At Renaissance Ranch, we are committed to providing our residents with professional services and compassionate treatment. Our unique recovery experience blends traditional treatment methods with spiritual and Gospel centered solutions. It is our mission to assist each individual in the development and realization of their fullest potential. We are honored to share with you the stories of those who have completed our program and are successfully living in recovery.


To Anyone “Alone”:
I was worn out and tried to do this stop drinking and using pills “Alone”. Well, it did not work for me and I was going to die “Alone” and I knew it. So I gave up and asked for help from an LDS Bishop who found Renaissance Ranch. I was willing to try anything to take me out of this dark life I was living. I went to Renaissance Ranch and met others just like me. Together we shared all of our dark life experiences and we were counseled to search for Heavenly Fathers’ help. We were no longer trying to do this recovery process “Alone”. We prayed together and worked the 12 Steps of AA. This along with the fellowship of my Brothers helped me to find a better life and connection with my Heavenly Father. I now have him in my life and am happy with my recovery program. I’m still with my counselors today at Renaissance Ranch and am attending Aftercare and meetings. I will always be grateful for this experience. I know now why I’ve traveled this path, it’s so I can be here and now you won’t be “Alone” anymore. You help to keep me sober today…. Thank You.
God Bless,
Dave R. “Shakes no more”


Miracles, is there such a thing in the world today. Here's my story of the miracle at Renaissance Ranch. It was my third go around at Volunteers of America detoxification center in Salt Lake City. I was hopeless and desperate and saw a picture of Jesus on a bunk beside me, as I was contemplating how to kill myself. I thought of my younger years as a Catholic and how Jesus was supposed to love us as he died for our sins. I was not to sure if he would forgive me but I was in so much remorse that I did not believe in any redemption what so ever. I had not prayed to him in many years. I was at the end of my rope, so I went out side under the stars and uttered my first of many prayers to this magnificent being. I had begged him if he was still there to help me to over come this powerful addiction. There was many tears that night.
With in a few days my prayers were starting to be answered. Two angels appeared in one of VOA case workers office by the name of HR and Steven Brown. They were hoping to find a willing soul to come up to their new treatment center called Renaissance Ranch. I was one of several who were called up for the assessment. As I was being interviewed I knew without a doubt that the Lord was answering my call. My situation was grave. I was homeless and no means of any financial assistance. All I had was the clothes on my back and I have been wearing them for several weeks. We completed the assessment and they told me they would contact me the following day. The case worker called me to her office the next morning, she said that I was accepted to the program and I would be leaving in a couple of days.
I could never have dreamed of a life I have received through the spirit and the loving counselors at Renaissance Ranch, the 12 Steps, the Gospel and the LDS faith. I have overcome a hopeless state of mine and body and have been reborn into a new life beyond my wildest dreams. I do not struggle with my addiction, I have a loving relationship with our Savior, ongoing support from the wonderful counselors and a life long involvement with the facility as an alumni.
The miracle has happened and I am truly it. I was the very first client and am very grateful for what Renaissance Ranch had helped me to find; myself, our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and many friends for all eternity!
Greg S.


To my Brothers in darkness and despair:
My name is Arthur of Nashville, TN. I am privileged to write these words of truth and hope to you. I have been blessed to have been one of the first brothers to go through this awesome place, Renaissance Ranch. Heavenly Father has seen fit to put it here for his most valiant of spirits, to come and to learn a way to return to a life that will bring us happiness.
I have lived my life in pain and misery for a long time. Living my life believing the “lies” that have been taught to me. That I am a horrible person, that I’m just not ever going to be able to live the strict law that Bishops and Apostles live. That I could never be that good.
I was baptized at the age of 20 and stayed sober only living the Gospel for 1 year. I then relapsed and have been away for about 8 years. In that 1 year, I developed a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Godhead and Prophets. As soon as I chose to pick up drugs again, all the miracles I had received and witnessed totally went out the door. My life went with it!
I was introduced to the 12 Steps in 1995 but at that time I wasn’t willing to take or do any suggestions that were given to me. I am willing to go to any lengths today, mainly because I was so miserable without God in my life.
That’s enough about me and I hope you can relate enough with me to listen about a place. If you have admitted complete defeat, that will open your heart and mind to a life of happiness.
The “Ranch” is a place far enough out of the world that you can begin to calm the crap in your head long enough to see the truth about your life. They will show you that the life you are living, inside the box of your addiction where you can’t see any other way, is not the only way to live. They will show you how to be happy and how to overcome this obsession with drugs and alcohol so that we can fill the hole inside of us. They will love you when you don’t love yourself, until you can develop your relationship with your Savior so he can fill the hole.
I’ve been to 3 other “high profile” treatment centers and I have never experienced what I have at Renaissance. I was so scared coming to Utah but when I arrived, I was immediately loved by my brothers in here and those that run the place. We realize and feel the same love we felt for each other in the pre-existence. There are so many things that happen on a daily basis if you are willing to become honest with yourself and with others. The bond that you make with them will be on an Eternal level.
I guess the biggest thing that I learned was that I am truly a Child of God who is worthy of all of the wonderful things that he has in store for me. I no longer choose to believe the lies anymore. I can live the Gospel with the Savior's help and so can you. My favorite scripture is Alma 32: 26-27. Please read it as it speaks to Faith and putting it to the test.
All you need is the desire and he will pick up the rest. Take the experiment and love yourself enough to help yourself. I hope you will come and be a member of our “Band of Brothers”.
Arthur


