Walking with Jesus

When Lisa Campbell reads Book of Mormon accounts of Jesus Christ visiting people in the Americas, the stories feel real. She can visualize Him descending from the heavens. She can hear His voice. She knows the feeling of falling to her knees in wonder. She can easily imagine herself as one in the multitude, learning at Jesus’ feet. She can see His wounds. Because, as a cast member in the recently released Book of Mormon videos from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lisa has lived this experience.

We sat down with BYU College of Nursing’s Research Development Specialist, Lisa Campbell as she shared about her role in the college, her decision to become a nurse, her experience filming on the set of the Book of Mormon videos, and how her relationship with Jesus Christ has grown through it all.

Q: Lisa, what do you do at BYU College of Nursing?

“My role in the College of Nursing is to help faculty find and apply for external grant funding for their research projects or their evidence-based projects.”

Q: You are a fairly new nurse. When did you decide to go back to nursing school?

“I went back to school in 2018, so everything was before COVID. I had to do my capstone during COVID, and that was before we had vaccinations or anything. That was nerve-wracking! I finally got my BSN in 2022, so I’ve only been working for a couple years, currently in the wound clinic at Intermountain Health. Before I became a nurse, I worked as a computer software technical writer and earned my master's degree in that field. So, my role in the College of Nursing allows me to combine both skillsets as a writer and a nurse.”

Q: How did you get involved in the filming of the Book of Mormon videos?

“I signed up for casting emails offered through the Church because my kids had participated in prior filming projects. They were in The Christ Child: A Nativity Story and had been in earlier episodes of different Book of Mormon segments…and so they really encouraged me.

“In 2021, our family had just moved to Provo from Logan, and I hadn't gotten a job here yet. And so, there was a lull. The roles that they were casting for are called minutemen, because they just need background people at the last minute. They would just send out an email blast the night before filming.

“The first time I was contacted, my daughter and I had plans to go out of town for the weekend. And then I got that email saying, ‘Let us know in the next hour if you're available, because we have a bunch of spots to fill’. I didn't know what part of the Book of Mormon they were filming because they didn’t announce it. At first, I was talking myself out of it because we had already made fun plans. We had a hotel booked. But my daughter just looked at me and was like, ‘Mom, you should really pray about this.’ You know, sometimes we get caught up in the busy-ness of our lives and we forget to include God. I mean this felt like a nothing decision. But once I prayed about it, I felt like – WOW – I need to participate in this.”

Q: What did you learn from that experience of deciding to respond to the invitation?

“There are events that wouldn't have happened if I didn't just follow that prompting and go through with it. The filming is a big production. Even as a background extra, they put you in costume and do your hair and makeup in a certain way. They even make you dirty with fake cosmetic dirt.

“There was a woman in line with me through the whole makeup and costuming process. We were just chatting as we waited our turns, and she mentioned that she was from the Philippines. And I reply, ‘Oh, how funny. My mom’s from the Philippines.’ And she says, ‘Oh yeah? What is your mom's name?’ I respond, ‘Rosalina’. And she says, ‘I know a Rosalina.’ She goes, ‘Is she married to a man named Kenneth?’ It turns out that my mom was a bridesmaid in her wedding 50 years ago in the Philippines! This woman now lives in Utah, and I've never met her before, but out of the blue we met there on set.

“There were just weird coincidences that I look back and realize would never have happened any other way. It's just so strange and beautiful. Those are the little things that make me stop and really see that this is the hand of God in my life. They are customized just for me.”

Q: What is it like reading the Book of Mormon after filming scenes from 3 Nephi?

“The scriptures are more real. It’s much more personal. I feel like I was there! When there is a description of Him coming down from heaven, I can see Him coming down. I can hear Him announcing Himself, ‘arise and come forth’. We each got to walk up one by one and look at and touch His hands. They did such good moulage on Him. He had realistic wounds on His hands and His feet, and it just strengthened my testimony that it really happened.

“I felt reaffirmed over and over, throughout that whole experience, especially that first day, that God loves us. He's present in our lives, and we can know Him personally.

“My husband and I had our temple recommends renewed just recently and the bishopric counselor interviewing me asked, ‘Do you have a personal testimony or personal relationship with Jesus Christ?’ This experience of personally ‘meeting’ my Savior was the first thing that popped into my head. I just wish everybody could have a similar experience of feeling like they’ve walked with Christ, and they’ve walked in the scriptures.”

Q: What advice would you give to others about gaining a personal testimony of the Savior?

“Immerse yourself in the scriptures...take the time to dive into the areas where you feel like you need to know more.

“For me right now, my own study is focused on Heavenly Father's promise to gather Israel and what that looks like. Because I want to know what my role is in that whole plan. I want to know how I can participate in that, and I’m examining where to change my life to align myself with God's plan. So, this has been an ongoing process for me.

“That's why I went to nursing school. I was looking ahead to when our kids are grown, and it's just my husband and I, what are we going to do with our lives? And I thought, I want to serve a mission with him. He's a physician. I don't want to be back in a mission office doing computer work. I want to be hands-on. And that's when I felt prompted to go to nursing school.”

Q: Has your relationship with Jesus Christ blessed you as a nurse?

Photo by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“Yes – especially where I work in wound care. That's where I tie in a lot of the symbolism from Christ's own wounds. Usually when patients come in, they're frustrated and upset. I just try to give them a safe place and environment. In my mind, I have to say many prayers when I walk into every single room that He will be there with us, and He will be able to comfort them and address whatever needs that they have going on. Because sometimes it's bigger than just the wounds that they have on their bodies; it's in their minds or in their lives. So, it's just going through a process and rhythm where, in addition to washing my hands as I go in and greet them, I'm also inviting Christ to go with me. Even though it's not visible, I just invite Him with me.”

Q: Are there any other meaningful insights from your experience that you’d like to share?

“God has a better plan for us than what we plan for ourselves. And I learned to be ready and available for when He says at the last minute – ‘I need you’. Be prepared for that.

Because in that email moment, I only had an hour to respond. And there were all these conflicting feelings because I had plans to do something good and uplifting with my daughter. But He had something better planned for me. Just be open to recognizing and following through on promptings.”

Q: Do you have any final advice for the BYU College of Nursing community?

“If they're looking for a creative outlet, go to the Church’s casting website and see what opportunities there are. They have so many different projects that are coming up and they're local. There are even requests to submit a photo or sing a song. Just let your light shine. It's surprising the different ways you can share the gospel and share the light of Christ.

“And always have that prayer in your heart and mind to have Christ with you throughout your nursing shift. We have continued access to His enabling power, so call upon it!”

Photo by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints