How do you hold onto faith when life takes a turn you never expected?
On this week’s episode of Latter-day Lights, early-returned missionary Kenley Broadbent opens up about the day everything changed on her Peru Lima East mission. What started as occasional migraines spiraled into debilitating dizziness, nausea, and unexplained symptoms that eventually sent her home just nine months into her service.
Kenley shares the heartbreak of facing the stigma of being an early returnee, living with chronic illness, and her darkest months when depression made her question her purpose in the world. But through it all, she discusses the scripture in Philippians that stopped her spiral, her simple reminder of “but God.”, and how this ongoing trial has drawn her closer to Christ—even while she still doesn’t have all the answers.
Scott and Alisha relate through their own family health challenges as the conversation explores how physical trials can impact mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Together, they discuss finding purpose in unexpected paths, accepting service from others, and discovering that God can still work through us—even when life doesn’t look the way we planned.
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To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/HqM4OkHphB0
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Scott Brandley (00:00):
Hey there, as a Latter Day Lights listener, I
want to give you a very specialgift today.
My brand new book, Faith toStay.
This book is filled withinspiring stories, powerful
discoveries, and even freshinsights to help strengthen your
faith during the storms oflife.
So if you're looking to beinspired, uplifted, and
(00:21):
spiritually recharged, justvisit faithtoy.com.
Now, let's get back to theshow.
Hey everyone, I'm ScottBrandley.
Alisha Coakley (00:32):
And I'm Alisha Coakley.
Every member of the church hasa story to share, one that can
instill faith, invite growth,and inspire others.
Scott Brandley (00:40):
On today's episode, we're going to hear how
one early returned missionarybattling an undiagnosed chronic
illness is discovering herpurpose through Christ.
Welcome to Latter Day Lights.
Kenley Broadbent (01:13):
Thank you.
I'm super excited to be doingthis.
Alisha Coakley (01:17):
Well, we're excited to have you and thank
you for reaching out to us too.
We I I always say I love whenScott and I don't have to go
hunt people down.
Um it's always so much so muchnicer for us in a way when we
just have people who feelinspired and they reach out to
us.
And so we appreciate you.
And by the way, that color isso pretty on you.
Kenley Broadbent (01:37):
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
Alisha Coakley (01:46):
She's a little brighter and beautiful looking.
Kenley Broadbent (01:48):
I just figured what would look good on camera.
So yeah.
Scott Brandley (01:52):
I was gonna wear my pink flowery shirt too,
Kenley, but I didn't want toshow you up.
Alisha Coakley (01:56):
That's true.
Oh, very cool.
Well, Kenley, why don't you uhtell our listeners just a little
bit about yourself?
Kenley Broadbent (02:07):
Okay.
Well, my name is KenleyBroadbent.
Um, I live in Leighton, Utah,and I love to play the piano.
Um, I'll be um attending WeaverState University online and
majoring in sociology, and I'm21 years old.
Very nice.
How long have you played thepiano?
Single, single.
Alisha Coakley (02:27):
Okay.
Important things first.
Kenley Broadbent (02:31):
I know, I know, period.
Alisha Coakley (02:36):
You know.
Scott Brandley (02:39):
How long have you played the piano, Kenley?
Kenley Broadbent (02:42):
I've played like my whole entire life.
I love it.
So since I was like six orsomething.
Alisha Coakley (02:48):
What's your favorite kind of stuff to play?
Kenley Broadbent (02:50):
Oh my gosh.
I love like songs from theradio.
I love to put in my headphonesand play it with the song.
It's like my escape from theworld.
I love it.
I have like binders that arelike this big.
Alisha Coakley (03:04):
Oh my gosh.
Now, are you one of thosepeople that like you can hear it
and then you just like know howto bust it on the piano?
Kenley Broadbent (03:09):
Or do you have like music or like oh I can
like um sight read pretty well,so I can basically pick up
whatever you give me, but no, Inot that I couldn't.
Alisha Coakley (03:20):
Oh yeah.
Kenley Broadbent (03:21):
But we all have to.
Alisha Coakley (03:22):
Well, that's still super talented.
Kenley Broadbent (03:24):
So yeah.
Alisha Coakley (03:25):
Thank you.
That's awesome.
Very cool.
I love that.
Well, and congratulations ongoing to Weaver State.
I uh I miss all the purple outthere when I was in Austin.
Yeah.
So purple will be a great coloron you too.
Kenley Broadbent (03:41):
Yeah, still have to get all of it.
Yeah.
Scott Brandley (03:44):
There you go.
That's where I went.
That's where I got my degree.
We were state.
Kenley Broadbent (03:48):
What did you major in?
Scott Brandley (03:51):
In business administration.
Kenley Broadbent (03:52):
Oh, cool, cool.
He doesn't even use it.
This is pretty good though.
Awesome.
Scott Brandley (04:04):
Well, we're excited to have you on the show,
Kenley, and we'd love to hearyour story.
So why don't you tell us whereyour story begins?
Kenley Broadbent (04:11):
Okay, perfect.
Well, I feel like my storybegins from when I was a kid.
I mean, from like primary, Ican remember just wanting to go
on a mission.
And I feel like I've alwaystold people that my parents
raised missionaries, you know,that's just kind of I don't
know, that was always the endgoal for us, you know.
And even in my setting apartblessing, it said that my home
(04:33):
has always been like amissionary training center,
which I thought was super cool.
Um, and I guess from likebefore I went on a mission,
something that I was superafraid of, I don't know why, and
something I'm still trying tokind of figure out is I was so
scared about coming home early.
Like I even went to therapyabout it because I was just in
(04:54):
my head about it.
And I think that's just from myexperiences in like my old
wards and people that I've seenthat have come home early.
Sometimes from my experiences,it kind of just felt like it was
like, oh my gosh, whathappened?
But you know, whispers,whispers, and then it just kind
of faded into the background.
And I'd always see people whocame home, like, you know,
(05:16):
served their full time.
It was like, oh, they returnedwith honor.
And then some people who I'dseen that hadn't done that, they
didn't get that, which I didn'tthink was right.
And I think I was just superscared of that.
And so that was just somethingI had before my mission, and
even in my mission, I onlyserved for nine months, and that
was just something that was inmy head, which obviously now I'm
(05:37):
like, that was a flawed, aflawed thought, you know what I
mean?
Because all missions aremissions.
I feel like all missions arefull-time missions.
But yeah, so getting to mymission in July of 2023, I was
called to serve in the PerulianaEast mission, and I was
obsessed with it.
I mean, like when I got mycall, you know how like you ask
(05:59):
God for things like that youwant on your mission?
Or you know what I mean?
And I was like, I don't wantbugs, I don't want a walking
mission, I don't want to speakSpanish.
I'd rather not go somewherehot.
I don't want to eat rice on mymission, and I got all five of
those things, and I was like, Ohmy god, come on.
But then besides the bugs,those were like my favorite
(06:19):
things about my mission,actually.
I loved it.
And I served for fivetransfers, six, if you include
the MTC, because it was sixweeks, and obsessed with
everything.
I had five different companionsfor those five transfers.
Um I love the people, I lovethe food.
It was just the best ninemonths of my life.
(06:40):
And I I wouldn't change athing.
I wish I could go back, but soin August, I was in my fifth
area called Chocolate Gayo, andit was so good.
I was follow-up training um, mycompanion, and I don't know, it
was just great.
And we had like two weeks left,the end of the transfer.
(07:02):
So we were kind of getting tothat point of like change, you
know what I mean?
And because she was probablygonna leave.
So we were figuring out likehow to get around and stuff.
And August 7th is when Istarted getting sick.
So for like a background, I'vehad migraines my whole entire
life, like really, really badones.
(07:24):
And it's not uncommon for me tohave like intense ones, and I
had a few on my mission, and itwas fine.
You know what I mean?
I just took some pills and Iwas fine.
Um so on August 7th, no, August5th, I got a really, really,
really bad migraine.
And I was like, whatever, it'sfine.
You know what I mean?
And then the next day I startedto get super dizzy.
(07:46):
I was just walking around withmy companion, and I was like, I
don't feel good.
I'm probably dehydrated, youknow, because I just didn't
drink any enough water, anyways.
Um and so we're like, it'sfine, whatever.
And then the next day it goteven worse.
And I was like, I'm probablyjust getting sick.
It's fine.
And then that night we werewalking to the church with one
(08:07):
of our friends to have a lesson,and I just started not walking
weird.
Like, if I wanted to walk in astraight line, I would walk in
circles.
I couldn't really control it.
If I was like standing up, Iwould start falling to my right
side.
And we were like, that's notgood.
And my companion thought I hadhad a stroke.
(08:27):
I maybe thought I had a stroke.
We were like, This is insane.
I've never heard of anyone thatthis has really happened to.
Um, and so we hurried to thechurch.
And I mean, luckily, our friendwasn't there.
He didn't show up, which is, Imean, sad.
But so we called our missionnurse and this explained the
situation.
And she was like, Well, it wasprobably just your migraine.
(08:49):
It's just a fluke.
And I said, No, I've hadmigraines my whole life, and
this has never happened.
And so we went back to thehouse immediately, and you know,
they were just hoping it wouldblow over.
And so I took some medicine,some ibuprofen.
I don't know.
I was like, maybe they'll fixit.
And I went to bed.
(09:09):
And then the next two days, itjust kept on getting worse.
And we said, What the heck ishappening?
We didn't leave the housebecause both of us were afraid
that I would pass out, you know,because we had a pretty big
area and we had to go on busesif we wanted to go somewhere
far.
And the buses are insane andpoor.
The driving is wild.
And we were like, we're notgonna go somewhere if it's not
(09:30):
safe.
So we stayed in the house thewhole time, which was not fun.
I don't know how COVIDmissionaries did it.
It was horrible.
Um, because the week before, mycompanion had like a hurt leg
or something, so we couldn't goout that week.
And then the next two weeks wewere inside as well.
Um so on Sunday, no, on Monday,on P Day, I called home.
(09:52):
And my dad's a doctor, so I washoping he would have some
ideas.
And I said, I'm feelinghorrible because what's going
on.
I'm just feeling super dizzyand stuff and not walking right.
And he said, It's probably likeyour ear, you know, like
sometimes you can get vertigo.
Scott Brandley (10:07):
Oh, yeah.
Kenley Broadbent (10:08):
Yeah.
Alisha Coakley (10:09):
Like the equilibrium or something is off,
right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Kenley Broadbent (10:13):
Yeah.
And so the mission scheduled meum, oh my gosh, appointment at
the hospital.
And I was so upset because thepast two transferred, I had to
go to the hospital for stomachinfections.
And I was like, I'm notsupposed to go to the hospital
this transfer.
But we get there and meet thenurse, and she said it's
probably just vertigo, you know,and gave me some pills and we
(10:35):
went home.