The New Me
I can’t begin to put into words the joy that I feel now. I am living proof that there is life after the drugs! My downward spiral began a number of years ago when I legitimately needed something for physical pain. At that time it became apparent that I was experiencing emotional and spiritual pain as well. My drug conveniently became a coping mechanism for all of my problems. In time, the drug became the problem. And it was huge!! I lost track of who I was and how to be a husband and father. I felt abandoned by my God and my family. I started on a journey of self pity and denial. I was so alone! I thought I could mask the self hatred and shame by taking more of the drugs. I used and used and used! I completely lost track of who I was and why I should continue living. I was a mess!
It was then that a loving family intervened and came to my rescue. But why should they? I was always right and they were wrong. They didn’t understand! Nobody understood! Somehow I landed at Renaissance Ranch. It was there that the healing process began. My physical body required attention and care. I learned to eat again. I began to exercise and work my muscles. But more importantly, my spiritual self emerged. I was reintroduced to who I actually was. I learned of my potential and my divine parentage. I actually felt the profound gift of my Savior’s atonement in my life. That wonderful gift actually had an application to me now! I was able to discuss feelings and fears with inspired and qualified counselors. I could find safe haven in my brothers. After all, we were fighting the same battle. My 60 day in-house recovery program literally saved my life! I left with a commitment to continue on with a 90 day “after care” program where I was able to associate and assist with others just like me. I continued in my efforts with the counselors and discussed challenges and successes that I was experiencing. The “after care” program further strengthened my resolve to progress in my recovery. Now, as an alumnus of Renaissance Ranch, I continue with a life long contract and commitment to work my own recovery as well as assist my new brothers with theirs. Life is good! Yes, very good!!
Mitch


It is difficult for me to express the level of gratitude that I have in my heart for the owners and counselors of Renaissance Ranch. My love and appreciation for them is genuine and true.
In my life, the reality of the adversary has been very real and very painful. At the low points in life, I believed that I was literally bound and truly in the gall of bitterness. I believe that Satan thought I would never change. He had claimed me as his. I felt powerless, alone, and like I had no choice. After 18 years of abusing drugs and alcohol, an honorable mission, temple marriage, and three beautiful children, I overdosed on July first of 2006.
I entered the Ranch on July sixth. My life began to change on that very day. I could feel the presence of something I had once been very familiar with, The Holy Spirit. I began to feel hope and peace as I worked through my past. I was introduced to the 12 steps. I listened to My counselors and my brothers suggestions. I got honest with myself. It became very clear to me that I was never stripped of my agency, I simply gave it to the wrong brother. I was re-introduced to the Big Brother who loves me. The Very Savior of The World. My Personal Savior and Friend, Jesus the Christ.
My testimony of my experience is this; I was administered to by men and women who have been called to this work. They know God and His Eternal Son. My relationship with the Savior was restored through people who have been given a special gift and have chosen to pass it on.
I love you H! I love you Steve! and to the only woman of Renaissance, I love you Kris! Thank you for loving me like the Savior, for teaching me like the Savior, and restoring hope like the Savior. You are truly fishers of men.
All my love and affection,
Dave P.


