Leah Taylor Trotter
I’m a licensed attorney, writer, and Bible teacher. I’ve taught in the inner city, served as a chaplain at Ground Zero, and raised four incredible children. Whether I’m writing, speaking, or hiking Alaskan mountains, I’m driven by an appreciation for our Mighty God, deep love for His Word, and a desire to help others know the Author. Life with Him is the greatest adventure we could ever have.
About Leah
From smuggling Bibles into the then-USSR to adopting sick Haitian children, Leah embraces adventure and meaningful challenge.
Born in Indiana in 1968, Leah attended college on a full-ride academic scholarship, graduated with an English education degree, and earned Top Congresswoman at DSR college debate nationals and third in the nation in poetry at the AFA speech nationals. She taught English at inner-city high schools in New York City and in Los Angeles after the riots and earned her principal’s “Outstanding Teacher” award.While in law school in New York City on 9/11, Leah watched the Twin Towers fall from a mile away and then worked for her church as a chaplain at Ground Zero for four months. She transferred to The University of Texas School of Law and graduated with honors, published a short story in its (now defunct) literary journal, and then clerked for the Texas Supreme Court. She is an Alliance Defending Freedom Blackstone Fellow and licensed with the Texas Bar.After clerking, Leah stayed home and homeschooled four children. Her once 32-pound, 9-year-old Haitian daughter is now a recent Taylor University graduate. Another daughter attends the University of Southern California as a National Merit Scholar. Leah’s 22-year-old son cares for the elderly. Her youngest son, still in high school, was selected for all-state band and just started driving.Leah’s husband is General Counsel of The Justice Foundation, a Christian law firm, so Leah has worked on many briefs pro bono over the last two decades, including an amicus in Carhart, the only amicus cited by the majority, and four briefs in Dobbs.In writing this derivative work of her grandfather Byron Nelson’s On the Way to Emmaus, Leah relied on his research for the theological underpinnings of her book. Her grandfather, a Princeton-trained theologian and academician, researched and wrote prolifically (e.g., After Its Kind, Deluge Story in Stone, and A Catechism on Evolution).Before Leah’s parents married, Byron spent many hours of discussions with Leah’s father, a Harvard-trained doctor. Because of these conversations, her dad came to faith in Jesus and his Creator God. Byron died soon after Leah was born.As a licensed attorney, Leah appreciates her grandfather’s use of Scripture to support his points. In legal briefs, lawyers use support from relevant U.S. Supreme Court opinions to be more persuasive. Similarly, the Supreme Judge and His Opinions make effective source material. She followed her Grandpa and made all references from God’s Word. Leah has “gained a Grandpa” through questioning, researching, and rewriting his little jewel of a book.
Faith BackgroundLeah grew up in a Christian home with nightly devotions and her parents playing the Bible on a tape recorder daily.During a year of missionary training with YWAM, she broke her arm rollerblading, complete with a steel plate inserted, and needed extensive physical therapy. An Israeli preacher visited and asked those who wanted healing to come forward and to start declaring the names of God. In a moment, God completely healed her and gave her 100% flexibility and power—to her doctors’ shock. Because of this experience, Leah added the various names of God throughout her book. Seven years ago, God healed her again—from cancer.Leah is on the Deacon Board at a large church in Anchorage. She’s on the prayer team, regularly gives the communion message, and teaches a Bible study using curriculum she developed from her Way to Emmaus book.For the last decade, Leah and her husband, a professor in Alaska, have been academic advisors for a thriving Christian ministry, one of the largest campus groups. As support to the campus pastors, she prays with and meets one-on-one with female students and staff.Leah celebrates Our Creator as she kayaks Alaska’s pristine lakes and climbs its majestic mountains. She praises Our Almighty God who has authored His cohesive Word over millennia, engineered a salvation plan, and offered Himself for us so we can know Him and be with Him forever.What greater adventure and meaningful challenge than to trust and worship Him!
About Her Grandfather
Way to Emmaus: Legacy Edition is a derivative work from On the Way to Emmaus by Leah’s grandfather Byron Christopher Nelson, published in 1937 by Augsburg Publishing House. Here he’s holding me as a baby. You can read my grandpa’s biography below.
