Elizabeth Smith shares the story of her husband, Jonny, a Southern California surfer and patent attorney who was serving as a Bishop when he passed away suddenly at age 39. Jonny’s death from cardiac arrest left Elizabeth and their three young children to navigate an unexpected and devastating journey through loss. Throughout the interview, Elizabeth emphasizes her core belief that “grief needs to be witnessed,” describing the profound healing that comes when others sit with us in our sorrow.

Elizabeth recounts the spiritual experience of hearing the prompting, “Do you have the faith for him not to be healed?” while paramedics worked to save her husband. This moment led to a transformative realization that while she did not receive the physical miracle she sought, Jesus Christ is the miracle. This perspective allows her to hold the duality of deep mortal agony alongside spiritual peace, trusting in the Savior’s infinite capacity to carry her.

Finally, Elizabeth discusses the challenge of parenting through bereavement and the importance of allowing the Savior to mend a shattered life. She shares a moving visualization of placing "broken pieces" into a container for Christ to hold, trusting His power to heal her children. Her testimony highlights how temple covenants and the Savior's empathy provide an enabling power that sustains her through the long "winter" of grief.

Resources: https://rememberingjonathansmith.com/

Accepting the Lord's Will and Timing by Elder Bednar

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In this episode, David and Kori welcome Amy Ostler, a therapist who shares the story of her husband Trent’s battle with glioblastoma. Amy describes Trent as a man of intellect and adventure who faced a terminal diagnosis while they were raising two young children. After a series of medical complications and a prolonged coma, Trent passed away, leaving Amy to navigate the profound "winter" of her life.

Amy candidly discusses the "agony and deep sorrow" that followed, which challenged her previous views of the gospel as transactional. Through therapy, she learned to visualize Christ in her moments of pain, often seeing Him carrying her when she felt powerless. She emphasizes that spiritual peace can coexist with intense mortal suffering, as the Savior meets us exactly where we are.

Concluding with a powerful testimony, Amy shares that she now knows Christ walks with us daily. He provides an infinite, healing love that listens without judgment or agenda, especially when others tire of the heaviness of grief. Her experience illustrates how a relationship with Christ becomes a lifting, enabling force through mortality's hardest trials.Follow along on social media:

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David and Kori welcome BYU PhD candidate Jordan Robertson to launch a monthly series bridging clinical research with lived experience. Jordan, a counselor with over 1,500 clinical hours, introduces eight grief frameworks to help listeners navigate their unique journeys. She discusses theories like the Tasks of Mourning and the Dual Process Model, which focus on moving between processing loss and rebuilding life.

The conversation highlights how clinical tools complement faith in Jesus Christ, helping believers manage the painful "in-between" stage of bereavement. Jordan also suggests volunteering as a way to "dip your toe" into helping others. Finally, she explores meaning reconstruction, emphasizing that resilience is the most common response to loss. Jordan concludes by showing how grief can uniquely connect us to Christ.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. Although a therapist in training is featured, no therapy or counseling services are being provided, and no therapist-client relationship is formed. If you need support, please contact a qualified mental health professional or, in a crisis, reach out to local emergency services or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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