Come Back Podcast (2025)

10/03/2025

“I joined the church after high school and immediately fell in love with the gospel.

Church became a place of peace and purpose… until it started triggering something I couldn’t explain.

Little by little, anxiety crept in.

After giving a talk, I’d obsess over whether I’d offended someone.

I’d call people under the guise of small talk, hoping to hear validation.

If I didn’t, I’d spiral.

I didn’t realize it then, but I was trying to calm deep fears—trying to earn peace by controlling everything around me.

As life went on, the pressure deepened.

My sense of safety at church shattered.

I started having panic attacks and withdrew completely.

People noticed.

I started wondering: What’s wrong with me spiritually?

An experience in seminary with someone defacing my lesson was a turning point.

Instead of breaking down, I felt a spiritual nudge: Stand up. Use your voice.

Christ was with me in that moment, showing me a better way.

But healing wasn’t linear.

Old patterns returned, especially as my family grew and made their own faith decisions.

I tried to manage everything—fasting, temple trips, priesthood blessings—until I broke again.

I found an amazing EMDR therapist, and the healing I had been seeking finally came.

I realized that so much of what I’d experienced at church was triggering unresolved trauma from my youth in another faith community—shame, coercion, and spiritual rejection.

The Savior met me in those memories.

I saw Him with me—every time.

He was there, not only in Gethsemane, but now, sitting beside me as I faced old wounds.

Today, I’m not just “back to myself”—I’m a stronger, freer version of who I used to be.

I know how to respond instead of react.

I know the Savior heals spiritual wounds.

His gospel is not coercive or fear-based—it’s gentle, relational, and rooted in love.

If you’ve experienced pain at church, you’re not alone.

You don’t have to walk away in silence or suffer quietly.

There is another way—healing with Jesus Christ.

He’s already walked this path.

And He can walk you through it, too.”

-Jennifer

03/03/2025

“I was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, in a family of converts to the Church.

Over the years, I served in the Church, including as a young Relief Society president.

During that time, I was exposed to difficult Church history topics, and they began to shake my faith.

My older brother chose to leave the Church, and I found myself questioning everything as well.

But despite my doubts, I stayed.

Everything changed when my youngest brother, Jared, was murdered.

That night, I collapsed in grief, overwhelmed with fear for him.

But in my lowest moment, I heard a distinct impression: ‘I’m okay, Ashley.’

My daughter came into the room moments later and confirmed what I had just heard, saying Jared wanted me to know he was okay.

That night, after pleading for rest, I felt a warm, golden embrace and finally found peace enough to sleep.

In my dream, Jared appeared to me and told me to write down every spiritual experience from that point forward.

In my pain, I sought refuge in the temple, scriptures, and prayer.

But a moment of betrayal from someone in the church related to my brothers trial shattered everything.

I walked out of that courtroom and told my husband I was done with the Church.

I stopped wearing my garments, attending church, and paying tithing.

I was angry, lost, and numb for years.

One night I came across the Come Back Podcast about people returning to the Church.

I was shocked to learn that others had gone through faith crises and found their way back.

Their stories resonated with me, and I started listening obsessively, realizing that maybe I hadn’t seen the full picture.

I remembered the dream from the night Jared died.

I found my old notes, labeled ‘Pockets of Peace,’ and read through every miracle, every tender mercy I had ignored during my years of anger.

I began to remember who I was & I decided to go back to the temple.

Then, I saw Sister Hinch—one of the most spiritually influential women from my youth—standing right there in the celestial room.

It was an undeniable confirmation that I was on the right path.

I now know that Christ can carry any burden, no matter how heavy.”

24/02/2025

“I’m a former bishop who suffered a severe and devastating crisis of faith.

My crisis stemmed from what I call the trifecta of failure.

I was a failure at home, at church, and at work.

At home, our four children rejected the gospel and mocked our devotion to it.

At church, I devolved from being a respected leader to not having a calling and feeling worthless.

