Today I'm excited to share a conversation with Parker Halbison, a recently returned missionary who just completed two years serving in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission.

Parker's mission experience was truly unique - he served across some of the most diverse communities in Utah, spending time in three separate transfers in the Tongan stake, ministering in a Mongolian branch, and starting his mission in a YSA ward in Draper. What makes Parker's story particularly compelling is how he witnessed the gospel's power to transform not just individuals, but entire families and communities.

During our conversation, Parker shares some remarkable stories of conversion and reactivation - from a Hawaiian family who found belonging in Utah's Tongan community, to a family on the verge of divorce who was reunited through the gospel, to his own personal transformation from struggling with negativity to discovering the joy that comes through Jesus Christ.

Parker's insights about bold leadership, the importance of cultural community in missionary work, and his practical approach to staying spiritually grounded post-mission offer valuable lessons for returned missionaries, future missionaries, and anyone seeking to deepen their discipleship.

Just two weeks home from his mission, Parker is already preparing for the next phase of his covenant path - heading to BYU to study finance while planning a future in entrepreneurship, and he'll actually be speaking at our upcoming stake conference about following the Spirit.

Today I'm excited to share a conversation with Fred Zirkle - a man whose life story reads like an adventure novel.

Fred has lived in 13 states and two countries, raised a family, and built successful businesses. But his journey to where he is today wasn't conventional. After playing college football at Duke and being drafted by the New York Jets as "Mr. Irrelevant" - the very last pick in the NFL draft - Fred chose a different path. Instead of pursuing professional football, he dove into the business world, helping grow Keytronics from six employees to 1,500, and later founding Industry Pros, where he's spent nearly 40 years helping companies navigate mergers and acquisitions.

But Fred's most transformative journey began at age 31 when he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What started as a simple call about food storage turned into a complete life change. Since then, he's served a mission with his late wife Sherry, worked in the temple, and found profound meaning in service - from giving priesthood blessings to teaching Pathway students in Uganda.

Today, at 79 years old with 19 grandchildren, Fred has written a book about living a purposeful life and continues to find joy in each new day. In our conversation, we explore his business success, his spiritual journey, and the wisdom he's gained from never wasting a trial.

So let's dive into my conversation with Fred Zirkle.

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Justin Owens, our newly called Elders Quorum President here in the Layton Lakes 3rd Ward.

Now, while Justin is new to this calling, what really drew me to want to sit down with him today isn't his church responsibilities—it's the incredible work he's been doing to build brotherhood and connection among the men in our ward and community. You see, Justin has taken it upon himself to create something pretty special: a men's retreat he calls "Man Camp."

But Justin's story goes much deeper than just organizing camping trips. This is a man who has walked through some of life's toughest battles, including overcoming addiction, and has emerged with a powerful testimony of healing through Jesus Christ. His journey through recovery, including years of 12-step meetings and therapy, has given him unique insights into what men really need—authentic connection and the courage to be vulnerable with one another.

What I love about Justin is that he didn't wait for a calling or permission to start making a difference. He saw a need for men to have real, meaningful relationships—the kind where you can call someone at 2 AM if you need a blessing, or better yet, where you actually feel comfortable doing so. And he decided to do something about it.

In our conversation today, we'll dive into his mission experiences in Argentina, his personal journey of recovery, and how he's working to transform what it means to be part of an Elders Quorum. This is a conversation about brotherhood, healing, and the power of connection in building the community of Christ.

So let's jump right in with Justin Owens.

Today I'm honored to bring you a truly remarkable conversation with Merrilene Pat Osife.

Pat's life story reads like a testament to the power of faith and the guiding hand of providence. Born on the San Carlos Apache reservation and named Merrilene after "Merry Christmas," Pat's journey took an extraordinary turn at age eight when she entered the LDS Indian Placement Program. For nine years, she lived with foster families in Utah, learning English in just one week and embracing an education that would shape her entire life.

But Pat's service to the Lord was just beginning. At seventeen, what was supposed to be a two-month youth mission in New Mexico turned into a year and a half of dedicated service, where she learned Navajo through the gift of tongues and became a senior companion to full-time missionaries at just eighteen years old.

