Come Back Podcast

Brittany shares her transformative journey from feeling distant from the church to experiencing a profound reconnection with her faith. A troubling temple experience led her to step away, but a family crisis spurred her to forgive her estranged father and reestablish their relationship. Her daughter's unexpected desire for baptism ignited renewed faith, leading to miraculous events, including her father's liver transplant. Brittany's first encounter with the Spirit, new understanding of scripture, and supportive church community have reshaped her family's spiritual journey.

In this enlightening discussion, Terryl Givens, a scholar and author of The Crucible of Doubt, dives deep into the complex relationship between faith and doubt. He shares his insights on how doubt can enrich one's understanding of God rather than diminish it. Givens redefines the church as a 'hospital' for growth and healing, urging a focus on community and service. He underscores the importance of risk-taking in faith, equating it to the vulnerability found in love. Finally, he emphasizes a loving, accessible representation of God that resonates with early Christian teachings.

In this enlightening conversation, Steven Croshaw, a dedicated recovery advocate and co-founder of SA Lifeline, shares his transformative journey from sexual addiction to recovery. His wife, Rhyll, a betrayal-trauma recovery author, adds her vital perspective as a betrayed partner. They dive into the moment of radical honesty that changed everything, the complexities of addiction, and the devastating impact of betrayal. They also discuss important parental strategies for safeguarding children against pornography, offering hope and practical insights for those facing similar challenges.

Jared Halverson, a historian and scholar at BYU, dives into the transformative power of faith crises. He emphasizes that Jesus can take our brokenness and doubts, turning them into something beautiful when we offer them to God. Jared discusses the importance of approaching faith with compassion, comparing it to a judge weighing evidence instead of a lawyer in combat. He shares personal stories of struggle and recovery, illustrating how those who return from faith tangents often contribute profound insights to their communities.

" As soon as you have Christ and understand that you can give everything to him and He's got you, I mean, He's got us. He's got us. I know it. I mean, every time. I'm a dummy, you know, I'm a dummy and have done dumb things and been in the darkest places and He is right there "Come on, let's go." He'll pull you right out and He'll put all those people around you that need to be. It might not happen right away, but He'll put everybody around you that you need and those blessings just flourish."00:00 I Let the Adversary in My Home07:11 Shane Meets Carla and Early Struggles09:54 The Downward Spiral16:37 Finding Faith in Prison20:24 Answered Prayers23:00 Challenges in Marriage25:21 Finding Community in Church28:00 Sealed in the Temple31:28 What it's Like With the GospelCozy Earth code COMEBACK for 40% off https://cozyearth.com/Mike's Auto Shackhttps://mikesautoshack.com/Serve Clothing code COMEBACK for 15% offhttps://serveclothing.com/Memor Jewelry code COMEBACK for 10% offhttps://memorjewelry.com/If you have a story to share please contact ashly.comebackpodcast@gmail.comFor inquiries contact info.comebackpodcast@gmail.comCome Back Team:Director, Founder, & Host: Ashly StoneEditor: Cara ReedOutreach Manager: Jenna CarlsonAssistant Editor: Michelle BergerAssistant Editor: Britt SmallzeArt Director: Jeremy GarciaProduction Director: Trent Wardwell

"The thing that always comes to mind for me is that ye will know them by their fruits. And what I have really come to realize, especially recently, is the fruits of the gospel of Jesus Christ and being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ produces such pure fruit in my life... This is the kind of community that I want to be a part of. This is the kind of community that is making a difference in the world and is kind, and obviously not perfect because nobody is. But man, if I had to associate myself with a group of people, I am so grateful and happy and proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, especially in these times."If you have a story to share please contact ashly.comebackpodcast@gmail.comFor inquiries contact info.comebackpodcast@gmail.comCome Back Team:Director, Founder, & Host: Ashly StoneEditor: Cara ReedOutreach Manager: Jenna CarlsonAssistant Editor: Michelle BergerAssistant Editor: Britt SmallzeArt Director: Jeremy GarciaProduction Director: Trent Wardwell

"I was like, I'm doing this. And then I remembered, this is my mom's church. I was like, oh no. Anything but that, she can't be right! And then I looked at myself and I just thought how am I gonna sit in Relief Society looking like this? You can't ask me to do that. That's too much, they ask a lot of you in that church, and I don't think I could do this. But if it meant saving my children then I was all aboard. I didn't care. Nobody could push me away. Nobody could take away the fact that I was just heard and I was just saved and I didn't deserve any of it. I was an awful, awful person all the things that I did. And there was my Savior there, running into the flames to rescue me. And not only just me, but he was there to help me save my family. And so from that day on, I just vowed. I was like, that's it. This is what I'm doing. I'm doing it all and I'm gonna do it full force."00:00 A Desperate Prayer04:49 Carla's Rebellious Youth09:28 Struggles with Addiction13:42 Family Turmoil and Separation20:12 A Mother's Desperation21:13 A Prayer for Help23:50 A New Beginning25:24 First Steps in Faith30:12 A Son's Redemption38:19 Gratitude and ReflectionCozy Earth code COMEBACK for 40% off https://cozyearth.com/Mike's Auto Shackhttps://mikesautoshack.com/Serve Clothing code COMEBACK for 15% offhttps://serveclothing.com/If you have a story to share please contact ashly.comebackpodcast@gmail.comFor inquiries contact info.comebackpodcast@gmail.comCome Back Team:Director, Founder, & Host: Ashly StoneEditor: Cara ReedOutreach Manager: Jenna CarlsonAssistant Editor: Michelle BergerAssistant Editor: Britt SmallzeArt Director: Jeremy GarciaProduction Director: Trent Wardwell