And then I take the pills forthe next two days, and I kept
on, I just slept all day long.
And so I'd show them to my dadand he looked them up, and he
was like, These are literallyjust to knock you out.
They're not even supposed tohelp.
So I don't really know whatthose were, but again, nothing
changed and my symptoms justkept on getting worse and worse.
(10:56):
And so finally, um, after awhile, like almost a week or so,
the mission scheduled me an MRIjust to make sure nothing was
wrong.
And so we went back to thehospital um and scheduled that
MRI.
And this was August like 14th,I think, at the time.
And they couldn't get me inuntil September.
And I, you know, couldn't leavethe house.
(11:19):
And I was like, that's not fairto my companion, to my area,
our friends, you know, if we'rein the house, I can't do that to
my area and stuff.
And as we were every day, Iwould send my symptoms to the
mission nurse, and then shewould report that to the mission
president's wife, you know, um,just to make sure things were
(11:39):
fine.
And my symptoms kept onchanging.
It was really weird.
And so one day I was justhaving a really hard time
breathing.
It was just hard to breathe.
And on my mission papers, I hadput that I had um some
struggles with anxietybeforehand.
And so my mission president'swife was like, Oh, she's just
having anxiety, you know.
So she um she made anappointment with me for the
(12:00):
therapist, mission therapist.
And at first I was like, it'snot anxiety though, you know.
Um, but I met with him and Iexplained to him how I was
feeling about feeling so bad formy area if I were to stay for a
month.
And he said, I think you needto talk to your mission
president about that.
And so I did.
Right after that, I sent a textto my mission president and my
(12:21):
mission nurse, and I said, Ithink I need to go home.
I don't want to go home, butyou know, I need to get this
figured out, and this is thefastest way to get it figured
out.
And he, I mean, I have to giveso much credit to my mission
president and his wife, theywere the best.
I am obsessed with them, andthey made this process so much
easier for me.
(12:42):
Um so I mean, the second Itexted him, it kind of got the
ball rolling.
And I'm so grateful because Icouldn't really walk so far at
that time, and it was almost theend of transfers.
And so I was scared I was gonnahave to go home alone, you
know, like a layover and all theflights.
But I got to go home with twoother elders because it was end
(13:02):
of transfers and they were goinghome, which was such a blessing
from God.
And so I got that figured out,and I mean, like the second I
found out I was going home, Icalled my mom and I cried and
cried and cried for like a week.
It was horrible.
Um, but also like in thosetimes that I was crying, you
(13:23):
know, I'd go, I just like makeeye contact with my companion,
and she's like, You're fine, youcan go.
And I'd go to one of thebedrooms and just cry on my bed.
And I had never felt so manyangels and you know, God closer
to me than I did in thosemoments.
Um, so yeah, I was just incontact with my mom and stuff
coming home.
And I ended up going home the21st, but didn't get home until
(13:46):
the 22nd of August because youknow it was in red eye.
Um, and so I got home and Iregret this, but I told my mom
and dad not to invite anyone tothe airport except for my
grandparents because I didn'tknow what emotional state I was
gonna be in.
And the plan was that I wasgonna, you know, be home for a
transfer and go back out.
(14:08):
And so I thought I was gonnahave like another home party,
you know, airport greeting,whatever.
Um, but this was this was myone, and I got home and stuff,
and that day my dad he hasconnections, which is really
nice.
But he got me an appointmentfor an MRI, and we did it that
day and got the results thatday, and nothing was wrong.
(14:29):
And I said, Okay, that's fine.
I mean, it's probably good thatnothing's wrong, you know.
Um and the day after that, um,I went to an ENT, earnose throat
doctor, to check out my ears,and nothing was wrong again.
Um and then, like during thistime, I was just surprised
(14:49):
because coming home, I wasterrified.
I mean, ooh, sorry, going backa little bit.
Before I came home, my dad andsome other people thought that I
had maybe had a stroke or abrain tumor.
Those were like the worstpossibilities.
And I was more scared aboutwhat people were gonna think
that I'd come home than thepossibility of having a brain
tumor, which is ridiculous.
It's ridiculous.
(15:10):
But that's just where I was atat that point.
And I mean, the second I camehome, I got so many letters.
I like the primary kids madelike a poster for me and put it
on my door.
I had so many people come andvisit.
It was just such a blessing.
I mean, if there was a place tocome home early from a mission,
it is my ward.
It was just amazing.
Um, so that helped me a lot tokind of slow down, you know, and
(15:34):
really process what was goingon.
So after that, after the earnose throat, this was maybe in
September, I started doingphysical therapy because I
learned if I was looking side toside too long, I would just get
so dizzy.
It was so bad.
And so they thought somethingwas wrong, but something is
wrong.
And we went to physical therapyand it just made everything 10
(15:55):
times worse.
I'd get horrible migraines forlike weekends at a time that
wouldn't go away.
And we were like, all right,this is just making it worse.
Let's just stop.
And then in October, I went toa neurologist.
Um, again, nothing.
They just diagnosed with likePOTS and high blood pressure or
(16:16):
something, which, you know,obviously isn't the problem.
And that was super frustrating.
At that point, I was likepraying that something would be
wrong with me so they could findit.
Because how do you curesomething without a diagnosis,
you know?
And at that point, afterdoctors' appointments, and I
would find out that somethingwasn't wrong, I would go home
and cry and cry for hoursbecause I just wanted to get
(16:40):
back on my mission.
But after this neurologistappointment, I think I'd kind of
come to the realization that Iwasn't gonna go back on my
mission because I mean, I was sosick.
Um, and by the time they wouldfind me a diagnosis and heal me,
and I could like, you know,rework my strength or whatever,
(17:03):
it wouldn't be enough time toreally even go back on a
mission.
Um, and that killed me.
That was super, super hard tothink that all you know, my nine
months was over and that I wasofficially like an early return
missionary, um, which is not abad thing at all.
But in my head at that time, itwas it was just super scary to
(17:24):
me, I think.
Um, yeah.
And I had received tons andtons of blessings at that point,
and all of them said that Iwould get better at some point,
you know, it would go away.
But it was just superfrustrating, I think, you know,
um, that I wasn't gettingbetter.
(17:44):
Um, and this was probably thisnext part is probably the
hardest thing that happened tome since I had come home.
But my one of my friends whowas leaving on a mission, and so
I went to her board, and I wasterrified at that point because
I hadn't really put on socialsthat I'd come home yet.
But I knew that a lot of peoplethat I were gonna know were
(18:04):
gonna be there, and I was soscared, and so we sat in the
back trying to avoid peopleagain.
Looking back, this is so silly.
But we were sitting therewaiting for her to start, and
someone that I knew came and satbehind us, and I was like, try
to hide myself, kind of.
I was like not turning around,and so eventually I kind of
(18:25):
turned around and I was like,Oh, hey, and he said, Oh, oh my
gosh, you're home.
And I said, Yep.
And he said, What happened?
And I was like, Oh, well, I'mkind of sick, and they don't
know what's going on, and hejust kind of looked like he
didn't believe me, you know.
Like I just come home and Iturned around and silently I
(18:47):
tried to be quiet.
I saw the whole entire meetingbecause it was just I just
couldn't take it because likeall of my insecurities kind of
just came out and I couldn'tcontrol it, and it was
terrifying and I don't know,just not what I saw for myself,
you know.
And I think that August throughlike November of when I came
(19:14):
home, I was really angry at thesituation, not at God, because I
was like, I'll I'll be fine,you know, they'll heal he'll
heal me and I'll just move on mymerry way, and it hasn't
happened, and so Decemberthrough like now, a little bit
before now, I've just been soangry at God.
(19:35):
And I've you know, I've come toterms with my situation, and um
I feel like God has blessed mea lot, and you know, I'm
learning about him more, I'mgetting to know him more, and I
don't feel that anger as muchanymore, but it was just you
know, a bunch of why, because myfriends were coming home from
(19:58):
missions, they were going tocollege, some of them are
getting married, and I'm in abed.
Um, because as the symptomsprogressed, like what it really
is, because dizziness is just alot of things it can be.
My dizziness, the only way Ican explain it is if you're on a
roller coaster and you're goinglike in circles for a long time
and you get off that feeling oflike uneasiness.
(20:20):
That's what I feel 24-7, alongwith like nausea and stuff like
that.
And so I just thought that lifewas so unfair.
And I mean, I went to therapyfor a while during that time,
and it really, really helped.
Um, but I just felt super,super depressed and super done
(20:42):
with life, I would say, to thepoint of like April and May of
this year.
I was done.
You know, I was like, get meout of here, to the point of me
kind of being like, I don't wantto be here anymore.
You know what I mean?
If it's not getting better,yeah.
I need another solution, andthat was the only solution I
could really think of, um, whichwas super scary.
(21:03):
And I told my mom about it.
And again, just went to moretherapy and was trying to figure
it out, and it didn't stopuntil I read this verse.
I literally just grabbed myscriptures and opened up to a
random verse.
It was crazy.
But it's in Philip Philippians1, um, 21 to 25.
And it's just it's when Paul isthinking the same things that
(21:26):
I'm thinking right now.
And he said, For to me to liveis Christ and to die is gain.
But if I live in the flesh,this is the fruit of my labor.
Yet what I shall choose, I wotnot.
For I am in a strait betwixttwo, having a desire to depart
and to be with Christ, which isfar better.
Nevertheless, to abide in theflesh is more needful for you.
And having this confidence, Iknow that I shall abide and
(21:47):
continue with you all for yourfurtherance and joy of faith.
And so I took a step back and Isaid, Oh, okay, God, if you
need me here, if this is gonna,you know, if good is gonna come
of this, then I understand.
And I'll try my best and tolike, you know, where I am.
And then a few verses afterthat, it's Philippians 1.29.
(22:12):
And it says, For unto you it isgiven in the behalf of Christ,
not only to believe on him, butalso to suffer for his sake.
Um and then it just hit me, Isaid, How beautiful is it that
there's a God that has a planfor me that's specifically
designed for me.
And maybe it's being super sickand there's no diagnosis, and I
(22:36):
really don't have a view of myfuture right now, but that's so
beautiful that it's for me.
You know what I mean?
I signed up for this before Icame down here, and that
everyone has a plan for them.
I think that's insanelybeautiful.
And so now it's what month isit?
November.
(22:56):
It's been 14 months since I gotsick, and I still don't have an
answer.
Um, I feel like I'm getting alittle bit better day by day.
But and I don't want tosugarcoat this because sometimes
I don't like it when people goon these and they're like, I'm
so great when they're not,because I don't want to pretend
like I'm, you know, everything'sfixed and I'm just the happiest
(23:17):
person there ever is becauseI'm still struggling and days
are super hard.
I have my monthly breakdownswhere I can just let it all go
for a minute.
