Around four years ago, Ashly Stone noticed a concerning social media trend: floods of people were using an anonymous messaging tool to announce they had left the Church.
“I was so disturbed,” she recalls. “I felt like I needed to stand up and say something. Because coming back to the Church really saved my life.”
Ashly’s “comeback” story sounds unlikely from the outside—she became addicted to heroin as a young adult and was in and out of rehabilitation facilities 15 times. She also spent time in jail and completely stepped away from the Church. But after choosing to see if God would show up for her if she committed to living the gospel, she was able to break free from the chains of drug addiction, go to the temple, and find newfound purpose in Christ.
From her experiences, Ashly firmly believes that no one is too far gone to return to the light of the gospel. And she feels that we don’t talk about these comeback narratives enough.
Today, she hosts a podcast where people from all walks of life share their stories and why they returned to the Church. We spoke with Ashly about what she’s learned from the Come Back Podcast and how we can support our loved ones no matter where they are on the path.
Anyone Can Come Back
When we hear stories about people leaving the Church, we often assume that’s the end of their faith journeys. But Ashly has learned that for many, the story isn’t over yet.
“People can come back, and they do come back,” she says. “It’s been really incredible to hear these stories of why they come back and how the Lord intervenes in their life.”
In the two and a half years since Ashly started the podcast, she has interviewed over 120 people about their journeys returning to the Church. The podcast now has a team of over five people and is being translated into multiple languages.
From addiction and Church history struggles to emotional and relationship challenges, the episodes cover a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, and testimonies. “We can’t even get to all the people who want to share their story,” Ashly says. “There are hundreds of emails.”
One of Ashly’s biggest takeaways from hearing others’ testimonies is that the Savior’s Atonement extends to anyone—no matter whether they’ve been mired in challenges like addiction or even excommunicated.
“Nobody is too far gone to come back,” Ashly says. “The podcast has so many stories of people that, sometimes, we’re in the middle of the episode, and I’m thinking like, ‘Do you come back from this? Does this have a happy ending?’
“[But] I think the thing that is the pivotal moment for them is reaching for their Heavenly Father and reaching for their Savior. And as soon as they do that, then all the miracles can start flooding into their life.”
Hard Questions Are Invitations to Grow
Throughout different episodes, Ashly has sat down with many people whose questions about Church history or doctrine led them to step away from faith before coming back. But she soon came up against questions of her own when people began attacking her podcast on social media.
While she didn’t have answers for all the doctrinal or historical questions commenters were raising, she found peace and a stronger testimony in looking for answers from the Lord and trusted sources like faithful scholars and spiritual mentors.
“If you have hard questions about the Church, and if you turn to the Lord and ask Him for answers, instead of going to, like, ex-Mormon Reddit or whatever, you will be amazed at how any question you have can be resolved in your heart and your testimony is strengthened and refined.”
Ashly acknowledges these answers may not always satisfy critics. “But it will satisfy your heart. And you will receive the witness you are seeking, if you truly ask God to guide you.”
Regardless of whether you’re seeking answers yourself or supporting loved ones with questions, Ashly recommends: “These hard questions aren’t the end of your testimony. They’re an opportunity for you to dig deep and turn to your Heavenly Father and refine your testimony in a way that will make it even stronger.”
Love People Where They Are and Trust in the Lord
Finally, Ashly believes one of the best ways to support loved ones no matter where they are on the path is to show unconditional love.
“Love people for exactly where they’re at … because you never know where they [might be],” Ashly says. “A lot of times, people come back [to the Church] because somebody has been an influence on them.”
And while we may want to show our love by trying to convince them to come back, it’s often better to focus on meeting them where they are and trusting in the Lord.
One of Ashly’s spiritual role models recently left the Church, and while she often wants to share episodes from her podcast with him, she’s felt prompted to step back and support his agency with love instead.
“I had a very distinct impression from the Spirit that when I want to push people to listen to the podcast or whatever, they are going through exactly what they need to go through to be who God wants them to be. And I can’t force my will upon them.
“But what I can do is love them for where they’re at. I can be an example to them, and I can let Christ’s light shine through me.”
Most of all, Ashly has a deep and abiding testimony that the Lord can and does work miracles in our lives—and He will always be there when we are ready to come back to Him.
“You just cannot deny that the Savior’s atoning sacrifice is real—a change of heart is real,” she says. “It’s so incredible to witness all of these different miracles happening in people’s lives. And I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Ashly recently joined the Magnify podcast to share her story. Listen to the full episode.
More articles for you:
▶ A vital thing to remember when your loved one’s faith is fading
▶ 5 truths about repentance I relied on to overcome addiction—that I want everyone to know
▶ 2 doctrines to hold on to when your child steps away from the Church
