Digital Firesides: A Sunday Night Tradition

“Fireside” is a term often used by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to represent a small, inspirational meeting. Here, friends and families gather to listen to gospel-centered messages by prayerfully-selected speakers, followed by some form of yummy treat.

Friends + Inspiration + Treats!?! It’s no wonder everyone looks forward to firesides!

Our Turtle House Digital Firesides

When the pandemic hit in 2020, gatherings were temporarily suspended and most everything went digital. People who enjoy the social aspect of church functions lost connection with those with whom they felt rooted to. Our Turtle House saw the need for community and gathering and created Sunday evening Digital Firesides.

It’s a fireside…and it’s online digitally…so it’s a Digital Fireside!

A Sunday Evening Tradition

Digital Firesides have become a Sunday night tradition to thousands of families across the globe! We’ve received messages from friends and neighbors who gather together to watch Digital Firesides and many more who share the events on all their social media pages. Many ward and/or youth groups even have Sunday evening “watch parties”.

So gather your group together.

We’ll do ALL of the planning, scheduling, and booking to bring the gospel-centered messages to you. The only thing you need to do is decide whether or not to provide your group’s favorite yummy treat!

Easy. Peesy.

Join our audience as they gather virtually Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. MT on the Our Turtle House App, Facebook page, and YouTube channel to watch some of your favorite inspirational speakers. From Olympians to authors, and Institute teachers to musicians…a wide variety of popular guests join host Mark Williams as they talk about powerful topics that you, our audience, request.

Have a speaker or topic you’d like to suggest? Let us know! Contact us at: turtle.link/share

June 9, 2022September 21, 2024

7 Talks to Help You Create a Spirit of Inclusion

Here’s a challenge for you: scroll through your social media and see how long it takes for you to find 5 people who look different than you.

Pretty easy, right?

Now, think of all your neighbors and see how long it takes to find someone who believes differently than you do.

Maybe a little bit harder, but still didn’t take very long, did it?

Finally, imagine that you’re standing in line at your local grocery store. How long would it take for you to find someone with a different sexual orientation or someone from a different country or even someone with a different bank account balance than you.

These examples are just a few of the infinite ways we, as humans, can be vastly different from each other. Diversity is everywhere and what a beautiful thing it is! When we learn to accept and embrace our differences, the more we open ourselves to possibilities of love and camaraderie.

And when we embrace each other’s uniqueness and bond in camaraderie, we ultimately create a spirit of “inclusion”.

Listed below are 7 talks that will help you embrace diversity and navigate your way into a more inclusive mindset.

Appreciating Our Differences
Dennis Schleicher, Ganel-lyn Condie, Ronell Hugh
Digital Firesides

Three talks, one link.

Our differences are what gives us strength, and our strengths are what makes us a community. Learn how to appreciate your differences and embrace the differences of those around you.

Watch all 3 talks here on Youtube.

Love and Support to The LGBTQ+ Community
Tom Christofferson
Doing Good Podcast

The very best ways to support the LGBTQ+ in your community might not be as difficult as you may think! Learn how to break the stigma and love your fellow members more unconditionally with these simple tips from a church member’s inside perspective.

Listen here on the app.

Bridging The Gaps
Ganel-Lyn Condie
Turtle Talks

How do you deal with the “gap: between where you are today and where you want to be? We learn to accept ourselves for where we are. Join Ganel-lyn for an inspirational perspective on how Christ can help us safely bridge the gaps in our lives.

Listen here on the app.

God Didn’t Change Me
Charlie Bird
Digital Firesides

What is it like to “wait on the Lord” as a gay member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints? Former BYU Mascot, Charlie Bird, helps us see through the lens of a gay man’s perspective as he details his wrestle to get to a point of self-acceptance.

Watch here on Youtube.

Questions from The Closet
Charlie Bird & Ben Schilaty
Doing Good Podcast

What does being gay look like through the eyes of a BYU adjunct professor and a former BYU mascot? Ben and Charlie talk openly about their perspective on “coming out” in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, how to apply the atonement in from a gay’s perspective, and learning to live and love unconditionally just like the Savior did.

Listen here on the app.

Don’t have the Our Turtle House App? No Problem! Get your free 7-day trial here.

April 12, 2022May 5, 2022

It’s An OTH App Easter “Egg” Hunt!

Egg-citing for your
whole family!

Get the family together and take them on a virtual Easter Egg hunt with the Our Turtle House App! They’ll LOVE the surprise that discovering each “egg” will bring and you’ll love that each episode has an inspirational message within it.

Part of the fun will be watching to see which motivational speaker will appear on the screen: will it be Hank Smith? John Bytheway? Meg Johnson? or maybe it will be one of our popular Our Turtle House guest speakers? Scan the QR code to find out!

How to play along:

We’ve created a map of 12 Christ-centered episodes (“eggs”) that are hidden throughout the Our Turtle House App and it’s time for you to scramble to find them.

Just follow these simple instructions:

1. Right-click to save and print a copy of the Our Turtle House Easter Egg Map.
2. Scan the QR code to reveal the episode.
3. Watch/listen to the message.
4. Repeat until you’ve completed the hunt!