But I don't know, I just thinkthat this process has brought me
super, super close to Christand to my heavenly father and
their relationship with me.
And yeah.
Scott Brandley (23:38):
Wow.
Yeah, this is this is wildbecause my daughter is she got
diagnosed with dysautonomia,which is kind of a version of
POTS, or maybe even not fullpots.
We we don't know yet either.
We're kind of in the air still,too.
But it but for the past about14 months, almost the exact same
(23:59):
time as you, really, we've beengoing through something very
similar where she she justpasses out randomly, just gets
dizzy all the time.
That's so hard.
Yeah.
So I can relate to you.
I as the dad, one time I wentand picked her up from her
(24:20):
friend's house because she hadpassed out, and we didn't know
what was going on at the time.
And by the time from the time Ipicked her up from her friend's
house to the time we got to thehospital, she had passed out in
the car at least 20 times.
Alisha Coakley (24:33):
Oh my goodness, I did not know this.
This is crazy.
Wow.
Scott Brandley (24:38):
It was it was crazy, and I was freaking out.
Alisha Coakley (24:41):
Yeah, yeah.
Scott Brandley (24:42):
I didn't know what was going on, and she would
she would pass out, and thenshe'd come to and she'd be like,
Hey dad, what's going on?
Where are we going?
And then she was like, She'dpass out again, she'd come up.
Oh, why are we driving in thecar?
Like, it was the craziestthing.
Alisha Coakley (24:56):
Oh my gosh.
Scott Brandley (24:58):
But but things, things, I mean, she as she's
kind of learned, and we've goneto the doctor several times,
like you, right?
Like she's she's learning howto cope with it, she's learning
ways that you know that she cantake better care of herself to
make those symptoms not as umyou know not constant.
(25:20):
Yeah, it sounds like you'rekind of figuring that out too,
right?
Like yeah, it's it's a journey,it's a it's a process, and
you've sometimes things willwork and sometimes things don't
work.
That kind of sounds verysimilar to what you're going
through.
Kenley Broadbent (25:35):
Yeah, yeah.
Health problems areknowledgeable anytime.
Alisha Coakley (25:40):
Well, and it's it's interesting because it's
like you have something going onwith your physical health, but
because of that, it actuallyaffects your mental health too,
right?
Which then affects youremotional health and you know,
it's like a it's like a what'sthe word?
It's like a snowball effect,right?
Where it's not just thisanymore.
(26:01):
If it was just this, you canhandle just this, right?
Because it's this and this andthis and this and this.
Like it's so frustrating, youknow.
Um, I want to ask you a littlebit about because you had
mentioned how like you werereally upset with God, and now
you're getting to the pointwhere like you know, you're
trying to like dissipate thatanger towards him and stuff.
(26:22):
I have a a form of leukemiathat's not curable, but it's
like I can live with it.
And right now I'm in remissionfor it.
I've been in remission for afew years.
Um but it's always like thatconstant fear of like, what if
it comes back?
And what if it, you know what Imean?
So even like, even though I'mnot feeling the effects of it
right at the moment, it likeplays in your head a lot.
(26:43):
And I too experienced thatanger with Heavenly Father, and
it was weird because I wouldpray to him and I would trust
him, and like I believe in thescriptures, but also then I'm
angry at him.
And so I'm like, how do youhave the two extremes?
You know, how do you how do youdeal with that?
And how I guess my question foryou is how do you let that
(27:06):
affect your testimony, good,bad, or otherwise, when you have
that that hot and cold kind ofrelationship?
Kenley Broadbent (27:16):
I mean, I think it was really, really hard
for a while with my testimonybecause it's always that
question of why does God allowthis to happen to good people?
You know what I mean?
I served a mission for you, Igave my whole entire life to
you.
You know, wouldn't it be betterfor me to be on my mission
right now, helping your childrenthan being at home sick?
And I think that I don't know,and that's a question I'm still
(27:39):
trying to figure out.
But I think it's just thoselittle moments that I hold on
to.
You know, in like DNC six, Ithink it is, but it's like
remember that night, like youknow, you felt me or whatever.
I think that's what I kind ofhold on to is those like glimmer
moments where I really feelGod.
And then I just my bishop toldme one time, is this if you're
(28:01):
at the end of your vote, tie aknot and hold on.
I think about that all thetime, especially with my
testimony now, that if I'm notfeeling great about it at this
moment, just you know, tie aknot and hold on and get to the
next moment, I guess.
Alisha Coakley (28:22):
So how do you let I don't know, I guess do you
think that raises how do younot let it be the center of your
of your focus?
You know, like how do you havethis deal with it, but not let
it be the thing that like playsthe leading light in your life?
Kenley Broadbent (28:47):
I think service for sure.
Um, there was a time earlierwhen I had come home that my mom
and I would just pick a randomperson in the ward and like just
bring them a gift.
You know what I mean?
Or spring study that plays abig part.
You know what I mean?
And I think for me it was a lotof it is optimism for the
(29:08):
future.
You know what I mean?
Being like this won't I mean,thankfully this won't last
forever, as the blessings thatI've had say, and that it will
get better, but it's you know,takes a lot out of you.
Alisha Coakley (29:22):
Yeah.
Yeah, for sure.
Scott Brandley (29:25):
I mean, faith is one of is a challenge
sometimes, right?
Because we have to have thefaith in in God and in the
priesthood.
Um, that's what gives us hope,right?
But then there's always it'snever on our time schedule.
That's the hard part.
Yeah.
We have to it's on God's timeschedule, and we have to be
(29:48):
patient a lot of the times withour faith.
That can be a challenge, andyou're kind of going through
that right now with with this,right?
Kenley Broadbent (29:57):
Yeah, it can be so hard.
Alisha Coakley (30:01):
Yeah, for sure.
Scott Brandley (30:04):
I love that you, you know, you're you're trying
to find ways to serve.
One of the things that, youknow, I think you're it sounds
like you're trying to do is whatcan I do in my current state to
serve, right?
Because you physically you'renot able to go out and maybe mow
someone's lawn or like dosomething physical.
(30:26):
So um like what's your what'syour thought process there when
you're trying to think of waysyou can serve somebody?
Kenley Broadbent (30:37):
I think it's super cool nowadays that we have
so much technology.
That's a big part that I likebecause you know it's just it's
hard to get together with peopleright now, like in my
situation, I'll have to cancelwith people like three times to
hang out in person.
Um so I think those texts, youknow, being able to communicate
(30:58):
with people.
I think that sometimes we thinkof service as like, yeah, you
know, like going out and doingsomething, but it can be so
simple as just sending a text,you know, and being like, I'm
thinking of you right now.
And I don't know.
For me, that has just gone along ways.
Alisha Coakley (31:16):
Well, let me ask you, I mean, you're you're
focusing on serving others, buthave you also been able to
accept service from others?
Because I'm sure, I'm surethere are a lot of things that
that you feel like maybe youneed help with now or whatever
else that um that could be ablessing for other people to be
able to help with, right?
Kenley Broadbent (31:37):
Well, that's a really good question because
like when I got on my mission, Iloved it.
I was so happy because like Ididn't have to text my mom to go
to the grocery store.
You know what I mean?
I could just do whatever Iwanted all the time.
And I loved that independence.
And I was just like so likedrunk on it, you know what I
mean?
I just I loved it.
And so coming home, likeusually I can't even take a
(32:00):
shower by myself.
My mom has to help me withthat.
And on bad days, she, you know,brings all my meals down to my
bed for me and stuff like that.
It was hard.
I hated it, and I still havetrouble accepting help.
I'm just I don't like acceptinghelp from people and being
vulnerable.
I hate being vulnerable withpeople.
And so this whole time I'vejust kind of pretended that I'm
(32:21):
fine, which isn't healthy.
It's good to let people knowwhen you need help.
But it's been a learningopportunity with how many people
from the ward.
I mean, they're just amazingthat will bring over, you know,
little things and visit forsmall amounts of time.
And I don't know, I think Ithink it's really important,
(32:43):
like a scripture, that onescript that's like mourn with
those that mourn and comfortthose that stand in need and
comfort.
It's super fun.
I mean, for me, I feel like Ilove to go and do that for other
people, but I hate it whenpeople do it for me.
It's been a really goodlearning opportunity for me that
I don't think that I would havebeen able to receive and really
understand unless I had reallygone through this first.
Alisha Coakley (33:05):
Yeah.
Yeah, it makes sense.
It's that's definitely one ofthe things I I will tell, I
mean, it's taken my daughter's12 and that's when I was
diagnosed.
So it's taken me a good decadeto get to the point where um I'm
able to actually accept helpway faster now, you know.
Like if someone offers it, I'mlike, yes, that would be
(33:26):
amazing.
Thank you so, so much.
And I like genuinely feel it.
And I there's still a part ofme that feels bad, right?
Like I'm like, yeah, I don'twant to be a burden, but then
we're just gonna take the help.
We're just gonna let them haveblessings.
It's totally fine.
Like you have to like gothrough your head.
But I like that you're learningthat faster than I was, because
that um, you know, I I think itI don't know, it's it's weird
(33:48):
because like you, yes, you don'twant to be a burden and you
also want to be able to beself-reliant.
Like that's one thing that'slike very prevalent with um with
our our faith and with thegospel, is just being able to do
all that you can do, right?
As much as you can.
But also, yeah, that wholeservice thing is is a little
tricky because it's like, yeah,you want to be able to serve
others and you have to beservable, you know, you have to
(34:11):
be willing to take the help andand to understand that like
there's people who you know,they're looking for that kind of
light, and they're looking tobe able to build their
testimonies and to be able toget out of their own problems
too, sometimes, right?
Like it's a break and a relieffor them too, who are dealing
with something maybe somethingtotally different than what
we're dealing with.
Kenley Broadbent (34:32):
So oh, for sure.
Scott Brandley (34:34):
Well, that's a that brings up a good point.
If everyone just only serveswho's being served.
Yeah, right.
I think, and that is hard forus, but I mean, this could be a
an alert a really uniquelearning opportunity for you in
your life right now, especiallywhen you're so young, just to be
uh open to being served andhelped in you know, at this
(34:57):
point in your life, couldactually do a lot of good in
your life, not only for youbecause you need it, but also
for other people that need to beable to serve someone else.
Right if there's no one toserve, right?
They can't they can't giveeither, right?
Kenley Broadbent (35:16):
That's what my mom my mom says that all the
time.
Every time I don't want toaccept help, but I'm like, mom,
no, she says, but it's gonnamake them so happy.
She says, you know, it's gonnabe good for them, and then I
kind of I'm like fine.
Scott Brandley (35:32):
Yeah, it feels so good to serve, right?
Like you just get that goodfeeling inside, it makes you
feel so happy, and but so beserved being able to be served
creates a blessing for thosethat are serving.
