're automatically switching our brain or switching our yeah, I guess, our thoughts towards what does a disciple of Jesus Christ do? How do they act, how do they go through situations, how do they attempt to deal with trials. I think it completely changes the way that we live. So I think it's more than just yeah, a Christian, I'm a Christian, you know. I think it's more, it's deeper than that, because it changes the way that we think and the way that we act and the way that we treat other people.

Speaker 1: 21:49

And anyway, yeah, when we say I'm a disciple of Christ, like one, it's a lot more syllables, takes more work to say, but we're telling people with our actions. I think it's like we really don't say it, we show it and just like a coach shows he's a coach by performing the actions necessary to be a coach, just like you were saying, and I want to listen to your story and how you got to where you were or where you are, present tense. It made me think of the story of Alma the Younger and his transition to changing how he identified and when he was young, he was kind of a troublemaker. This comes from Mosiah, chapter 27. He would go around destroying the church, tearing people down, laughing in their faces for what they believed in. And let's see, I love what he says here and this is after. So so yeah, let me give some context, some more context. As he was going about destroying the church, he was visited by an angel of the Lord and he was there with his friends. The sons of Mosiah and Alma collapsed at the appearance of the Lord. After seeing the angel and the sons of Mosiah, you know they froze, but they listened to what the angel had to say and Alma the younger just collapsed and was, you know, gone to the world, like I'm sure. They thought he was dead, but they brought him to his father, who was the prophet, funny enough. And Alma the elder, the prophet, was just so excited because he knew what was going on. He had been praying for months, and probably years, that his son's heart would be softened. And while Alma the younger was unconscious he later tells about what was going on he was feeling an intense regret for his sins and he was feeling guilty and he was working through the repentance process with the Lord.

Speaker 1: 24:25

I love what he says here in verses 27, 28. He says I say unto you unless this be the case, they must be cast off. And this I know because I was like to be cast off. Nevertheless, after waiting through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, so close to death, the Lord in mercy have seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning. I am born of God. That's his identity. I am born of God, I am his. That's who I am. I'm not the son of Alma, I'm not a man here on earth. I am a child of God. He is my father and, just like any good father, we want to be like him. He wants to be like him and I love that change in identity. And that change often comes from tribulation, whether that's tearing an ACL or wandering in confusion for what seems like forever when it's really not forever. But when you're 20 something years old it seems like forever. But after much tribulation comes the greatest growth of all, and that oftentimes is reevaluating and learning your true identity. I love that.

Speaker 3: 25:57

And I think, to piggyback on those that are struggling to find their identity. I might cry again, because there's a lot of I am crying. There's a lot of people that struggle with this, especially now. I think I honestly, truthfully feel like Satan is attacking this right now. I really truly do. There's a lot of people that are confused or lost or they just don't know who they are, because Satan knows that when it clicks, everything else falls into place. He knows the power of knowing our identity as a child of God and a disciple of Jesus Christ. He knows what that can do to change us in every single way. So I do feel like he's attacking this right now.

Speaker 3: 26:42

It has been for a while, and so I think, if you are the one that is struggling, to get on your knees and pray and ask sincerely, ask for help to know who you are and everyone's individual. That's what I love so much about it. We're not in the same blanket, like you know what I mean. We all have different talents. We all have different things to give to the church. We all have different things that Heavenly Father wants us to do. We all have different paths, and so I think, if you pray sincerely and ask what is my identity or who do you want me to become, what do you want me to do? He will answer that and you will find oh my gosh, you will find miracles in your life.

Speaker 3: 27:22

Honestly, you will see. When it all said and done kind of because I do this, I step back and I see all the little things that he has. Okay, this happened, because now I see this is why, and this happened and now I see is why you will see all of it click again and I think we just need to sincerely ask who am I and what do you want me to become, what do you want me to do? And then listen and act right after when you hear it. Do it, you know, anyway that's. I think there's a lot of people that just may maybe need a little, a little bit more encouragement to do that right now.

