Music, Faith and a Modesty Mindset with Liahona Olayan

This is a video about Music, Faith and a Modesty Mindset
IG and FB @liahonaolayan and TikTok is @liahonao and YouTube is @liahona

On Roundy’s Rants, Raves and Reviews, Tanya interviews singer, actress, and model Liahona Olayan, originally from Hawaii and now based in Utah, who competed on American Idol Season 19 at 16 and reached the Top 24, later releasing her album “Just Me Liahona.” Liahona shares how reality TV shaped her, how she set firm standards around faith and modesty despite industry pressure, and a defining lesson from her father about worth and virtue. She discusses accountability, repentance, and choosing to save physical intimacy for marriage, pushing back on “test drive” dating culture. Liahona explains how her family’s move to Hawaii and living in a tent deepened gratitude, humility, and her relationship with God, inspiring her songwriting and mission testimony through music. She also mentions upcoming concerts and competing in the Miss Greater Salt Lake pageant.

00:00 Meet Liahona
01:30 Idol Reality Check
02:23 Surprise Hollywood Call
04:10 Golden Ticket Journey
05:27 Siblings And Singing
08:11 Faith In The Industry
09:03 Modesty Line In The Sand
11:44 Dad's Mirror Moment
15:25 Standards Over Fame
19:00 Accountability And Influence
23:13 Attack On Women's Worth
25:36 Modesty Mindset Freedom
27:51 Saving for Marriage
32:04 Lust and Self Control
34:56 Atonement and Day One
38:01 Music as Testimony
38:43 Hawaii Tent Turning Point
44:19 Power of the Voice
48:32 Where to Follow Leah
50:21 Humility Final Charge

In a world full of uncertainty, how does one cope with unbearable loss and pain? A Christmas tragedy finds Steve and Maria struggling to find hope. With the love and support of family and friends, will they find peace as they walk through the fire of Uncertainty?

momandpopsnaturals.com. Natural Ingredients for a Healthy Life!

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Welcome everyone today on Roundies, Rants, Raves, and Reviews. I have got a very special guest, someone I've found on Facebook and been following for a minute. And so grateful that she uh said yes to coming on my podcast. This is Leah Hona, and she is such a beautiful young lady, and I can't wait for you to get to know her and what she does. So, Leahona, will you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you're doing right now?

SPEAKER_00 0:36

Yeah, well, first of all, thank you, Tanya, for having me on this podcast. I'm so excited to be able to share my story and my thoughts. It's just such a privilege. But yes, my name is Leahono O'Lyon. I'm originally from Hawaii, from Oahuwa, but I am now here based in Utah in Spanish Forks Springville area. I am one of nine kids. So I am the second oldest, but the first daughter. So I have an older brother. I'm a singer, I'm an actress, and I'm a model. So when I was 16 years old, I had the opportunity to compete in American Idol of season 19, and I made it to the top 24. And so that's what I dedicate my life to. I just I sing, I do concerts. I released a solo album this past year called Just Melee Hona. And ever since then, it's just been lots of work, lots of camera work, and lots of things to just help me fulfill my dreams and keep going. So I'm so excited to be here.

SPEAKER_02 1:29

Oh my goodness, that's so crazy. I haven't followed American Idol for a long time. Is it still as crazy to be on a competition and reality TV show as it seems?

SPEAKER_00 1:40

Oh my gosh, yes. The one thing I think is hilarious is that it's called reality TV, but it's not real. Like, I don't know, I don't know what to tell people. I'm like, no, it's there's a lot of things in there that aren't real, but it helps to add to like the drama and stuff. But yes, being a 16-year-old and going on to a reality TV show as a singing competition and singing in front of you know millions and being on global stages, and it's just go. I mean, it was a dream come true, but like the stress and the pressure that came with it was just a whole kind of different world. But yes, it was such a fun opportunity. And to be honest, I have never seen American Idol either. So when I was younger growing up, I had no idea what it was. Uh huh. I thought it was a local competition when my mom signed us up because I competed in season 19. So it was during the year of COVID. And I specifically remember like during that time, like my mom was like, Hey, you guys need to get your music out there, like you need to do your talents. And then she just searched up online for like musical competitions. And then she said, Oh my gosh, there's like this show called American Idol. And I've never heard it before. So I thought it was like something based like in Hawaii or Utah. I was like, Oh, perfect, like, let's just start small local competition. Turns out, like two weeks later, they're like, you know, we sent in this audition online and we don't think very much of it. But I kid you not, like two hours later, after we sent in the audition, the director for American Idol calls us and he's like, We want you and your son down here, your daughter and your son, like we want them to come and to Hollywood and just compete for the golden ticket. And I was just like confused. I was like, What? I was like, What do you mean? Like Hollywood, is there like a Hollywood down in Utah? Is there a Hollywood here in Hawaii that I don't know about? Like, and then he starts saying, like, you have to get on the plane, and then you're gonna be on TV. And so I asked my mom about it, and she's like excited and she's screaming. Then I'm like, what's going on? And then she was like, Yeah, she's like, Don't worry about it. And then we get on this plane, and like the two-hour plane ride from Utah to California, and so she's just like debriefing me. She's like, Oh yeah, so you're gonna be like on TV. And I was like, I'm sorry, what? And then she's like, Yeah, and then you're gonna be like in front of like these celebrity judges. I was like, celebrity judges, like what celebrity judges? And she's like, Yeah, like Luke Bryan. I was like, Luke Brian, she's like Lionel Richie. I was like, Lionel Richie, and then she says Katie Perry. I was like, Wait, what? I kid you not in that plane ride as I'm riding there with all these American autocontestants, I'm having a panic attack. I'm like, This is not what I signed up for, like, get me out of here. And I kid you not, we land there in in Hollywood. We're only able to like do a couple of things, like check into the hotel, and then the next morning at like 8 a.m., like they just grab me and my brother, and like, go ahead. And I'm like, what? Um, so it was just a total, like chaotic transition, but it was one of the best experiences I ever had. Like, you know what? That's how the Lord works, honestly. Because sometimes when you're not ready and you feel like you're not, the Lord knows you're ready. So he's just ready to push you whenever you need. So, I mean, I have to tell you, like, there's no other better way I would have wanted to figure out that I was gonna be on national TV because I feel like if my mom had told me before, I would be like, I'm not doing it, I'm not going. So she decides, tell me what I'm already there. She's like, You have no choice. So I was like, Okay, maybe that's how the Lord works with me. He's like, You have no choice, you just go. And so, yeah. So I ended up, you know, doing that. We got the golden ticket. We went all the way to the why I went all the way to the top 24. My brother and I split during Hollywood week. And then ever since then, it's just been blessings upon blessings of being able to share my music and being able to be an influence to the world to help people to inspire them to become better and motivate them through not only my words, but my actions and more importantly, through my music.