And you get the uniqueopportunity to be able to be on
the receiving end right now, andlike you said, it's not gonna
(35:55):
last forever, but just think ofthe blessings you're gonna give
to people that can serve you,yeah.
Right, so you it takes them ittakes a little bit of a mental
shift, right?
Alisha Coakley (36:09):
Yeah, you know what I just thought about.
So, you know, it's Scott, Scottand I are we're
entrepreneurial, like that's ahard word to say,
entrepreneurial.
Anyway, uh, and so we're allwe're we're business minded
many, many times, you know, inour lives.
Uh, one of the things that Itry to do in business is I
(36:29):
always try to make sure that I'mnot the smartest person in the
room, right?
Like I always want to be theperson who can learn from the
other people, right?
Like I I love knowledge and Ilove hearing about people's
stories and their experiencebecause I feel like it helps me
grow and it helps me becomebetter.
You know, like if I'm the onethat has all the ideas, then
then that's where my cath is at,right?
(36:49):
Like I can only do as much as Ican do, but I don't want to I
don't want to be here, I want tobe here.
So, in a way, letting peopleserve you, it also opens up an
opportunity for you to learn howto serve differently, right?
Because like you never knowwhat inspiration is coming from
other people and how to serve.
And you might think, forexample, we had um Ken Um
(37:11):
Williams.
Well and he has he he did thiswhole thing where he uh he
basically makes chocolate cakeevery Sunday and he'll have
these little containers ofchocolate cake, and you know,
sometimes it's like he'll giveit to you know whoever's
birthday it is or whatever else,but but he always has them kind
of at the ready on Sundays, andum, and it's his way of just
(37:33):
being prepared when he getsinspiration to give someone a
treat.
He already, you know, hedoesn't have to go to the store,
he doesn't have to buy stuff,like he's already prepared, and
I it's almost like a pre-servicementality.
And I love that because I neverthought about it before.
And I think a lot of the timeswhenever I would get ideas on
how to serve people, I alwaysthought I had to have this big,
(37:53):
huge grand jester.
And so I'm like, I need to callhim and I need to schedule this
and that and it becomes almostlike a task.
But I loved his perspective ofjust being prepared to serve,
right?
Like just being ready to serve.
Um, I know I've talked to someother people too who talked
about how they literally willschedule out time in their day
to be able to act oninspiration, which sounds crazy,
(38:17):
right?
Because promptings comewhenever they come, but they've
noticed this increase almostlike they're working with the
Lord and they're saying, Hey,hey, Lord, like I'm giving this
hour every single day to likewhatever you need, right?
Like if you need me to stop andhelp someone fix their tire on
the side of the road, or if youneed me to buy someone's
groceries when they're a grocerystore, or you want me to go
just call a friend and see howthey're doing.
(38:38):
Like they have an hour a daywhere they just map it out and
they're just like, Oh, I'm justgonna, you know, see if
inspiration hits.
And if it doesn't, then theyhave something that they'll plan
on.
You know what I mean?
Like they'll they'll activelyseek out an opportunity to serve
someone who's in their bubbleat that time.
And so, um, anyway, my wholepoint is letting people serve
(38:59):
you can actually inspire you onhow to serve other people better
too, right?
Kenley Broadbent (39:04):
That's actually crazy genius.
I need to do that.
I haven't thought about thatbefore either.
That's cool.
Scott Brandley (39:13):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, this might be interestingfor you to know, Kenley, but
the reason why this podcastexists is because I s I went to
uh an LDS uh publishing, media,and arts uh um conference
because I was writing a book,and I sat at a table at lunch
(39:36):
next to a girl who came homefrom her mission early.
And she wrote a book calledEarly Homecoming.
Her name is Kristen Reaver, andI just happened to randomly sit
by her at this table, and wegot to talking, and she told me
her story how she came homeearly from her mission.
She actually got bit by some bylike a bug or something, and it
(39:59):
made her really sick.
And she came home, and it wasthat you know, overcoming that
stigma and uh you know that uhpressure sometimes that we feel
if you know coming home early.
Um, but I asked her how shetaught how she got that message
out about her book, and she saidshe started a podcast.
(40:20):
And on the way home from thatconference that day, I had the
idea of giving people anopportunity to share their
stories on a podcast.
So that's why Latter-day Lightsexist.
No, because she came home earlyfrom her mission.
Alisha Coakley (40:35):
I listened to her podcast.
Yeah.
Scott Brandley (40:38):
Oh, you do?
Alisha Coakley (40:39):
Yes, yes, for being the circle has been
completed.
Kenley Broadbent (40:44):
Well, because that's one of the points that I
wanted to make was it's soimportant to find community, you
know, with people that you canrelate to and relate to you.
And so when I came home and Iwas struggling with coming home
early, I actually searched upcoming home early podcasts and I
listened to person all thetime.
And then with like chronicillness, I followed like
Instagram accounts with tons ofpeople who, you know, suffer
(41:07):
with like similar things.
And I mean, that helped me somuch too.
And I mean, especially with thepodcast, it helped me to learn
that like coming home early isnot a bad thing.
You know what I mean?
You are not less worthy of aperson if you come home early.
Which I don't know how that gotin my head, but that is kind of
what I thought, you know,before my mission.
(41:27):
And I am so grateful for thisexperience that taught me that
that is not the case.
And it doesn't matter how longyou served, how you serve,
service, proselytizing, it doesnot matter.
It doesn't matter how long youserve.
The fact is that you want toserve the Lord.
And I mean, that's amazingbecause missions are hard
service and proselytizing.
(41:48):
And I mean, God is so grateful.
You know, that scripture that'slike if you have a desire to
serve, you're called to thework.
I believe in thatwholeheartedly.
And I mean, yeah.
Scott Brandley (42:02):
Well, that's another benefit like that that
Alisha and I feel we're old.
Alisha Coakley (42:10):
People are by that.
Scott Brandley (42:12):
We're not the 19-year-old missionaries out on
the street paving the pavement,but even like I just turned 50
this year, even I can still be amissionary.
This is how I do missionarywork, right?
I I have a podcast that wherepeople share their stories.
That's missionary work, right?
(42:32):
My my wife, she just got calledto serve in the temple once a
week.
That's how she can domissionary work, right?
Like it missionary work is onething I've learned in my 50
years of being super old now.
Um it can it there's so manyways you can serve, so many
ways.
I mean, even chocolate cake.
(42:54):
Like, who would have thought,right?
He makes chocolate cake.
That's how he serves.
It's it there's so many ways wecan serve God, and each one is
unique, and each person can doit in their own unique way.
And you know, this is this is atime in your life you might
never get back again whereyou're in this unique position
(43:16):
where you need other people'shelp, so you get to learn from
them, like Alisha said, but thenalso by by them serving you,
you are you are actually servingthem too because you're giving
them a a purpose.
Kenley Broadbent (43:31):
Right.
Scott Brandley (43:31):
It's it's weird, but you really are helping
them.
Also, it gives you ability theability to get to know them
better and create friendshipsand bonds that you might never
have had otherwise, even if it'sjust with your mom and your
family, that still counts,right?
So, you know, you've got somereally unique.
(43:52):
I know this is a challengingtime in your life, but you do
have some really uniqueopportunities here too.
And I I see that you're lookingat those.
That's why you're on thispodcast, right?
You're you're seeing some ofthose opportunities already in
your life and and looking at theblessings that are coming
through the challenge, which I Iapplaud you for because it's
(44:14):
hard.
And but I think it's great thatyou're willing to, even when
you're not feeling good, evenwhen times are hard, you're
still willing to get out thereand do something.
I mean, this podcast today,people are gonna listen to it,
and you never know who who elseis going through something
similar to this.
You could inspire them and helpthem to, you know, have some
(44:39):
light and some maybe some newinspiration and ideas in their
lives.
So, you know, we reallyappreciate you coming on and and
sharing your story today.
Alisha Coakley (44:48):
Yeah, exactly.
Scott Brandley (44:50):
Yeah, thank you.
Alisha Coakley (44:54):
Good.
Well, Miss Kinley, before wewrap up, um, do you have any
last thoughts?
Anything that you'd like toshare with our listeners to kind
of, you know, keep it going.
Kenley Broadbent (45:07):
I guess one thing that's just been on my
mind so recently is I have aquote in my room that says, but
God, period.
And I love that because I thinkabout it all the time.
You know what I mean?
That life is hard, but God isgood.
You know, I'm sick, but God hasa plan.
You know what I mean?
And I just think that I guessif I had any final thoughts,
(45:27):
it's just that God is good allthe time and it will work out.
Alisha Coakley (45:32):
Yeah.
Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree.
And you know, I I think uh it'sit's okay if you still have a
little bit of frustration withhim or anger towards him,
because he can handle it, right?
Yeah, he can handle it.
And I think uh there was oneperson that that spoke once
about that, and they're like,you know, if you're gonna be mad
(45:54):
at anyone, go ahead and be madat God, but still keep talking
to him.
Just like if we're upset with aparent, you know, like we don't
want to close off that thatrelationship.
Like you can I don't know, Ithink about my kids sometimes
when they were little and they'dcall me a poopy head, you know,
like I can't say, you know, butthey but I was still their mom
and they still love me.
And then you know what I mean?
(46:14):
Like that like that's okay.
Like you can be frustrated withme because guess what?
I I love you unconditionally,and I'm I'm gonna be there and
I'm still gonna support you andhelp you out.
And like Heavenly Father isnever gonna try to be like
taking revenge on us, or youknow, like truly everything he
does is gonna be is gonna be forour good, whether we can see it
or not.
And so, um, you know, so that'sokay.
(46:36):
Like, if you gotta have yourfeelings, have your feelings,
but yeah, just don't come out ofthe nature, you know what I
mean?
Keep keep them in the loop andkeep talking to them and makes
things a little a little biteasier, even if they're really
hard.
Kenley Broadbent (46:51):
That's just true.
Well, that's so sweet.
Alisha Coakley (46:54):
All right.
Well, thank you so much,Kenley, for coming on here
today, for sharing your story.
We really, I mean, Scott and Iboth really do hope that not
only do we find out what's goingon with you, but Scott, you
know, I don't know if it's youknow which daughter, but whoever
it is, I I hope that both ofyou guys are able to find some
answers.
And um, if not answers, peace,right?
(47:15):
At the very least, just makesure you, you know, hopefully
find some peace with that.
Um, and if uh any of ourlisteners are on today and they
have suggestions or advice orum, you know, thoughts,
feelings, comments, things likethat, we just encourage you guys
to go ahead and um drop us aline, put it in the comments so
(47:35):
that Kenley can read it.
And uh if you guys have anylike big long thing, you can go
ahead and just email us, right?
We can get that message toKenley.
So we hope that you guysdefinitely do your five-second
missionary work, that you shareher story and that you let us
know, you know, what part of herstory um touched your heart.
Scott Brandley (47:53):
Yeah.