Don’t have the Our Turtle House App? Download your 7-day FREE TRIAL here!

March 10, 2022September 21, 2024

The Healing Power of Humor

Children laugh over 300 times a day on average. Adults, on the other hand, only laugh an average of 15 times daily. At what point did we, as a society, forget how important it is have laughter be our companion?

When we laugh, we release endorphins that are scientifically proven to help heal, not only our mind and spirit, but also many aspects of our physical body.

Research proves that humor:

Reduces pain.
Helps human beings cope with stress.
Reduces anxiety.
Relieves tension.
Burns calories.
Improves the immune system.
Protects the heart.
Lowers the blood pressure.
Heals injuries.
Clears the mind.

If those payoffs aren’t enough to tempt you to laugh a little bit more, the social aspects of laughter are immeasurable. Humor is known to create relationships and establish social bonds.

People who laugh together have better quality relationships with each other. Humor and laughter connect the souls which is why, in a recent Hank Helps Podcast episode, Hank Smith stated, “The act of laughing is a social phenomenon.”

Let us help you with that.

Out of the thousands of episodes on the Our Turtle House App, every single one is built around fun and inspiration. Our Sunday evening Digital Firesides are filled with banter and candid humor sure bring a smile. The lighthearted Mark My Words: Inspirational Stories are sure to make you chuckle. Even the Follow Him Podcast has a tagline that says “We love to learn. We love to laugh. We love to learn and laugh with you.”

With you. Those are the key words. Not at you, not behind you, not in front of you…but with you. Even (and especially) during the dark and lonely times of your life.

“You can laugh through the difficult times. It’s okay to give yourself permission to do that and give others around you permission to do it,” podcaster Carmen Herbert said on her latest Doing Good Podcast episode. Carmen interviewed fellow podcaster/comedian Lisa Valentine Clark, who lost her husband to A.L.S. just eighteen months short months ago. In a time where Lisa could have fallen into a routine of sadness, she instead chose to use humor to buoy up herself and her five children as they embraced an unpredictable future.

“I try to think less of my ego and this life, now, and more of my connection with other people and I think that feels like more doable, more connective, more fun, more rewarding, more satisfying.” -Lisa Valentine Clark

With all these scientifically proven evidences, is it any wonder, then, that even our prophets have encouraged us to smile, to laugh, and to enjoy life as it is?

Listen to all these episodes and more on the Our Turtle House App.
Don’t have the app? Download a FREE 7-DAY TRIAL here.

February 24, 2022September 21, 2024

Do You Suffer From F.E.A.R.?

What kind of F.E.A.R. do you wrestle with?

Are you more of a TRADITIONAL F.E.A.R. kind of person? You know, the kind where you have a thought that appears to be real but turns into a lot of thoughts that ultimately take over your mind, causing you to think things that are untrue. Someone who experiences TRADITIONAL F.E.A.R. is a person who imagines the worst case scenario.

Laman and Lemuel were TRADITIONAL F.E.A.R.-ers. They went from zero to “we’re all gonna die” in nothing flat. They were so caught up in the “what ifs” that they refused to progress.

Maybe you’re more of the TREADMILL F.E.A.R. type. These are people who keep doing whatever they’re doing because they’re so filled with fear of what might happen if they stop. They don’t repent…which means they don’t change. They just keep running through habitual motions, but never make any progress toward Heavenly Father.

What exactly is F.E.A.R.?

Better yet, why do we hold on to it? According to motivational speaker Kevin Clayson:

F.E.A.R. is a lie, a deception, a tool of suppression.

And Satan knows it.

Is it any wonder that the scriptures are filled with references encouraging us to “fear not”? Angels declared it to the shepherds. Isaiah preached it to his people. Jesus commanded it of His disciples.

How to we combat F.E.A.R.?

Last Sunday we hosted an Our Turtle House Digital Fireside about choosing faith over fear. During the presentation, we heard three powerful stories from three powerful speakers (Leslie Householder, Kevin Clayson, and Ann Ferguson) teaching us how we, too, can overcome F.E.A.R. in difficult times.

The magic cure:

FAITH

Faith that is fueled and sustained by righteous action. Productive action. Hard-working action with the intent of progressive motion.

Faith in the unknown. Faith in the future. Faith in the Savior and His promises to us.

F.E.A.R. can confound us. But when we choose to overcome fear with faith, miracles will happen.

And isn’t it about time for a miracle in your life?

Have a great week,

Our Turtle House

Listen to the entire fireside on YouTube or with a FREE 7-day TRIAL of the Our Turtle House App.

January 14, 2022September 13, 2024

“Thaw-some” Winter Pricing on Yearly Memberships

New year. New you.

Create your own happiness.

Be present with what matters most.

Whatever your mantra, resolution, or “focus words” for 2022 happen to be, the Our Turtle House App is here to help.

Filled with thousands of hours of fun and inspirational podcasts, talks, firesides, and devotionals, the Our Turtle House App is centered around helping you and your family become your very best selves possible.