unknown 5:24

I love it.

SPEAKER_02 5:25

That is so incredibly crazy. So your brother and you started out together. So is that your older brother? Yes. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 5:32

Uh-huh. So my older brother and I, we're only a year apart. So it's very funny because people thought we grew up well, we were twins, and then when we told them no, they'd always be like, Oh, so you're the older one, like pointing at me. And I was like, Do I really look that old? Like, what's going on? But my brother has so we're Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino, and Caucasian. So the Asian side in my brother is so strong. So he just like kind of looks like a little baby. I mean, I kind of realized that like early on in our life. I was like, Why the heck do I look like I'm aging like twice as fast as you? And he's like, It's the Asian genes. I'm like, get out of here, guy. But playing. It was, yeah, it was like, it's so funny. So yeah, he and I sing. The rest of my siblings can sing, but they don't want to. Like, they don't want to do what my brother and I do. And honestly, it's fine because it's okay if they don't want to, they have their own dreams, their own ambitions. But every time, like my mom's like, You guys, sure you don't want to go up and sing, like, all my brothers and sisters are like, No. I'm like, all right then, just leave it to my brother and I, you know.

SPEAKER_02 6:36

I understand that when my sister and I were born, I was born in January, and she was born in December of the same year, and she was always taller and bigger than me. And so they thought we were their twins, or she was the older one, and it was crazy. But our whole family sang. My dad would, my mother's mom play the guitar, we sang around the fireside, you know, and they would have us sing for like conferences and church and all these things. And then I became a theater teacher, and we did it kind of all, everyone else kind of like, yeah, they did stuff, and I'm the only one who took it off. But then my children, I forced it, they enjoyed it, I think, mostly theater with me from the time they were little, and so they all did speech and debate in theater with me. And then one was like, I'm not doing speech and debate, like I'll do the theater. I'm not doing speech and debate. All right, she's like the one refusal out there on that.

SPEAKER_00 7:23

So, yeah, you know how it is, you know how it goes, right?

SPEAKER_02 7:26

So the joys of having siblings and family, everyone's got their own talents and their own gifts, and I love that your family and your mom was like at least giving you opportunities to do that and stuff like that. Yeah, I don't do you need to know the jets. I grew up on the jets.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

Yes, we know the jets very well, so they're actually like really close friends of ours.

SPEAKER_02 7:45

I figure there was probably some connection there with the things, but man, I grew up on them, and I was like, my husband's like, and I grew up, you know, they were his their age, and so he's like, Yeah, they were around when I was going. I'm like, so yeah, but I loved their music, and I love that they were also like the same kind of thing, you know, sharing their message and being positive and doing things as family and trying to keep that kind of thing alive. Yeah, for sure. Super cool. So you went to American Idol one other question about that. How hard is it was it for you as someone with faith and values and stuff like this? Like, did you find there was like any pushback or anything while you were on American Idol with that kind of yeah, that's a great it's a great question.

