"The purpose of the gospel is to restore ourselves to God. And time and time again, Christ has taught that. He's taught that this is why He did what He did. This is the whole reason why we're doing this, is to restore you to Me. So it's about love. The expectations can come later. Once we restore that prodigal hug 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. So I would say to anyone who's scared, I hope you understand the gospel is about what you're about to do. Go and see your bishop and know that God is proud of you and he's already at the end of the road waiting for you."

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Come Back Team:

Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone

Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose

Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson

Editor: Cara Reed

Assistant Editor: Michelle Berger

Art Director: Jeremy Garcia

Episode sponsor: Serve Clothing

https://serveclothing.com/?gad_source=1

"If you were to ask me to translate an ancient document and to organize the people and a whole religion -- I would never want that kind of authority thrust on me. I know I would misuse it, I absolutely would. So this process has really brought me to this place of grace for those who have come before in the gospel. And also, these things that I get so frustrated about or that I don't understand, they're not mine to understand right now and it's okay because it's temporary. The reality is that Christ is our savior and the gospel is real. And when we turn to Him, the peace that is there, and the love, and the understanding surpasses everything else. There is no substitute."

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https://mikesautoshack.com/

Come Back Team:

Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone

Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose

Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson

Editor: Cara Reed

Assistant Editor: Michelle Berger

Art Director: Jeremy Garcia

Episode sponsor: Serve Clothing

https://serveclothing.com/?gad_source=1

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains sensitive content that may be triggering or offensive to some audiences. Parental discretion is advised. "You don't know the fight that someone has gone through before they walk through those doors. We also don't know the hours and hours that people have spent on their knees just praying for that moment - for that special time when that person - that brother, or that sister that maybe a mother or father or son or daughter or cousin. That moment that they've just been praying and praying that someday they will just walk through those doors. And as members we have this beautiful opportunity  - way before they even get to those handles on those doors and they see the welcome sign right at the front of the church building  - way before that day even comes that we get to choose that we're not gonna judge them. That we are gonna be those people that say things like, 'I cannot wait till they get to walk through those doors again. I'm gonna sit right next to them when they show up.' And 'it's okay, she'll get it figured out. Maybe she's on the arrest page, but she'll come around.' It's things like that, that we get to have that opportunity. God has given us that opportunity to be those people on his behalf. That has been one of the most beautiful things, being able to do that."

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https://mikesautoshack.com/

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

Meet part of the Come Back team and learn how working on the podcast has strengthened our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Season 2 Finale and Merry Christmas!

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

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

"So basically, I've been to church ever since. Maybe a day or two, I've missed because I got sick but I've been going ever since. And then I was able to receive the priesthood back and then get to a point where I was able to get my temple recommend. That was another big pivotal moment. To be able to walk inside that temple,and know you're worthy enough to do it. Cause I've fought demons, I've done it, you know? And on my birthday, I went to the temple to do baptisms and confirmations by myself, just me. I just needed me. After it was all done, there's no explanation about how you feel after. You just feel relieved, you feel light, you just feel clean."

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

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains sensitive content that may be triggering or offensive to some audiences. Parental discretion is advised. "I was driving home and I was so angry at Steven and at God and at myself and just feeling like an idiot. I was like, 'I can't do this, I'm so mad,' but my brother asked me to turn on conference and he's trying so hard on his mission. He's such a good missionary that I'm just gonna do it. So while I was driving home to our apartment in Provo to say our marriage is over, the talk that was on at that exact moment was Elder Gong's talk called 'Trust Again' and the spirit came over me so strongly and told me you can trust him again. The whole talk was about various forms of betrayal -- specifically marriage problems and pornography. A lot of trust with your spouse was talked about and the spirit spoke so strong that our marriage could be mended. So instead of driving all the way home to Provo I got off on the Lehi exit where he was watching conference with his family and I said 'okay I'm ready to talk, I am in a better place.'"

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

"Once I put the garment back on, I remember wearing them for a couple weeks, and it just felt really good. It was interesting, my perspective changed. Instead of thinking 'I can't wear this and I can't wear that,' I wanted them on! I had a burning desire to have Christ's spirit in my life and I didn't want to do a thing to change that."

instagram: girlmama_

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

"Let's look at the fruits of the spirit. Look at my life pre-coming back and my life now; how much joy and love and beautiful things that are in my life today! The fruits of the spirit are so evident. So when you run into hard questions online or somewhere else about the church - you have the choice. Do I want to believe, do I choose this path for myself? Am I going to put in the effort to find answers for myself or will I choose not to believe?"

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

"I would pride myself on having a simple testimony. I would always say that. It's simple. And it was, and it is, the gospel of Jesus Christ is so simple. And that's all that we're required to have, right? This faith and belief in Jesus Christ. I had that, but I really didn't have much more than that. So having to open my life up to answering these questions really, really made me dig into our faith and what I believe and answer some questions that I had that I put up on a shelf. I really had to start dusting off some questions and lean in on that. A lot of the stuff that you guys talk about on your podcast, with the history of our church and, polygamy and Joseph Smith and, all of the things that everyone has questions about or tries to poke holes in. I had all those same questions and I feel like if I wouldn't have opened myself up, to answering questions about my faith, I feel like I would still just be coasting. Like in that same pre-2020 era of my life where I was like it's simple. I just have a simple testimony."

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

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

"It was interesting to see where Hayden was in high school to where he was when I came back from my mission and how big of a change that was. I was able to see this with the conversations we were having about the gospel. I saw so much more conviction in him after he put his beliefs on the table and dissected them and then to finding those pillars in which he had to stake his faith on. It allowed me to see his conviction and also to trust him more as a source to go to with the questions I still had - even after serving a mission."

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