And um, if you do have a storythat you'd like to share, like
Kenley did today, go tolatterdaylights.com or email us
at latterdaylights at gmail.comand we'd love to have you on the
show.
So thanks again, Kenley, forbeing on.
It's been a pleasure to get toknow you and and hear your
(48:14):
story, and we wish you all thebest.
And thanks everyone for tuningin, and we'll talk to you next
week with another episode ofLatterday Lights.
Till then, take care.
Thanks, guys.
Bye bye.
Hey there, as a Latter Day Lights listener, I
want to give you a very specialgift today.
My brand new book, Faith toStay.
This book is filled withinspiring stories, powerful
discoveries, and even freshinsights to help strengthen your
faith during the storms oflife.
So if you're looking to beinspired, uplifted, and
(00:21):
spiritually recharged, justvisit faithtoy.com.
Now, let's get back to theshow.
Hey everyone, I'm ScottBrandley.
Alisha Coakley (00:32):
And I'm Alisha Coakley.
Every member of the church hasa story to share, one that can
instill faith, invite growth,and inspire others.
Scott Brandley (00:40):
On today's episode, we're going to hear how
one early returned missionarybattling an undiagnosed chronic
illness is discovering herpurpose through Christ.
Welcome to Latter Day Lights.
Kenley Broadbent (01:13):
Thank you.
I'm super excited to be doingthis.
Alisha Coakley (01:17):
Well, we're excited to have you and thank
you for reaching out to us too.
We I I always say I love whenScott and I don't have to go
hunt people down.
Um it's always so much so muchnicer for us in a way when we
just have people who feelinspired and they reach out to
us.
And so we appreciate you.
And by the way, that color isso pretty on you.
Kenley Broadbent (01:37):
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
Alisha Coakley (01:46):
She's a little brighter and beautiful looking.
Kenley Broadbent (01:48):
I just figured what would look good on camera.
So yeah.
Scott Brandley (01:52):
I was gonna wear my pink flowery shirt too,
Kenley, but I didn't want toshow you up.
Alisha Coakley (01:56):
That's true.
Oh, very cool.
Well, Kenley, why don't you uhtell our listeners just a little
bit about yourself?
Kenley Broadbent (02:07):
Okay.
Well, my name is KenleyBroadbent.
Um, I live in Leighton, Utah,and I love to play the piano.
Um, I'll be um attending WeaverState University online and
majoring in sociology, and I'm21 years old.
Very nice.
How long have you played thepiano?
Single, single.
Alisha Coakley (02:27):
Okay.
Important things first.
Kenley Broadbent (02:31):
I know, I know, period.
Alisha Coakley (02:36):
You know.
Scott Brandley (02:39):
How long have you played the piano, Kenley?
Kenley Broadbent (02:42):
I've played like my whole entire life.
I love it.
So since I was like six orsomething.
Alisha Coakley (02:48):
What's your favorite kind of stuff to play?
Kenley Broadbent (02:50):
Oh my gosh.
I love like songs from theradio.
I love to put in my headphonesand play it with the song.
It's like my escape from theworld.
I love it.
I have like binders that arelike this big.
Alisha Coakley (03:04):
Oh my gosh.
Now, are you one of thosepeople that like you can hear it
and then you just like know howto bust it on the piano?
Kenley Broadbent (03:09):
Or do you have like music or like oh I can
like um sight read pretty well,so I can basically pick up
whatever you give me, but no, Inot that I couldn't.
Alisha Coakley (03:20):
Oh yeah.
Kenley Broadbent (03:21):
But we all have to.
Alisha Coakley (03:22):
Well, that's still super talented.
Kenley Broadbent (03:24):
So yeah.
Alisha Coakley (03:25):
Thank you.
That's awesome.
Very cool.
I love that.
Well, and congratulations ongoing to Weaver State.
I uh I miss all the purple outthere when I was in Austin.
Yeah.
So purple will be a great coloron you too.
Kenley Broadbent (03:41):
Yeah, still have to get all of it.
Yeah.
Scott Brandley (03:44):
There you go.
That's where I went.
That's where I got my degree.
We were state.
Kenley Broadbent (03:48):
What did you major in?
Scott Brandley (03:51):
In business administration.
Kenley Broadbent (03:52):
Oh, cool, cool.
He doesn't even use it.
This is pretty good though.
Awesome.
Scott Brandley (04:04):
Well, we're excited to have you on the show,
Kenley, and we'd love to hearyour story.
So why don't you tell us whereyour story begins?
Kenley Broadbent (04:11):
Okay, perfect.
Well, I feel like my storybegins from when I was a kid.
I mean, from like primary, Ican remember just wanting to go
on a mission.
And I feel like I've alwaystold people that my parents
raised missionaries, you know,that's just kind of I don't
know, that was always the endgoal for us, you know.
And even in my setting apartblessing, it said that my home
(04:33):
has always been like amissionary training center,
which I thought was super cool.
Um, and I guess from likebefore I went on a mission,
something that I was superafraid of, I don't know why, and
something I'm still trying tokind of figure out is I was so
scared about coming home early.
Like I even went to therapyabout it because I was just in
(04:54):
my head about it.
And I think that's just from myexperiences in like my old
wards and people that I've seenthat have come home early.
Sometimes from my experiences,it kind of just felt like it was
like, oh my gosh, whathappened?
But you know, whispers,whispers, and then it just kind
of faded into the background.
And I'd always see people whocame home, like, you know,
(05:16):
served their full time.
It was like, oh, they returnedwith honor.
And then some people who I'dseen that hadn't done that, they
didn't get that, which I didn'tthink was right.
And I think I was just superscared of that.
And so that was just somethingI had before my mission, and
even in my mission, I onlyserved for nine months, and that
was just something that was inmy head, which obviously now I'm
(05:37):
like, that was a flawed, aflawed thought, you know what I
mean?
Because all missions aremissions.
I feel like all missions arefull-time missions.
But yeah, so getting to mymission in July of 2023, I was
called to serve in the PerulianaEast mission, and I was
obsessed with it.
I mean, like when I got mycall, you know how like you ask
(05:59):
God for things like that youwant on your mission?
Or you know what I mean?
And I was like, I don't wantbugs, I don't want a walking
mission, I don't want to speakSpanish.
I'd rather not go somewherehot.
I don't want to eat rice on mymission, and I got all five of
those things, and I was like, Ohmy god, come on.
But then besides the bugs,those were like my favorite
(06:19):
things about my mission,actually.
I loved it.
And I served for fivetransfers, six, if you include
the MTC, because it was sixweeks, and obsessed with
everything.
I had five different companionsfor those five transfers.
Um I love the people, I lovethe food.
It was just the best ninemonths of my life.
(06:40):
And I I wouldn't change athing.
I wish I could go back, but soin August, I was in my fifth
area called Chocolate Gayo, andit was so good.
I was follow-up training um, mycompanion, and I don't know, it
was just great.
And we had like two weeks left,the end of the transfer.
(07:02):
So we were kind of getting tothat point of like change, you
know what I mean?
And because she was probablygonna leave.
So we were figuring out likehow to get around and stuff.
And August 7th is when Istarted getting sick.
So for like a background, I'vehad migraines my whole entire
life, like really, really badones.
(07:24):
And it's not uncommon for me tohave like intense ones, and I
had a few on my mission, and itwas fine.
You know what I mean?
I just took some pills and Iwas fine.
Um so on August 7th, no, August5th, I got a really, really,
really bad migraine.
And I was like, whatever, it'sfine.
You know what I mean?
And then the next day I startedto get super dizzy.
(07:46):
I was just walking around withmy companion, and I was like, I
don't feel good.
I'm probably dehydrated, youknow, because I just didn't
drink any enough water, anyways.
Um and so we're like, it'sfine, whatever.
And then the next day it goteven worse.
And I was like, I'm probablyjust getting sick.
It's fine.
And then that night we werewalking to the church with one
(08:07):
of our friends to have a lesson,and I just started not walking
weird.
Like, if I wanted to walk in astraight line, I would walk in
circles.
I couldn't really control it.
If I was like standing up, Iwould start falling to my right
side.
And we were like, that's notgood.
And my companion thought I hadhad a stroke.
(08:27):
I maybe thought I had a stroke.
We were like, This is insane.
I've never heard of anyone thatthis has really happened to.
Um, and so we hurried to thechurch.
And I mean, luckily, our friendwasn't there.
He didn't show up, which is, Imean, sad.
But so we called our missionnurse and this explained the
situation.
And she was like, Well, it wasprobably just your migraine.
(08:49):
It's just a fluke.
And I said, No, I've hadmigraines my whole life, and
this has never happened.
And so we went back to thehouse immediately, and you know,
they were just hoping it wouldblow over.
And so I took some medicine,some ibuprofen.
I don't know.
I was like, maybe they'll fixit.
And I went to bed.
(09:09):
And then the next two days, itjust kept on getting worse.
And we said, What the heck ishappening?
We didn't leave the housebecause both of us were afraid
that I would pass out, you know,because we had a pretty big
area and we had to go on busesif we wanted to go somewhere
far.
And the buses are insane andpoor.
The driving is wild.
And we were like, we're notgonna go somewhere if it's not
(09:30):
safe.
So we stayed in the house thewhole time, which was not fun.
I don't know how COVIDmissionaries did it.
It was horrible.
Um, because the week before, mycompanion had like a hurt leg
or something, so we couldn't goout that week.
And then the next two weeks wewere inside as well.
Um so on Sunday, no, on Monday,on P Day, I called home.
(09:52):
And my dad's a doctor, so I washoping he would have some
ideas.
And I said, I'm feelinghorrible because what's going
on.
I'm just feeling super dizzyand stuff and not walking right.
And he said, It's probably likeyour ear, you know, like
sometimes you can get vertigo.
Scott Brandley (10:07):
Oh, yeah.
Kenley Broadbent (10:08):
Yeah.
Alisha Coakley (10:09):
Like the equilibrium or something is off,
right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Kenley Broadbent (10:13):
Yeah.
And so the mission scheduled meum, oh my gosh, appointment at
the hospital.
And I was so upset because thepast two transferred, I had to
go to the hospital for stomachinfections.
And I was like, I'm notsupposed to go to the hospital
this transfer.
But we get there and meet thenurse, and she said it's
probably just vertigo, you know,and gave me some pills and we
(10:35):
went home.
And then I take the pills forthe next two days, and I kept
on, I just slept all day long.
And so I'd show them to my dadand he looked them up, and he
was like, These are literallyjust to knock you out.
They're not even supposed tohelp.
So I don't really know whatthose were, but again, nothing
changed and my symptoms justkept on getting worse and worse.
(10:56):
And so finally, um, after awhile, like almost a week or so,
the mission scheduled me an MRIjust to make sure nothing was
wrong.
And so we went back to thehospital um and scheduled that
MRI.