SPEAKER_00 8:30

And the answer is like absolutely in the industry of like if you go to any of my industries, acting, modeling, music, they're actually some of the most corrupt industries in the world. Music is actually the number one corrupt industry in the world, and it's the industry that actually has the biggest influence to change people, to make them better or for worse. So that's how much power the voice has. And it was very interesting. I mean, being a 16-year-old, I had to learn very early on to put my foot down and set my standards right away. Because if I didn't, I would let, you know, adults try to influence me. I remember this one time when I was getting for my ready for my top 24 performance for American Idol in the top 24. We had wardrobe people come in and they would give us tips and stuff. And so I remember walking into there with like the wardrobe ladies and hair and makeup. And I just remember the person that was in the back, like she was recommending like all these things to me. And one of my biggest standards I have always kept since I was a little girl is modesty. Like, modesty is one of the hardest, if not the most difficult standard for a woman to keep. Like it is really difficult, and it's such a controversial topic within even within the church. When it should it be, it should not be at all. But like, you know, it's I don't know what it is with this generation, or at least my generation, I've noticed a lot that young men and young women they don't take accountability for a lot of their actions and they'll justify a lot of things that aren't right. And so I remember going into the back of this room, and this was, I think, one of the first times it's ever been tested as a singer personally, but she was giving me all these outfit options that were just completely inappropriate, like stuff I would never wear. And she just kept telling me, like, it's fine, like you're only gonna wear it once, you're gonna be on TV, like you have to look like the part, the pop star. And I remember just like looking at her and I was like, Did you not hear what I said? Like, I will not wear this for anyone or anything. I don't care if I'm gonna be in front of millions, I don't care if I'm gonna be on a global stage, I don't care if I'm gonna be in front of Katie Perry. I don't care. Like, whatever you say, I'm not going to compromise, I'm not going to change. Because something I learned from a very young age that my parents taught me is standards make you who you are. And the second you compromise one, you're going to compromise the rest. It's just like a pattern that follows. So we can talk about that with things in the church as well. Like, you know, they're like they always tell you, like, don't drink, don't do cigarettes, you know, don't do drugs and stuff. Because once you start, you can't stop. It becomes like an addiction. So in me, I noticed all like these girls around me, even family, like close growing up. I was like, once they start, they never stop. And then it was really frustrating because I would tell them, like, I don't think you should be wearing that and this and that. And they'd get super frustrated at me. They're like, My body, my choice, blah, blah, blah, blah. And I was like, okay, this is where we differ. Yeah. So it's really frustrating for me because on American Idol, I had a lot of that stuff come to the surface. Like lots of tests and lots of challenges against my standards. But there was one time that I really remember when I learned the importance of modesty. So I was in middle school. And during those times, like in middle school, like you're trying to figure out who you are, what you stand for. And I had these group of friends, and they were just always wearing like this stuff, like immodest things. And like, you know, there's tons of immodest things. There's booty shorts, there's crop tops, there's the list goes on. And I just felt like so out of place. I was like, this is so unfair because my parents always told me, like, no, you need to dress modest. So I remember one day I woke up and I was like, you know what? Like, I'm gonna wear what I want to wear. So I decided to put on something that was not appropriate at all. And to this day, like, it makes me sick when I think about myself looking at them in the mirror as a middle schooler and just being like so sad for that girl that I looked back and like I really, really feel so sorry for her. But this was the experience. I wore that thing, and I remember looking in that mirror, and I was like, you know what? Like, yeah, I felt like this newfound sense of pride in myself. And I was like, I can wear whatever I want. Plus, everyone else is wearing it, so why can't I wear it? So I went to school that day with that mindset, and I just like finally felt like if I wore this, like it'd make me feel like a woman. And I I remember like walking through school, and my friends were like, dang, girl, like, okay, okay, switching it up. And then I get all these looks from like the middle school guys, and I'm like, oh yeah, oh yeah, like I'm that girl. Like just that new found sense of pride and like independence. That's what I thought it was. I remember at the end of that day, I literally walk through the door of my house, just like I have this big attitude about me because I got so much validation from everyone. I was like, this is why we dress the way we dress. I get it now. And I walked in and I turned to the side, and my dad was sitting on the couch and he was already looking at me. And I remember I just saw his face just sink with like disappointment. And there was almost this like sadness in his eyes as he looked at me. And I felt this weight fall onto my shoulders of just like shame that I have never felt in my life before. I've never seen my father look at me like that. I've never had that type of expression from my dad at all. And so he didn't yell at me, he didn't tell me what I did wrong, but he said this question, and it will never, ever leave my mind. It's like engraved upon my soul. But he looked at me and he said, Leahona, what are you trying to prove? And that question got me so triggered in that moment. I was like, I started exploding in my dad. I'm like, well, I can wear whatever I want. Like, I'm an independent woman, like everyone else is wearing it, blah, blah, blah, blah. And after just like getting so mad at him because it triggered me so bad, because he was right. He was like, What are you trying to prove? What's the point you're trying to make? And I remember when I was angry, he just stood up and he came to me and like put his hand on my shoulder with this like understanding look in his face, and he says, Oh, sweetheart, if you really knew your worth, you'd never wear such things. And I just broke down in that moment. I balled, and my dad held me in his arms and I cried because I knew that he was right. I did not have the confidence or the worth that I thought I had. And yeah, I was insecure. I had super low self-esteem. So I felt that if I wore those things, if I did that kind of stuff, the validation for the world, I would feel like a somebody, like someone important. And so from that day on, my dad taught me the biggest lesson about modesty that if a woman really knows her worth, she does not need worldly validation to prove it. She doesn't have to. So that was like the biggest thing I learned, and I kept it with me. As a pop star and in my industry, there are many times where people are like, you know, they're giving you contracts and they sign into labels and they offer you all this money, but you have to be willing to break your standards. And I've learned from a very young age that there is no excuse to compromise your standards whatsoever. Doesn't matter the wealth, the status, the price, the fame, whatever, it is not worth giving up who you are. And so when I went onto the American Idol, that was tested a lot. That belief I had was put up to trial. It was put before my feet, and many people challenged it. And as a 16-year-old girl, they're like, you don't know anything. You don't stand for anything. You don't, you know, you don't have opinions yet. Like, just listen to what we tell you to do. But thanks to growing up in the gospel of the Church Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints, we learned very early on from a young age our identities, who we are, not for the world, but who God wanted us to become become and our fullest potential. So I learned that from a very young age. And the more strong and the more firm I was in my standards, the more I came to know myself. And so the second I give that away, that's when all that confidence and self-esteem goes. Because it starts to base it off of temporary validation. But God's value never dissipates ever. So it's there with me forever. So even if I don't know, if I gain weight, I get pregnant, right? It's like, who cares? Because I base my validation off of God. If I get old and I don't know, like all these people get fillers and Botox, I'm going to embrace the age I have because that was God's designated divine nature for a woman. And why would I ever go against that? The natural man is an enemy to God and will forever be, right?

unknown 17:11

Right.

SPEAKER_00 17:11

So people are always trying to fight the things of the Lord, but to embrace God, to embrace his teachings and to embrace his covenants and his standards, you begin to embrace yourself because you get to know the one who created you. You live for the creator, not for the created. So yeah. Oh, I love that phrase.

SPEAKER_02 17:30

You live for the creator, not the creator. So true. And I teach right now at junior high and middle school age kids, and I've taught in high school for 20 years. And it's so true what you're saying. And I even remember being back in school. I like there was a couple times I took my sweater off and I had a tank top underneath my big shoulders. And I was like, I felt so uncomfortable. I was like, because it was but that's who I was, right? Too. And it was just a part of that knowing and understanding of who we are as children of God and as daughters of God and that divine within us. And I love the way you put that. If we know who we are, your dad spot on.

