What happens when your view of God is shaped by fear, duty, and distance?

In Part 2 of Erik’s story, we journey with a young man navigating personal tragedy, theological hunger, and a growing desire for something more than perfectionism and pretending. After the sudden death of his father, Erik finds himself asking what he calls “the great and terrible questions”—Where did my dad go? Am I doing enough? Can I ever be worthy?

Still deeply committed to Mormonism, Erik throws himself into LDS mission work. But an unexpected phone call with a bold Christian shakes his assumptions. When the man says, “That’s my Lord you’re talking about,” Erik begins to wonder: could a relationship with God actually be relational? Could Jesus belong to him, and not just the other way around?

What follows is a season of unexpected curiosity. As Erik visits Christian churches, hears historic creeds for the first time, and digs deeper into the Bible, the God he once feared starts to look more like a Father he can know.

Be sure to stick around for the end of the episode—you won’t want to miss Mark and Molly Parsons’ commentary. They unpack Erik’s story with insight and encouragement for Christian witnesses, sharing how grief often opens the door to grace, and how simple conversations (even the messy ones) can plant seeds that last.

In this episode:

• What grief taught Erik about eternity
• How Mormon views of Heavenly Father mirror earthly relationships
• The impact of one Christian’s loyalty to Jesus
• Why biblical creeds and church history intrigued Erik
• What it means to witness with both truth and tenderness

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Watch Erik's full story here.