Discovering the Power of The Book of Mormon and the Words of Life - Sister Taylor Judd

This episode features Returned Missionary Taylor Judd, who served in the Paraguay Asunción Mission. Shawn warmly welcomes Taylor, noting their long-standing friendship, though he humorously calls her to "repentance" for taking so long to appear on the podcast.

Taylor served for eight months and is preparing to attend Utah State for nursing school. She shares unique details about her mission area, noting that Paraguay is landlocked, bordering Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. While Spanish is spoken, everyone also speaks the indigenous language Guaraní (Guadana/Guadin), which is completely unlike Spanish.

The Power in the Word of God

The central theme of the episode is Principle number four: "The word of God answers every question". Shawn emphasizes that the scriptures are the most important tool a missionary can use, containing a "secret" and a power beyond mere knowledge that leads souls to Christ.

Taylor admits that before her mission, she read the scriptures but was merely "putting a lot of information in my head" and never felt an "overwhelming spirit and joy" or was "astonished". Her mission experience transformed this perspective.

In her first transfer, her mission president challenged her to read the entire Book of Mormon in Spanish in under three months, despite her limited understanding of the language. She met the goal, but upon reporting, the president told her she needed to read it again, stressing that she had to "apply what you're reading" and truly understand it—a process Shawn likened to feasting upon the words of Christ (2 Nephi 32). During this deeper study, Taylor found that she felt "so much power from that book" and "so much peace". She recognized that the scriptures bring a "sweet spirit" that invites peace and joy during hard times.

Witnessing the Living Water

Taylor shared the remarkable conversion story of the family of Asusa, Rosio, and Cerillo. After feeling an impression to stop at their house and clapping on the door, they met 14-year-old Asusa and her mother, Rosio, who was a content Catholic and initially uninterested. The missionaries faced many obstacles, including the family hiding from them and having the wrong contact number.

Despite expectations that men in Paraguay would be less interested, the father, Cerillo, became the most deeply interested. Because the family was "so invested," the missionaries visited every single day. Cerillo would routinely be sitting outside with his Book of Mormon, which was heavily marked up with questions and bookmarks. He told the missionaries his life was "different now" and that he could not "deny the blessings" and positive changes in his family resulting from reading the Book of Mormon, praying, and going to church. Taylor realized his interest came from the power he felt, not just the information. Shawn emphasized that Cerillo was discovering the "living water" found in Christ's words, much like the Samaritan woman at the well.

The entire family eventually got baptized. Taylor was transferred before the daughter and father were baptized, but she received permission to return for Rosio’s baptism. Seeing them caused her to cry with intense joy, confirming that seeing others discover the gospel keeps one's own testimony "going and growing".

Final Counsel

Shawn and Taylor discussed how the power in the scriptures, delivered through the Holy Ghost, transforms hearts, citing examples like the astonishment of listeners when Christ spoke, Joseph Smith reading James 1:5, and the disciples on the road to Emmaus whose hearts burned as the Savior quoted scripture.

Taylor advised preparing missionaries to study the Book of Mormon, calling it the "cornerstone of our religion" and the book that sets the Church apart. Shawn concluded that coming to Christ or leading som