Drinking and drugs were a curiosity that started at the age of 13 and continued in what I thought to be an innocent phase. Finishing high-school many of my "party" buddies began cleaning up, growing up, and moving on with their lives. I too decided I better sober up and move on. This lasted for a couple of years, and allowed me to serve an LDS mission and marry my high-school sweetheart.
Although on the outside I had the appearance of success, there was something wrong, and I once again turned back to the only solution that I knew...drugs.
After years of hiding the addiction, I was now trying any and all methods to get my life "back on track", with no success. The cognitive techniques and self-help books brought brief relief, followed by a deeper level of discouragement and loss of hope. I was finally broken to the point that I was willing to accept help outside of my own efforts.
The initial motive for entering the Ranch was to feel better. I wanted someone to put their arm around me and confirm all the self-victimizing thoughts I had. I DID receive the arm around the shoulder, but instead of some superficial, cognitive "feel-good" treatment, the Ranch provided the environment and help in getting down to the core issues that fueled the motives for my self-destructive behavior. Once these core problems were exposed and dealt with, the counselors and staff helped create a solid foundation, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically that I could build the rest of my life on.
If you're reading this, then you either have someone close to you struggling with addiction, or you yourself are the one that understands what I mean when I talk about the indescribable hell it is living your life imprisoned as a slave to addiction.
The Ranch helped develop the skills necessary to deal with life and all the ups and downs of reality. I learned that I no longer have to be ashamed of my problem, but can have humble confidence and help lead others to the life I've found.
The decision I made to enter the Ranch and trust in the process was the single most important decision I've made in my life. I will do anything to convey this message to the addict or alcoholic that is still suffering.
I'm an outspoken, non-practicing, drug addict that will share my message with anyone.
Feel free to contact me as a reference.
Marriott M.


My name is Brett. I am a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. I was alone and hopeless. I had lost all desire to live and was confused with the purpose of my life. Through the grace of God I found Renaissance Ranch and began my recovery journey. I have the chance again to live and have found peace and serenity in my life through the Atonement of my Lord and my Savior Jesus Christ. I was taught about my disease of alcoholism at Renaissance Ranch and have learned that with the help of others and with the help of my God that I can recover. Life has a purpose again.
Light has been restored to my life through the principles and lessons I learned at Renaissance Ranch. It's amazing to me that I'm finding my God and my Savior through recovery and that this journey began with the love and counsel of all those involved at Renaissance Ranch. I believe that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I may continue to be healed and that my life has a purpose once again.
Love your brother in recovery,
Brett


The Renaissance Ranch experience was and continues to be profound, life-changing, and wonderful for me. During my stay at Renaissance Ranch, amazingly talented and truly caring professionals identified and then treated the root causes of my addiction to alcohol and drugs. I am especially grateful that I learned solutions that were based on gospel principles and that those solutions were presented in a way that motivated me to change. Even though the process was difficult at times, everything I learned and experienced at the Ranch felt right.
Consequently, I have my life back. I have real hope for the future. I am confident that through the powerful support of my brothers, the Rancheros, and by using the ‘tools’, (AA’s 12 steps and many others) I acquired at the Ranch, I will continue to be empowered to achieve my hopes and dreams in this life, to stay sober, and to be of service to my family and others. With all my heart I thank everyone at Renaissance Ranch!
Nils


There is Hope
Drugs and alcohol have always been a part of my life. I started using at 13 years old. I needed an escape from abuse; I did not want to feel anymore. It did not take long for it to start to control my life. I was in and out of different rehabs. I knew that if I didn't get help and really get help this time I would die. I was close to losing everything in my life. I was sick of living the way I was. By a miracle, we found the Ranch. It felt right from the beginning that this is where I needed to be. I had been to a lot of different rehabs throughout my life, but not one that had also taught gospel principles. I was so sick. The beginning is always the hardest. The staff made me feel so loved and made me realize that just because I had made so many mistakes that my Heavenly Father forgave me and was just waiting for me to come to him. I now know that the reason this is working this time is because not only do I need to work the AA program but that I have to allow God to help me everyday.
The Ranch taught me the tools that I have to use everyday to stay clean and sober. The lifelong friendships that I have made at the Ranch - I am also so grateful for. I have to take everyday one day at a time. I take this disease very seriously because it kills and I have seen what it can do. The Ranch has truly saved my life. Words cannot express how thankful I am for the dedication they all have to spend their lives helping others. I will always struggle with the disease of alcoholism. I have been where some of you are now. I know the hopeless feeling and the emptiness that comes from drugs and alcohol. But, just know that there is hope. You are not alone and there really is help, you just have to want it. I have been blessed in so many ways. I have been given a second chance at life and I am looking forward to my clean and sober future.
Tony S.

