The northshorestakewomensinstitute’s Podcast

Lesson 25: Vienna Jaques

Vienna Jaques lived a life of deep consecration, sacrifice, faith, and perseverance, making her an inspiring example to follow. Join us as we study her story, reflect on consecration, and strengthen our testimonies while learning to trust in the Lord’s timing.

Lesson 24: Emma Hale Smith

In this lesson, we explore the life and testimony of Emma Hale Smith, the wife of Joseph Smith and the first president of the Relief Society. Emma's life is marked by her strong, unwavering work to help Joseph organize the church from the 1820s to his martyrdom in 1844. As Church Historian Jenny Reeder notes, Emma's years included "homelessness, losing babies, and raising children, often on her own while her prophet husband watched over the church."  She served others tirelessly and always put their needs first.

 

Emma was the first Book of Mormon scribe, she assembled the first hymnal, and she was the first woman to receive her endowment in Nauvoo. We explore the reasons Emma didn't go west with the Saints in 1847 and the price she paid for her loyalty to the gospel she treasured. She was a complicated, nuanced woman who had real struggles, just as we do. How much can one heart take? We give her grace for the way she lived her life. We examine ways that Emma's struggles mirror our own today. She experienced tragedy with 5 of her 11 children, was estranged from her family of origin for a period, and challenged with some doctrines that asked so much of her.

 

In the lesson we use a display board that shows many of Emma's strong character traits, along with the challenges she faced. A photo of that display board is attached.

 

We all owe a great debt to Emma for her work in the church and we can all learn something from her resilience, testimony, and strength.

Lesson 23: Lucy Mack Smith

Lucy Mack Smith was a faithful mother who raised her children to pray and turn to the scriptures to seek truth. She participated as the restoration of the gospel unfolded. Listen with us as we study her stories of faith and miracles, as well as her courage to push through heartache and trials. 

Lesson 22: Mothers of the Stripling Warriors

The mothers of the stripling warriors never appear on the battlefield, yet their faith shaped the courage of an entire generation—this lesson explores how their conversion, sacrifice, and covenant discipleship prepared their children to trust God long before the battle began.

Lesson 21: King Lamoni's Wife

This lesson explores the life of King Lamoni's wife, who was pivotal to the beginning of missionary work among the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon. ALMA 19. The Queen was an effective partner to the King, a strong leader in her own right, and a person who was prepared spiritually to hear the gospel. We explore how wise the Queen was in responding to her husband's religious experience. As Dallin Oaks taught, "Here we see the power and witness of the Holy Ghost poured out upon a woman and a man who had not yet been baptized." President Oaks has taught that spiritual gifts such as the Queen's are available to all men and women equally, both in and out of the church. The Lord plays "the long game" in bringing people to Christ. The conversion story of King Lamoni and his Queen is a witness in our day how hearts can be changed and lives transformed through the Lord's infinite mercy.

Lesson 20: Abish

Abish gives us an example of testifying through living a life of service. She reminds us that lessons taught in the home can have a profound impact, reaching far beyond what we thought possible. We are reminded to be willing to trust in the Lord’s timing and to be comfortable in waiting. Abish also exemplifies acting promptly and enthusiastically when the time is ripe. Finally, Abish reminds us that God is not looking for the most influential, the most popular, or the highest figure. What he needs is a willing heart. Even if our role feels small or unnoticed, it is never insignificant in His plan. 

Lesson 19: Sariah

This week, we studied Sariah from the Book of Mormon.  Sariah is a beautiful example of putting her trust in God as she was asked to leave a life of comfort and travel in the wilderness. While in the wilderness, she came to know with a "surety" God's love for her and to rely on his power as she worried over her family and endured the challenges of the wilderness.  What an amazing example of faith for us in the "wilderness" of life.  

2026 Women's Conference Spanish: Daily Conversion

Learn about how to keep working on our daily conversion. This lesson is taught in Spanish.