Byron C. Nelson (1893-1972)
My grandfather Byron Christopher Nelson was born in Madison, Wisconsin, December 23, 1893, to United States Congressman and attorney John Mandt Nelson and suffragette Thea Johanna Stondahl Nelson. As a child, Byron often traveled with his parents from Wisconsin to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. What I know about Grandpa Byron, I learned from my mom, my aunt, and a photo album: “Grandpa and Grandma’s 35th anniversary autobiographical photo album,” that my grandparents wrote and compiled for each other.Athletic, quick, and wonderfully coordinated, Byron excelled at fishing, skiing, sailing, skating and swimming. In high school, he was editor of his high school yearbook and quarterback of the football team. At the University of Wisconsin, he was captain of the swim team, president of the Gymnastics team, and member on the Athletic Board and the Iron Cross honorary society. He lost the student body president election by two votes. One of his oil paintings hung in the University of Wisconsin Student Union. Byron married his college sweetheart Anita Valentine Pleuss Nelson in 1917. I guess his flashy red ties at school caught her attention.Grandpa obviously was well-educated with several degrees including a Bachelors of Divinity from Luther Theological Seminary in 1922 and a Masters in Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1926. He also studied genetics at Rutgers University in New Jersey.My cousin Paul Nelson has published an edited collection of my grandfather’s books (with a well-documented biography of our Grandpa Nelson’s life) in The Creationist Writings of Byron C. Nelson in the fifth volume of the series Creationism in Twentieth-Century America (Routledge, 2021). On the Way to Emmaus, not included in Paul’s anthology, diverges from my grandpa’s usual academic style and favorite subject of Creationism.This small book, instead, gives me a glimpse of my grandfather as a cutting-edge artist, dramatizing the Scriptures before the method was acceptable, almost a century before The Chosen and Jonathan Cahn’s Book of Mysteries. My grandfather’s original forward, included at the end in its original King James-esque language, focuses on his own struggle with people’s criticisms that he should not “put words in the mouth of Jesus,” or “that quoting Jesus in an imaginative way is irreverent.”My grandpa, after a year of grappling with these criticisms, had peace with taking poetic license in his creative endeavors to communicate the heart of God and the power of the prophetic message. Grandpa concluded that any “faithful preacher” expands and expounds on biblical texts and considers he is “preaching the Word of God.” In that Spirit, Grandpa imagined which Old Testament scriptures Jesus might have used to reveal himself to his disciples on the road to Emmaus mentioned in Luke 24:14-35.On the Way to Emmaus is a tender account of Jesus walking with his followers even in their pain and feelings of doubt and betrayal. I think my grandpa identified with them because of his own pain and learning journey with Our Heavenly Father.Besides this book, my favorite connections with my grandfather include an elegant, antique-framed bouquet of oiled roses he painted (with his U.S. Congressmen father’s signature on the back) and a photo of my grandpa, dressed in a suit, stiffly holding me as a baby.He died not long after so I have no firsthand memory of him, but that photo always makes me smile. I can imagine his pride in holding his 23rd grandchild, but he also looks a bit uncomfortable. I would guess he held me just for the photo. A thoughtful man, perhaps he felt more facile with ideas than babies. Perhaps, his PTSD limited his ability to feel.As a chaplain at Ground Zero after 9/11, I witnessed horrific sights and situations well beyond my capacity to navigate, so I might have a glimpse into his trauma. Today processing PTSD is accepted. In his day, perhaps he thought of the trauma as unpleasant memories best shoved down and forgotten.He did have his share of trauma. In college, he became a political pawn for those who wanted to unseat his Wisconsin Congressman father. As a conscientious objector in WWI, he went to Canada to work on farms to increase the wartime food supply. The headlines labeled him a “slacker,” cowardly and unpatriotic. Overnight, his “Big Man on Campus” status at the University of Wisconsin flipped to his being a pariah, unwilling to defend Uncle Sam.My aunt says the whirl of negative publicity and a lawsuit charging evasion of the draft, eventually thrown out by the judge, caused her father to see the emptiness of success and popularity. One day he was a beloved leader, respected student, and awarded athlete. The next day, after the first front-page Madison article, none of his friends would speak to him. He turned to God as his refuge and eventually pursued a career in the clergy, specifically because