Throughout her life - as a mother of five, a career woman working for the Gila River Tribe, and a faithful member of the San Tan Branch for over fifty years - Pat has exemplified what it means to follow the iron rod and trust in the Lord's plan, even through profound loss and challenges.

Today, she shares her wisdom about staying close to our Heavenly Father, the importance of scripture study, and her powerful testimony of Jesus Christ. This is a conversation you won't want to miss.

In today’s episode, Elder Sam Stanley, one of our remarkable young service missionaries, sits down with Bishop Kirk Halbison. You’ll hear about his childhood split between the Gila River Indian Community and a small northern Arizona town, his memories of a close-knit family full of cousins, camping trips, and good-natured pranks, and the lessons of sacrifice, patience, and faith learned from both his hardworking mother and his gentle, steady father.

Bishop Halbison opens up about the values he hopes to be remembered for—loving his family deeply, being a true friend, and keeping his relationship with the Savior at the center of his life. Along the way, you’ll laugh at stories about “Air Jordans” that weren’t quite what he expected, shocking Christmas lights in more ways than one, and epic orange fights in the Arizona sun.

It’s a warm, personal conversation that reminds us that joy in the Lord’s service often comes from the everyday experiences that shape our character.

In this episode of Joy in His Service, President Aaron Hale engages in a heartfelt conversation with Charlie Bevilacqua, a member of the stake council. Charlie shares his remarkable journey of faith, transitioning from Catholicism to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and highlights the importance of service in building community. He discusses his unique food ministry, the significance of ministering to families, and the transformative power of the temple. The conversation emphasizes the need for compassion, unity, and the role of service in discipleship, particularly in engaging young people.

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Curtis Farnsworth, a man whose life story reads like a testament to faith, perseverance, and the power of showing up.

Curtis grew up in the Mormon colonies of Northern Mexico - Colonia Juárez to be exact - where his great-grandfather had settled in the late 1800s. Picture this: a fourth-generation kid running through apple orchards, riding horses, and living what he calls "every young boy's dream" in the countryside. But Curtis's journey took him far from those peach trees and cattle ranches.

After serving a mission in Guadalajara, Mexico, and earning his accounting degree at BYU, Curtis became what he jokingly calls "the proverbial menace to society" - not getting married until he was 31. But when he met Denise, herself 27, everything changed. Today, they've built something beautiful: three children who all live within their famous "20-minute rule" of mom and dad, eight grandchildren ranging from ages 8 down to 0, and a thriving CPA practice that Curtis is passing on to his son.

But what makes Curtis's story truly compelling isn't just his professional success or his picture-perfect family Christmas cards. It's his approach to ministry and leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a recently released Elders Quorum President and former bishop, Curtis has learned that sometimes the most profound principle in ministry is simply this: "Half the battle is showing up."

Today, we're going to dive into Curtis's philosophy of ministering, his insights on building strong quorum culture, and why he believes that you never know when someone is ready to come back to church.

Today I'm excited to share a conversation with Jody Corbett, a remarkable woman whose life beautifully weaves together faith, family, and professional service.

Jody grew up in St. George, Utah, surrounded by an incredible extended family of 59 first cousins - a testament to the strong pioneer heritage that shaped her early years. After earning her English degree from BYU, she ventured to the Arizona desert for law school at the University of Arizona, where she not only earned her law degree but also met her future husband.

For over two decades, Jody has built an impressive legal career specializing in government liability defense, representing the City of Phoenix in cases ranging from everyday slip-and-falls to complex police litigation. Three years ago, she transitioned from private practice to serve as an Assistant City Attorney, where she continues to advocate for one of the nation's largest cities while helping shape policy to prevent future legal challenges.

But what makes Jody's story particularly compelling is how her analytical, evidence-based legal training has intersected with her journey of faith. As a mother of four and current Relief Society President, she's learned to balance her natural inclination to seek empirical proof with the need for spiritual faith - a tension that has ultimately strengthened both her professional confidence and her testimony.

In our conversation today, Jody opens up about her testimony's foundation, the parallels between being an advocate in court and Christ's role as our advocate, and the profound lessons she's learning about ministering and building community in her current calling. She also shares a powerful message about faith, family challenges, and the Savior's constant invitation to find our way back to Him.