My friend Chris Rich (married mother of three, husband and all three children stepped away from the Church, grew up in SLC, lives in Western Massachusetts, professional life coach) joins us to share her story. Chris talks learning to process the emotions (worried, angry, disappointment, resentment, and grief) of having family members leave the church and learning how to get through those emotions to find peace. Chris talks about the constant thought of “this isn’t what I signed up for” but learning to get past that perspective into a more healthy and sustainable mindset.

Chris talks about her efforts to get her husband back to church—but then deciding “my job is to love, Jesus job is to save”. She talks about moving beyond “the only way to be happy is if my husband comes back to church.” Chris also talks about “clean pain” and “dirty pain” and how dirty pain can result in getting stuck (like a hamster wheel) and how to move beyond that pain. Chris talks about loving and supporting her family now. Seeing the good in their lives and contributions to society. Chris talks about how “fear is a hard emotion to parent from” and her end goal now with her family is “connection”.

This is one of the best podcasts we’ve done to find peace, hope, and love when family members leave the church. I was so moved listening to Chris’s insights—including gospel insights, scriptures, talks and the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Thank you, Chris, for being on the podcast. I hope your episode is shared far and wide. Your work is so needed in our community. Thank you for being on our podcast—you are awesome!

Links:

a) Chris Rich’s coaching site: https://www.chrisrichcoaching.com/

b) Chris’s podcast (The Mixed Faith Relationship Podcast): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mixed-faith-relationship-podcast/id1627333149

c) Elder Uchtdorf talk: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2011/11/general-relief-society-meeting/forget-me-not?lang=eng

d) Richard Ostler Books: papaostler.com

e) Index of Podcasts: listenlearnandlove.org/podcasts