In March 2024, Jacob Hansen joined us on the Leading Saints Podcast to talk about how we can combine values and people’s interests to create a great experience. He believes this is a powerful way to build Zion by creating community and human connection between the saints.

Jacob is back with a conversation about interest-based groups in the Long Beach East Stake, where they are changing the game in bringing together the Lord’s children both inside and outside the Church. In this rebroadcast of a recent Thoughtful Faith podcast, Jacob talks with leaders from that stake about what they are doing to literally gather Israel.

Part 1: Changing Church Culture by Gathering the Saints | An Interview with Jacob Hansen

Thoughful Faith on YouTube

The original video about stake activity groups: “Could This Revolutionize The Church?”

Stake Activity Group Linktree (Note that the “Scripture Buddies” groups are open to men and women anywhere in the US.)

Stake Bulletins

Talent & Interest Survey

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Jacob Hansen is back with a follow-up to his previous podcast interview about interest-based groups at Church. In this podcast episode, Jacob talks with leaders from the Long Beach East Stake and emphasizes the value of connecting individuals with similar interests to strengthen relationships and combat loneliness. The stake has successfully implemented over a dozen interest-based groups, ranging from yoga classes to scripture study groups. These groups have provided a platform for members to bond over shared passions and activities, fostering a sense of community and friendship. The stake has seen significant success in organizing these groups, with members actively participating and engaging in various activities.

The conversation highlights the grassroots approach taken by the stake leadership, allowing members to initiate and lead these groups based on their interests. The episode also addresses concerns about control and the necessity of providing a framework for organizing these activities within the Church. Overall, the podcast showcases the positive impact of interest-based groups in building relationships, promoting unity, and creating a sense of belonging within the Church community.

03:10 – Impact of interest-based groups in strengthening relationships

07:05 – Formation and success of a yoga group in the stake

10:05 – Involvement in various interest-based groups

12:40 – Organizing groups in the stake

17:04 – Importance of shared interests in building relationships

22:19 – Organizing groups through surveys and communication

26:04 – Overcoming initial hesitations to start groups

29:38 – Benefits of interest-based groups in reducing loneliness and isolation

34:07 – Encouraging grassroots initiatives for groups

36:42 – Building relationships through shared interests

40:42 – Utilizing stake resources to promote interest-based activities

44:35 – Participation and success of groups in the stake

47:24 – Balancing top-down guidance with bottom-up initiatives

50:18 – Emphasizing the importance of individual talents and interests

52:13 – Gathering saints through shared values and interests

The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, Kirby Heyborne, and many more in over 700 episodes.

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