Come Back Podcast

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains sensitive content that may be triggering or offensive to some audiences. Parental discretion is advised.

"We can go through hard things. We can be the most horrible or the worst human. Christ still loves us and He still waits patiently for us to come back. It's been awesome going to the temple. It's been amazing! I ended up recently speaking at stake conference because addiction is rampant. I don't know any household that isn't either being touched by it in one way or another. It's either somebody in their family or something. And I feel, almost a duty, if you will, to want to try and help. I want to help people see it differently. I'm an ex-convict. I'm a felon, you know, but those words typically have a negative connotation, right? They stand for something negative. And I think we need to teach our kids or even just within the church that you know what? Good people can also struggle."

Come Back Team:

Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone

Producer: Lauren Rose

Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson

Editor: Cara Reed

Assistant Editor: Michelle Berger

Art Director: Jeremy Garcia

Episode sponsor: Serve Clothing

"I am so glad that I've been on both ends because to feel what it actually feels like is really cool. So many times I'd be like, 'what if I wouldn't have come back? I wouldn't have had this experience. And I wouldn't be able to associate with these people in the way that I have been.' And every time I was just so thankful that there was a desire in me that never gave up looking for Jesus. And that other people listened to the Spirit and came and found me, you know? All the time I'm like, thank you for letting me come back. I'm so glad I'm back."

Come Back Team:

Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone

Producer: Lauren Rose

Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson

Editor: Cara Reed

Assistant Editor: Michelle Berger

Art Director: Jeremy Garcia

Episode sponsor: Serve Clothing

"Sometimes at school I would go into the bathroom when I was just having a really bad day at school and I would just close the door on the stall and pray: 'If I'm doing the right thing, I need your help.' And I just remember feeling my Heavenly Father's love just pour over me. It was tangible. You know, He's there for these hard things that we experience. He is absolutely there."

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/abuse-how-to-help/preventing-and-responding-to-abuse?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/callings/safety/protecting-children-and-youth?lang=eng

https://thirtyoneeight.org/

@jen_forhealthychurches

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains sensitive content that may be triggering or offensive to some audiences. Parental discretion is advised.

"The trial is going to be coming up either at the end of this year or possibly at the beginning of next year. So I'm still going to be going through this. I still have to sit through a full trial. But now I have a lot more strength and armor on me. I am preparing for it to be hard, so I just have to find strength in the Savior. I remember praying one night about forgiveness and how sometimes when you hold that stuff inside it can eat away at you. It's like poison inside of you. And I thought, 'how could I ever pray to allow forgiveness for murder? That one's too big.' So as I was praying about it, I just thought, 'All I can do is pray that the savior will carry the burden that I feel from losing someone to murder.' And in that moment that's what I did. I said, 'I don't know what this looks like, but I need you to carry this for me.' The Savior never once has let me down with asking Him to carry a burden. It doesn't matter what kind, whether it's overcoming depression, losing people or financial loss, the Savior's love is there, He carries all burdens. So I've learned through all this that he can carry anything."