Speaker 2: 28:02

So yeah, I have a story that I actually like. I have experience of me actually doing that, and it was when I was like eight or nine years old so long time ago not really, but it feels like forever ago. But I, so we all have those moments, though, that when we do pray to God, sometimes we feel like we don't get an answer, and that can be very frustrating. And, if anything else, if you feel like he isn't listening, refer back to the moments where you felt his love and that can also help you realize that you know, if, like the little tender mercies or little moments or things where you felt loved by someone, know that that love also comes from God, and that can help you realize you know that means that I'm his child, if he loves me, you know and that anyways. But what has helped me in those moments when I feel, like man, like why am I not getting an answer? What am I? I feel so lost. Still, knowing my identity helps me like realize okay, I need to trust this, I need to trust the plan. And it comes from the specific moment when I was eight or nine, and this is when, like you know, women's conference happened and they finally let like the eight year olds or the activity days and the early young women's people joined the women's conference and I went to it a few times, but it was with I remember, it was with my mom and it's my younger sister, and we went and you know I was like okay, whatever, like I was young, so whatever. But I remember sitting there and it was time to sing a song and it was. I'm from Texas, so we did it virtually at church. So they put the song on and we all stood up and joined because it was. We were all singing and the song was I'm a child of God and all of a sudden, for some reason, everything turned off by all the TV, like the projector, everything. And we're all like what's like, what's going on. So, as we're waiting for them to fix the problem, someone just started singing the song and it was beautiful and I and the spirit was so strong, without the music, without anything. We were all just testifying that we're children of God and my young self just newly baptized.

Speaker 2: 30:44

I went home that night and I was thinking. After that. I was thinking, man, like I felt something tonight. What does that mean? Am I really one? Am I really a child of God. And I don't know how late it was, but it was in the middle of the night and I just couldn't sleep.

Speaker 2: 31:03

And I knew from primary that if I prayed to God that he would like, that's a way I can talk to him and receive answers. And so I prayed and I asked am I a child about, am I your daughter? And immediately I felt the spirit and I heard his voice saying you are, you are like multiple times. And right then I knew that I was one. And so ever since then, like that has been like. I remember it vividly and I never want to forget that because in moments where I do feel like I am lonely, alone, or like I'm not hearing the God, or if I feel distanced, or if I'm stressed out and the world is crazy, I refer back to that. And it's such a beautiful reminder that at such a young age, god let me know that I was a child of God, knowing that in the future insecurities would come up, and having that foundation has helped me. And it's not too late to find that identity now, no matter how old you are. I know that if you realize and choose to be a disciple of God too. That's a choice. You are still a child of God, but if you choose to be a disciple of God, the greater amount of love like you will see the blessings that come with it and you can help other people see that too. But choose today to figure that out.

Speaker 2: 32:35

And as you guys were talking, I have I heard this quote. I don't know who said it, maybe it was in a podcast or maybe it was a post, but I saw something where it was like you hear it all the time oh, are you willing to die for God Like he died for you, or would you be willing as a member of the church or as a disciple? Are you willing to die for God? And I mean you would say yes, of course I would do anything to stand up for my beliefs, but would you do anything like to suffer, like to suffer, and like would you live for God? You could die for God immediately, but would you live for God? And that means maybe suffering through it all and going through that persecution and going through all that and also testifying of God. Will you dedicate your life to live for God, not just die for him?

Speaker 2: 33:35

And that comes with more challenges. It's harder because life is hard and so it's just like amazing perspective, like are you willing to live for God too and be a disciple and do everything that it takes to show that he is your God and that he is everyone else's God too, and that they're his children? And so I just love that and I want everyone to know that they're a child of God and I feel like that's why I'm so motivated to like do this and serve people and so easily to love other people, because I have that knowledge, even though sometimes it's hard to like love myself, knowing that God loves me, and it's easier to love other people because I know that too. But they are children of God. So, yes, I don't know.

Speaker 3: 34:22

I think that identity too with and I experienced this a lot online is just people saying horrible things about the church honestly, and maybe I've learned to have thick skin through it all and just not care. But when I read them I really, truly know who I am as my identity, as a disciple of Jesus Christ and the child of God and a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and what that identity means as well. It kind of makes it a little bit easier. You know what I mean, like because I know, I know who I am, I know what I'm doing, I believe in it 100%, I have felt the spirit and received a witness for myself. It kind of makes that trial or like that persecution, I guess, easier to brush off, so more so than it was before.

Speaker 3: 35:19

I really had that identity, which was I always did, but the ACL term really like ford it, you know. But I would get a little more combative or not really want to talk about church stuff when I would be persecuted for being a member of the church and I grew up in Las Vegas actually, so there was a good amount of LES people, but not like where I am here in Utah now, but it's just now that I have those identifiers and I believe in them so much. It does make it a little bit easier for me, but which is kind of nice actually, because I know exactly who I am and I've received those witnesses, so yeah.