And this was August like 14th,I think, at the time.
And they couldn't get me inuntil September.
And I, you know, couldn't leavethe house.
(11:19):
And I was like, that's not fairto my companion, to my area,
our friends, you know, if we'rein the house, I can't do that to
my area and stuff.
And as we were every day, Iwould send my symptoms to the
mission nurse, and then shewould report that to the mission
president's wife, you know, um,just to make sure things were
(11:39):
fine.
And my symptoms kept onchanging.
It was really weird.
And so one day I was justhaving a really hard time
breathing.
It was just hard to breathe.
And on my mission papers, I hadput that I had um some
struggles with anxietybeforehand.
And so my mission president'swife was like, Oh, she's just
having anxiety, you know.
So she um she made anappointment with me for the
(12:00):
therapist, mission therapist.
And at first I was like, it'snot anxiety though, you know.
Um, but I met with him and Iexplained to him how I was
feeling about feeling so bad formy area if I were to stay for a
month.
And he said, I think you needto talk to your mission
president about that.
And so I did.
Right after that, I sent a textto my mission president and my
(12:21):
mission nurse, and I said, Ithink I need to go home.
I don't want to go home, butyou know, I need to get this
figured out, and this is thefastest way to get it figured
out.
And he, I mean, I have to giveso much credit to my mission
president and his wife, theywere the best.
I am obsessed with them, andthey made this process so much
easier for me.
(12:42):
Um so I mean, the second Itexted him, it kind of got the
ball rolling.
And I'm so grateful because Icouldn't really walk so far at
that time, and it was almost theend of transfers.
And so I was scared I was gonnahave to go home alone, you
know, like a layover and all theflights.
But I got to go home with twoother elders because it was end
(13:02):
of transfers and they were goinghome, which was such a blessing
from God.
And so I got that figured out,and I mean, like the second I
found out I was going home, Icalled my mom and I cried and
cried and cried for like a week.
It was horrible.
Um, but also like in thosetimes that I was crying, you
(13:23):
know, I'd go, I just like makeeye contact with my companion,
and she's like, You're fine, youcan go.
And I'd go to one of thebedrooms and just cry on my bed.
And I had never felt so manyangels and you know, God closer
to me than I did in thosemoments.
Um, so yeah, I was just incontact with my mom and stuff
coming home.
And I ended up going home the21st, but didn't get home until
(13:46):
the 22nd of August because youknow it was in red eye.
Um, and so I got home and Iregret this, but I told my mom
and dad not to invite anyone tothe airport except for my
grandparents because I didn'tknow what emotional state I was
gonna be in.
And the plan was that I wasgonna, you know, be home for a
transfer and go back out.
(14:08):
And so I thought I was gonnahave like another home party,
you know, airport greeting,whatever.
Um, but this was this was myone, and I got home and stuff,
and that day my dad he hasconnections, which is really
nice.
But he got me an appointmentfor an MRI, and we did it that
day and got the results thatday, and nothing was wrong.
(14:29):
And I said, Okay, that's fine.
I mean, it's probably good thatnothing's wrong, you know.
Um and the day after that, um,I went to an ENT, earnose throat
doctor, to check out my ears,and nothing was wrong again.
Um and then, like during thistime, I was just surprised
(14:49):
because coming home, I wasterrified.
I mean, ooh, sorry, going backa little bit.
Before I came home, my dad andsome other people thought that I
had maybe had a stroke or abrain tumor.
Those were like the worstpossibilities.
And I was more scared aboutwhat people were gonna think
that I'd come home than thepossibility of having a brain
tumor, which is ridiculous.
It's ridiculous.
(15:10):
But that's just where I was atat that point.
And I mean, the second I camehome, I got so many letters.
I like the primary kids madelike a poster for me and put it
on my door.
I had so many people come andvisit.
It was just such a blessing.
I mean, if there was a place tocome home early from a mission,
it is my ward.
It was just amazing.
Um, so that helped me a lot tokind of slow down, you know, and
(15:34):
really process what was goingon.
So after that, after the earnose throat, this was maybe in
September, I started doingphysical therapy because I
learned if I was looking side toside too long, I would just get
so dizzy.
It was so bad.
And so they thought somethingwas wrong, but something is
wrong.
And we went to physical therapyand it just made everything 10
(15:55):
times worse.
I'd get horrible migraines forlike weekends at a time that
wouldn't go away.
And we were like, all right,this is just making it worse.
Let's just stop.
And then in October, I went toa neurologist.
Um, again, nothing.
They just diagnosed with likePOTS and high blood pressure or
(16:16):
something, which, you know,obviously isn't the problem.
And that was super frustrating.
At that point, I was likepraying that something would be
wrong with me so they could findit.
Because how do you curesomething without a diagnosis,
you know?
And at that point, afterdoctors' appointments, and I
would find out that somethingwasn't wrong, I would go home
and cry and cry for hoursbecause I just wanted to get
(16:40):
back on my mission.
But after this neurologistappointment, I think I'd kind of
come to the realization that Iwasn't gonna go back on my
mission because I mean, I was sosick.
Um, and by the time they wouldfind me a diagnosis and heal me,
and I could like, you know,rework my strength or whatever,
(17:03):
it wouldn't be enough time toreally even go back on a
mission.
Um, and that killed me.
That was super, super hard tothink that all you know, my nine
months was over and that I wasofficially like an early return
missionary, um, which is not abad thing at all.
But in my head at that time, itwas it was just super scary to
(17:24):
me, I think.
Um, yeah.
And I had received tons andtons of blessings at that point,
and all of them said that Iwould get better at some point,
you know, it would go away.
But it was just superfrustrating, I think, you know,
um, that I wasn't gettingbetter.
(17:44):
Um, and this was probably thisnext part is probably the
hardest thing that happened tome since I had come home.
But my one of my friends whowas leaving on a mission, and so
I went to her board, and I wasterrified at that point because
I hadn't really put on socialsthat I'd come home yet.
But I knew that a lot of peoplethat I were gonna know were
(18:04):
gonna be there, and I was soscared, and so we sat in the
back trying to avoid peopleagain.
Looking back, this is so silly.
But we were sitting therewaiting for her to start, and
someone that I knew came and satbehind us, and I was like, try
to hide myself, kind of.
I was like not turning around,and so eventually I kind of
(18:25):
turned around and I was like,Oh, hey, and he said, Oh, oh my
gosh, you're home.
And I said, Yep.
And he said, What happened?
And I was like, Oh, well, I'mkind of sick, and they don't
know what's going on, and hejust kind of looked like he
didn't believe me, you know.
Like I just come home and Iturned around and silently I
(18:47):
tried to be quiet.
I saw the whole entire meetingbecause it was just I just
couldn't take it because likeall of my insecurities kind of
just came out and I couldn'tcontrol it, and it was
terrifying and I don't know,just not what I saw for myself,
you know.
And I think that August throughlike November of when I came
(19:14):
home, I was really angry at thesituation, not at God, because I
was like, I'll I'll be fine,you know, they'll heal he'll
heal me and I'll just move on mymerry way, and it hasn't
happened, and so Decemberthrough like now, a little bit
before now, I've just been soangry at God.
(19:35):
And I've you know, I've come toterms with my situation, and um
I feel like God has blessed mea lot, and you know, I'm
learning about him more, I'mgetting to know him more, and I
don't feel that anger as muchanymore, but it was just you
know, a bunch of why, because myfriends were coming home from
(19:58):
missions, they were going tocollege, some of them are
getting married, and I'm in abed.
Um, because as the symptomsprogressed, like what it really
is, because dizziness is just alot of things it can be.
My dizziness, the only way Ican explain it is if you're on a
roller coaster and you're goinglike in circles for a long time
and you get off that feeling oflike uneasiness.
(20:20):
That's what I feel 24-7, alongwith like nausea and stuff like
that.
And so I just thought that lifewas so unfair.
And I mean, I went to therapyfor a while during that time,
and it really, really helped.
Um, but I just felt super,super depressed and super done
(20:42):
with life, I would say, to thepoint of like April and May of
this year.
I was done.
You know, I was like, get meout of here, to the point of me
kind of being like, I don't wantto be here anymore.
You know what I mean?
If it's not getting better,yeah.
I need another solution, andthat was the only solution I
could really think of, um, whichwas super scary.
(21:03):
And I told my mom about it.
And again, just went to moretherapy and was trying to figure
it out, and it didn't stopuntil I read this verse.
I literally just grabbed myscriptures and opened up to a
random verse.
It was crazy.
But it's in Philip Philippians1, um, 21 to 25.
And it's just it's when Paul isthinking the same things that
(21:26):
I'm thinking right now.
And he said, For to me to liveis Christ and to die is gain.
But if I live in the flesh,this is the fruit of my labor.
Yet what I shall choose, I wotnot.
For I am in a strait betwixttwo, having a desire to depart
and to be with Christ, which isfar better.
Nevertheless, to abide in theflesh is more needful for you.
And having this confidence, Iknow that I shall abide and
(21:47):
continue with you all for yourfurtherance and joy of faith.
And so I took a step back and Isaid, Oh, okay, God, if you
need me here, if this is gonna,you know, if good is gonna come
of this, then I understand.
And I'll try my best and tolike, you know, where I am.
And then a few verses afterthat, it's Philippians 1.29.
(22:12):
And it says, For unto you it isgiven in the behalf of Christ,
not only to believe on him, butalso to suffer for his sake.
Um and then it just hit me, Isaid, How beautiful is it that
there's a God that has a planfor me that's specifically
designed for me.
And maybe it's being super sickand there's no diagnosis, and I
(22:36):
really don't have a view of myfuture right now, but that's so
beautiful that it's for me.
You know what I mean?
I signed up for this before Icame down here, and that
everyone has a plan for them.
I think that's insanelybeautiful.
And so now it's what month isit?
November.
(22:56):
It's been 14 months since I gotsick, and I still don't have an
answer.
Um, I feel like I'm getting alittle bit better day by day.
But and I don't want tosugarcoat this because sometimes
I don't like it when people goon these and they're like, I'm
so great when they're not,because I don't want to pretend
like I'm, you know, everything'sfixed and I'm just the happiest
(23:17):
person there ever is becauseI'm still struggling and days
are super hard.
I have my monthly breakdownswhere I can just let it all go
for a minute.
But I don't know, I just thinkthat this process has brought me
super, super close to Christand to my heavenly father and
their relationship with me.
And yeah.
Scott Brandley (23:38):
Wow.
Yeah, this is this is wildbecause my daughter is she got
diagnosed with dysautonomia,which is kind of a version of
POTS, or maybe even not fullpots.
We we don't know yet either.
We're kind of in the air still,too.
But it but for the past about14 months, almost the exact same
(23:59):
time as you, really, we've beengoing through something very
similar where she she justpasses out randomly, just gets
dizzy all the time.
