In this powerful episode, we introduce Kyle Beagley, who shares the story of losing his daughter, Kirsten Beagley, during her senior year of high school in 2024. Kyle lovingly recalls Kirsten’s light and big blue eyes, noting that she was dedicated to dance and served as the drill team captain. A determined goal setter, Kirsten achieved her major goal of winning a drill-down competition about a month before her tragic passing.

Kyle recounts the sudden loss following a tragic tubing accident at a winter formal activity, where Kirsten hit her head on the road. In the immediate aftermath, marked by shock and numbness, the family was sustained by an overwhelming outpouring of love and service from the community, especially through comforting hugs. After news outlets covered the incident, President Jeffrey R. Holland reached out to the Beagley family by phone and later attended Kirsten’s funeral.

Kyle shares the profound ministering received from President Holland, who emphasized that "faith always points forward" and that the family should look forward to reunion rather than dwelling on the past. President Holland also taught that "tears are the price we pay for love" and that God accepts the sacrifice of a "broken heart". Despite the immense grief, Kyle testifies that Jesus Christ is the Master Healer who "is fixing it, has fixed it, will fix it". By looking unto Christ, hope and healing are found, making what is broken whole again for eternity.

Resource: Church News Article

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This episode of the Grief and Belief podcast features hosts David Mickelson and Kori Andrews interviewing their friend, Ben Cummings, a university professor. Ben shares the profoundly difficult yet ultimately hopeful story of his daughter, Eleanor, who passed away from a rare form of leukemia (Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, or APML) at the age of about three and a half. Eleanor is lovingly remembered as a "firecracker" and a bundle of energy who loved "all things pink and purple," possessing a magical belief that she could fly with her fairy wings.

The central theme Ben explores is the hopeful principle that God is in the trenches with us during times of profound grief and challenge. Ben recounts the devastating onset of her illness, beginning with stroke-like symptoms that quickly worsened, leading to catastrophic strokes and brain swelling. The most agonizing decision came when he and his wife wrestled with when to remove Eleanor's life-sustaining support. They sought divine guidance, learning to trust not only God's will but also that "thy timing be done," eventually receiving an "overwhelming sense of peace".

Ben explains that this trial taught him a deeper level of love and compassion. He highlights "tender mercies" they received, including a nurse named "Hope" and unexpected support from neighbors and co-workers of diverse faith traditions. Ben concludes by offering a powerful testimony of the resurrection. He notes that his two youngest sons, Peter and John, were both born on Easter, serving as personal "witnesses of the resurrection," reinforcing his conviction that hope in Christ "saves".

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Welcome to the Grief and Belief podcast, hosted by David Mickelson and Kori Andrews, where we share stories of hope. In this episode, we welcome April Engstrom, who shares her experience regarding the passing of her mother, Cheryl Anne McLane, who died in 2020 due to her seventh bout of cancer. April was connected to the show by a friend from an earlier interview, Mary Colton.

April introduces Cheryl as an optimistic, determined, six-generation Texan. Cheryl was an avid sportswoman and dedicated equestrian. She was so passionate about the sport of cowboy mounted shooting—a very "wild west" and "Texas" pursuit—that she started the first women’s division (CMSA). Over 23 years, Cheryl battled seven different cancers, miraculously beating six of them. April describes her mother’s faith, developed after converting to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as "extremely simple and beautiful," serving as her "anchor" and providing a perspective of eternity. Cheryl emphasized that her most important roles were being a mother and wife, and loving her Savior.