Speaker 1: 36:10

Yeah, I think I'm just from meditating on something a lot of everyone's been talking, which has been wonderful and amazing things. You guys are both amazing and I've been meditating on this question of before we were talking about this, because now that we've been talking about it, like I want to think of I am a child of God first, but before we started talking about that, and before we've been thinking about and focusing on it, if we were to have sat down and to write a response to a question that says who am I, how long would it have taken before we would have mentioned that we were a child of God or that I am a disciple of Christ? I know for a fact it would have. I would have been like, oh, I'm a guy who likes dirt bikes, like stupid stuff, like that. Long before I would have said I am a disciple of Christ.

Speaker 1: 37:15

And I think it's so easy to put this focus on these worldly things throughout our lives, and how often do we make sure to focus on the Savior over those worldly things? And I think who we identify with is, or what we identify as, is a choice, and I kind of lost my train of thought, but I don't know. It's a humbling thing to think about that, how long it would take for me to put that as my response, and so I think I need to do a little bit better about choosing to express my identity as a disciple of Christ in all things. It's one thing to wear a hoodie that says remember he connects us, and it's another thing to tell people remember he connects us, and it's a completely different thing to remember on my own that he, Jesus Christ, is my Lord Savior and he is the one that connects each and every single one of us to our Heavenly Father.

Speaker 1: 38:35

And yeah, I think what we truly identify as really shows our focus. And so, if you don't think that that would be the first thing you would write down and I'm speaking on behalf of myself like I think I need to do some work to change where my focus is, because it'd be very easy to say, oh, like I'm a son of my mom and dad, I'm a podcast guy, I'm a mechanic, I'm a woodworker, I'm a this and a that, long before I'm a disciple of Christ. So I'll invite Go ahead, sorry, I'll invite our.

Speaker 1: 39:14

Listeners to really dwell on that, to really ponder that and that's another skill that's super good to learn is how to ponder, how to really think deeply about something that I don't think a lot of people in this world, and especially in the church, really do enough really ponder that question when is my focus really and what can you do to improve it?

Speaker 3: 39:44

There's a talk that I love and it's from maybe you guys have read it, but it's from May 2022 and it's President Nelson. It's called Choices for Eternity and the first thing he says right here is he wants you to know three things, and the first thing is know the truth about who you are. And I encourage everyone to listen or read the talk because it really does tell you exactly that. We don't typically identify as children of God or disciples of Jesus Christ first. We usually name the other things first. But he says my dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God. You have sung the truth since you were. Learn the words.

Speaker 3: 40:28

I am a child of God, but is that eternal truth imprinted on your heart? Has that truth rescued you from when confronted with temptation? And I love that section of the talk because, again, we have sung that song since we were sunbeams or even in nursery, like forever. But when it's imprinted on our heart is when we truly change and we allow Heavenly Father to guide us and direct us and teach us, and that is when we can fulfill the promises that he has given us through our patriarchal blessings, through other blessings that we have received, or just become the people that he truly wants us to become is when that identifier is imprinted on our heart. So that talk is really good. I'm going to make sure I listen to it.

Speaker 1: 41:31

Absolutely. I love that. I'm going to make sure I go and look at that. My train of thought kind of came back to me. You ever hear people say, oh, I'm going to go take a year off and find myself.

Speaker 3: 41:47

Yes. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 41:50

I hear that all the time and I think that's a worldly thing to find something that they're missing, and it's very obvious what they're missing, right, but I still think it's a very important or in a very good thing to find oneself in connection to our Heavenly Father. Because all these people that go off on these two or one year sabbaticals is that the right word, I'm going to use it they just go off and try all these crazy things and it's like, ok, but where do you go after you die? What is the purpose of this life? Why were you born? These are questions that I think people really should be asking when they go on these one year or two year sabbaticals. Other than, how much can I drink when I'm in a handstand?

Speaker 1: 42:49

I think taking that time to really find out who you are is very, very important. But with what it's in connection to and that is our Heavenly Father, who are you to Him? And I know that's something that I had to learn for myself and that for us young men in the church it typically comes on the mission field, but I know a lot of young men that have served their missions and never got that. For me it was on my mission and it's continually happening. Each and every day I'm rediscovering myself in connection to my Heavenly Father and my Savior, jesus Christ. And so I don't know, I don't really have an invitation with that, but I think it's just super important for the youth to discover who they are and especially for the parents to let them discover. I think it's so easy for parents and, like I'm not a parent, I've never been in that realm. I think maybe we haven't talked about if you were a parent or not, but I'm going to assume that.

Speaker 1: 43:58

I'm sorry. Yeah, okay, yeah, like tell me about what your thoughts are on that, because I think it'd be very important to give children room to discover especially who they are in connection to their Heavenly Father. That's not something that can be told to them. So what are your thoughts on that?

