El Santo Gringo from La Jolla, California:

For Mormons, Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer through whom salvation is made possible. (Reflections of Christ)

Hi TJ. I'm sorry to hear that your marriage didn't work out. Marriage can be the source of man's greatest happiness or the source of great sorrow. During difficult times like these in my own life, my faith in Jesus Christ has provided me with great comfort. I know many people who have suffered—broken people like you and me and every other person on earth—who have found this same peace.

Jeffrey R. Holland, one of the world-wide leaders of our church, once gave a sermon entitled “Broken Things to Mend.” I encourage you to read the whole talk, but a poem he read is particularly moving to me:

In Nazareth, the narrow road,
That tires the feet and steals the breath,
Passes the place where once abode
The Carpenter of Nazareth.

And up and down the dusty way
The village folk would often wend;
And on the bench, beside Him, lay
Their broken things for Him to mend.

The maiden with the doll she broke,
The woman with the broken chair,
The man with broken plough, or yoke,
Said, “Can you mend it, Carpenter?”

And each received the thing he sought,
In yoke, or plough, or chair, or doll;
The broken thing which each had brought
Returned again a perfect whole.

So, up the hill the long years through,
With heavy step and wistful eye,
The burdened souls their way pursue,
Uttering each the plaintive cry:

“O Carpenter of Nazareth,
This heart, that's broken past repair,
This life, that's shattered nigh to death,
Oh, can You mend them, Carpenter?”

And by His kind and ready hand,
His own sweet life is woven through
Our broken lives, until they stand
A New Creation—“all things new.”

“The shattered [substance] of [the] heart,
Desire, ambition, hope, and faith,
Mould Thou into the perfect part,
O, Carpenter of Nazareth!”

A Mormon song entitled “Broken” also comes to mind. Regardless of whether the song itself suits your tastes, I'm certain its message is one you can appreciate:



If you'd like to begin the process of divine “mending,” I suggest you chat with the Mormon missionaries. There are over 50,000 Mormon missionaries in the world who visit people in their homes to teach them more about Jesus Christ. Most people who are interested in Mormonism learn about our basic beliefs from these missionaries. You can request a missionary visit online.

You can also learn the address of the Mormon chapel nearest your house online. Please don't hesitate to visit us any Sunday morning (9:00) to see how we worship! Mormons love visitors.

I hope this answer helps. Contact me if you have any more questions. I'm happy to help.

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Richard from Salt Lake City, Utah, United States:

I feel for ya Bro. 2-times divorced father of three, 34 disabled now (used to work well and like a dog for Wells Fargo/CrossLand Mortgage corp) Have done my own share of the story of the Prodigal son and all I can say is God forgives, and He allows us to choose, and will not force us to heaven against our wills.

Your kids still love you, they will always love you (even if your ex says bad stuff about you, they will only love you more because kids are nearer to God)

Get back to church, not a member? contact some missionaries, yes a member contact your ward executive secratary and get in with your Bishop talk with him about possibly getting in with LDS family services.

There are no losers in this life only those who choose to quit and stop moving forward.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. (D&C 58:42)

See also the following talks:

1. http://www.lds.org/Ensign/2006/11/the-atonement-can-clean-reclaim-and-sanctify-our-lives?lang=eng
2. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/you-matter-to-him?lang=eng
3. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-divine-gift-of-repentance?lang=eng
4. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/it-is-better-to-look-up?lang=eng

Yes lots of reading to do, I promise you will feel better

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Anonymous from Iowa, United States:

I too have made many mistakes in my life. And I have been a member of the LDS church since birth. I have felt sorrow, emptiness, lonliness all while I was not connected with God or the spirit. I became addicted to pain pills and was in such a state of despair that I attempted suicide. A few events happened, that I believed were chosen by God which put me on the path that I am now. I found out I was pregnant right after I'd been arrested. I was so early in the pregnancy that there wasn't a baby yet. Because I'd already been arrested I was coming off the drugs. I believe God did this to spare the baby any effects of the drugs. While at the time I felt that God must not care about me to let me destroy my life in such a way, I realize now that he was actually giving me something to live for. I chose to stay clean and sober and now have an almost one-year old healthy baby boy. I feel the love of Heavenly Father when I look at my son.

I don't know if I'm any help here but just wanted to say that I have felt as you do now and there is happiness out there for you. God has given you a purpose- you came to Earth at this time and place FOR A REASON. A scripture that helps me is "God never gives us more than we can bear". Perhaps your current struggles with divorce are a means to prepare you for your future. Everything has a purpose and we all know that God works in mysterious ways. As far as mistakes of your youth, the Savior died for our sins. All can be wiped clean. :)

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