After My Son's Suicide: An LDS Mother Finds Comfort in Christ and Strength to Go on

by Darla Isackson

The morning of September 27, 2004 dawned bright and clear. I went about my morning chores little guessing that the day would bring me greater sorrow than I had ever known. Just before noon three plainclothes members of the South Salt Lake Police Department appeared at my door to bring me the news that my second son Brian, age thirty-three, was dead - by his own hand. How does one assimilate such news? How can a mother's heart bear such sorrow?

Genres: Lds

188 pages, Paperback

First published July 18, 2010

About the author

Darla Isackson loves writing, waterfalls, and watermelon. She graduated from Utah State University, and served an LDS mission in Southern California. She co-authored the book To Parents with Love during the years she was raising her five sons. She co-founded Latter-day Woman Magazine in the 80s and later served as managing editor for Covenant Communications and then Aspen Books. Darla has been a regular columnist for Meridian Magazine online since 2001 and is currently managing editor for a senior publication. She has been a freelance writer and editor for over a decade and has edited over 200 books. Her book Trust God No Matter What! was released in 2009, and her new book: After My Son’s Suicide: An LDS Mother Finds Comfort in Christ and Strength to Go On in 2010. Her intense commitment to the world of words comes from a belief that faith is sharable and that faith-filled words can lift and build.

Darla lives in West Jordan, Utah, with her husband Doug, with whom she served a part-time service mission in the Salt Lake Inner City project. She enjoys a yard that produces hundreds of roses from June to October and loves being close to so many beautiful canyons. She adores her eleven grandchildren, who all live close enough to be a constant source of delight.

Reviews

[Patricia Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

AFTER MY SON'S SUICIDE, by Darla Isackson, has brought me so much comfort. My dear friend and relative took her life last year and we got books for each member of the family. The personal experiences, insight and hope Darla has given each of us has been life-saving. It is a book I will cherish and hold close to my heart throughout my lifetime and I will continue to give it out as I meet others who are suffering from their loss.

[Shell Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Churchy book review. I will talk about God and Jesus. If that isn't your deal, please feel free to skip.
My sweet mother in law lent me this book in February. The book sat on my night stand for almost four months. Let's be real, a book about suicide is never going to be at the top of my to read list.
Great timing this weekend. I missed my brother terribly this week and I finished my fun read too soon. I'm so glad I picked up this book.
Isackson's story parallels my brother's in nearly every way. I can't wait to share this with everyone in my family.
It's a beautiful book about death, loss, and grief; but it's discussion on the Atonement is for EVERYONE. It's easy to think of it as for repentance only, but the author changed my whole life in how I view the suicide of my brother and even my dad's death.
There is heart and spirit in this book that I haven't felt since my brother passed. I would love to share this with everyone.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very vulnerable and relatable book to grief in general. I also appreciated ideas on elevating our mental health in chapter 9. So many scriptures & quotes. I was left with so much peace & hope. Darla is an amazing person & writer & I can't help but be a bit jealous that she's now on the other side with her son who she missed so much 💞

[Heatherterrybell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly, I had to read this. Happily, it was a very hopeful and real book

[Trisha Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing. This is exactly what I have been looking for after my brother tragically passed away. So much comfory, peace and UNDERSTANDING was brought to my SOUL from reading this book and I'll be recommending it to anyone who has experienced a tragic death in their family

[Jess]

Out of all the books I have read about losing someone to suicide this one is by far the best. I would recommend it to anyone who has lost a loved one this way or even for those who haven't lost someone this way. It helps give comfort, understanding, and also helps the reader delvelop a non judgemental attitude towards friends, family, acquaintances who have lost loved ones this way as well as the person who has actually passed away. Very very good book.

[Lorri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a great help and comfort to me.

[Synthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many questions, concerns, and unfathomable heartache issues swarm suicide survivors (family members left behind). This book deals with it all, using great examples as well as an excellent "References and Resources" guide at the end.

Although this is written with an LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) audience in mind, it has many great comforting ideas and resources for anyone of any faith.

Would be helpful to anyone who knows someone who died by suicide or anyone who knows someone who is suicidal.

I have a Kindle version; however, I think a paper copy would be easier to thumb through to find all the places I marked as well as all to sort through all the resources etc.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darla's book is so full of hope and the reader, Mariah, is inspired. I knew Darla and Bryan and so I know that Darla wanted with all of her heart to bring comfort and solace and hope to all who read her book. Since we have experienced 2 suicides in our own family, her book never ceases to give me love and hope for the future as I look forward to seeing my loved ones.

[Roseanne Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully well-written book! It shares Darla's journey through grief and the resources she found to ease her journey. Even though I haven't had to endure the excruciating pain of losing a child to suicide, I have been through my own trials. This is a valuable resource for anyone who is going through loss. Jeffrey Jackson is quoted as saying, "Your hope lies in getting through it, putting your loss in its proper perspective, and accepting your life as it now lies before you, forever changed." There are some things that are so internally painful that you are truly "forever changed." There is no way to get over a loss like that, but there is a way to survive and thrive, and Darla has written about the ways to achieve healthy survival. Highly recommended.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darla Isackson was one of my leaders in church as I was growing up. I always looked up to her and appreciated her kindness and example. This book has been one that I don't want to put down. Darla has taken her deep personal pain and loss and shared the process she has gone through (and I'm sure continues to go through) of learning how to work through it. Her book brings relief to anyone who has suffered deep grief, shame, guilt and loss. There is always hope no matter the circumstances. I highly recommend this book.

[kbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a hard read for me. I started reading it right after my sister committed suicide. While I found the book comforting, it still took me a while to read it, but I think that had more to do with my personal grieving that the book. I found a lot of comfort from many passages in this book. I was also very enlightened by some of the things that she brought up in this book. It is so good to know that what I am not alone in what I am thinking and feeling.

[Carmen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goodreads win. This book was meant for someone who might have needed this more than me...

This was a life experience/self-help book based from the suicide of her own son. This self-help book was written to help individuals who have lost loved ones through suicide. Book was through a Mormon's view...(just found out what LDS meant >.<)

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through the First Reads giveaway program on Goodreads.

This was another gift for someone in need. I hope this helps them on their road to recovery.