SPEAKER_00 18:12

Um Yeah, I love, I mean, I love my dad for it. And it was really important from a young age because after I had that talk, my dad told me something really important. He said, as a father, and when you have your husband or you know, your brothers, men have a very important job to protect, preside, and provide. But he said, Do you have any idea what we protect? And I was like, Well, you keep us safe from harm. He says, No, a man of God's job is to protect a woman's virtue. And he said, And I will die on that as a father and as a husband, as an uncle and as a son. All of my daughters, my job is to protect your virtue. So when I heard that from my dad, I was like, Yeah, like a woman's virtue, there it's priceless. And once you give it away, like it's true. There's so much that leaves with it and your worth. And so it's just frustrating for me because I love to go on social media and share how I feel. And it's like true. Not everybody's there always going to agree with it. But something I really find frustrating in this generation, and I think it has to do with maybe social media, I don't know, is many people just don't take accountability for what they do wrong. I mean, for me personally, I hate when somebody tells me wrong, like you're doing this wrong, that, like, I don't like it. But I have a conscience and I have discernment. So I understand. Like, I have to tell you right away, like when my dad told me he's like, you know, you shouldn't be dressing in modest, I was mad. I was angry.

SPEAKER_02 19:37

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 19:38

But, you know, thanks to the gospel and being humble, I was able to understand and be like, yeah, that's right. I wasn't modest. But the thing is, like, this generation has no humility anymore. So they won't take accountability. They'll be like, no, this is fine. Like, my body, my choice. They'll try to justify the things, but like, what's wrong is wrong, and what's right is right. You can't change doctrine. Doctrine is truth, doctrine is the way life is and it's unchanging, right? And so that's why on my social media I always post about standards and my music, all of it, because I know that women have such a big influence in the world. Like, there is so many women that change like young girls' and young men's lives. And I was like, Do you have any idea the power of your influence? And when you don't use it for good, it can destroy lives. And like that is something that weighs upon my soul all the time. I mean, so I served a mission in Mexico as a full-time missionary. And you know, for that year and a half, when you're spreading the gospel and you're sharing it, like people's salvation and their life is on the line, and you can feel the weight of it on your soul. And so when I came back from the mission and I realized like there's so many things that we need to change and we need to become better, it weighs heavier on your soul because you want, and I feel this way, I personally want everybody to have a chance to go back home to their father in heaven and to let him embrace them, right? But I can't, you know, I can't control everybody. That's not my job. But my job is to influence and inspire. And if I can make you a better person because of the words I say, I've done a job well done with my work. And that's what makes it matters in the end, is to just change people's lives for the better. And like it's true, like it's hard to be told that you're not doing something right and to take accountability for it. But when you face it head on and you realize it makes you a better person, it makes you a better person. So yeah, that's like one of my biggest things I always want to tell, like with girls, like take accountability for your actions, especially with modesty, because it doesn't only ruin like it sounds like so temporary because girls are like, Well, I have this body, I'm just gonna show it off while it is. You know what I mean? And so it's kind of just like, well, you have no idea in the long run. Do you have any idea how many little girls, like when you have your baby girls, how are they gonna look at you? And when they dress that way and certain validation they get from certain men, they'll invite certain things into their life that you won't be happy about, you know? My dad was like, those men that look for girls or lust after girls that dress immodest is not the type of man I want to marry my daughter. I don't want him in my family. I know how bad of an influence he'll be as a father and to his sons and to his daughters. Like the list goes on. So every decision you make changes not only the trajectory of your life, but the life of those around you. You know what I mean? And so I always think like that. I'm like, oh, I'm gonna dress modest because when I have my little baby girls, they're gonna base their worth off of God's validation, not the world's. They're going to be stable and confident. They're gonna be grounded, they're gonna know who they are, what they stand for, and what they stand against. And my sons will do the same. They'll look at, you know, a girl that has those same standards to be able to be grounded enough to be a mother and a wife. You know what I mean? So it's just decisions change everyone's life, not just your own, you know?

SPEAKER_02 23:03

Absolutely. And every little choice, we think it's so minor, oh, just to I'm just gonna wear this one thing, or I'm just gonna do this. Like you said, that opens the door and opens the crack. And I I don't know if you found this too, but I feel like Satan's attack hasn't really been on guys as much. I mean, there's some attack on guys with like pornography and things like that, but I think the biggest attack has been on women and girls. And it's just a change, you know, like again, taking away the accountability, making us feel like we could do all these things and this sort of thing, you know, and be whatever we want and do whatever we want, and there's not gonna be any consequences. And what that's done to I say, even women from my generation, but I've definitely seen it with my daughter's generations, and I'm worried about my grandchildren about what I see with that attack on women. I've seen it in media for years. I mean, the objectification of women, commercials, even. I mean, it's like how sad.