At work, I was fired from my job, my life’s work was wrenched from my hands, and I was betrayed by many I thought were my friends.

I had always believed the Lord when He said, ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.’ (Matthew 6:33)

Suddenly, after devoting my life to seeking first the kingdom of God, all ‘these things’ were stripped from me.

I felt God had abandoned me and, like the Savior cried out, ‘My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?’

I then began my descent into my crisis of faith, my dark night of the soul.

I began to question all that I believed and stood up on the precipice abandoning all that I held sacred.

I stayed ‘active’ in the Church on the outside but was inactive on the inside.

After two years in crisis, I began to emerge from my dark night.

I looked back and considered all I had learned through that experience.

I then realized that it had been a divinely designed spiritual chrysalis intended to help me transition to a higher stage of faith.

I then began to study the stages of faith and the crises that occur at the transition point between each stage.

The more my understanding increased, the more I desired to help others through their crises.”

-Rico

Check out “Enduring a Crisis of Faith”, Rico’s story that explains the stages of faith, the crises at each stage, and strategies for enduring the dark night of the soul, the most severe crisis of faith. Rico’s hope is that it will help those in crisis reframe their crisis to see God’s loving hand guiding them to greater faith.

17/02/2025

“For years, I carried the weight of the badge.

As a police officer, I saw things no one should have to see. I witnessed trauma, violence, and death—more than the human mind was ever meant to process.

At first, I thought I could handle it.

I buried it, pushed through, and kept showing up.

But the burden grew heavier.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but with each tragedy I encountered, a piece of me faded.

The anger, the numbness, the nightmares—I thought it was just part of the job.

I stopped praying.

I stopped going to church.

I distanced myself from my family.

I convinced myself that I had to choose: be a good cop or be a good man of faith.

Then, everything spiraled.

I lost a close friend in the line of duty.

The grief, the guilt, the weight of it all became unbearable.

I stopped feeling anything at all.

I worked every weekend to avoid church.

I told myself I was fine, but the truth was, I was drowning.

I didn’t know how to ask for help.

I didn’t even believe I deserved it.

One morning, when I was at my lowest, I found myself completely broken.

The darkness I had been avoiding finally consumed me.

I didn’t even pray—I just collapsed.

And then, a knock at the door.

It was my bishop.

In that moment, God reached for me.

Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I felt a love and peace I had been pushing away for so long.

The weight on my shoulders lifted—literally.

I started therapy, I turned back to my faith, and I began the slow process of healing.

I learned that the Atonement isn’t just for sin—it’s for the brokenhearted, for the weary, for those who feel lost.

Now, I share my story because I know I’m not alone.

I know there are others, in law enforcement and beyond, who are carrying burdens they were never meant to carry alone.

If that’s you, please know this: there is hope.

There is healing.

And you don’t have to walk this path alone.”

-Brent

10/02/2025

“I was raised in a faithful LDS family, and the gospel was a huge part of my life.

After I went to college, I slowly began distancing myself from my faith.

I became more rebellious, and the idea of going on a mission seemed completely out of reach.

However, when the age requirement for missions changed, I felt a strong prompting from the Spirit.

I served in the Texas Houston South mission, and though it was hard, it was one of the most spiritually fulfilling times of my life.

I learned to rely on the Lord in ways I never had before.

I loved being in the field and even extended my mission for an additional month because I didn’t want to come home.

When I returned home, I slipped back into old habits and distanced myself from church and prayer.

I made choices that caused me shame, but the emptiness I felt reminded me that the gospel was the only thing that brought peace.

Then, I found out I was pregnant.

I feared my family’s disappointment, but they supported me with love.

I knew I needed to repent and return to the Lord, which wasn’t easy but was filled with healing as I felt His love.

The father of my child chose not to be involved, and that was incredibly painful for me, but it also strengthened my resolve.

As I worked to provide for my son, I learned the importance of trusting in the Lord’s plan for me.

