Drew's struggle with addiction and how he transformed his life by turning to the Savior Jesus Christ

[@jennifereichelberger1448]

"Now we're going to get to where the really good stuff happens. Enter the Savior." - my favorite line!

[@Whatiftheresmore1314]

Mine too!! ❤️☀️

[@misfyresalot]

This is my favorite! Humble, honest ...I wish the best for this man❤

[@jacobthouseholder]

I just made a very significant and timely personal decision because of what he said about integrity. It gave me exactly the strength that I’ve been needing the past few days. Thank you for this podcast episode. My life needed it.

[@drewwilson6805]

Wow thanks for sharing that Jacob! Made my day!

[@alisadunn5443]

​@Drew Wilson I'd like to talk to you if possible.

[@stephenbyrne2380]

Fantastic Jacob l can relate to pornography before my conversion to the church and drinking and some drugs but never to that extent however l now have 7 fantastic kids my wife passed away 7 years ago and getting over those times through his enabling power has empowered me to overcome 3 life threatening experiences and 7 accidents since Karen transferred and progressed as the Lord needed her to do for our family / stay strong mate and please keep sharing / l hope to share my story some time on this site too and have sent the podcast an email / Steve from Melbourne Australia 😊

[@alisadunn5443]

A year ago....and not a single response. There's addiction in my household and some how, I'm responsible for their addictions. Not. Thanks.

[@Whatiftheresmore1314]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️☀️

[@tgray747]

Great story ! Thanks for sharing! Very inspirational.

[@markt8487]

What a beautiful testimony of the savior’s atonement in this brothers life. I feel my extended family of these folks grows every podcast I listen to. I do include them in my prayers. May god bless and keep you one and all.

[@Whatiftheresmore1314]

Me too! This is such a wonderful, inspiring place of gathering to Jesus Christ and the hope He so freely offers us broken humans. But we are Children of God so He relentlessly, perfectly pursues us. We love you Ashley! And we love your guests! What a powerful place this community is! ❤️☀️❤️☀️

[@44julz44]

I’m so happy for Drew. These podcasts help so much.

[@millennialfalkon]

“That whole idea of me being judged was just in my head.” That’s SO true. That’s exactly how I felt. Members were nothing but loving and supportive. Always. Fear is a control mechanism. And it’s not from Christ.

[@binmyrtmind]

I wanted to make a comment about the fear of other people judging us. The best lesson I ever learned from my wise father. I was a teen when my dad heard me say I was afraid what someone would think of me and he said; “Dear daughter, you need to understand that people are only thinking about themselves and their own problems and most likely are not thinking about what you’re doing at all.” I have never worried about what anyone thinks except the Lord thanks to my dad.

[@Claire55755]

Thank you Ashly for this podcast. I need to hear successful stories of people who come back to the Gospel because we’re dealing with the opposite which has been very sad and hurtful. I pray constantly that my loved one comes back and your podcast and guests have given me hope❤

[@benjaminroe311ify]

Thanks for sharing your story Drew. Very inspiring.

[@Laurentdu59]

Thank you both!

[@VAATAUSILI4139]

My beloved Bro's & Sis's, i forever thank, our ETERNAL PARENT'S, for the Podcast, the world needs it, including me. Amazing testimonies.

[@whitneylin4297]

Thank you both for sharing your testimonies! They touched me and helped me feel the Spirit more this morning. Couldn’t love this podcast more!

[@janeeyre8241]

Thanks Drew for pointing out Church culture could benefit from more authentic openness around the life struggles we encounter that don’t meet the external ideal, be it, addiction, divorce, mental health struggles, abuse, for example. When we sweep these very human experiences under the carpet shame flourishes and healing is hampered. I love the Church but this code of silence has impacted me in the past and change is warranted, particularly since we’re in the latter days and lives can get quite messy before they get better. Congratulations on your comeback by the way!

[@Come.Back.Podcast]

That is what we are trying to do with the podcast:)

[@janeeyre8241]

@@Come.Back.Podcast yes you are and that’s why I’m a regular listener from New Zealand. Thanks so much 🙏

[@markroesberry]

About two weeks ago I meet Drew when he came to my home to help with a flooding issue at my home and we got in a conversation about the gospel and he told me he was on this podcast. Even before I knew his story, I could tell he has a kind spirit about him. BTW, this podcast/KZbin channel is one of my favorites. Even though I don't have a comeback story, I find these stories to be spiritually uplifting.