SPEAKER_00 24:01

But that's exactly what Satan's done. Yeah, who we are. Absolutely. I think one of the biggest things you say, like he has the biggest influence against women because women are more like mental, men are more physical. So when they suffer, it's like, you know, they're sweating or they work out and stuff like that. But women, it's like all here, it's a mindset. So, you know, there's actually more women and that fall into like depression and have anxiety. It's because of our mental state. And so, one of the biggest things that the adversary works off of and Satan takes like control and advantage of is women's insecurities. And it's the biggest thing that he decides to change. Like he lets or works in your mind to tell you that you'll never be good enough. And that is so hard for a woman to feel that she'll never be good enough of who she is. So, you know, then they go to get Botox and like, hey, maybe I'm better now. Then they'll get a lip filler, or then they'll get like plastic surgery, and they're like, hey, maybe I'm better now. The adversary will always work off women's insecurities. It's happened from the beginning of time and it happens down. And so that's why modesty and like high standards are the biggest protection you'll ever have because it allows the adversary to not take advantage of your insecurities. And there's moments where we're not gonna feel our best or whatever, but we'll never base it off of the worldly validation. You know, some days I can even say, I'll look in the mirror and be like, well, I don't really feel as pretty as I usually do other days. But I wouldn't go over there and be like, okay, it's time to get some, you know, plastic surgery or botox, you know, trying to get rid of this, but you can't get rid of this with outward appearance. You have to get rid of this with spiritual strength. It's the only way. And so that's why I'm like so strong with my modesty. And I constantly tell girls, like, when I go to firesides, and so I have like five younger sisters, and I am so grateful that I was the first daughter because I set the tone for my younger siblings when you go down the line. And so I've seen like my sisters, we've all had our struggles with immodesty at some point. But once my sisters have learned they're locked in, and it's just like they have their days, but the adversary has no control over how they base their day-to-day basis. They're like, oh, I feel horrible today. So today's gonna be a bad day, you know, stuff like that. They may feel like, okay, maybe I don't feel my best today, but I'm not gonna let that define me. That is exactly what the gospel does for women. It gives you mental, the mental capacity and the mental strength to be able to work through, push through anything and everything that comes at you every day, including the attacks of your insecurities that the adversary will try to play off of. And so when I learned that from a very young age, I was like, why would I ever dress that way? Why would I ever think that way? And it just, it's a type of mindset that takes time and it requires a lot of maturity and humility, a lot of pain and suffering. But once you get there and you get there, it's like it's bliss, it's heavenly bliss. And you're like, oh, I feel so free. Cause I don't care what any of you guys say. I don't care what's going on. I don't care what the adversary is telling my mind. Like, I feel free. I feel at peace with myself and you know, my spirituality, mentally, physically. I just feel at peace of who I am and I'm good, you know?

SPEAKER_02 27:21

Absolutely. I think that's exactly like the the mindset of modesty. It's not, I mean, it's about clothing, it's about all these other things, but modesty mindset is that power that comes from God and knowing who we are and understanding that, and that freedom is so incredible too, right? Because yeah, you're right. We don't have to worry about it. The anxiety of all those things. We've got enough other things to worry about. We don't need that in our lives.

SPEAKER_00 27:43

Amen. Amen. We got too many things to worry about. Like, let's just be one less thing to focus on, you know? Right.

SPEAKER_02 27:50

I noticed one of the other things that you're doing, and then we'll get to your music and stuff too, because I want to hear about that. One of the other things I solved recently that you were posting about is also saving yourself for marriage and relationships and things like that. And I have a funny story that I'm gonna tell. So when my husband and I met, we were in college and we had met and we had only known each other for a week, and we just both knew. And we're like, do I wait or anything? As we came back, and my theater teacher, because I was in Wyoming, not LDS, we're like, and even the LDS people were like, Really, what is this? You only know each other for a week and you're engaged. So they had us go talk to the counselor and everything like that. And they're like, Are you sure? Have you like at least felt things out before and like done things so you know you're compatible? I'm like, why would I do right? I'm compatible spiritually. That's what's right. And then we were hanging out with friends in one of their dorms one night, and they're like sitting and talking about how you gotta go test ride the cars and make sure it's I'm like, oh this is not my world. But it was like, and I've grown up in a very conservative town in Utah, and I knew things happened outside of marriage, and I knew, you know, I understood all this, right? But I had never been like literally like hit in the face with like, well, why aren't you trying out several models and all my good things? And you know, I just I don't, I don't know, but I was like so grateful. I'm like, oh good, there's someone in today's world that gets my world of don't you don't need to try out all these things and say to yourself it's okay.

