Darkness, addiction & a priesthood blessing – how God pulled Steven back to the light
“ When you change your focus and you have a purpose and you have Him cheering you on and you can hear it- I mean, it makes a world of difference.” 00:00 Numb and Lost 05:22 High School Rebellion 07:22 Rock Bottom and Drugs 09:19 Blessing and Turning Point 17:25 Cravings And Support 22:11 Advice For Worried Parents 27:41 Joy After Sobriety 29:35 Made New In Christ Memor Jewelry code COMEBACK for 10% off https://memorjewelry.com/ Serve Clothing code COMEBACK for 15% off https://serveclothing.com/ If you have a story to share please fill out the form: https://form.jotform.com/233109071625046 For inquiries contact info.comebackpodcast@gmail.com Come Back Team: Director, Founder, & Host: Ashly Stone Editor: Cara Reed Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Assistant Editor: Britt Smallze Art Director: Jeremy Garcia Production Director: Trent Wardwell
Brittany never felt the Spirit and left the LDS church, but God never forgot her and brought her back
“I’m no longer scared to go to the temple after reading the Book of Mormon and knowing what it means… It has just been so many tender mercies since coming back. I’ll never go back to that place I was before. I’ll never let my family go back to that place before. And I know a hundred percent Heavenly Father put the Browns in Chloe’s life knowing that that was how he was gonna get to me. And I know that prayer and priesthood is the biggest part of all that, and I’m so thankful.” 00:00 A Troubling Temple Experience 09:23 Disconnect from the Church 14:47 Reconnecting with My Father 18:58 Chloe’s Baptism and Its Impact 28:53 Breaking Down and Seeking Help 31:58 A Life-Changing Blessing 41:20 Temple Work and Family Connections Cozy Earth code COMEBACK for 40% off https://cozyearth.com/ Serve Clothing code COMEBACK for 15% off https://serveclothing.com/ Memor Jewelry code COMEBACK for 10% off https://memorjewelry.com/ If you have a story to share please contact ashly.comebackpodcast@gmail.com For inquiries contact info.comebackpodcast@gmail.com Come Back Team: Director, Founder, & Host: Ashly Stone Editor: Cara Reed Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Assistant Editor: Michelle Berger Assistant Editor: Britt Smallze Art Director: Jeremy Garcia Production Director: Trent Wardwell
Amaiya kept finding herself in abusive relationships. After years of struggling she turns her heart over to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains sensitive content that may be triggering or offensive to some audiences. Parental discretion is advised. “He was walking to his father and when he was a great way off his father saw him and he ran to meet him – he met him where he was at and and he kissed him. He said, bring the best robe that we have, bring shoes for his feet and prepare this huge feast because he’s back! He was lost and now he’s found! That’s just been absolutely my story so many times. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve messed up in my life or how many times I’ve fallen short, the Savior is just there all the time. He’s carried me and He’s helped me through every single part of my life to get me to where I am now. To where I’m a wife and a mother and I’m healing and I’m happy! I gave my whole life to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, I gave it all when I wasn’t even sure that I wanted to, and they gave it back to me just entirely renewed.” Come Back Team: Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Editor: Michelle Berger Art Director: Jeremy Garcia Episode sponsor: Serve Clothing https://serveclothing.com/?gad_source=1
At a young age Colton felt his testimony couldn’t get any stronger. But after years of not feeding it he found himself in a dark place. How he came back to the light he loved and needed.
“I kept running into all of these things that for my whole life I had read and experienced something so powerfully. I felt so bad because I had forgotten everything that was in the book. It just made me really sad. I remember thinking back to when I first read the Book of Mormon — the first time I ever cried while reading it was when Nehor slew Gideon in Alma chapter one. It seems like a silly, stupid thing, but that was a special experience on my bed early in the morning before school. Just learning these stories and the faith of all the people in it is so inspiring. There are verses that you read that are especially for you. When you read them, you just can’t deny them. That’s what my experience was when I reread it. The Holy Spirit is testified to me on every single page of the truthfulness of the teachings, the prophecies, and the testimony that is in there. There is no way that Joseph Smith could have just written this up.” – Instagram: @ColtonBMiller TikTok: brothermiller – Come Back Team: Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Editor: Michelle Berger Art Director: Jeremy Garcia
Emily’s battle with cancer strengthened her testimony of the Book of Mormon and her relationship with her Savior, Jesus Christ.
“After chemo so much of what I thought was my identity was gone. I needed to know who I was. I feel like there is so much power in knowing where we came from and why we are here on earth and where we are going in the next life. It means so much to me.” Come Back Team: Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Editor: Michelle Berger Art Director: Jeremy Garcia
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 Editor: Michelle Berger 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 Editor: Michelle Berger Art Director: Jeremy Garcia
Julie’s journey, her inspiring testimony of covenants, and coming back to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
“I had to put all of my doubts and all of my fears and all of my anxiety and frustrations on a sacrificial table, and say these stay here, and I want the blessings more. So that’s what I did, and I met with the bishop and the stake president. That Thursday I went to the temple and the following week the temples were shut down. It was so significant to me how many steps had to be completed and in place in order for my heart to be ready to do that. It was a huge step and something that I never thought I would do…When things were dark and it was hard, to have those extra covenants and blessings were really important to me. There was no accident that it happened the way that it did.” — Recommended books: Covenant Hearts, by Bruce C. Hafen Faith is Not Blind, by Bruce C. Hafen and Marie K. Hafen — Come Back Team: Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Editor: Michelle Berger 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 Editor: Michelle Berger Art Director: Jeremy Garcia
Dusty Smith: From anti-Mormon, to coming back to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Dusty Smith converted to the church, served a mission, and was pen pals with Elder Perry. After encountering “anti-Mormons” for the first time, he started researching church topics that he had never heard before in church history. Dusty left the church for 26 years. He spent those years doing everything he could to tear down the church. He debated In online forums with members, trying to prove the church wasn’t true. After many miracles, including a priesthood blessing and a miraculous healing. Dusty came back. One of his favorite people to debate the church with, had been putting his name on the temple prayer roll for years. Dusty says his love and prayers led to his coming back. Dusty baptized, and was sealed to his wife. Now he does everything he can to make up for his years of attacking… including having his story of redemption told by Elder Uchtdorf in conference. Dusty’s message to you: “Remember, Heavenly Father love you as much as if you were the only person on the planet. No matter what happens in your life, Heavenly Father will always believe in you.” Come Back Team: Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson Editor: Michelle Berger Art Director: Jeremy Garcia