[@KarlBreaux]

Glad for you

[@dorston.graves]

Love love love the piano analogy. There’s even more truth to it than you realize. Because when you’re learning piano you actually don’t start with Mary had a little lamb. You start with scales. It’s best to practice and learn the fundamentals, by learning skills. Most of the things you play when you’re first learning don’t sound or look like songs. Songs may be the ultimate expression of music, but there’s so much more to music than songs. So much that goes into it. So it is with life. We see others playing their pianos and often all we hear is music. Typically only their music teacher and the people who are the closest to them ever hear the notes of their practicing. Thankfully we have the most patient and loving Teacher. He may have us begin learning on bits of music that don’t sound like songs to us, but we can rest assured that He’ll have us at concert playing beautiful music so long as we stick with it.

[@safrew1]

Powerful! Thank you Drew.

[@jillhorkley9158]

Coffee thing. When I was in rehab after surgery a nurse ask why no coffee. I ask do you believe God is the creator. She said yes. Then Since He created our bodies wouldn’t he know what is not good for them. I believe the word of wisdom is of god so he knows why. That’s good enough for me

[@newmanhoverd206]

I love seeing the Lords merciful hand over this dear brothers life. The fall is Ugly and dark period, but the atonement and resurrection is indeed glorious and full of light Love! How great is our God!! The glory you bring to him through your life experiences is absolutely incredible! May God continue to bless and keep you brother. Thank you sis for this episode 🙌💯❤️‍🔥

[@millennialfalkon]

Thank you, Drew. The AA chair’s I went to always felt like open heart surgery, and always felt like real talk. Like fasting testimony meetings. It’s always edifying when some one’s raw and honest about the good and the bad. And the ultimate power of the Saviour to redeem.

[@kristastrong]

I love these stories! Way to go Drew!! As a piano teacher I love the piano practicing analogy ;)

[@Kristy_not_Kristine]

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm so glad you have a happy on-going ending!

[@tammyamidon3444]

Loved Drew's testimony and I can relate to it. We all have our struggles and enduring to the end means working through all of life's challenges, problems, addictions and sins. That is what the atonement and the repentance process are there for. The road is not easy but as long as we are making progress and willing to change, whatever efforts it takes on our part is so worth it. And happiness will come as we travel the road and keep moving forward no matter how slow the progress.

[@henryponnefz1419]

Thanks a million for sharing. I have sent this podcast to friends that will help many people.

[@jilldowding-walker8066]

That is the core of testimony. A good relationship with and understanding of Christ! Drew, whatever you did, wherever you were in your life, you😮 chose the better part for yourself. Stay close to the Lord, always! You are a man of integrity and inspiration! 🎉

[@nanetteiglupas7838]

I love your podcast ..I love to hear testimonies from those who have come back.

[@devincenatiempo2238]

Awesome podcast. Ashly you are getting better at interviewing/hosting. Keep up the good work.

[@barbarabailey6833]

In regards to coffee, I remember going to AA for my son and observed how lots of people were trying to get the most from coffee and cigarettes! It was sad to watch but I realized that it was necessary for some to make those baby steps in their progression. I love that picking up his own candy wrapper was an important step in Drew’s recovery and return to the Lord.💖💖

[@latterdaypresentations]

This was really great.

[@MarleneKerr-p6x]

You are so secure now zane and much rejoicing in heaven over you

[@SharonChriswell-k6p]

I wanted to stop at the pot shop all day. As I was listening to this man, I had the strength to drive past. THANK YOU

[@Whatiftheresmore1314]

What a wonderful, inspiring testimony! I loved your thoughts on integrity. On small choice at a time. Jesus is the answer! ❤️❤️❤️☀️

[@tamragoodrich6067]

And the peace! There's no peace in worldliness, but there is such great peace when being worthy to take the sacrament, and to participate in all the ordinances God offers!

[@mysolesmiles]

Please Share your story on every going back to the faith type podcast. People need to hear your story :)

[@WitnessJesustheChrist]

Thank you so much for your testimony. As a Mom of 5 boys it was very hard and very IMPORTANT for me to listen to your experiences. I feel like a little piece of me mourns everyday for the terrible things my sons will and have already faced in their lives. Thank you for sharing. It’s so important to talk about our experiences. I have also found that most of “judgemental nature” of members is just the adversary whispering doubts in our minds. I completely agree with your observations on that front. What advice would you have for parents who have teenage sons facing struggles with mental health, telling the truth, shame and pornography?

[@drewwilson6805]

I would say that one of the best things you could do is to create a space or environment where they feel like they can talk openly with you about those struggles. Also, perhaps share with them some personal struggles you have faced and how you dealt with them so they know that there‘a hope. It may also help them feel more comfortable sharing their problems if you share some of yours.

