T10 When the Stake President Struggles with Pornography | An Interview with Chris Raleigh

Chris Raleigh grew up in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, and served in the Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Mission. He has a bachelor’s degree in business, a master’s degree in education, and has taught for 28 years in both public and private school settings-including 23 years as a seminary and institute instructor. His Church assignments have included callings in the elders quorum, Sunday School, high council, bishopric, and as a bishop and stake president. In his current assignment he serves with his wife, Peggy, on the Church’s Corrections Committee ministering to both Church leaders and inmates in six county jails and the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, Utah. Chris and Peggy have nine children and 14 grandchildren.
In this podcast, Chris candidly shares a decades-long struggle. His desire is to lend hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ to the many men and women who feel trapped within the grasp of the illness called addiction. Trying to reverse four generations of addiction within his family has not been easy but he knows it is possible.
Highlights
00:00 Start
01:30 Chris talks about his background and faith development
07:00 Family history of addiction
17:00 Chris’ personal story and struggle with pornography addiction
27:00 Chris was always looking for a “cure” for his problem. He thought teaching seminary or becoming a bishop would help him but the struggle was always there.
30:30 Good people struggle with very hard things. It’s not about being flawless but worthy.
33:00 We normally see vulnerability as a strength in others but a weakness in ourselves.
34:00 Kurt and Chris discuss his time as a Bishop and his continual struggle to stay away from pornography. No matter how hard he tried it just kept coming back.
43:20 Becoming a Stake President and dealing with his addiction
52:00 Getting to a place of healing and getting help from a general authority
55:15 Telling his wife and her struggle with betrayal trauma. Chris shares their marriage struggles.
59:45 Getting divorced, getting released as a stake president, and getting terminated as a seminary teacher. He continued to seek healing, recovery, and find blessings when life was falling apart.
1:04:45 Chris shares how God has blessed him for telling his story. He has rebuilt his life and remarried.
1:09:00 Chris had to walk a hard path to get where he is. He prayed for years and years to be rid of his addiction but he needed to go through treatment first. He had to be ready.
1:10:00 By healing and recovering, Chris is also helping his ancestors who struggled with addiction.
1:13:00 There is hope for everyone. However, addiction is an illness and it needs treatment.
1:16:45 The power of telling your story
1:17:45 To the lonely leader that is struggling with sin. The bravery to speak up.
For links related to this video, visit leadingsaints.org/when-the-st...

[@vjaydaley8851]

I met Brother Raleigh when I was in the process of serving 19 months in the Wasatch County jail ((2015) He administered a priesthood blessing to me. In that blessing he (the Lord) told me: “VJay, you are a first generation, direct spiritual descendant of God the Eternal Father”. That blessing and understanding has formed the basis of my repentance and recovery. Thank you so much Brother Raleigh for teaching me who I am and who’s I am.

[@chrisraleigh7449]

I love you VJay! It was such an honor to meet you in such a sacred setting! 💙🙏💙

[@chrisraleigh7449]

I really appreciate your comments. I love the conversation that's happening about a very complex issue that lives mostly in the brain. In recovery, we often say porn isn't my problem, it's my solution. So what's my problem? Once we start addressing those issues, addictive behaviors begin to subside. Whether it's porn, alcohol, drugs, food, gaming or screen obsessions, it really doesn't make much difference. They are all an attempt to self-medicate. Let's start focusing on the real problems and stop shaming people for being human. 🙏

[@Passer76]

I think you are brave to share your story and It's unfortunate that there are so many in the church who attempt to shame others for being human. There is no man alive who has not had some sort of lustful thoughts at one point or another in his life and that includes the General Authorities. Again, we shouldn't be so mean to each other for being human. It's sad, however, that so many leaders on the local level and in Utah choose to be judgemental and condemn people who are struggling.

[@frazer9]

You've been totally brainwashed by Religious propaganda that has absolutely no basis in real science. The way you portray pornography and "addiction" is absolute insanity
The only reason you had aa problem to begin with is because the church poisened you. Told you you were poisoned, and sold you the cure....

[@simonsebuliba510]

Thank you for sharing your story, Pres. Raleigh 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 I love the quote which you mentioned which was, " worthiness is not flawlessness". I appreciate the sincerity as you tell your story.

[@saintinlower48]

Thank you for sharing your story, Brother Raleigh. It can't be easy, but there are probably a lot going through what you did and are, and you remained faithful and give hope.

[@dafob8394]

Amazing!

[@jakobfisher76]

Have you ever thought of recording these interviews on video for TH-cam?

[@LeadingSaints]

Sometimes we do when they are remote recordings but in person gets a lot more complicated because it requires a lot more equipment.

[@johnrowley4686]

Is there a way to reach out to Chris?

[@LeadingSaints]

Message Kurt at leadingsaints.org/contact/ and we will forward it on to him.