The Book of Mormon
2 min read
Ashly never imagined that returning to the Church would save her life. For years, she was trapped in a cycle of addiction, going through jail, rehab centers, and very dark times. Her life was chaos, and she felt there was no way out. Until she hit rock bottom.
“I lost everything. I was at a point where I knew that if I didn’t get rehabilitated, I was going to die or end up in jail forever.”
That's when her dad asked her a question that shook her to her core:
“Ashly, if I take you to treatment, are you going to stay or are you going to run away again?”
And for the first time in a long time, she answered with complete honesty:
“I don’t have the strength to keep running away.”
That's how her healing process began. She entered a Christian rehabilitation center in Fresno, California. The first step was a 10-day cold detox, without medication. Just her, her body, and her inner battle. To earn her place in the program, she had to work 40 hours a week in a warehouse. It was exhausting, physically and emotionally. But just when she thought about giving up, signs began to appear.
“I was sorting clothes and suddenly I would see T-shirts with phrases like 'God is with you' or ' Don't give up.' Those words would appear right at the most difficult moments. For me, they were direct messages from heaven . ”
An experience she will never forget occurred when the pastor asked her to choose a Bible. There were over a hundred copies on a shelf. She picked a pink one without thinking much. Upon opening it, she found a bookmark for the Book of Mormon.
“I was stunned. I was the only church member there. I was in Fresno, far from everything, but that bookmark appeared right in the Bible I had chosen. In that instant, I knew that God was looking for me, that He knew where I was and what I was going through.”
After leaving treatment, she decided to give the Church another chance . She didn't have all the answers, but she did have a strong desire to start over.
“Many people think the Church is very strict. But when I was lost, what I needed most was structure, a safe path. That’s what I found. What once seemed like a list of rules, I now see as protection and guidance.”.
Today, Ashly lives a completely different life. She is sober, at peace, and has a renewed heart.
“There’s no trace left of who I used to be. I was a liar, a thief, an addict. But I dared to ask if the Atonement of Jesus Christ was for me too… and it was. He changed me. Now I live with gratitude, and every day I try to show God how grateful I am for rescuing me .”
To those who are struggling, he leaves this heartfelt message:
“No matter how far you think you are. No matter how dark everything seems. Don’t give up. There is still hope. There is a way out.”
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