[@WitnessJesustheChrist]

@@drewwilson6805 Thank you so much. We agree. We have really tried to this the last 4 years especially. My husband and I both know repentance so we have tried to talk about specific times of using the atonement. We try to remind them that our love isn’t conditional, that we and they will mess up and to be approachable. It’s still not easy for them to tell us the truth but they are telling us hard to hear things so hopefully with time and God’s grace we can keep moving forward as a family. I learned a ton from your perspective and faith. Thank you so much for sharing and all the work you do.

[@shireecox122]

I’m going to share something very personal here, then ask a question. My brother is getting out of jail, for drug use, for the umpteenth time. Me, my parents, and siblings have all tried several times to help him, even offering to pay for his treatments. His 3 wives (not in a polygamous way. One at a time) have all divorced, and taken his kids away from him. He’s getting out of prison again in just a few days. He has not changed, I can tell by his attitude. Is there even hope?

[@millennialfalkon]

Yes. There’s always hope! I had a friend that was in and out of prison since his teens. A full blown meth head. Now he’s happily married, stable and has three kids. It was the Christian example of his father that got him on the straight and narrow. But he had to first want to help himself. A drug addict is one of the most self centred creatures on earth. You can drop $1M on them to help them change, and nothing will change. That desire to change has to come from within them first. And until that happens, I’ll be for them as a friend emotionally and spiritually, but they won’t get a single dollar out of me again.

[@wmfifield1]

Get involved in the church's addiction recovery program for family support. You'll hear enough miracle stories to maintain your family's hope. We've been in the world of addiction merry-go-round with our family for 13 years and the LDS ARP has helped us maintain hope. But it has required working the program.

[@ajenks9]

Two words: Narcotics Anonymous

[@rangeandravine]

I will second Bill Fifield's comment. I went through the church's 12 step program about 20 years ago. I went consistently after disfellowshipment and was finally able to return to full fellowshipment in the church. Now, 20 years later, I am a missionary for the LDS Family Services serving in the 12 Step Addiction Recovery Program. The name of the program is being changed soon and it applies to your question. The name will be changed to Healing Through Christ. There is ALWAYS hope! Listen to some talks by Elder Holland and he will also provide beautiful messages of hope. I am soon going to be going back to school to get a degree in social work with a focus on clinical addiction recovery. I have done a lot of research on the neuroscience of addiction and that has made a big difference. God is a god of miracles, but also a god of science. He used science and the priesthood to create all things, and He can heal through the use of science and the priesthood. You have hope as well and express that to them. The most important things with recovery is a feeling of love, support and a connection to others. Look into the "Rat Park" experiment. "The opposite of addiction isn't sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection." - Johann Hari

[@Seer-d4c]

Interesting. ✨️

[@diannaelbrader1282]

❤

[@rcckf]

I came home early from my mission for mental health reasons, the struggle is real. Of course the MTC was certain it was my period. Mental illness is a disease, not a character flaw.

[@mysolesmiles]

Awesome, thank you for sharing!Satan is the great Accuser, Liar and deceiver It seems that often when one who struggles( we all do) with shame from choices or any addiction is often battling with the judgments from not just themseles but also from the great "Accuser" , Lucifer will not let up off them,( It seems he works hardest on those who are striving to live a covenant life) he keeps taunting them with words of unworthiness, worthlessness. Its to late for you you can't turn this around. etc.for he is the great Deceiver. They may accept these words as there own or as true,, not knowing Satan is working to shame them away from Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God because he knows Christ is the Redeemer and he can Liberate the captive soul from Satan's grasp. So Satan twists their beliefs into the church is shaming me, the Christian belief is where I get the feelings of unworthiness. So when they completely let go of all hope in God, Christ and his redeeming plan and walk away and reject completely the teachings of Christ, they say they are at peace. It seems that Satan has just let up on constantly sending them the distructive and shaming thoughts he used to get them to turn from God and Jesus Christ. When this happens they often will feel free or liberated from the tuantings of Satan, yet I sometimes see a doubt in their eyes and feel there is a conflict in their heart because they still have a particle of the light of Christ in them.

[@jacbox3889]

I have shame for how my life has turned out. My ex left me for another idiot and I'm the one walking around not feeling enough.

[@Come.Back.Podcast]

You are enough, they just weren't the right person.

[@jacbox3889]

@@Come.Back.Podcast He was the right person. I received confirmation for our temple marriage. He just made poor choices and didn't protect our family.

[@tamragoodrich6067]

I think when people get hung up on some requirement, or rule, or commandment, of the Church, it's because they are addicted, and/or needing a rationalization for their sin, or habit, they don't want to give up. Discipleship takes a lot of discipline!

[@rowenaestuaria695]

ENTER THE SAVIOR FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR