When children leave the Church, there can be a lot of heartache and second-guessing for parents. Susan and Cynthia are joined by two friends who share personal stories of the love and growth they experienced when things didn’t go the way they’d planned.
Brenda
My daughter shared you podcast with me this morning. We listened to three of them while traveling. And I listen to the first one, when I got back home. Each resonates deeply with on me.
The first I listen to was “Men Don’t Have a Giant Church Bag”. My daughter and I laugh as we thought of all the stuff with in our BIG bag.
The second one was about Children leaving the church. Because I left the church when my children was teenagers… I had never left the Gospel or my testimony of the Gospel…
Years later, my younger sister shared how painful it was for my mother,. And now how painful it is for her as her Children left the church.. So much I wanted to tell her that the Love of God is still within them. She is a good mother. My mother was a great mom.
My mother taught me to know for my self what is true, and not depend upond others for my testimony.
I love my parents and their LOVE of the Gospel. And their example and love for me.
Susan Hinckley
Thanks so much for listening, and sharing your thoughts with us, Brenda! Pretty sure we’ve all lugged big church bags. I’ll admit I still carry one whenever I have to teach (old habits die hard…also, I bring a lot of candy bars when I teach.) Your experience with your mother goes straight to my heart. These things are deeply complicated, and full of tangled feelings on all sides. It sounds like your mother got it exactly right, and so have you. — Susan
Janet K Grant
My daughter, age 42, told us a few months ago that she was leaving the church. I wasn’t surprised because she had been saying some pretty negative things about the church. She is the one who recommended this podcast to me. I found it to be very positive and have had many of the same feelings. Our two sons left the church when they were teenagers. It was sad when someone said in a talk that having a son go on a mission is the greatest blessing in life, when I thought that may not happen to me. Also, it’s a good idea not to ask people when their son or daughter is going on a mission. You’ll find out if and when they do.
Boston
I cried when I heard Jerry’s story ❤️ I felt her nephew’s and her son’s pain and burst into tears. My mom, Ronde is so amazing and I loved hearing her growth and seeing our family experiences through her eyes. I have so many questions and I’m glad I’m not alone. Thank you for sharing your stories!
Connie E Jory
I just learned of this podcast and I love it. This episode in particular was so healing for me! Thank you from the bottom of my heart – I no longer feel alone.
My son went to BYU as a freshman, then served a 2-year mission in Chile from 2012-2014, then went back to BYU and started having symptoms of depression and eventually had to leave BYU and come back home (Seattle) to live with us. That was almost 6 years ago and he is still living with us, but finally improving with counseling and medication. It has been a long road, but he recently shared with us that he KNOWS two things: (1) that Heavenly Father loves him; and (2) that the BOM is the word of God. I don’t need anything else than to know this.
Our 20 year old daughter is in college and no longer attends church but continues to research things that bother her about it. It has been a challenge to hold on to my faith and honor her path, but I’m learning to love her more fully and be proud of her and your podcast has helped with that.
I want to thank you both for your time and love in sharing your voices. And thanks to Jeralee as well. My pain has lessened because of all of you.