SPEAKER_00 29:23

Yes, it's so true. And like I really get frustrated like with that analogy you just mentioned, like you need to test drive a car. Like women and souls are not cars, so you should never compare, you should never compare a person. We're not for sale object. No, absolutely not. Your intimacy is not for sale, your soul is not for sale ever. So when people are like, you have to test drive the car, I'm like, you're not a car. If you were a car, you'd be created as a car, but you're not, you're a living human being with a soul. And so, yeah, I like as I mentioned, I will always mention like high standards, and one of them is waiting for marriage. I mean, something that's a topic that's super controversial that I'll always bring up is I've never had my first kiss. And so being like 22 years of age, many people will be like, oh my gosh, like, is there something wrong with you and stuff like that? I'm like, I believe there's something wrong with you. It's like kind of the opposite, but I it's like they get really frustrated at me. They're like, why haven't you kissed anybody? You know, you need to have this experience first. But for me, from a very young age, I strongly believe that when you know the person is the one, you know they're the one. There's no need to experiment with anything at all. And God knows you perfectly. So for me personally, I'm like, I would never do that because I one of my biggest attributes I really care about is loyalty. And something I always mention that my mom has always told me, she says, if you can't be loyal before the relationship, how can you expect to be loyal during the relationship? Yes. Or after, right? And so, like, exactly. I was like, Well, that's like common sense, you know what I mean? It just makes sense. Yeah. I'm like, really? Yeah. Yes, it's common sense. And so it's actually a really controversial topic, and not only for the world, but also for the YSA. I mean, I go to a YSA award and it's a really controversial topic. People are like, no, like I believe you have experience, and it's okay. People have their own opinions, but that's the way I personally feel. Like, if you are going to save yourself for marriage, you're showing so much loyalty and love to the person, even before you meet them. You may not know who they are, what they're doing, but when they get to see you in person and you be like, hey, I saved all of this for you. Just imagine the amount of immense love that person will feel for you. They're like, oh my gosh, like you got rid of all this temptation. You didn't give in to lust, or you didn't let people change your mind. It's like, yeah, I did not. And I did it just for you because I'm loyal to you. I don't know where you are. I don't know what you're doing, but I know that when I meet you, I'll be able to stand before you at the altar with no regrets, knowing that you are my one and my only. And so, yeah, like it's really bad because in this day and age, we have like hookup culture. And I think it's it's a horrible thing. Like, that's what you said. Like, people have to test drive. It's like, no, you take so much of that stuff for granted. Like, God did not make us so that we experiment with other people. That wasn't his goal, and that's not the plan that he created. It was never meant to be that way. And so people are always like, it's okay to like sleep around, it's okay to do all these stuff, it's okay to touch, you know, somebody in a certain way, but not like the parts that matter. And I'm like, no, it's not. Like, take accountability for what it is, and you need to accept it. Like, it's not something that's good. And it's really hard because one of the biggest temptations in this generation, I've realized, is lust. Like it's very strong, not only for men, but also for women. Like we like genders take it in different ways. Like men, they'll obviously go to like pornography or something, addictions like that. But women will be the user of it, they'll use their bodies to give to lust, right? They dress them modestly so that they get attention and lustful eyes from guys and stuff. It feeds that that addiction that they have. And so I'm like, the best thing to do is not to participate it in at all. Like, pull yourself away. And you know, just like Joseph stodens Egypt in the Bible, right? He didn't just walk away. The boy ran. He ran. So, like, run away from it, don't go to it. And you need to be able to control it. Like in this day and age, a lot of young adults don't know anything about self-control or self-discipline anymore. And it's it makes me really sad because I'm like, you know, this is a blessed generation. There are so many things that we can do for good. But if you have a lack of self-control, you won't be able to control anything else in your life. And lust is one of the hardest things for this generation to really be like, okay, no, like I can't do that. I have to step back, I have to leave the room, whatever you have to do. So I just love to talk about it because there are so many comments I've gotten and, you know, thousands of views, and so many people that have reached out to me and been like, thank you so much for sharing that. And I remember there was this one young adult that reached out to me and she told me, you know, I used to think that way too, like, you know, test the car before you drive and stuff. But she says she's married now and she has like two kids. And she was telling me that she wished she would have never thought that way because it would have made her marriage even more beautiful and more personal. And she wouldn't have to deal with all this trauma that she dealt with in her mind to get over with. And so I'm like, yeah. And so she's like, thank you. Like, thank you for sharing it. And I'm like, that's the reason. That's the reason I share this stuff. Because many people may hate me for saying it, but there are so many also out there that support me for it too. And they're like, keep going. Like, we believe in you, we love what you say. So I'm like, I'm gonna keep going just for you.

SPEAKER_02 34:51

And even if it was just for the one, right? And even if it's just for self, because that's where it comes from. And here's the thing that's the beautiful thing about the gospel as well, is that even if we've thought that way, even if we've gone through these things, that's what repentance is for, and we can change that mentality and we can come and turn ourselves back to God and become clean again. And exactly to do that, and we can understand and do that, but it but if we don't start, then we don't have to feel that guilt in the first place, and we don't have to do it. But no matter where we are on our journey, we can also turn back to God in that.

SPEAKER_00 35:22

Yeah, that's the power of the atonement, like you said. Like, God didn't die for nothing, and so don't let that gift go in vain. And so I had this one person talk to me, and he's like, Well, I've already done this stuff, so it doesn't matter anymore. I'm like, No, today can be your day one. Like, God gives you the opportunity to start over always. And I told him, like, you know, it's important to use the atonement to the fullness of its capacity. I mean, God did not just suffer and was beat and scourged and spit upon just so you could feel this guilt. And, you know, something for me is like when people feel shame in this generation, and I don't know if it's with everybody else, but shame, they let it define them a lot. But my parents always tell me, don't let shame define you, let it refine you. And so I've always told that to them. I said, you know, every day can be a day one for you. It does not matter like what you've done and the art things you've been through. There's always tomorrow. And if God allows you to wake up the next morning, you still have a purpose on this earth to do. So it's so important. Like, it's okay. As long as you're trying to make that effort to be a better person, that's all God cares about. He never asked you to be perfect, right? He just asks you to be perfected, which is will take a lifetime. And it's very different. So people get that mixed up a lot. They're like, oh, I'm not perfect, so I can't do it. And my dad used an analogy like this. He said, Imagine if you were like, I don't know, as skinny as a twig, right? And you decided to eat a bunch of food one day, and you had this goal to only eat like a certain amount of food. And he's like, Imagine if you passed that goal. Well, one, would you be the person to be like, okay, tomorrow I can restart again, like fix my diet, do better? Or are you gonna be the second guy being like, okay, well, we already ate all this food, let's just keep going. And then you keep going and keep going, and then you start gaining all this weight, and then you get really heavy, and then you get obese, and then it gets worse and worse. Like he's like, that's not the mindset God created us for. He did the chance so that you can go back. You can go back and you can restart. Always, always. And so I'm like, yeah, that's perfect. Cause yeah, nobody wants to keep indulging in their sins. Like, that's not how God made us. That's a miserable life. That's why when you use the atonement, there's freedom in it, there's joy, and there's always a day one. Day one can literally start in like the next five minutes. Day one can start now, day one can start tomorrow morning. There's always a day one. And so I really love that. As being a member of the Church Jesus Christ, you will always have day ones. And it's okay to have day ones.

SPEAKER_02 37:47

And every day can be a day one. And I love that too, because we all need that. No matter where we're at or what our things are, everyone needs that atonement and everyone needs that chance to redo. And yes. All right. Well, I I love that you said earlier about music and how powerful it is. As someone who has been a pianist and a singer, and how I love music and the the language of my soul, I swear. That it speaks to so many, and it has that power, like you said, to influence us in so many ways. It changes our mood, it changes how we feel about ourselves and other things. Um, you're a singer and songwriter, and I've been loving to listen to some of the things you've been singing, but besides the beautiful voice, just the words and the messages that you've had. How what has inspired you and how have you come into writing these things and doing this? And what are you hoping to do with that?

SPEAKER_00 38:41

Yeah, that's a great question. So when I was about 11 years old, my parents had this really big crisis with our family. So I grew up here in Utah for a couple of years, and I was going to a public school. During that time, like I had five siblings, so there were six of us total, and we had very busy lives. So we'd wake up at school, go to school from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. After that, I was classically trained in the piano. So I'd go to my lessons for two hours, and then after that, I had to play a sport because in my family it's required you do a music instrument and then you play a sport. So I would do that every day, and then I'd get back home at 8 p.m. And my older brother did it, and the other ones below us, we all did it. So by the time we got together, it was nine o'clock and we're eating dinner, and it was really bad. Like whenever I saw my siblings, like we get into fights. I thought they were very irritating, annoying. They thought the same thing about me. So I remember this one time at dinner late at night, like my mom is watching all of us just fight across the table. Like it's always the same every day. And I remember her just getting up like abruptly and just walking out of the room, and like we all just watch her walk away. And she tells the story like it's yesterday, and I'll never forget. But she cried because she felt like a failure as a mother. She's like, I can't believe like this is the type of family I'm raising. So she fell to her knees and she asked the Lord, Lord, what can I do so that my kids learn gratitude and humility? I'm willing to give it up all of it. So in that moment, she said the Lord had given her the answer, and it was a very difficult answer. But he told her, in order for you to teach them gratitude and humility, they can't have it anymore. They need to know what they don't have. So she got this inspiration, her and my dad, to just leave everything behind and move back to the motherland where we used to grow up. So Hwai. So we left everything behind. We got taken out of our instruments, our sports, our private school that costs like thousands of dollars. We picked up two suitcases and we left to the big island of Hua'i. And for a year and a half, we lived in a tent. We lived off the land. So we had goats, we had chickens, you know, we drank goat milk and we did all this yard work and stuff, and we got close to our Hawaiian heritage. We got close as a family, but the more important thing is we got close to the Lord. That was the first time in my life that I realized I had a relationship with God. Like I actually knew who this guy was and I could figure it out, you know? So remember this one day, like because being taken away from all of it, there was a Sunday that my brother and I were just like laying there. And usually during Sundays, like we'll go outside, we'll walk or we'll, you know, write in your journal, read your scriptures, but we weren't doing any of that. Like we were being really lazy. So my dad comes in and he gets really mad and he's like, You go, you guys need to do something. Like, go write in your journal, go outside, take a walk, go write a song, do something. So he's just naming things off. And obviously, I didn't take it into thought. I'm like, hey, whatever, I'll probably just go journal or something. But my brother, because he's the oldest, he takes my dad's words very seriously, like very responsible, you know, that kind. And I'm the opposite, I'm more like rebellious kind. And so I was like, I don't really want to listen to that. But I could you know, my brother heard the phrase, go write a song. Two hours later, my brother comes back with the first song he ever wrote on the ukulele. And I sat there as a 10-year-old, 10 to 11. I remember just listening to him sing for the first time, and I cannot even describe the feeling. It was just so surreal, but something inside me clicked. Like when I watched him, I felt like this vision opened up. And in that my mind, I just stood there and I was like, I know exactly what I'm gonna do with my life. That's exactly what I'm gonna do. And I've never written a song in my life. I mean, I was classically training the piano, but I barely sang. I was always doing other things. But that was the start of the journey of all. So I began to write music, and my brother inspired me to do that. And I know God inspired him to write that song, you know, to help me to become, you know, what I needed to be. So had we not left everything behind and lived in that tent for the, you know, that year and a half, I would have never figured out I had that talent. And I would never have been able to bless the world. Because when I came back here, I was able to compete in American Idol as a 16-year-old with an original song that I wrote for my audition. And from there, I've been able to write music and been able to even have many wonderful opportunities, including singing for the church, you know, singing like certain songs like Good Day or What Does He Think, and being able to bless missionaries and people all over the world. Like it all started because I chose and my mother chose to teach us gratitude and humility. And so I'll never forget that experience, but that's what music does for me. And it's become such a big part of my life that when words fell, music speaks. That's how it is for me. So whenever I feel this like really strong emotion, I cannot tell it to you because you will never understand the profoundness or the deepness to how I feel unless I sing it. And it's always true. So whenever I'm going through something, like I'm like, oh, I have to write it in a song. And then I can tell you how I feel because that's the only way. That's the only way I do it. It's like therapy for me. So like if I'm irritated, if I'm sad, if I'm frustrated, I just write a song and it comes out perfectly. The words and what I feel in my heart that needs to be said. But music is a big part of my life and it's a huge part of my Hawaiian culture. I mean, music and Family and God is the Hawaiian culture. And so even when I was younger, my mom would say, like, I blessed you with the gift of singing because when you were in my belly, I would just sing to you all the time. And it just passed on. I was like, okay, yeah, mom. I'm pretty sure it's just genetics. But you know, she says it to this day that that's the reason. But the power of the voice is one of the greatest gifts here upon the earth. It is the most profound gift. The power of the voice is not only to speak, but to sing. You can move hearts, change minds, touch souls, even touch spirits with the word of song. And it's absolutely insane because it was very interesting. I've learned this a lot about music, but nobody, even though people will listen to you sing, no one will ever understand the profoundness of a song. Only the singer will. And it's very interesting because it comes out of your mouth. Your body, your soul, your spirit is the instrument. And I remember a lot of times in the mission, the only way I was able to bear my testimony was through song. And it would bring the spirit in so quick. And so people don't really understand that to have a voice is not just your throat. Your entire body is your instrument. So if you're not healthy, you know, your voice won't sound the best. If you're not mentally there, your voice will not sound like it has any feeling to it. So it's everything: your mind, your body, your soul, your spirit, and your heart. When they are one, you're able to sing to the fullest of your capacity and to the greatest of your potential as a singer. And so to be able to bear my testimony through the word of song and through music and through my voice and through singing is one of the greatest gifts God has ever blessed me with. And I never take it for granted. And wherever and whenever I go, whoever I meet, whoever I talk to, I will always try to share just a little bit of that testimony with them, even if it only lasts like three seconds. But I just know. I just know how much music has changed my life. I know how much it can change others' lives. And so I would never give up an opportunity to take that away.