" Becoming a mom just was this huge invitation to try again, see the world in such a more beautiful and dynamic way. It's not two dimensional, it's not black and white and I don't have to be afraid of the gospel. It's not something to be afraid of. And truly just learning how to feel God's love for me."00:00 Faith Crisis as a New Mother02:42 Special Guests: Andrew and Carrie03:37 Andrew's Journey with Cerebral Palsy07:57 Early Relationship and Challenges11:16 Carrie's Faith Journey Begins19:28 Relearning God's Love24:59 Challenges and Unmet Expectations39:41 Carrie's Faith ReconstructionServe Clothing code COMEBACK for 15% offhttps://serveclothing.com/Latter day MatchMaker Serve Clothing code COMEBACK for 15% offhttps://serveclothing.com/memor jewelry - 10% Discount code: COMEBACKhttps://memorjewelry.com/If you have a story to share please contact ashly.comebackpodcast@gmail.comFor inquiries contact info.comebackpodcast@gmail.comCome Back Team:Director, Founder, & Host: Ashly StoneEditor: Cara ReedOutreach Manager: Jenna CarlsonAssistant Editor: Michelle BergerAssistant Editor: Britt SmallzeArt Director: Jeremy GarciaProduction Director: Trent Wardwell

"My testimony evolved a lot after I became a father. I could now relate in a different way than I'd ever understood before to what I think our Heavenly Father views with us in the trials that we go through. I think He is up at night, tears in His eyes sobbing because He knows the pain that we're going through, but He also knows that we need to go through it. The pain is part of what teaches us so much. Oftentimes it turns us into who we are because of how stark those lessons are."00:00 Struggles with Faith and Health05:31 Health Crisis in the MTC08:08 Struggles with Church and Faith12:36 Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis25:29 Dealing with Resentment After Returning Home30:37 Advice for Early Returned Missionaries37:54 Mental Health and Youth Challenges44:09 Perfectionism and Parental PressureCozy Earth code COMEBACK for 40% off https://cozyearth.com/Mike's Auto Shackhttps://mikesautoshack.com/Serve Clothing code COMEBACK for 15% offhttps://serveclothing.com/If you have a story to share please contact ashly.comebackpodcast@gmail.comFor inquiries contact info.comebackpodcast@gmail.comCome Back Team:Director, Founder, & Host: Ashly StoneEditor: Cara ReedOutreach Manager: Jenna CarlsonAssistant Editor: Michelle BergerAssistant Editor: Britt SmallzeArt Director: Jeremy GarciaProduction Director: Trent Wardwell

"I'm a feminist theologian who was excommunicated and I'd been a Gnostic Christian for 15 years. I didn't know where to start. We let Christ, the living bridge be the bridge between us. We didn't presume to come from our own perspectives. You know, I was saying things like. "Well, you know, I was excommunicated. Do we need to go back and revisit all of that?" And they said, "No, no. All we care about is your relationship with Christ. Tell us about your faith and your relationship with Christ and with God." And so I did and we just turned it over to God and prayed and then it was beautiful. This is what's hard for a lot of my friends and a lot of feminists to understand. Like, was I recapitulating? Was I surrendering? Was I giving up my feminism? No. They never asked me to recant or give up anything. We were exploring a new relationship between feminists and church leaders. I saw them as my brothers. They were like pillars. They were so loving and so kind, and it was just utterly healing." 00:00 Excommunicated over Women's Studies04:39 Maxine's Historical and Theological Journey15:00 Excommunication and Its Impact20:26 Exploring Other Faiths and Gnostic Christianity32:10 Divine Feminine in LDS Doctrine35:03 Returning to the Church38:09 Feminism and Healing46:58 Experiencing the Body of ChristLatter day MatchMaker Serve Clothing code COMEBACK for 15% offhttps://serveclothing.com/memor jewelry - 10% Discount code: COMEBACKhttps://memorjewelry.com/Serve Clothing code COMEBACK for 15% offhttps://serveclothing.com/If you have a story to share please contact ashly.comebackpodcast@gmail.comFor inquiries contact info.comebackpodcast@gmail.comCome Back Team:Director, Founder, & Host: Ashly StoneEditor: Cara ReedOutreach Manager: Jenna CarlsonAssistant Editor: Michelle BergerAssistant Editor: Britt SmallzeArt Director: Jeremy GarciaProduction Director: Trent Wardwell