Speaker 3: 44:15

I do think it's very and I felt this way for a long time. I think it's really cool that we are starting things younger and younger, kind of like what Mikaela said I didn't have the opportunity to go to a woman's conference or you know, I didn't have that opportunity to become older and I do think the change for girls going to young women earlier my son's birthday is in December, so he will actually have the priesthood while he's, when he's 11, for a whole year, which is wild to me and so cool. I think I just think things are happening younger because, again, I think I truly believe this that it is the attack of their identity right now. That's what's going on. So the church is like okay, let's start this younger. We get them to act, get them to go to young women's earlier, get them to pass a sacrament earlier and learn things earlier. Also, I love the fact that I was just putting young women's and the girls are teaching lessons. There's no way I could have done that when I was that age. There's no way I mean I guess I could have. But I just think they're doing things earlier to prepare the youth for things to come and to help them know who they are at an earlier age. It's been beautiful to see, it's so awesome. It just as exciting as a parent.

Speaker 3: 45:34

My kids are little, they're younger. My oldest is 10 and then nine and then six. So right now I am more so guiding them because they're young. I give them opportunities to learn from themselves, but we let our 10 year old teach come follow me lessons. My eight year old is also doing the same thing, a little bit more now that he's baptized.

Speaker 3: 45:59

I think maybe you guys experienced this. But when you study and teach, you learn more about yourself than the other people just listening. So we give them opportunities to teach us and we actually learn a lot from them, which is really cool to see too. But again, I'm big on identity, so I really try to focus on hey, these are your talents and these talents are given to you from a loving Heavenly Father who loves you. And then I also have this sign that says God loves you three times that I've put in their room and different affirmations that are in their room and hopefully that will help.

Speaker 3: 46:42

So that's kind of what we do right now, and I know it'll change when they grow up and become teenagers and that identity is more important as they go through junior high, in high school and then college. That will become more important at those times. But I think starting young with my six year old will hopefully make things a little bit easier as he grows up. But it's pretty cool that the church is doing that so much. I love it. And these young women teach. I just get so giddy for them because I'm just so excited for them to learn in a deeper way. When you teach lessons, it's so cool. It's cool.

Speaker 2: 47:21

It's so cool that's one of the things that I've kind of realized lately, especially since I'm a human development major and how much they talk about how the development of the early years are so crucial, how children's brains are so malleable and they can grow and change in so many different ways, but as we get older it stabilizes and it's harder for us to learn because we have things ingrained in our brains, even habits. When we're younger it lead up to when we're older and we don't realize that they could be bad habits or good habits until you realize like me, I have a lot of bad habits that I didn't even realize were habits, until I realized they were an issue. And so I just think it's so cool and how blessed I was to be raised in the church because of how much they focus on the children and growing up in Texas and having friends from different faiths and going to their churches and seeing what they do and a lot of churches they have the adults go to the sessions but then leave their kids and I'm sure they learned some things but they just let them play. But they focus on the adults. But I'm like, look, it is so important for these kids to learn about who Jesus is. And I know there's a lot of parents out there who aren't members of our faith, who I know that they want to make sure their children learn who Christ is in their lives, but how our church organizes that towards the children as well, and how it is so important for them to learn, just as it is for us to learn as we're older and I'm a primary teacher right now too and I'm a teacher assistant at an elementary school. So seeing the differences too in these children For children who come from all diverse backgrounds, it's cool to see at the school, it's cool to see their personalities and stuff.

Speaker 2: 49:16

But also it's kind of sad to see a lot of the things that they are struggling with due to the world, due to how technology has maybe changed parenting and how they act. There's a lot of elementary school kids that I'm like, oh my gosh, I never acted like that when I was younger. Oh, I feel so sad for them. It's hard growing up in this time, but even seeing the primary kids and the youth in the church, I know when I was young, a youth and younger, the leaders and stuff would say you are meant to be here and you guys are so amazing and so strong and everything. But now I'm seeing it as a teacher and church and stuff and I mean I'm still pretty young, but even seeing the young woman and the primary kids and their faith and I'm like, oh my gosh, these people are like. These children are amazing and it's because they have learned so much and I don't know what it is, but it's just so cool to see the differences, how they have a stronger sense of self and identity by learning who Christ is, and their lives and their testimonies inspire me. And then seeing the differences in school maybe they don't have that right now and so it's like wow, it's just such a blessing and it makes me feel so sad for those who maybe not be experiencing that right now, especially as kids, and how important it is to guide our children and to guide them.