of these struggles.Not only had his reputation been tarnished, but he also felt pressured to join the war effort. As a conscientious objector, he became a medic and witnessed the bloodiness and horror of the front line in World War I. After reading Mein Kampf and believing Hitler had to be stopped, he returned to Europe as a chaplain in World War II (pleased that as a chaplain he was required to read his own book After Its Kind).Family pressures must have been intense. Trying to feed his family of six during the Great Depression must have been agonizing on a pastor’s salary at a country church. My mom vividly recounted her childhood joy when a parishioner brought her dad giblets, but she said their family “grinned in the face of the Depression.” My mom Elizabeth Taylor wrote in an article for the Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly: “To my dad’s credit, I was never, ever, conscious of poverty or a lack of earthly blessings, nor did I ever fear for the future. Dad constantly rejoiced in his Creator, Redeemer, and Holy Spirit. He knew that the greatest treasure he could offer us was a firm, strong faith in our Savior through His revealed Word, the Bible. I thank him for that!”My precious Grandma Anita made things work despite the poverty of a preacher’s life during the Depression. Their family eked out a living. Anita and Byron’s second child John Byron mysteriously died before he turned one, perhaps of crib death. My mom had to be sent away to a wealthier family member for high school.Growing up, I never thought of these vulnerabilities and struggles my grandpa endured. I knew him as “The first defender of Creationism from a scientific viewpoint.” I respected him as a published author of lots of books on our shelves including After Its Kind, Deluge Story in Stone and A Catechism on Evolution. I relished stories of how my Harvard-educated doctor dad was going to research and set his fiancée’s father right with science. Then that research and the conversations with my grandpa led to my dad’s salvation and appreciation of our great Creator God.In a book he wrote, Grandpa inscribed to my then-four-year-old mom, “Read and love the Bible, little one, study its relations, pray for God’s blessings as you do so, and you’ll have a treasure in your heart that is worth more than all the world, because the treasure is ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory.’ Lovingly, Your father.”Thank you, Grandpa!
Ground Zero Chaplain
Immediately after 9/11, Leah took a break from law school and worked as a chaplain for her midtown Manhattan church. Leah spent hundreds of hours over 4 months on the pile (and then pit) that was the World Trade Center after the terrorist attacks. She listened to courageous first responders, debriefed security guards, prayed over buckets of found bones, and escorted found bodies in a procession off the pile to the makeshift morgue.Fifteen years later, she finally went through a year and a half of counseling and processed the trauma. Above are two of her 20-some songs written on that journey. “Freedom in a Trashcan” was her very first song—“9/11 Responder Song,” her final.
Books
Public Speaking
Leah has always loved speaking—maybe too much for her teacher in her one-room Christian elementary school.But later, she won awards in high school (speech and debate team, drama, VFW Voice of Democracy), college (debate and speech team nationals), and law school (moot court winner). She also loved teaching high school English and making literature come alive for students.By far, her greatest joy has been getting to talk about Jesus—in YWAM and in church. She looks forward to speaking about her book and about our awesome God who has communicated His Redemption Plan through the centuries.
Contact
Thanks for your interest in getting in touch with me. Please complete the form below to send me a message or give me a call or text at 210-264-7470.
Way to Emmaus:
Legacy Edition
After seeing their beloved Rabbi humiliated and hung on a cross, a defeated and broken Jewish couple retreats home to Emmaus…when a teacher joins them on the road. He shows them God has written His Love into their very history, pulls back the veil, and reveals his plan for his beloved children. Their eyes open to Jesus and his Redemption Plan. Join them on that dusty road and allow your spirit to meet Jesus again as you see God’s great Legacy scripted from the beginning and revealed throughout the Scriptures. This 55,000-word biblical fiction is derived from a 1937 jewel of a book by my grandpa, a Princeton-trained theologian.
Endorsements
“I have no doubt that my dear father would rejoice to know the message he desired to communicate has been wonderfully enhanced in this exceptional work by my niece Leah.”
–Priscilla Mitchell, daughter of the original author“I cried, cheered, learned, pondered–a delightful journey. This work is important and needs to be accessible.”