There were times when I felt overwhelmed, but I held on to the faith that He would help me.

One day, a couple in my ward offered me a place to stay while I watched their son, and it felt like an answer to my prayers.

This stability gave me the opportunity to focus more on my spiritual growth.

I began reading my scriptures again and praying more earnestly, and I felt the Lord’s hand guiding me through this difficult season.

Looking back, I see how the gospel has anchored me through my struggles.

Despite my mistakes, God has always been there, guiding me and helping me heal.

The Savior’s atonement has brought me peace and hope, and I’m grateful for His love and the opportunity to move forward.”

-Nia

03/02/2025

“I joined the church at 15 as the only member in my family, married in the LA Temple, and began raising three beautiful children.

Life took me through struggles, including a difficult weight loss surgery in 2010, which led to me being lax in wearing my garments.

I felt like everything came tumbling down when I experienced same-sex attraction.

I sought help countless times, but the response was always to focus on my marriage, which eventually ended in divorce.

Once separated, I turned to alcohol and entered a same-sex relationship.

For a short time, it felt like a relief, but I quickly realized something was missing—the light I once felt in my life was gone.

I asked to be removed from the church records, but continued to attend with my children, who were my support through it all.

Throughout my journey, I struggled with addiction to alcohol and medications, but church members consistently reached out, offering love and help.

One particular day, after a su***de attempt, I woke up to find a priesthood holder sitting outside my home, waiting for me.

That moment became a turning point.

I began the difficult process of healing with the support of my children and church leaders.

I went through a powerful intervention in my bishop’s office and made the hard choice to step away from my job, stay home, and attend meetings multiple times a day.

That was my saving grace.

Six months later, I had a job working for the state and felt the strength of my family’s prayers.

During this time, I discovered that my daughter had been set apart for a service mission on the same day my sobriety began.

It was as if my ancestors and posterity were with me, guiding me back.

My children were instrumental in my recovery, helping me mark each sober day with a heart on our family calendar.

On February 18, 2024, I was rebaptized, and I feel the restoration of blessings in my life.

My second daughter is now serving a mission, and I’m learning and growing alongside my children in the Gospel.

I know that my recovery and baptism are intertwined with the work my children have done in the temple for our ancestors.”

-Aja

28/01/2025

✨GIVEAWAY✨

We are excited to announce that we’ve added a second day, Friday, March 28th, to our sold out Come Back to Christ event! If you weren’t able to get tickets for Saturday, Friday’s event will be from 7-9 pm, at the .

We are giving away two tickets to the event Friday night, a $100 gift card to , tickets to (one of our amazing event sponsors 🥲❤️), and a gift card to !

The event will also have a “Light of Christ” drone show from on Saturday, March 29th, that EVERYONE is invited to watch, ticket or no ticket (more details of viewing location to come soon)!

To enter, tag your friends in the comments and for an extra entry share to your story! Winner will be announced next week. ❤️

For more information about the event, visit www.comebackpodcast.com/events

27/01/2025

“At 17, I moved to Utah thinking I’d find a sense of belonging, but I quickly realized I felt different from everyone around me.

I grew up in rural Iowa, where my family was the only LDS family in town.

Despite the challenges, I left the faith after a frustrating experience at church, feeling judged and disconnected.

Years later, after making many mistakes, I found myself distant from Christ and my faith.

But in 2011, after a job loss, a heartfelt conversation with my brother (who had just become Bishop) and a clear prompting from the Spirit, I decided to take my kids to church.

The overwhelming love and peace I felt there changed me forever.

I knew I couldn’t deny what I felt, and I committed to following Christ again.

My husband, who had been skeptical, began questioning, learning, and eventually was baptized in 2013.

We were sealed as a family in 2014, and had a baby not too long after.

I experienced what I thought was post-partum depression, a next level kind of tired.

Five months after our baby was born, I had a cardiac arrest in my sleep.

My husband called my brother and they gave me a blessing that I believe healed me in that moment.

