#46: Elder Neil L. Andersen (Faith Conversation with a Latter-day Saint Apostle, My Dad)

Before becoming a global spiritual leader, Neil L. Andersen was a farm boy learning discipline, responsibility, and faith long before the world ever knew his name. For Derek Andersen, this isn’t just another interview, it’s a conversation with his father.

In this conversation, he shares his journey from building a successful business to serving worldwide as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, traveling across 50+ countries, and speaking to millions about faith, resilience, and purpose.

He explains how faith is built like a muscle, why humility is the foundation of real strength, and how serving others creates a deeper sense of fulfillment than success alone. He also shares lessons on leadership, discipline, and making decisions that align with what truly matters.

The episode goes deeper into identity, forgiveness, and meaning, why achievement won’t fix how you feel inside, how to navigate suffering, and what people realize actually matters at the end of life.

Follow Neil - Instagram: https://x.com/AndersenNeilL
Follow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen

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Timestamps:
01:14 — The Burden Everyone Carries in Life
02:23 — The Real Game of Life: Good vs Evil
08:23 — Growing Up on a Farm
09:31 — The Experience That Expanded His World
11:21 — From Self to Service
12:40 — Why Helping Others Creates Meaning
16:48 — Faith Is a Muscle
23:41 — How to Rebuild Faith When You’ve Lost It
27:19 — Why Humility Is the Source of Real Strength
30:22 — Speaking About Faith in a Modern World
32:54 — What Happens After Death
40:01 — The Danger of Ego and Recognition
45:08 — The Call That Changed His Life
53:04 — Becoming an Apostle
57:13 — His Core Responsibility
01:03:20 — The Hardest Part: Helping People in Pain
01:14:00 — Forgiveness: Why You’re Never Too Far Gone
01:18:13 — The One Idea He Would Teach the World
01:19:08 — How He Measures a Good Life

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