How a Drowning NDE & the Book of Mormon Led to Conversion: Derek Tucker's Story - Latter-Day Lights

LDS Podcast "Latter-Day Lights" - Inspirational LDS Stories

When face to face with your greatest fear, will you listen to God’s “yes”?
From a life-altering near-death experience as a young boy, artist and leatherworker Derek Tucker shares how this profound moment planted the seeds of his faith, completely oblivious to the impact it would have on the rest of his life.
Though it would take years before he fully embraced the Gospel, Derek recounts teenhood and how his struggle to complete a simple task for school echoed the same feelings of helplessness from his near-death experience, ultimately pushing him to seek God’s voice. What began as uncertainty and hesitation turned into a moment of divine intervention, transforming his life and solidifying his devotion to the Church.
Through these pivotal experiences, Derek reflects on how his testimony was shaped, bringing him closer to understanding his true purpose in life. His journey is one of unwavering courage, spiritual obedience, and the incredible blessings that come from fully trusting in God’s “yes”.
*** Please SHARE Derek's story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***
To WATCH this episode, visit: https://youtu.be/PzyZYjlDsmc
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To FOLLOW Derek's art, visit: https://www.instagram.com/derektuckercreations/
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1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Welcoming Derek Tucker to the show (00:00:34)

3. Derek introduces himself and his hobbies (00:02:23)

4. Derek’s family + moving to Utah (00:04:49)

5. Derek’s near death experience (00:06:42)

6. Derek’s childhood post-NDE (00:13:18)

7. Derek gets baptized (00:14:30)

8. Confused about religion (00:15:59)

9. Moving from NJ to Seattle (00:17:10)

10. Derek finds the motivation to go to Church (00:20:21)

11. Finding happiness again (00:23:00)

12. Derek begins High School (00:24:06)

13. Finding Derek’s “signature item” (00:25:22)

14. Joseph Smith’s “vision” (00:35:55)

15. Derek hears God’s “yes” (00:37:15)

16. Derek brings his signature item to school (00:39:20)

17. Derek gives away his signature item (00:49:00)

18. Derek’s testimony (00:49:53)

19. Derek’s struggles with loving God (00:51:13)

20. Derek’s Junior Year experience with PWDs (00:52:27)

21. Derek’s testimony on Joseph Smith (00:55:20)

22. Finding beauty in the simplicity of the Gospel (00:58:30)

23. Relating Derek’s NDE to his signature item (01:01:20)

24. Derek thanks Scott and Alisha for their platform (01:03:07)

25. Wrapping up (01:03:40)

26. Final thoughts (01:05:15)

27. Outro (01:12:28)