My experience of what I saw and what I felt on the other side of the veil, was my brother who had committed su***de when he was 17.

He greeted me on the other side and was so happy, in a way that I had never seen him on earth.

He said to me, ‘See Marcy, it’s real.’

And I knew he was talking about our temple covenants.”

20/01/2025

“I am a convert from a young age and stopped going to church as a teen.

I returned when I was touring with my band.

I had a day off in Washington DC and visited a friend who was on his mission there.

He gave me the first discussion and a challenge to read The Book of Mormon.

From there my life was changed when I read it and I came back.

I ended up serving a mission and the rest is history.

I know what it’s like to return and change your life.

The purpose of the gospel is to restore ourselves to God.

And time and time again, Christ has taught that.

He’s taught that his Atonement is to restore you to Him.

It’s about love.

The expectations can come later.

Once we restore that prodigal son with the father on the road, once we find that coin, once we put that sheep on our back, then we can bring them back and talk about some expectations.

But initially, that first meeting especially is so powerful because it has to be about love.

I suggest this not to just church leaders, but also to parents.

Just put your arms around them, love them.

If that first meeting is an expression - or any type of an expression - of a failure of commitments or a failure of expectations, love can’t fully enter into that person’s heart.

God is proud of you and he’s already at the end of the road waiting for you.”

-Bishop Patel

13/01/2025

“I grew up in a home that did not fit into ‘Church Culture’.

I had a single mother with powerful faith, but we were not always treated kindly by church members and leaders.

In fact, sometimes their behavior could be quite hurtful.

I was a single mother by the age of 18, alone, afraid, and ex-communicated from the church.

There was a time I believed I deserved to be an outcast, that I didn’t ‘fit’ into the church.

Following the promptings of the spirit, I came back into the church, was married and sealed in the temple.

Later, learning about church history, that I found hurtful and harmful, led me to completely withdraw.

I left again and delved into the many spiritual practices available to all those who wander.

Some good, some priestcrafts, and some distractions from the everlasting life available through Jesus Christ and his infinite atonement.

I was hitting rock bottom.

I didn’t know what else to do but pray for divine intervention, and Christ showed up and saved me.

My prayers were answered in a way that took me on a journey back to Jesus Christ and his church.

I now find peace and joy in teaching Kundalini Yoga.

I have found healing from codependency.

I have survived abuse, heartbreak and divorce.

And I have experienced the amazing healing power of Jesus Christ.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my story of how the Savior stepped in and brought me back.”

06/01/2025

*TRIGGER WARNING*

“I am a recovered alcoholic and drug addict of six years, and I just got home from my mission about a month and a half ago.

When I was 11 I started struggling with explicit content online.

That developed into a self harm addiction that spiraled when I started dating a non-member when I was 16.

Upon finding that out, my parents planned to move me to Utah against my will.

I ran away, stole a car, drove two states away, was charged with a class three felony, and wound up getting sent to a wilderness camp for 2 months.

After the wilderness program, I came home and fell heavily into drugs and alcohol.

I threw a party at my parents house and I ended up getting sent to juvenile detention for two months.

As time went on, I got into selling harder drugs, and had some very scary experiences.

On August 20th 2021 I had a dream, and this was the first step in me coming back to church.

Just before hitting 1 year of sobriety I received my mission call after being instructed to serve through my patriarchal blessing.

I was assigned to serve in the Washington Everett mission under the direction of Mission President, Dan Oakes.

After discovering that my Mission President professionally helped individuals overcoming the destructive effects of explicit content, I knew my mission call had been divinely inspired.

I have seen the hand of the Lord through the many angels, trials, and miracles that have taken place in my life.”

22/12/2024

It is an absolute honor to be able to provide such a sacred platform for people from all walks of life to be able to bravely bare their souls to the world.

If you have listened to the podcast, you have seen how the Savior comes for His people.

No one is too far from his reach.