Speaker 2: 50:54

And I'm married right now and I'm always I'm so worried. I'm like how am I supposed to raise kids in this crazy world? And I'm sure you thought that and multiple other people do. But I come to that realization. The church is so important and helping them and guiding them through the gospel and learning who they are in God's eyes and through the church and the gospel and helping them learn that when they're young hopefully will help them when they get older. And I'm grateful for that because these, the specific moments that I've had at church and my amazing leaders and have helped me, help grow my testimony. But of course, it's up to us once we move out, it's always up to us. But having that foundation has blessed me still, no matter what, it's blessed me, and I tend to fall back to my childhood to help me get through hard times. So I don't know, I just think it's so amazing what the church is doing and I'm excited.

Speaker 3: 51:59

And I think as a parent too, it's you point out I like to point out little instances where like, oh look, Heavenly Father helped you. Or like, do you know what I mean? Just if they don't see it, then I point it out and then they can recognize it a little bit easier when they do have another prayer answered or they do see Heavenly Father's hand in their lives. You know what I mean. It'll be a little bit easier to see that, which is, you can do it. It'll be great, You'll be great, You'll be great. Mom, you got it.

Speaker 1: 52:29

One thing I do love about the church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints is how they've begun to put responsibility Because, like we have said, they're doing so many things younger and, like you mentioned that, these kids are teaching but I think that's something to be said on its own is the responsibility given to the youth. Like I remember, when I turned 12 and I was given the opportunity to pass the sacrament that was, that was a big deal for me, because someone mentioned to me how important the sacrament was. Like they're, like this is the blood and the body of Christ. I was like, oh, you're like, ok, I'll hold it and I'll stand straight. And like I'll be as presentable as I can possibly be.

Speaker 1: 53:20

And even still, it bugs me when kids just like throw the tray around or like they aren't dressed super great. Like that bugs me because this person I don't remember who it was, probably my dad, but when I turned 12, they told me how important it is and it was a responsibility given to me but stowed upon me and I needed to do it to the best of my abilities. And so, like I would look straightforward and like in the corner of my eye, I'd wait for them to move. And when I saw them move, I'd check if they have the tray there for me to grab. And I was great at it, I was super good at it. Like I'll boast of myself a little bit in that, but it is so amazing when I get to see these young kids knowing and understanding the responsibility given to them and then they actually choose to act on it. Oh, that's amazing and how much more prepared they will be, knowing how to respond to responsibility, how to act with it and how to maintain it when they're older, when they're adults. Like it starts with such little things but it blossoms into such amazing things.

Speaker 1: 54:40

And I think about my family, how my parents did that. My dad was so good, he was so good at just letting us learn on our own and figure things out. And, like I think a great thing is letting your kids fail, you know, occasionally in the church or outside of the church, and that's why, well, my dad did. And it gave us that responsibility, that sense of responsibility that if I want something to work, I have to figure it out myself and make it work. And it's the same with our testimonies If we want to have a testimony. I got to do that work myself and it's that responsibility that's been bestowed upon me, and I love that the church is making that push for that, and we are getting a little bit long. So I think, beth, if you'd like to give your page and your store a quick little shout out, feel free.

Speaker 3: 55:41

Yeah, the Instagram page is just Salt and Heart. Heart spelled H-A-R-T and yeah, that's about it.

Speaker 1: 55:51

Yeah, awesome. Well, it has been truly a pleasure to have you on. And you're a wonderful spirit, wonderful soul, and it's been amazing to talk to you. So thank you so much.

Speaker 3: 56:03

Yeah, thank you.

Speaker 1: 56:06

And, as always, thank you, makayla, for joining us, being my amazing co-host, and to our amazing listeners. We can't do this without you. Well, we could, but it'd be a lot less fun. So thank you so much for listening to our episodes and for all the support that you give to us. We would absolutely love it if you guys would leave a review on our podcast. It'd help push us a little bit forward so we can touch more hearts and maybe even get some more people as guests. And, that being said, if you would have a story you would love to share and experience, feel free to reach out to us. You can message us, dm us on Instagram, or I believe there's still a sign in or a log, a sign up sheet. I don't know. Makayla can talk about that.

Speaker 2: 56:55

There's a sign up sheet on Instagram and anything else you want to find, like listening to our merchandise you can find. Yeah, anything, just find us on atrememberpodcast and we appreciate you guys a lot.

Speaker 1: 57:12

Yeah, thank you so much, listeners, and remember him. Thank you, thank you, thank you.