At two years old, Ben Banks survived stage V cancer from a blood transfusion that infected him with HIV. Join us as we hear how he has used these experiences to bless the lives of so many others.
“We all have the ability to impact one another’s life. Life is full of making human connections, interacting with people, and helping one another. We all have trials and different experiences, but at the end of the day, we are here to love one another. We are here to lighten each other’s burdens. And when we see past ourselves, that is when I think our Heavenly Parents are the happiest.” Come Back Team: Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Art Director: Jeremy Garcia
Morgan’s phenomenal story about family, uncertainty, and the joys she experienced coming back to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“One time my dad called me a few days after the seizure happened and I was trying to explain this feeling to him. I said ‘Dad I don’t know what is going on. I have so much gratitude but at the same time I just had this life altering event. I don’t know what happened. If I have some scary thing going on, but I just feel so much gratitude.’ He answered, ‘I really think that is the Spirit telling you that He is there with you and you are on the right track.’ That very second I connected the dots and I realized this was meant to happen. I had just prayed for an answer, and in the weirdest way, it felt so real to me. Ever since then I knew this was my answer.” — Recommended books: The Book of Mormon Made Easier, by David J. Ridges The Power of Everyday Missionaries, by Clayton M. Christensen — Come Back Team: Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Art Director: Jeremy Garcia
Chandler opens up about his many challenges, how he has prevailed, and made his way back to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Being an African American in the church has always been interesting, and to say I have never experienced any prejudice from any members in the church would not be true. But my mom always says, ‘Why would I let someone stand between me and God? I just let things like that roll off my back.’ And I do the same thing.” Come Back Team: Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Art Director: Jeremy Garcia
Mark shares what its like struggling with Type 1 Diabetes and his miraculous journey returning to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
“We went to visit a kid who wanted to serve a mission so his dad comes out and says ‘I haven’t come to church because I’m too embarrassed to come to church. I drink, and I haven’t had a job for a year.’ I got a burning in my bosom and that was the first time I had that, ever. So I knew I needed to speak up and I told him my story. We were standing outside in 26 degree weather teaching them lessons and I couldn’t have felt warmer. That family started slowly coming back over the next few months and are now really strong in the gospel.” Come Back Team: Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Art Director: Jeremy Garcia
Laurel’s story of finding peace in coming back to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
“One day I had this thought ‘I just really want to feel love from my family!’ Then I got this phone call from my mother saying ‘Laurel your dad and I want to invite you and your girlfriend over for dinner and games in a couple of weeks.’ That struck a chord because that was the first time that has ever happened, and I was like ‘OK awesome!’ The Lord is so in our lives and He recognizes what we want and need and He brings those miracles and tender mercies. With that kind gesture my parents offered me, my heart began to soften, my layers started peeling off, and I started to feel that love and to believe it again.” Laurel shares her story of trying her hardest to serve a mission despite health challenges. After coming home early from her mission for the second time, she describes the struggles she experienced. Laurel tried finding happiness outside of the church, and eventually was led back after feeling God reaching out to her. Laurel now finds peace & joy by serving as a temple worker. Come Back Team: Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Art Director: Jeremy Garcia
Jenna’s beautiful testimony of the Savior and returning, with her family, to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“The thought that I was a square peg trying to fit in a round hole was a big fat lie. Our identity is children of God, and of course we are all misfits, every single one of us is. We all need Christ! No one is the same, there is no perfect member out there, it doesn’t exist, it is just a narrative that we tell ourselves and becomes an excuse. It became an excuse for me. We all belong with Christ. Another thing there is a difference between guilt and shame. Guilt can be good as it encourages healthy changes in our lives. Shame is a tool used by the adversary. Shame deters us and is more like an external thing, it’s about what others think of us. We can shame ourselves but it usually has to do with some sort of external criteria. While guilt is like an internal, motivating process that helps us learn and grow, and that is why we are here! We aren’t here for it to be easy. My last takeaway is that Christ is always there waiting for us. Always. He never gives up on us, in the dark times and the low times, especially, He is there. He is just waiting for us to turn our face towards Him. I experienced that and can testify of the deep and incredible love that He has for us. We can always turn back to Him, and He can save us. His love is infinite. We don’t even have the capacity to understand it right now.” Come Back Team: Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Art Director: Jeremy Garcia