You’ll love watching and listening to over a dozen new inspirational episodes every week by some of the most popular motivational speakers in the industry: Hank Smith, Meg Johnson, and John Bytheway…plus, some of their very favorite guest speakers! All are fun, inspirational, and all are wholesome entertainment.

It easy to learn together, study together, and, most of all, to grow together when you can find answers to gospel topics all from the palm of your hand!

Too busy to plan a Come, Follow Me lesson? We’ve got your back! Download our Come, Follow Me Lesson Plans or quickly throw our latest Follow Him Podcast over your bluetooth speaker, then relax and enjoy your gospel study together!

Maybe you’re more into podcasts while you work…or work out… Perfect! Stream Hank Helps, ByTheWay, and Doing Good with Carmen Rasmusen Herbert.

Got youth? Grab a bowl of popcorn because they’ll LOVE watching our full-length Turtle Talks and Digital Firesides on a relaxing Sunday evening.

We’ve also got:

Meg’s Trial Tips (finding peace through life’s challenges)
Mark My Words (narrated stories)
Scripture Power (scripture stories with modern-day applications)
Teaching Helps (tips to enhance your teaching experience)
Plus…you’ll get exclusive member pricing to all Our Turtle House events
And more!

So, you can see that we really do have what you need to help you reach your goal this year.

For a limited time only, save 20% off your annual membership. But hurry! Offer ends 2/28/2022.

September 2, 2021September 13, 2024

Finding Answers to Prayers

You’ve searched. You’ve pondered. You’ve prayed.

Now what?

Are the thoughts and/or feelings you’re getting coming from God? Are they maybe part of your own imagination? Are they coming from somewhere else entirely?

God speaks to each of us very differently.

In fact, He speaks to each of us very individually!

He knows us all so personally that He speaks to us each in ways that He knows we will best receive it.

That’s why it’s so important to learn to identify how we can each hear Him.

We’ve found some episodes from the Our Turtle House App that will help you learn to find answers to your prayers. Click on the picture below to open each episode directly in your Our Turtle House App.

August 6, 2021September 13, 2024

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is celebrated on Monday, August 9, 2021. This is a day that the world gathers together to celebrate the women in each of our lives.

The mothers. The wives. The grandmothers. The daughters. The aunts. The nieces. The sisters.

We celebrate the women next door, the ones overseas;

the women who speak and the women who listen;

the women who lead and the women who follow;

the women who are young and the women who are young at heart.

Women of the world, we celebrate you.

We echo the words of President Russell M. Nelson when he said,

“Sisters, you have all been absolutely heroic! I marvel at your strength and your faith. You have shown that in difficult circumstances, you bravely carry on. I love you, and I assure you that the Lord loves you and sees the great work you are performing. Thank you! Once again, you have proven that you are literally the hope of Israel!”

We’ve found some episodes from the Our Turtle House App that will help you celebrate International Women’s Day. Click on the picture below to open each episode directly in your Our Turtle House App.

July 28, 2021September 21, 2024

Valuing Progress Over Perfection

Perfect. Flawless. Filter. Top-of-the-line. Best. Unbeatable. Model.

We live in a world where these descriptors seem to be the goal and anything less is unacceptable.

“Model behavior.” “Best in class.” “Flawless complexion.” “Perfect performance.”

But are these expectations real? Do people really expect these from us? Or are they unrealistic expectations we place upon ourselves?

While not always a bad thing to work towards, the idealism of perfection often comes with a price. Low self-esteem, relationship problems, health issues, anxiety, and depression are common results from living a life of chronic perfectionism.

Saint Augustine, renowned theologian, prolific writer, and skilled preacher of the fourth century once said, “This is the very perfection of man, to find out his own imperfections.“

We are put on earth to learn how to become perfect, not to live life perfectly.

And as long as you’re trying the very best you can then what you do is good enough.

What if you were to put more emphasis on your progress instead?

Record your progress so that when you begin to feel frustrated, you can actually see how far you’ve come. Notice the things you’ve become better at or stronger at or risen above. There is nothing wrong with giving yourself a little pat on the back for everyday achievements. You will find that there is so much satisfaction that comes from looking at how much you’ve improved!

So patient with yourself. Set your goals and show yourself a little love and compassion.

We’ve found some episodes from the Our Turtle House App that will help you show yourself a little more love and compassion. Click on the picture below to open each episode directly in your Our Turtle House App.

July 17, 2021September 13, 2024

Overcoming Pornography

Unfortunately, it’s no longer a matter of “if” our children will be exposed to pornography, it’s become a matter of “when”.

We’ve found some episodes from the Our Turtle House App that we believe will help you as you teach others to avoid and/or overcome the dangers of pornography. Click on the picture below to open each episode directly in your Our Turtle House App.

Our Turtle House Digital Firesides

A Sunday Evening Tradition

Egg-citing for your whole family!

How to play along:

What exactly is F.E.A.R.?

How to we combat F.E.A.R.?

Egg-citing for your
whole family!