He meets us in our lowest moments, and His grace pours into the lives of those who turn to Him.

We have had the sacred privilege to witness miracle after miracle, as we’ve poured our hearts into this podcast.

It has been humbling to see how God has helped this podcast reach those who need it.

To play a small role in bringing His sheep back to the fold, is the honor of a lifetime.

We do this for Him, and for you.

“Some may have had experiences that make you feel you do not belong.

“The Savior’s message to you and me is the same: ‘come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’

“The gospel of Jesus Christ is the perfect place for us.

“Coming to church offers the hope of better days, the promise that you are not alone, and a family who needs us as much as we need them.

“To any who have stepped away and are seeking a chance to return, I offer an eternal truth and invitation: You belong. Come back. It is time.” -Elder David A Buckner

This week’s episode we get to hear from some of the Come Back Podcast team, and what it’s been like helping with this incredible work.

We love you all and wish you a very merry Christmas. ❤️

16/12/2024

*TRIGGER WARNING*

Austin was born with hypochondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, which made his early life unique and challenging.

He was raised in the church but at 16 started feeling disconnected and misunderstood and he decided to leave the church.

He briefly returned at 18, but by 19, he stepped away for good, unsure of where he belonged.

Over the next several years, Austin struggled with depression, suicidal thoughts, and substance abuse.

He turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with the overwhelming pain.

Despite the darkness, Austin fought hard to survive.

After years of battling addiction, he achieved a major victory—he’s now been sober for 4 years from alcohol and 10 years from drugs.

After 25 years away from the church, Austin had a transformative experience on the grounds of the temple.

There, he met an apostle of the church, and the encounter deeply reignited his faith.

This moment marked a turning point in his healing and personal growth, leading him to return to the church.

Austin’s return wasn’t a simple or easy choice, but it played a significant role in his ongoing journey of healing.

It helped him reconnect with hope, rebuild his life, and find peace and purpose.

Through it all, Austin has learned that personal growth comes not from avoiding struggles, but from facing them head-on and continuing to move forward.

Austin’s story is out now.

10/12/2024

“Steven was adopted at just three days old by an LDS couple.

From a young age, Steven struggled with po*******hy, which spiraled into a decade-long addiction.

By high school, he was high every day at school and questioned his faith deeply, even experiencing an atheistic crisis.

After graduation, he spent time with a neighbor, Emily Belle Freeman, whose influence slowly helped him rebuild his testimony.

He eventually served a mission in Atlanta, where he was a true and honest servant, but once home, his struggles resurfaced.

He went to his YSA bishop for help, but the shame and judgment he felt led him down a darker path of drinking, smoking, and more challenges with the law of chastity.

Still, he never lost his belief in God, but he felt trapped and resigned to a future without a temple marriage.

When we met, Steven was focused on healing.

He told me that he was so sick of the party life, and just gave it up and started turning toward God again.

We matched on Mutual, and despite my initial reservations, we quickly became inseparable.

On the fifth day of knowing me, Steven confessed his past struggles with po*******hy and chastity.

I remember thinking, ‘I’m so thankful for him telling me. How brave and honest that was.’

We married civilly in 2019, but Steven’s addiction resurfaced shortly after.

I was hurt, but I didn’t fault him for the relapse.

I started learning about addiction, and it helped me separate his behavior from my love for him.

After a few relapses, we reached a breaking point.

I was ready to leave, but then my brother sent me a message about Elder Gong’s talk on rebuilding trust.

His words hit home: ‘Trust again... relationships can be mended.’

I prayed, and I felt a deep peace that Steven was truly committed to change.

He cut his hair, went back to therapy, and committed to the church’s addiction recovery program.

Since then, things have been better, though not perfect.

We’re now blessed with a beautiful son and a home.

Through it all, we’ve learned that love, trust, and faith in God are the foundation of our marriage, and I’m forever grateful for the way God has guided us.”

-Kayla & Steven

02/12/2024

“For years I was struggling to stay active and raise my children in the church.

