**Listener Discretion is Advised** - This episode contains very sensitive and mature topics including conversion therapy, suicidal ideation, abuse, alcoholism, and potentially other sensitive topics.

This episode is divided into two parts. This episode is Part 1 of 2.

Adam, the newest cousin to join the family, joins Devin for the Podcast when he comes to visit the Glen Lee and Phyllis Andersen family in Utah.

Adam was a big inspiration for Devin to start this podcast, and Devin quickly starts the episode by telling Adam why that was.

Adam begins telling his story by explaining his difficult family situation growing up, how biological family moved around a lot when he was young, that there was abuse at home accompanied with alcohol, and how his family, while they were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, had many problems at home that made Adam feel unsafe.

Adam shares how he met the Glen Lee and Phyllis Andersen family in Elko, Nevada, how they grew very close, and witnessed what a family could be when it followed the teachings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. After only a few years, Adam moved to Florida with his family, and away from the Andersen family.

Adam shares his experience of coming out as gay to his bishop, wanting to serve a mission, and starting the terrible process of conversion therapy that the church still condoned at the time.

Adam talks about the difficulty of his mission in the midst of that, and what happened after returning home from his mission. He talks about confronting his bishop about the plan that was laid out for him that he didn't agree with, and his plan to take his own life, but how deciding to keep the sabbath day holy by not purchasing anything on that day helped preserve his life.

Adam continues his story with how he decided to start his life over by moving away to Atlanta, how he met his husband, Allen, and how they were eventually able to be married many years later when it became legal in the United States.

Part 1 ends with explaining how he re-united with the Andersen family and how he began attending church again.