Welcome to This Is the Gospel.

An LDS living podcast where we feature real stories from real people who are practicing

and living their faith every day.

My name is Katie Lambert and I'm thrilled to be hosting this episode.

For a couple of reasons, one is that I actually have my voice back today.

So if you listen to the bonus episode where I sounded really crackly and sick, you can

now hear my actual voice.

I'm also excited because I'm here in the booth with Erica free and she's making sure

that this sounds good because I'm so nervous.

But if you're a word nerd like me, you have probably never heard this before.

Arcootophobia.

And yes, I had to practice saying that a million times, but just so you know this word

means fear of bears.

And I had to look up this word because in recent years, it's become very apparent to me

and everyone who loves me that I have a severe fear of bears.

As in I can't go camping in a forested area without bear proofing everything and everyone

I go with.

And I know that sounds reasonable, especially if you're going somewhere where there

happened a lot of bear sightings before.

But when you stay awake all night, worrying that every creek and every rustle is a 600

pound grizzly bear looking for a little midnight snack in the form of me in my sleeping bag

as a human burrito, it's not exactly reasonable.

...