–Janet Weiss, retired oil company president and church board member“An inspiring story–incredibly educational, yet deeply moving and easy to understand. A lifetime of research by both grandfather and granddaughter provides the reader a rich banquet. Highly recommended!”
–Allan Parker, The Justice Foundation president“This is the heartwarming, hope-filled story of what Jesus' Luke 24 conversation with his disciples might have sounded like. The ‘Gospel according to the Old Testament’ becomes amazingly clear. Bravo!”
–Charles R. Taylor, MD, cardiologist“This book sharpened my understanding of familiar topics and revealed to me new metaphors woven throughout the Bible, showcasing to me the power of faith through the ages.”
–Jazzie Trotter, University of Southern California sophomore“A fun read! I appreciated the Scripture references that anchor the ideas presented.”
–Pastor Blaine Schmidt“Really interesting to see how perfectly the Old Testament prophecies line up with the New Testament stories!”
–Davey Trotter, high school junior“I’ve always loved the Old Testament, but reading this book sparked even greater love for it. It’s the love story God has written out for us over time!”
–Courtney Schuman, environmental scientist“Fascinating! I hadn’t heard the deeper meanings before. Really eye-opening for me. It’s so cool to see how all these stories connect to Jesus dying for us.”
–Vagi Trotter, recent Taylor University graduate
Foundations of Legacy:
10-Week Way to Emmaus
Bible Study
You’re invited: join Jesus on the way to Emmaus empowering his disciples with a masterclass on the Messianic types and prophecies that foretold his suffering for us. From Adam and Eve to the Exodus to the Tabernacle, this study puts together the pieces through the millennium to reveal our amazing legacy of salvation and love fulfilled in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Each week listen to a chapter of Way to Emmaus and then explore those foundational Scriptures. Feel the juxtaposition of the vast magnitude of our Creator who could lay out his Redemption Plan from Genesis to Revelation but who still wants to live intimately in our hearts.
Endorsements
“As a seasoned believer, I rarely find a Bible study that both challenges and entertains me. This does both! Be prepared to feel the dust on your feet and the hand of the Good Shepherd as He pulls you gently along the road to the place your soul longs to call home, His arms.”
–Pastor Mari Nordby“A skillfully written, spirit-led revelation of the talk between Jesus and his disciples. The insight and parallels throughout the study are remarkable. Well done!”
–Tammy Galipeau“Enormously encouraging, this walk with Jesus through prophecy brought me great joy and closer to Him!”
–Clayton Trotter“This study answered my prayer for God to open the Scriptures to me like he did for the disciples on the way to Emmaus. Such a rich and amazing study as we have delved into the prophecies about Jesus.”
–Angelica Cavanaugh
Legacy Proclaimed:
10-Week Way to Emmaus
Bible Study
You’re invited: join Jesus on the way to Emmaus empowering his disciples with a masterclass on the Messianic types and prophecies that foretold his suffering for us. From the Tabernacle to the Psalms to the prophets, this study puts together the pieces through the millennium to reveal our amazing legacy of salvation and love fulfilled in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Each week listen to a chapter of Way to Emmaus and then explore those foundational Scriptures. Feel the juxtaposition of the vast magnitude of our Creator who could lay out and fulfil his Redemption Plan from Genesis to Revelation but who still wants to live intimately in our hearts.
Endorsements
“A great blessing! I love the way this study ‘personalizes’ the Bible passage. I’m getting to know Jesus better. I liked the study so much I’m sharing with my weekly home church. The lessons are a great pathway for meaningful discussion. I highly recommend it!”
–John Yurman“A well-written, well-narrated, and creatively drawn story with a solid representation of the teachings from Scripture. Come along!”
–Bob Price“This study provides insight into Old Testament prophetic scriptures, allusions, and types that were fulfilled when Jesus cried out, ‘It is finished!’”
–David Pruitt“Exciting to learn (along with the disciples) the ways that Father God foreshadowed the love and sacrifice of Jesus all the way back to Genesis. It has strengthened my faith and deepened my knowledge of the character of God, his faithfulness, and unfailing love for us.”
–Kim Robuck