My name is Tyson and I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. I went into the Reniassance Ranch at the age of 22 in Sept. 2008 and have been clean and sober since. When I first walked into the Ranch I immediately noticed something different from all the treatment centers I had been involved with before and that was love. Love from the other clients is there and genuine love and concern from the counselors that worked there. Guys that had been sober for years still came back to the A.A. meeting every Wednesday and they were happy and succeeding in life even though they had been seemingly worse off than me. The counselors and the brothers in the Ranch helped me see the things that I could not see that were holding me down and keeping me in addiction. Because they had been where I had been, they were able effectively communicate to me and to guide me through and re-introduce me to my higher power and I was able to see light at the end of the tunnel and feel what hope feels like. I started to recover a day at a time and feel peace like I never had known possible. I could probably write a book on my experience and one day probably will ha ha. The thing is, is that I am still having the experience, I get to recover on a daily basis. I get to know peace and joy today. I get to feel. I get to love and be loved. I get to live! Not only did the Ranch teach me how to not use drugs or alcohol, they taught me how to deal with life and enjoy the ride. I have seen many many people recover through the ranch. I have seen addicts like me recover and get married, serve missions and go back to school. I have seen men become the husbands and fathers that God intended them to be. I have been a witness to modern day miracles. It is because I am one of these that I write a small part of my experience with the Ranch as they helped introduce me to recovery and my God. I owe them alot more than words. So as long as I am breathing I will strive to be at the Wednesday night brotherhood A.A. meeting every Wednesday.
Tyler D.

As soon as I walked through the doors of the Ranch I felt hope. My life had spiraled into depths of shame, misery, guilt, depression, sadness, and suffocating darkness prior to reaching those front doors. The 2 months that followed would forever change my life and provide a foundation within that is unshakable. The brotherhood lifted me up, carried me, and continues to support my recovery today. I learned, and more importantly FELT, the love God has for me. I was forgiven, and I was new. I started to see myself as my creator sees me. I learned that spiritual action aligned with god's will is my recipe for a life that I always wanted, but could never seem to uncover on my own. I will always carry a humble love and deep affection for what happened those 60 days in the house. It is the keystone to my recovery from the chains of addiction. Peace and Love,
Bryan H.

My sobriety date is July 15 2008. And for that I am very grateful. The ranch has given Me the tools to live a life I never thought was possible. I have never forgotten the feelings I felt when I was there in treatment and that's what gets me through the day, is the feelings and brotherhood that I was so blessed with while I was in the ranch. I owe my life to the program that was shown to me in and through the ranch. Thanks ranch
Tyler G.

Renaissance Ranch gave me a gift that no amount of money can ever repay. Through their unique, caring approach I learned how much I was loved, and that I never had to feel alone every again.
Dustin L.

Renaissance Ranch will always be a special place to me and will always have a special place in my heart. I had already attended one rehab facility. The Ranch truly saved my life by teaching me and allowing me to understand and love who I am. I learned that I was not a bad person, I was a very sick person trying to get better. It was the love and care the counselors and staff had for me. Their loving environment, along with the tools that were taught, directed me to a spiritual and healthy start, a new journey of life and freedom in recovery. Thank you for the service you provide to all those who accept it.
Justin N.

I thank my Heavenly Father every day for allowing my family to find the Renaissance Ranch and the treatment team there. My family first became aquainted with the Ranch back in the summer of 2006 when my older brother overdosed and was nearly dead. A few days later he was checked into rehab and the journey began. My brother and I had actively used drugs and alcohol together for the previous 6 years and to see him almost dead, one would think that I would just stop what I was doing and get help. I couldn't though, I had lost my freedom of choice, it had literally been taken from me and I was compeletly powerless in making any kind of decision for myself. The only thing I knew how to do was lie, steal and manipulate to get the things I wanted. And the things I wanted were drugs and alcohol. My wife, my son and the relationship with my family were no longer important to me, the only thing that mattered was finding a way to get high! Eventually the drugs didn't work anymore and I no longer had the desire to live. I started to question everything and looked back and asked, how could I, who was raised with good moral values, who served an honorable mission for my church and had a temple marriage be where I was at today. I was completely hopeless! Nothing else mattered, and I had often hoped that I would not wake up the next morning. But I did! I woke up one morning in June of 2009 and decided it was time for me to make a change. I didn't know where the decision to go to rehab came from, but looking back now, I know it was my Heavenly Father pushing me through the doors of the Ranch! I had witnessed my older brother and the change he made, he was doing so many good things and was happy. He was truly happy, and he was sober! I had to know what the secret was. The Ranch taught me those secrets to happiness, and I found out my divine worth as a son of God. I learned about the Atonement and it was so simple. I found that the Atonement of Jesus Christ was simply the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous in action! I worked the steps and along the way formed a relationship with Jesus Christ which will never be broken. I love me for me and I love who I am. I am a Son of the Most High God! And ALL my relationships that I had damaged over the years have been restored! I never would have known these truths or had my relationships restored without my involvement in the Ranch! To H, Steve, Don, Dave R. and to the beautiful Kris Groves, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My wife thanks you. My son thanks you. My mom and dad thank you for helping 2 of their precious possesions to find their true meaning and divine worth! Without my family finding the Ranch, I honestly feel that my mom and dad would have buried two of their 4 kids because of this disease! God Speed!
Taylor P.