That's so hard.
Yeah.
So I can relate to you.
I as the dad, one time I wentand picked her up from her
(24:20):
friend's house because she hadpassed out, and we didn't know
what was going on at the time.
And by the time from the time Ipicked her up from her friend's
house to the time we got to thehospital, she had passed out in
the car at least 20 times.
Alisha Coakley (24:33):
Oh my goodness, I did not know this.
This is crazy.
Wow.
Scott Brandley (24:38):
It was it was crazy, and I was freaking out.
Alisha Coakley (24:41):
Yeah, yeah.
Scott Brandley (24:42):
I didn't know what was going on, and she would
she would pass out, and thenshe'd come to and she'd be like,
Hey dad, what's going on?
Where are we going?
And then she was like, She'dpass out again, she'd come up.
Oh, why are we driving in thecar?
Like, it was the craziestthing.
Alisha Coakley (24:56):
Oh my gosh.
Scott Brandley (24:58):
But but things, things, I mean, she as she's
kind of learned, and we've goneto the doctor several times,
like you, right?
Like she's she's learning howto cope with it, she's learning
ways that you know that she cantake better care of herself to
make those symptoms not as umyou know not constant.
(25:20):
Yeah, it sounds like you'rekind of figuring that out too,
right?
Like yeah, it's it's a journey,it's a it's a process, and
you've sometimes things willwork and sometimes things don't
work.
That kind of sounds verysimilar to what you're going
through.
Kenley Broadbent (25:35):
Yeah, yeah.
Health problems areknowledgeable anytime.
Alisha Coakley (25:40):
Well, and it's it's interesting because it's
like you have something going onwith your physical health, but
because of that, it actuallyaffects your mental health too,
right?
Which then affects youremotional health and you know,
it's like a it's like a what'sthe word?
It's like a snowball effect,right?
Where it's not just thisanymore.
(26:01):
If it was just this, you canhandle just this, right?
Because it's this and this andthis and this and this.
Like it's so frustrating, youknow.
Um, I want to ask you a littlebit about because you had
mentioned how like you werereally upset with God, and now
you're getting to the pointwhere like you know, you're
trying to like dissipate thatanger towards him and stuff.
(26:22):
I have a a form of leukemiathat's not curable, but it's
like I can live with it.
And right now I'm in remissionfor it.
I've been in remission for afew years.
Um but it's always like thatconstant fear of like, what if
it comes back?
And what if it, you know what Imean?
So even like, even though I'mnot feeling the effects of it
right at the moment, it likeplays in your head a lot.
(26:43):
And I too experienced thatanger with Heavenly Father, and
it was weird because I wouldpray to him and I would trust
him, and like I believe in thescriptures, but also then I'm
angry at him.
And so I'm like, how do youhave the two extremes?
You know, how do you how do youdeal with that?
And how I guess my question foryou is how do you let that
(27:06):
affect your testimony, good,bad, or otherwise, when you have
that that hot and cold kind ofrelationship?
Kenley Broadbent (27:16):
I mean, I think it was really, really hard
for a while with my testimonybecause it's always that
question of why does God allowthis to happen to good people?
You know what I mean?
I served a mission for you, Igave my whole entire life to
you.
You know, wouldn't it be betterfor me to be on my mission
right now, helping your childrenthan being at home sick?
And I think that I don't know,and that's a question I'm still
(27:39):
trying to figure out.
But I think it's just thoselittle moments that I hold on
to.
You know, in like DNC six, Ithink it is, but it's like
remember that night, like youknow, you felt me or whatever.
I think that's what I kind ofhold on to is those like glimmer
moments where I really feelGod.
And then I just my bishop toldme one time, is this if you're
(28:01):
at the end of your vote, tie aknot and hold on.
I think about that all thetime, especially with my
testimony now, that if I'm notfeeling great about it at this
moment, just you know, tie aknot and hold on and get to the
next moment, I guess.
Alisha Coakley (28:22):
So how do you let I don't know, I guess do you
think that raises how do younot let it be the center of your
of your focus?
You know, like how do you havethis deal with it, but not let
it be the thing that like playsthe leading light in your life?
Kenley Broadbent (28:47):
I think service for sure.
Um, there was a time earlierwhen I had come home that my mom
and I would just pick a randomperson in the ward and like just
bring them a gift.
You know what I mean?
Or spring study that plays abig part.
You know what I mean?
And I think for me it was a lotof it is optimism for the
(29:08):
future.
You know what I mean?
Being like this won't I mean,thankfully this won't last
forever, as the blessings thatI've had say, and that it will
get better, but it's you know,takes a lot out of you.
Alisha Coakley (29:22):
Yeah.
Yeah, for sure.
Scott Brandley (29:25):
I mean, faith is one of is a challenge
sometimes, right?
Because we have to have thefaith in in God and in the
priesthood.
Um, that's what gives us hope,right?
But then there's always it'snever on our time schedule.
That's the hard part.
Yeah.
We have to it's on God's timeschedule, and we have to be
(29:48):
patient a lot of the times withour faith.
That can be a challenge, andyou're kind of going through
that right now with with this,right?
Kenley Broadbent (29:57):
Yeah, it can be so hard.
Alisha Coakley (30:01):
Yeah, for sure.
Scott Brandley (30:04):
I love that you, you know, you're you're trying
to find ways to serve.
One of the things that, youknow, I think you're it sounds
like you're trying to do is whatcan I do in my current state to
serve, right?
Because you physically you'renot able to go out and maybe mow
someone's lawn or like dosomething physical.
(30:26):
So um like what's your what'syour thought process there when
you're trying to think of waysyou can serve somebody?
Kenley Broadbent (30:37):
I think it's super cool nowadays that we have
so much technology.
That's a big part that I likebecause you know it's just it's
hard to get together with peopleright now, like in my
situation, I'll have to cancelwith people like three times to
hang out in person.
Um so I think those texts, youknow, being able to communicate
(30:58):
with people.
I think that sometimes we thinkof service as like, yeah, you
know, like going out and doingsomething, but it can be so
simple as just sending a text,you know, and being like, I'm
thinking of you right now.
And I don't know.
For me, that has just gone along ways.
Alisha Coakley (31:16):
Well, let me ask you, I mean, you're you're
focusing on serving others, buthave you also been able to
accept service from others?
Because I'm sure, I'm surethere are a lot of things that
that you feel like maybe youneed help with now or whatever
else that um that could be ablessing for other people to be
able to help with, right?
Kenley Broadbent (31:37):
Well, that's a really good question because
like when I got on my mission, Iloved it.
I was so happy because like Ididn't have to text my mom to go
to the grocery store.
You know what I mean?
I could just do whatever Iwanted all the time.
And I loved that independence.
And I was just like so likedrunk on it, you know what I
mean?
I just I loved it.
And so coming home, likeusually I can't even take a
(32:00):
shower by myself.
My mom has to help me withthat.
And on bad days, she, you know,brings all my meals down to my
bed for me and stuff like that.
It was hard.
I hated it, and I still havetrouble accepting help.
I'm just I don't like acceptinghelp from people and being
vulnerable.
I hate being vulnerable withpeople.
And so this whole time I'vejust kind of pretended that I'm
(32:21):
fine, which isn't healthy.
It's good to let people knowwhen you need help.
But it's been a learningopportunity with how many people
from the ward.
I mean, they're just amazingthat will bring over, you know,
little things and visit forsmall amounts of time.
And I don't know, I think Ithink it's really important,
(32:43):
like a scripture, that onescript that's like mourn with
those that mourn and comfortthose that stand in need and
comfort.
It's super fun.
I mean, for me, I feel like Ilove to go and do that for other
people, but I hate it whenpeople do it for me.
It's been a really goodlearning opportunity for me that
I don't think that I would havebeen able to receive and really
understand unless I had reallygone through this first.
Alisha Coakley (33:05):
Yeah.
Yeah, it makes sense.
It's that's definitely one ofthe things I I will tell, I
mean, it's taken my daughter's12 and that's when I was
diagnosed.
So it's taken me a good decadeto get to the point where um I'm
able to actually accept helpway faster now, you know.
Like if someone offers it, I'mlike, yes, that would be
(33:26):
amazing.
Thank you so, so much.
And I like genuinely feel it.
And I there's still a part ofme that feels bad, right?
Like I'm like, yeah, I don'twant to be a burden, but then
we're just gonna take the help.
We're just gonna let them haveblessings.
It's totally fine.
Like you have to like gothrough your head.
But I like that you're learningthat faster than I was, because
that um, you know, I I think itI don't know, it's it's weird
(33:48):
because like you, yes, you don'twant to be a burden and you
also want to be able to beself-reliant.
Like that's one thing that'slike very prevalent with um with
our our faith and with thegospel, is just being able to do
all that you can do, right?
As much as you can.
But also, yeah, that wholeservice thing is is a little
tricky because it's like, yeah,you want to be able to serve
others and you have to beservable, you know, you have to
(34:11):
be willing to take the help andand to understand that like
there's people who you know,they're looking for that kind of
light, and they're looking tobe able to build their
testimonies and to be able toget out of their own problems
too, sometimes, right?
Like it's a break and a relieffor them too, who are dealing
with something maybe somethingtotally different than what
we're dealing with.
Kenley Broadbent (34:32):
So oh, for sure.
Scott Brandley (34:34):
Well, that's a that brings up a good point.
If everyone just only serveswho's being served.
Yeah, right.
I think, and that is hard forus, but I mean, this could be a
an alert a really uniquelearning opportunity for you in
your life right now, especiallywhen you're so young, just to be
uh open to being served andhelped in you know, at this
(34:57):
point in your life, couldactually do a lot of good in
your life, not only for youbecause you need it, but also
for other people that need to beable to serve someone else.
Right if there's no one toserve, right?
They can't they can't giveeither, right?
Kenley Broadbent (35:16):
That's what my mom my mom says that all the
time.
Every time I don't want toaccept help, but I'm like, mom,
no, she says, but it's gonnamake them so happy.
She says, you know, it's gonnabe good for them, and then I
kind of I'm like fine.
Scott Brandley (35:32):
Yeah, it feels so good to serve, right?
Like you just get that goodfeeling inside, it makes you
feel so happy, and but so beserved being able to be served
creates a blessing for thosethat are serving.
And you get the uniqueopportunity to be able to be on
the receiving end right now, andlike you said, it's not gonna
(35:55):
last forever, but just think ofthe blessings you're gonna give
to people that can serve you,yeah.
Right, so you it takes them ittakes a little bit of a mental
shift, right?
Alisha Coakley (36:09):
Yeah, you know what I just thought about.
So, you know, it's Scott, Scottand I are we're
entrepreneurial, like that's ahard word to say,
entrepreneurial.
Anyway, uh, and so we're allwe're we're business minded
many, many times, you know, inour lives.
