Olympic silver medalist Kenneth Rooks shocked the world when he worked his way from the back of the pack to become the second American to medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase since 1984. But those who recognized Rooks’ name know that this isn’t the first time he’s come from behind. In fact, in 2023, Rooks fell in his third lap at the USA Track and Field Nationals but came back to win the race. Both races were a spectacle—incredible athletic feats—and, on today’s episode, we talk with Rooks about what he’s learned from them.

2:13- If Ye Are Prepared
7:10- Gospel Allegories in the Race
13:22- Self-Improvement Vs. Comparison
18:36- The Patience To Stick To The Game Plan
25:25- Being Coached By Ed Eyestone
32:03- Faith and Running
37:02- Pre-game Ritual
40:50- A Large Latter-day Saint Contingent
43:26- Discipline and Consistency
47:19- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“All In doesn’t mean that you’re not going to forget sometimes. You might forget what matters most. Being all in is being able to recognize when you forget and trying to remember. …Those who are all in try to remember quickly.”

Links:

2023 USATF Nationals Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT1ody_cpCA&t=190s

2024 Paris Olympic Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNgzHlE3Hko

Church News article about Kenneth:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/book-of-mormon-kenneth-rooks-byu-steeplechase-olympic-silver-medal

Other links:
https://www.deseret.com/sports/2024/08/07/kenneth-rooks-latter-day-saint-silver-medalist/
https://www.deseret.com/sports/2024/08/07/byu-cougars-runner-kenneth-rooks-wins-silver-medal-in-olympics/

Ryan Shupe: Big Dreams and Little Decisions

Ryan Shupe is best-known as the singer of a hit song called “Dream Big” but on today’s episode, Ryan shares with us his take on small decisions and how those small decisions can have big, lasting impacts. Ryan shares that these decisions are often the result of trusting in personal revelation and acting on that inspiration. So, while Ryan’s life has certainly been impacted by a single song, he recognizes that it has been many decisions along the way that have made all the difference.

1:54- The Father of Ryan and Bluegrass in Utah
5:15- 5 A.M. Fiddle Practice
10:16- Changed By a Mission
14:19- The Kind of Hit Dreams Are Made Of
21:15- Decisions for Life
31:53- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“The only thing you can’t buy is time and so you can only spend so much time in your life on any one thing so whenever you’re doing something, you’re just taking time away from something else, right? So it’s just this balancing act of how far do you push something because you know if you keep pushing maybe you could get that but it would be at the expense of something else.”

Links:

Deseret News articles referenced:
https://www.deseret.com/2006/11/24/19987240/the-unique-sounds-of-ryan-shupe/
https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/7/4/22554176/all-eyes-on-wallsburg-utah-as-the-father-of-bluegrass-music-readies-for-a-festival-of-a-lifetime/

Dream Big Music Video- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3KwEuNapzt0&pp=ygUJRHJlYW0gYmln

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Join us for Magnify's Lift Up Your Heart coming this fall! Registration is open for Idaho Falls, St. George, and Salt Lake City by heading to magnifythegood.com/events. Remember to use code PODCAST10 at checkout (not as the access code). This discount excludes the already discounted group pricing.

Clay Sheffield’s life is a miracle. Perhaps because of the faith of his three older siblings, the nearly 2-year-old little boy with a million dollar smile is still alive more than a year longer than doctors ever expected. Still, Clay’s life doesn’t look quite the way his family anticipated or hoped. Instead, the Sheffields are learning that sometimes the miracle is in the gift of ordinary days and in knowing that where covenants are made and kept, stories always end in happily ever after.

1:58- Clay’s Emergency Delivery
8:49- Then To Now
16:09- Redefining the Miracle
19:29- The Power of “And”
22:20- The Faith of Children
29:14- Choose This Day
31:29- Covenants
33:18- Making Intentional Memories
39:45- Ordinary Days
44:43- Being Pruned
47:54- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“I already know the ending of this story and this story is pretty great. We have made covenants that whatever happens this story ends up that we’re going to be together so we’re just going to live.”