REXBURG—For BYU-Idaho student, Avery Simkins, divorce marked the unexpected end of one chapter of her life, but it also became the beginning of a journey toward healing, growth and a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ.
Simkins said divorce was never something she imagined would become part of her story. After being sealed in a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and envisioning a future with her spouse, she remained committed to her marriage even as she began recognizing some of the challenges within it.
When the marriage eventually came to an end, Simkins found herself navigating the loss of the future she had envisioned while trying to understand what came next. Although the transition brought tremendous grief, she said it also became an opportunity to turn more fully to the Savior and begin rediscovering who she truly was.
“It felt really impossible and that’s when I knew something was wrong in my marriage, but the actual thought of divorce never crossed my mind … until he left,” Avery said.
In the days and months that followed, Simkins turned to her family and her faith for support. After feeling isolated during her marriage, reconnecting with family members helped her rebuild trust and recognize the support around her.
She also relied heavily on prayer and her relationship with Jesus Christ. Simkins said healing did not happen immediately. She experienced feeling grief while also beginning to feel peace and beginning to recognize what she described as God’s hand in her life.
“Truly, through the Savior, I have been healed and I am so much better than I was within the marriage,” Avery said.
Nearly two years after her divorce, Simkins said her perspective on this experience has changed. While she would never wish the pain of divorce on someone else, she said she can now recognize ways her experience helped shape the person she has become.
Since her marriage ended, Simkins has found opportunities to serve and share her testimony with others. As Miss Rexburg, she promoted a platform focused on healthy relationships and spoke with abuse survivors. She also moved to Texas to work at a summer camp serving people with special needs.
Through those experiences, Simkins said she discovered more about herself, service and the love she knows Heavenly Father has for her.
For others experiencing divorce, heartbreak or another trial, Simkins emphasized that healing takes time. Grief, she said, does not always disappear, but people can continue building a meaningful life around it.
“I promise that through time and the Savior, it does get better. And it really is a matter of taking upon yourself Christ’s love and Christ’s light and giving yourself grace,” Simkins said.
Simkins said her experience taught her that healing is not linear. There are still difficult days, but she now sees her divorce as only one part of her story, one that ultimately strengthened her testimony and brought her closer to Jesus Christ.