I was lost and sad- searching for peace.

I had a built an Instagram following, but the numbers didn’t matter.

I felt so alone.

My Instagram following was built on being an advocate that there was room in the church for people like me.

Desperately trying to find my place in the gospel but not following his commandments in return.

I humbled myself and realized I knew the missing pieces.

But it was just going to take work to get there.

I pushed aside everything else in my life and made my repentance and conversion a priority.

I put my garments back on.

Even though I felt like a hypocrite because I had preached not to judge those who don’t wear them.

As I did, I felt the spirit come back to my life.

The blessings in store when we keep our covenants are unmatched.

As I made the changes, I felt the burden lifted.

My heart is joyful.

I know I am ready for this next chapter in my life.

It feels good to know Jesus Christ loves me enough that he paid the price for me and I can be cleansed.

Here’s to the next chapter- I will always advocate you can sit with me.

There is room in the gospel and there is room in His heart to always give you grace.”

Tara’s story is out now.

24/11/2024

I had the awesome opportunity to hang out with .millennials this week.

We discussed some of the things that I’ve learned interviewing people who have come back to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We hear a lot about reasons people leave the church on social media, things that they don’t like about the church, or its members.

As I sat watching my kids in the primary program last Sunday, I listened to them sing:

He will guide me
When I’m in my wilderness
And stay beside me
On stormy seas
I am learning how He speaks to me
And I will follow where He leads

My heart was overflowing with love and absolute JOY.

Joy that my children are learning who they can turn to for peace when they are navigating the stormy seas of life.

Joy in knowing that the fruits of the gospel are so evident in my life, and I continue to learn and grow with the spirit as my guide.

I can’t even imagine giving up the gift of the gospel in my life, especially after living my life without it.

Sometimes we become distracted.

With hard questions in church history, something someone said online that made us question our faith, or maybe we’re going through a trial and we try to manage it on our own and life is just hard.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned since starting the podcast, is that God shows up for those who turn to him.

Even if it’s been weeks, months, or years since you have spoken to Him.

He will show up for you.

He will bring a joy and light to your life that you didn’t even realize you were missing.

You will see your life with new eyes.

He loves you more than you could ever imagine.

And He is waiting for you to come back to Him.

The hard questions, the trials, the comments online..

They are actually an INVITATION to come to Him, and find out for yourself that he is there.

You can make the choice to explore what God, and His church, have to offer you.

Not because it’s the cultural norm, not because it’s how you were raised, not because it’s what is expected of you…

But because YOU have decided to partake of the fruits of the gospel.

And if you do this, He will be there.

Ready to welcome you home with open arms.

18/11/2024

“Growing up in the church I only had one goal, leave as soon as I graduate.

But I learned a couple of years into a crazy college experience that ‘life according to Holly’ was not nearly as fun as I thought it would be.

Run ins with cops, scary doctor’s appointments, living life on the edge of alcoholism…it was too much!

And then God placed a fork in the road and said ‘you can keep living life according to Holly, or come this way and see what I’ve got in store for you here.’

Oddly enough, I was grateful for the awful situation I had gotten myself in because it led me back to Him.

I came back to the church, met and married my husband in the temple, then brought 5 babies into the world with him.

I’ve always prided myself on having a ‘simple’ testimony—which, is true—and there’s nothing wrong with that.

But since my initial comeback I just coasted in this ‘simple’ space.

Never fully proclaiming the gospel because I really didn’t want to have to defend it.

I never felt equipped to anyways.

But then I learned that I have to put in the work to grow my testimony.

No one was going to do it for me.

I walked away from a lucrative influencing career on Instagram so that I could share my journey with Christ…no strings attached.

Just a girl with a simple testimony wanting to go deeper and grow closer to her Savior, realizing that when you do that—all you want to do after that is bring everyone with you!”

Holly’s story is out now.

11/11/2024

Amaiya’s story is out now.

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