SPEAKER_02 46:07

So beautiful. I know when I was younger, we had a little music room that my dad built our house and he made a music room just for us. I still got the same piano. I'm still carrying it around with me everywhere we move. But I would just sit and play for hours. After being bullied at school, I'd come home and I'd just play. And you could totally tell my emotions by how I was playing that day. And I would just play for hours and hours and hours. And then I would write poetry and I wrote songs, but nothing like what you can do at all. But you know, it but it was, it didn't matter if it was, you know, going to be on the radio or anything else. It was something that my heart needed and my soul needed. And for me, that allowed me to express that testimony and my feelings. And even today, it's like anytime I'm called to be a pianist or a word organist, I'm like, I'm gonna say yes because that's how I bear my testimony, is when I'm playing the piano or the organ, the ward, I'm hoping that's coming through and being able to share that with them in some way, shape, or form, is yeah, it's what touches us. And you're right, you can hear just even a tone, a note, and it will just reach right in there and it will pierce right to where it needs to.

SPEAKER_00 47:13

And they'll start bawling with one note, and you're like, yeah, it's so true. I mean, me personally, whenever I hear the tabernacle choir sing for like general conference, my soul just like elevates. I feel like like the heavens open, but like that's the power of music. And you know, many times in the scriptures it says, like, you know, praise the Lord with song. And it's like true. That's one of the greatest ways to show praise for the Lord is through music. And like, that's why we sing before you know, we say prayer, and that's why we always have our sacrament meetings like that. Music will always have to be with the Lord, they are connected, they are one, and so that's what I've learned as a singer. Music cannot be music without God, and God cannot be God without music. That's just how it works.

SPEAKER_02 47:55

Amen. I'm like, I think when we go to heaven, it's just gonna be music everywhere all the time, like around us and it's helping us.

SPEAKER_00 48:02

I strongly feel like that too. I mean, it says when the heavens opens, the trumpets will sound. It's like music, there you go, right there.

SPEAKER_02 48:10

It's just part of who we are as spirits, I think. I definitely think that is definitely one of the languages that our spirits vibrate at.

SPEAKER_00 48:17

Yes, for sure. It's a universal language, so everyone understands what music is. It's all the same.

SPEAKER_02 48:22

You don't have to know the words, but you feel the feeling of the song and you can understand that it no matter what. And yeah, it's so true. Well, where can we follow you? Where can we find you? Where can we get your music? Where can what can I do you have anything coming up that we should be aware of? What can we do to help support you?

SPEAKER_00 48:42

I mean, well, thank you for having me on here. And like you can follow me on my socials. My name is Leahona O line, so Facebook, Instagram, my name for TikTok and also for YouTube. And yeah, I have some concerts coming up this summer. I don't know if they'll be here, but we have some things coming up for this summer. And at the end of this year, during August, well, close to the end of the year, I'll be competing in the Miss Greater Salt Lake pageant. So I'm very excited for that. So it's gonna be really fun. So a lot of things, a lot of things, lots of firesides, lots of performances, but I'm very excited for it. And so you can follow me on my journey on on all those socials. And I mean, if you'd like to reach out to me too, that works as well. I'm always, always happy.

SPEAKER_02 49:28

She responded to me, you guys.

SPEAKER_00 49:30

So I'm always grateful to answer people that just like support me. Like, I appreciate you guys and my journey, and I appreciate you taking the time, Tanya, to bring me on here and be able to share my story. I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_02 49:43

I love being able to support. I when I was called called, when I was inspired and prompted to start a podcast, I didn't know why. I was like, you know, I'm like, I'm not gonna be able to do it, and then months and months not getting it done, and then just I'm like, okay, I gotta start, I gotta do it. And the what I've learned and what I felt, and the people I've been able to meet, is and God knew that I needed you guys. And so if I'm able to help anyone share their story and do it, then I'm gonna do that because that's what it's about and to help other people.

SPEAKER_00 50:15

So love that for you, girl.

SPEAKER_02 50:19

Grateful that you're willing to share your story as well. Is there a final message or a thing you want to leave us with today that we should take with us?

SPEAKER_00 50:28

Ooh, a final thing. There's so many things I want to leave with you guys, but I think I just want to reiterate just the last thing of well, I think I want to say something about humility. Humility is the greatest attribute to help you become who you truly are. That is the advice I would leave with you. Without humility, you will never reach your fullest potential. Without humility, you'll never get to know yourself. Without humility, you'll never be able to understand the full capacity of God's power in your life. Without humility, you will never be able to be who you truly are. So have humility.

SPEAKER_02 51:06

Even Christ Himself became humble. Descended below all things, right? And if he can do it, we can definitely do it. Amen. Amen, sister. Thank you so much for coming on. And if you ever want to get on and talk about anything, if you've got something coming up, please reach out. I'd love to have you and talk with you about anything that you'd like to talk about.

SPEAKER_00 51:27

So yes, that'd be so awesome. And thank you so much, Tanya. You have such a sweet spirit. I like literally had so much fun talking to you. And I probably like blowered a lot, but that's what you're great. It's about ranting.

SPEAKER_02 51:39

That's what we do. Thank you so much, everyone. Check out Liahona on her socials, follow her, go get her music, support her in her journey, and remember who you are is divine and you are loved. And have a great day, everyone.