Articles & Guides

Many missionaries struggle with this, whether in the field, after coming home early, or years after finishing. Jon Larsen, LMFT looks at what the research says about addiction and shame, how the cycle works, and how to get out of it.

Sometimes what looks like exceptional obedience is actually religious OCD. Jon Larsen, LMFT, breaks down what scrupulosity is, how it shows up differently in the field, after an early return, and after a completed mission, and how to find a settled peace that scrupulosity never allows.

The flatness, anxiety, or burnout that hits weeks after a mission ends isn't a spiritual failing. Jon Larsen, LMFT, breaks down a practical framework built on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for moving through it.

Most early returns come down to mental or physical health, not rule-breaking. Jon Larsen, LMFT breaks down the real, research-backed reasons, and why the shame doesn't match the numbers.

One of the hardest calls a parent will make. Jon Larsen, LMFT, walks through how to tell the difference between normal growth-producing struggle and a genuine crisis, and what to do with that uncertainty.

The transition home after a mission is harder than anyone tells you. Jon Larsen, LMFT, walks through nine specific, research-backed struggles returned missionaries face, and exactly what helps with each one.

If you've been asking this question, Jon Larsen, LMFT answers it directly, with research, scripture, and 25 years of clinical experience working with young adults and their families.

When your missionary comes home early, the question is: what do you do next? Jon Larsen, LMFT and father of an early returned missionary, shares six practical strategies for parents navigating this difficult transition.

An early return from a mission is far more common than most LDS families realize — and far too misunderstood. This guide covers who early returned missionaries are, why they come home, what the research says, and how families can best support them through the transition.