UGP 281 - Miraculous Marriage Reconciliation after Mormonism – Ashley Grinstead – Part 4

Devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, like Kronk from the Emperor’s New Groove. Should I leave him or mend this marriage? Now separated, Vince’s addictions interfered with their relationship and everyone had an opinion. As LDS, many men feel great pressure to do more, become better. Vince struggled with guilt. Some men just give up trying to climb to the Celestial Kingdom. Ashley, a Christian, was so distraught, she locked herself in her bedroom, sat on the floor, and tried to pray. All of a sudden, she could feel the arms of Jesus wrapped around her. Then she knew everything was going to be okay. The only words she could muster through her tears were, “Thank you, Jesus.” Soon after, Vince ran into a childhood friend at Lowe’s who looked at him and then asked him, “Man, what are you doing? You’ve got to fix this. You’ve got to get your family back.” Vince began to attend Celebrate Recovery at his wife’s Christian church. Late one night, Ashley heard noise outside—it was Vince shoveling snow in her driveway! This act of kindness gave her a glimmer of hope. Men at her church pursued Vince to bring him back from addictions. His heart was touched by several people pouring out love. Vince has been clean for almost 2 years at this point and now helps others trying to get clean, still going weekly to Celebrate Recovery. Ashley and Vince reconciled, meeting every other week with a pastor for biblical encouragement. He moved back in. Although Vince had received Christ at a Third Day Concert, he was confused about the Bible and the LDS doctrine he’d been taught, but the Christian church body was so supportive. Nothing was ever held over his head. There was no mark on his record for the addictions like there had been in Mormonism. He was forgiven and now free.

Ashley has 2 pieces of advice for LDS. First, read the New Testament! Her favorite chapter is Ephesians 2.

Second, although an LDS church apostle tells Mormons to “doubt your doubts,” Ashley says, “If your faith can’t be tested, it's not a real faith.”

“Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.”—LDS Apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/image/meme-uchtdorf-doubt-fff46e5?lang=eng

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

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