April discusses the "heavensent gift" of being able to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed her to spend the last five months of her mother’s life at her side. While grieving the loss of her "Wonder Woman" mother—the "glue" of the family—April shares how her mother’s simple faith ultimately strengthened her own belief in eternal families. April finds profound comfort and hope in a journal her mother kept, entitled "52 Lists for Happiness", which details Cheryl's reliance on her faith even during her terminal diagnosis, making it a "priceless gift" that continues to support April’s journey through grief.Resources: 52 Lists for Happiness

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Welcome to the Grief and Belief podcast, hosted by David Mickelson and Kori Andrews, featuring Tiffany Oldham. Tiffany shares her powerful story of faith and the reality of angels. Tiffany and her husband, Jed, are married 18 years and live in a farming community outside Spanish Fork, Utah, raising their five children. They discuss their oldest son, George, a beloved "leader of the pack". George was an energetic, funny, and curious boy, earning the nickname "Curious George" and enjoying numerous activities like karate and football. George, who loved animals, passed away in a devastating accident on March 6, 2021, at age 12, while riding his new bike near their home.
Tiffany recounts the horrifying moment of realizing George would not survive, despite Jed’s attempts at life-saving measures. Feeling utterly hopeless, Tiffany knelt on the road, praying aloud and repeatedly begging Heavenly Father to send His angels to be with George, her husband, and their children. A major tender mercy arrived as she recalled that just two nights earlier, the family had unexpectedly watched a video titled "One-on-One" about a father who accidentally ran over his son, allowing her to bear testimony of the plan of salvation beforehand. Tiffany now relies completely on Heaven’s help, recognizing that the task of enduring such grief is impossible to carry alone. She feels supported by "loving hands" and knows she is "not alone" in her suffering.
Despite the agonizing reminders near their home, Tiffany felt an overwhelming feeling that George wanted them to stay and continue pursuing the dreams they shared. The family embraced the powerful symbolism derived from Jed’s last instruction to George—to "open the gate". This led to their motto: "living life like someone left the gate open," which Tiffany views as a message from George encouraging them to live fully and make new memories. She sees George as being on another mission and prays to be his companion, connecting with him through the Holy Ghost, as angels speak through its power. Tiffany and her family honor George through temple work, even establishing the tradition of "Christmas in heaven," where his friends and family gather to perform ordinances. She testifies that the Savior Jesus Christ loves us so much that He provides angels and constant reminders that "He's mindful of me".

Resources: One-On-One YouTube Video

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In this episode of the Grief and Belief podcast, hosts David Mickelson and Corey Andrews welcome Stu Davis to share the powerful story of losing his son, Grant, 19 years ago. Stu, an orthopedic surgeon, active outdoorsman, and a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, provides a glimpse into his family's life and his journey through medical school and his career. He describes his son Grant as a precocious, fun-loving, and "all-American great kid" who was outgoing, humorous, and deeply dedicated to his faith and family.
Stu recounts Grant's extraordinary passion and talent for road cycling, which began as a Boy Scout merit badge activity and quickly blossomed into a potential professional career. Grant was a nationally ranked cyclist who had been invited to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center just a month before his accident. This incredible self-driven dedication was tragically cut short when, at 16 years old, Grant collided with a parked truck during a routine training ride, resulting in a broken neck and a severe lack of oxygen to his brain. Stu, drawing on his medical background, quickly understood the severity of the situation and shares the family's decision to donate Grant's organs, which helped save three other lives.
Throughout the conversation, Stu reflects on the spiritual experiences that provided comfort and perspective in the aftermath of Grant's passing. He discusses the eternal promises found in Grant's patriarchal blessing, which Grant never had the chance to read himself, and how it reassured his family that this life is just a transition. Stu also explores how his medical training prepared him for the clinical reality of death but not for the profound sense of separation from his son. He shares his testimony that while he has questioned many things over the past 19 years, his knowledge that he will see Grant again because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ has been the "iron rod" he has held onto.

Resources: The Alchemist

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This episode of the Grief and Belief podcast features hosts David Mickelson and Kori Andrews interviewing their friend, Cindy Thredgold, who shares the story of her son, Connor. Connor, known by his family as a responsible "doer" who loved repairing cars, passed away as a missionary in the Taiwan Taipei mission in 2014. He and his companion tragically died from carbon monoxide poisoning, which Cindy described as quick and overwhelming.

