Mormon Stories Podcast Losing My Mormon Eternal Companion - Rebecca Lucero Jones | Ep. 2085
Nov 17, 2025
Rebecca Lucero Jones, a professor and licensed marriage and family therapist, shares her poignant journey as a widow within the Mormon faith. She discusses the complexities of grief after losing her husband, Isaac, and the cultural challenges that widows face. Rebecca reflects on her upbringing, the impact of her parents' divorce, and her experiences with marriage and motherhood. She also delves into the theological implications of eternal marriage and explores how her grief reshaped her career and community relationships, making her story both touching and enlightening.
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Checklist Culture Contradicted Partner Preferences
- Rebecca realized Mormon checklists encouraged self-improvement but penalized traits valued in partners.
- She concluded many strengths (intellect, ambition) were devalued in prospective Mormon husbands' preferences.
Mission Opened Her Eyes To Leadership Flaws
- Rebecca loved her mission to Russia but saw problematic missionary behaviors and leadership labels.
- She learned not to accept endorsements uncritically after seeing leaders misuse authority.
Dating Gay Men Sparked Serious Doubts
- After returning from Russia, Rebecca dated men who later revealed bisexuality or came out as gay.
- Those relationships left her questioning desirability and exposed cultural mismatches in Mormon dating.
