• We each have a background with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• We have wounds from our past. Somewhere in life, we learned that we can’t face our wounds alone
• We have found a healing path which has deeply impacted our life and brought us closer to Jesus Christ.
• We desire to share that path with others.

The Light Within is a peer-led, voluntary group. Collectively, we envision a world where men and women have deep, authentic, personal connections with God and mankind and are living each day to fulfill their divine purpose. We do this by creating a safe place to turn to Jesus Christ and find joy by consciously processing emotions, healing past wounds, and creating a vision of the future. We know that we can’t do it alone – having support from others is an essential part of healing.

We do this in the context of the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While remaining separate from the Church, we strive to support the Church and its members in their earthly mission.

• In their 20’s and in their 70’s
• Local church leaders, active members, former members, people who have been excommunicated, or members of other faiths.
• Single, married, or divorced
• Straight and gay
• Born in pioneer families and recent converts to the Church

At The Light Within, we focus on our commonality as children of God, and respect each person’s unique expression of their own life.

At the retreat you will be offered tools and opportunities to view your life, your relationship with Christ, and your relationship with others in a new light, with the intention of feeling peace, wholeness, and clarity. Most participants leave the retreat feeling a deeper sense of joy and connection with themselves, their loved ones, and Jesus Christ.

Our hope is that:

• you’ll touch–in a newer, deeper way–the light within yourself to see the gift you are to the world;
• you’ll feel empowered to live that way; and
• you’ll know you have a group of brothers or sisters who support you in living as the divine man or woman you are.

To hear what past participants have to say, check out our testimonials.

• Gaining the ability to master your emotions and to learn from them
• Applying the power of Jesus Christ’s atonement more actively
• Becoming conscious of your own judgements, and come to see what they can teach you about yourself
• Learning to understand and change your own limiting beliefs
• Transforming past wounds into future growth while releasing pain from your past
• Navigating guilt and shame in a healthy way
• Building connection, love, and unity with self, others, and God
• Opening the door to engage with the world authentically as your true self instead of living your life to satisfy other’s expectations of you
• Being honest with yourself and others

• The exact location of the event
• Some forms to fill out prior to the event to help the retreat staff prepare to support you
• What to pack and how to prepare for the retreat
• An offer to arrange carpools or group travel between you and other participants, though ultimately, it is your responsibility to make your own travel arrangements

All of the staff are volunteers who contribute their time, expertise, and energy without any financial compensation. We do it because this work has changed our lives and we want to offer that to others.

For more information, please see the financial assistance page and application.

To give you some added safety, know that:

• you will always have the option to opt out of any activity. You will be encouraged to participate, but your choice to opt out will always be respected.
• many of the activities are structured so that you experience the activity for yourself—in your own mind and body—simultaneously with others. We then invite you to share your insights after the experience, if you choose.

While we don’t allow any participants to leave the site temporarily and return back to the program, anyone is allowed to leave the program altogether, at any time, for any reason. No one is required to stay who does not wish to continue with the program.

Most participants find that once it gets started, they don’t want it to end.

Light and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

However, the retreat was created and is presented to be in harmony with the teachings and doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We provide a series of teachings and tools that have worked for us to provide greater peace, clarity, and structure to life. If it differs from your personal belief, your belief will be respected and we will do our best to accommodate your belief as we support you on your journey.

While a majority of the participants and staff are active church members, some are not Church members or “active” Church members, and that’s ok. There is no anticipated outcome for the participants with regard to participation in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any choices that individuals make regarding their relationship with the Church will be respected and supported.

You will find reference to the culture and teachings of the Church during the retreat, along with using the Church’s scriptural canon and teachings of General Authorities.

Many therapists highly recommend retreats like this for those committed to ongoing treatment and personal growth. If you are involved in ongoing treatment, talk to your provider about whether an intense experiential retreat could be valuable to you.

This is a peer-led retreat. While it will explore how to access healthy emotions, how to get past self-limiting beliefs, and provide skills that anybody can use for greater wholeness, it is not “therapy.” There may be individuals serving as staff members who have mental health training and/or credentials, but they are serving at the retreat as peers, experienced in creating and supporting personal growth opportunities.

On occasion staff of the opposite gender will be present at the retreat to offer a specific perspective to support participants on their personal journey.

For more detailed information about the Post-Retreat Program, click here.

If you have any additional questions please contact us via our Contact Form below.