The discussion centers on Cindy's hopeful theme: "Today’s challenge is tomorrow’s testimony," or, as found in Connor's scriptures, "Our greatest blessings come from our greatest trials". Cindy recounts the emotional difficulty of being notified by church leaders and the subsequent three-week wait for Connor’s body to be returned home from Taiwan. Despite the overwhelming grief, Cindy felt immediately "content" that Heavenly Father knew what He was doing and never experienced the anger that often accompanies loss.

Cindy highlights the "compensating blessings" that followed, noting that God provided personal comfort by arranging major family events (like the birth of her grandchild) to occur on anniversaries of Connor's death, emphasizing that Heavenly Father "knows our dates". She explains that experiencing this loss brought her to a deeper level of understanding of Christ's Atonement. In honor of Connor’s memory, Cindy also co-manages a service that provides free memorial portraits to the families of other missionaries who have passed away while serving.

Resources:

Virtual Cemetery for missionaries who died while serving

Virtual Cemetery for missionaries who died right before or after serving

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In this episode of the Grief and Belief podcast, hosts David Mickelson and Kori Andrews sit down with Addie Billman to discuss her story of profound loss, faith, and the protective power of angels. Addie shares how she met her fun and energetic husband, Wyatt, their love story, and the joy they shared with their young son, Arlo. Just two months shy of their second wedding anniversary, Wyatt was tragically killed in a car accident involving a semi-truck on black ice, leaving 21-year-old Addie a widow with a one-year-old son. Addie recounts the harrowing moments of discovering the accident and the unbelievable shock of having her greatest fear confirmed.
Throughout the episode, Addie describes the overwhelming grief and the tender mercies that helped her navigate the immediate aftermath of Wyatt's passing. She shares a sacred experience where she felt Wyatt's presence through their son Arlo, just hours after his death. However, the story takes an astonishing turn when, just four months later, Addie herself is involved in a severe car accident, also with a semi-truck. While trapped and unconscious in her vehicle, she had a remarkable near-death experience where she saw Wyatt and their miscarried baby, who assured her that everything would be okay before she woke up to the chaos of the crash scene.
Addie's story is a powerful testament to the reality of ministering angels and their ability to physically protect us. She explains how she chose gratitude over guilt, leaning on a quote by Francis Weller about carrying grief in one hand and gratitude in the other. She testifies that Wyatt's final message to her was a message of love for everyone from the angels on the other side. Ultimately, Addie shares how this journey deepened her relationship with Jesus Christ, who she came to know as a true friend who has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.

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In this deeply moving episode, we hear from Krista Isaacson, who bravely shares her journey as a self-described "hopeful mourner" after the passing of her cherished daughter, Elora. A mother of six and grandmother of three, Krista illuminates how her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ has been her anchor, providing solace and purpose through unimaginable grief.

Krista recounts a profound personal experience of divine preparation: two weeks before Elora became ill, she received a strong prompting to study how Jesus Christ faced immense pain in Gethsemane and declared, "Not my will but thine be done". This spiritual foresight provided her with scriptures, hymns, and words of peace, confidence, and love from Heavenly Father, which became a very personal answer to her prayers when she faced the agonizing decision about Elora's life support. She vividly describes feeling like she was sinking in a "dark torrent of water" when her faith was rocked, but by reaching out with the three-word prayer, "Help me, Lord," she felt the Savior take her hand, not removing her trials but promising she would not drown.

Her journey of belief led her to pen the book, "Unbearable Burden," reflecting her conviction that with Christ's grace, "every unbearable burden can become bearable". Krista testifies that Jesus Christ has "truly hath become my savior," trusting him implicitly to lead her to good, even through the hardest and most incomprehensible challenges. She deeply believes in his promise, "I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you" (John 14:18), having experienced His constant presence and help as a true friend who always keeps His promises.

Resources: Krista's website

Find Unbearable Burden on Amazon

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