Uh, one of the things that Itry to do in business is I
(36:29):
always try to make sure that I'mnot the smartest person in the
room, right?
Like I always want to be theperson who can learn from the
other people, right?
Like I I love knowledge and Ilove hearing about people's
stories and their experiencebecause I feel like it helps me
grow and it helps me becomebetter.
You know, like if I'm the onethat has all the ideas, then
then that's where my cath is at,right?
(36:49):
Like I can only do as much as Ican do, but I don't want to I
don't want to be here, I want tobe here.
So, in a way, letting peopleserve you, it also opens up an
opportunity for you to learn howto serve differently, right?
Because like you never knowwhat inspiration is coming from
other people and how to serve.
And you might think, forexample, we had um Ken Um
(37:11):
Williams.
Well and he has he he did thiswhole thing where he uh he
basically makes chocolate cakeevery Sunday and he'll have
these little containers ofchocolate cake, and you know,
sometimes it's like he'll giveit to you know whoever's
birthday it is or whatever else,but but he always has them kind
of at the ready on Sundays, andum, and it's his way of just
(37:33):
being prepared when he getsinspiration to give someone a
treat.
He already, you know, hedoesn't have to go to the store,
he doesn't have to buy stuff,like he's already prepared, and
I it's almost like a pre-servicementality.
And I love that because I neverthought about it before.
And I think a lot of the timeswhenever I would get ideas on
how to serve people, I alwaysthought I had to have this big,
(37:53):
huge grand jester.
And so I'm like, I need to callhim and I need to schedule this
and that and it becomes almostlike a task.
But I loved his perspective ofjust being prepared to serve,
right?
Like just being ready to serve.
Um, I know I've talked to someother people too who talked
about how they literally willschedule out time in their day
to be able to act oninspiration, which sounds crazy,
(38:17):
right?
Because promptings comewhenever they come, but they've
noticed this increase almostlike they're working with the
Lord and they're saying, Hey,hey, Lord, like I'm giving this
hour every single day to likewhatever you need, right?
Like if you need me to stop andhelp someone fix their tire on
the side of the road, or if youneed me to buy someone's
groceries when they're a grocerystore, or you want me to go
just call a friend and see howthey're doing.
(38:38):
Like they have an hour a daywhere they just map it out and
they're just like, Oh, I'm justgonna, you know, see if
inspiration hits.
And if it doesn't, then theyhave something that they'll plan
on.
You know what I mean?
Like they'll they'll activelyseek out an opportunity to serve
someone who's in their bubbleat that time.
And so, um, anyway, my wholepoint is letting people serve
(38:59):
you can actually inspire you onhow to serve other people better
too, right?
Kenley Broadbent (39:04):
That's actually crazy genius.
I need to do that.
I haven't thought about thatbefore either.
That's cool.
Scott Brandley (39:13):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, this might be interestingfor you to know, Kenley, but
the reason why this podcastexists is because I s I went to
uh an LDS uh publishing, media,and arts uh um conference
because I was writing a book,and I sat at a table at lunch
(39:36):
next to a girl who came homefrom her mission early.
And she wrote a book calledEarly Homecoming.
Her name is Kristen Reaver, andI just happened to randomly sit
by her at this table, and wegot to talking, and she told me
her story how she came homeearly from her mission.
She actually got bit by some bylike a bug or something, and it
(39:59):
made her really sick.
And she came home, and it wasthat you know, overcoming that
stigma and uh you know that uhpressure sometimes that we feel
if you know coming home early.
Um, but I asked her how shetaught how she got that message
out about her book, and she saidshe started a podcast.
(40:20):
And on the way home from thatconference that day, I had the
idea of giving people anopportunity to share their
stories on a podcast.
So that's why Latter-day Lightsexist.
No, because she came home earlyfrom her mission.
Alisha Coakley (40:35):
I listened to her podcast.
Yeah.
Scott Brandley (40:38):
Oh, you do?
Alisha Coakley (40:39):
Yes, yes, for being the circle has been
completed.
Kenley Broadbent (40:44):
Well, because that's one of the points that I
wanted to make was it's soimportant to find community, you
know, with people that you canrelate to and relate to you.
And so when I came home and Iwas struggling with coming home
early, I actually searched upcoming home early podcasts and I
listened to person all thetime.
And then with like chronicillness, I followed like
Instagram accounts with tons ofpeople who, you know, suffer
(41:07):
with like similar things.
And I mean, that helped me somuch too.
And I mean, especially with thepodcast, it helped me to learn
that like coming home early isnot a bad thing.
You know what I mean?
You are not less worthy of aperson if you come home early.
Which I don't know how that gotin my head, but that is kind of
what I thought, you know,before my mission.
(41:27):
And I am so grateful for thisexperience that taught me that
that is not the case.
And it doesn't matter how longyou served, how you serve,
service, proselytizing, it doesnot matter.
It doesn't matter how long youserve.
The fact is that you want toserve the Lord.
And I mean, that's amazingbecause missions are hard
service and proselytizing.
(41:48):
And I mean, God is so grateful.
You know, that scripture that'slike if you have a desire to
serve, you're called to thework.
I believe in thatwholeheartedly.
And I mean, yeah.
Scott Brandley (42:02):
Well, that's another benefit like that that
Alisha and I feel we're old.
Alisha Coakley (42:10):
People are by that.
Scott Brandley (42:12):
We're not the 19-year-old missionaries out on
the street paving the pavement,but even like I just turned 50
this year, even I can still be amissionary.
This is how I do missionarywork, right?
I I have a podcast that wherepeople share their stories.
That's missionary work, right?
(42:32):
My my wife, she just got calledto serve in the temple once a
week.
That's how she can domissionary work, right?
Like it missionary work is onething I've learned in my 50
years of being super old now.
Um it can it there's so manyways you can serve, so many
ways.
I mean, even chocolate cake.
(42:54):
Like, who would have thought,right?
He makes chocolate cake.
That's how he serves.
It's it there's so many ways wecan serve God, and each one is
unique, and each person can doit in their own unique way.
And you know, this is this is atime in your life you might
never get back again whereyou're in this unique position
(43:16):
where you need other people'shelp, so you get to learn from
them, like Alisha said, but thenalso by by them serving you,
you are you are actually servingthem too because you're giving
them a a purpose.
Kenley Broadbent (43:31):
Right.
Scott Brandley (43:31):
It's it's weird, but you really are helping
them.
Also, it gives you ability theability to get to know them
better and create friendshipsand bonds that you might never
have had otherwise, even if it'sjust with your mom and your
family, that still counts,right?
So, you know, you've got somereally unique.
(43:52):
I know this is a challengingtime in your life, but you do
have some really uniqueopportunities here too.
And I I see that you're lookingat those.
That's why you're on thispodcast, right?
You're you're seeing some ofthose opportunities already in
your life and and looking at theblessings that are coming
through the challenge, which I Iapplaud you for because it's
(44:14):
hard.
And but I think it's great thatyou're willing to, even when
you're not feeling good, evenwhen times are hard, you're
still willing to get out thereand do something.
I mean, this podcast today,people are gonna listen to it,
and you never know who who elseis going through something
similar to this.
You could inspire them and helpthem to, you know, have some
(44:39):
light and some maybe some newinspiration and ideas in their
lives.
So, you know, we reallyappreciate you coming on and and
sharing your story today.
Alisha Coakley (44:48):
Yeah, exactly.
Scott Brandley (44:50):
Yeah, thank you.
Alisha Coakley (44:54):
Good.
Well, Miss Kinley, before wewrap up, um, do you have any
last thoughts?
Anything that you'd like toshare with our listeners to kind
of, you know, keep it going.
Kenley Broadbent (45:07):
I guess one thing that's just been on my
mind so recently is I have aquote in my room that says, but
God, period.
And I love that because I thinkabout it all the time.
You know what I mean?
That life is hard, but God isgood.
You know, I'm sick, but God hasa plan.
You know what I mean?
And I just think that I guessif I had any final thoughts,
(45:27):
it's just that God is good allthe time and it will work out.
Alisha Coakley (45:32):
Yeah.
Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree.
And you know, I I think uh it'sit's okay if you still have a
little bit of frustration withhim or anger towards him,
because he can handle it, right?
Yeah, he can handle it.
And I think uh there was oneperson that that spoke once
about that, and they're like,you know, if you're gonna be mad
(45:54):
at anyone, go ahead and be madat God, but still keep talking
to him.
Just like if we're upset with aparent, you know, like we don't
want to close off that thatrelationship.
Like you can I don't know, Ithink about my kids sometimes
when they were little and they'dcall me a poopy head, you know,
like I can't say, you know, butthey but I was still their mom
and they still love me.
And then you know what I mean?
(46:14):
Like that like that's okay.
Like you can be frustrated withme because guess what?
I I love you unconditionally,and I'm I'm gonna be there and
I'm still gonna support you andhelp you out.
And like Heavenly Father isnever gonna try to be like
taking revenge on us, or youknow, like truly everything he
does is gonna be is gonna be forour good, whether we can see it
or not.
And so, um, you know, so that'sokay.
(46:36):
Like, if you gotta have yourfeelings, have your feelings,
but yeah, just don't come out ofthe nature, you know what I
mean?
Keep keep them in the loop andkeep talking to them and makes
things a little a little biteasier, even if they're really
hard.
Kenley Broadbent (46:51):
That's just true.
Well, that's so sweet.
Alisha Coakley (46:54):
All right.
Well, thank you so much,Kenley, for coming on here
today, for sharing your story.
We really, I mean, Scott and Iboth really do hope that not
only do we find out what's goingon with you, but Scott, you
know, I don't know if it's youknow which daughter, but whoever
it is, I I hope that both ofyou guys are able to find some
answers.
And um, if not answers, peace,right?
(47:15):
At the very least, just makesure you, you know, hopefully
find some peace with that.
Um, and if uh any of ourlisteners are on today and they
have suggestions or advice orum, you know, thoughts,
feelings, comments, things likethat, we just encourage you guys
to go ahead and um drop us aline, put it in the comments so
(47:35):
that Kenley can read it.
And uh if you guys have anylike big long thing, you can go
ahead and just email us, right?
We can get that message toKenley.
So we hope that you guysdefinitely do your five-second
missionary work, that you shareher story and that you let us
know, you know, what part of herstory um touched your heart.
Scott Brandley (47:53):
Yeah.
And um, if you do have a storythat you'd like to share, like
Kenley did today, go tolatterdaylights.com or email us
at latterdaylights at gmail.comand we'd love to have you on the
show.
So thanks again, Kenley, forbeing on.
It's been a pleasure to get toknow you and and hear your
(48:14):
story, and we wish you all thebest.
And thanks everyone for tuningin, and we'll talk to you next
week with another episode ofLatterday Lights.
Till then, take care.
Thanks, guys.
Bye bye.
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