About Kristen

Kristen Reber is the podcast host of Early Homecoming: Insights from Missionaries Who Returned Early and the author of Early Homecoming: A Resource for Early-Returned Missionaries, Their Church Leaders, and Family. She works as the operations manager of Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association (LDSPMA). She is also a devoted Latter-day Saint, wife, mother, and friend. You can often find Kristen reading, writing, playing her harp, or traveling with her family. She and her husband, James, recently moved their family to Utah Valley.

Early Homecoming

When a mission doesn’t last as long as expected, it can be difficult to adjust to the change in plans. But every mission matters to our Heavenly Father. Based on personal experiences and scholarly research, this book helps loved ones, leaders, and returning missionaries navigate through the mixed emotions of an early release for any reason and press forward with faith.

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PODCAST

This podcast is dedicated to helping missionaries who return home early and to helping those who care about them. You will hear stories and gain insights from Kristen and other early-returned missionaries, as well as experts, parents, and church leaders. Join them on the path of understanding and healing as they share their stories, insights, and expertise about the phenomena of returning home early from a mission.

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Testimonials

I've had the opportunity to interact with Kristen in multiple settings. I'm continually impressed by her maturity, thoughtfulness, great ideas for improvement, professionalism, and organizational skills. As an author, her uplifting messages can bring light to many people.

Suzy Bills coauthor of Visions of Heaven and President of LDSPMA
The heart of "Early Homecoming" is poignant testimony of the love and concern of our Heavenly Father and his son for each person and the place of trials, faith and repentance in their plan. These overarching themes make this book universally applicable and uplifting regardless of the reader's mission experiences or lack thereof. While not everyone serves a mission, every person experiences unexpected trials and disappointments. Everyone has wronged and been wronged, and all must learn how to repent, forgive and move forward.

Deseret News
I have worked closely with Kristen for many months on several publishing, marketing, and administrative projects. She has routinely done all that was needed with high quality, great timeliness, and a wonderful attitude. She has a gift for setting up systems and accomplishing tasks in the most clear and useful way possible. And she consistently takes initiative and makes it easy to work with her.

Steve Piersanti President, Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Kristen is a thoughtful, spiritual person who is also a great writer—a triple threat!

Marianna Richardson author of The Returned Missionary Handbook
The heart of "Early Homecoming" is poignant testimony of the love and concern of our Heavenly Father and his son for each person and the place of trials, faith and repentance in their plan. These overarching themes make this book universally applicable and uplifting regardless of the reader's mission experiences or lack thereof. While not everyone serves a mission, every person experiences unexpected trials and disappointments. Everyone has wronged and been wronged, and all must learn how to repent, forgive and move forward.

Deseret News
This book helps everyone involved deal with the challenges and opportunities for growth that come from plans that don’t turn out as planned. Read this book, trust Kristen, and apply these ideas to strengthen your relationships.

Barry Rellaford coauthor of A Slice of Trust and Founder of “The Strength of 10
This book validates the phenomenon of returning early from a mission as a legitimate issue that needs and deserves attention. It is exactly the book I would want to read if I were an early-returning missionary. Written with compassion and understanding, it provides beautiful counsel whether you are boarding an airplane to take that long flight home or you have been home for years.

Dr. Kristine Doty-Yells PhD, LCSW
The heart of "Early Homecoming" is poignant testimony of the love and concern of our Heavenly Father and his son for each person and the place of trials, faith and repentance in their plan. These overarching themes make this book universally applicable and uplifting regardless of the reader's mission experiences or lack thereof. While not everyone serves a mission, every person experiences unexpected trials and disappointments. Everyone has wronged and been wronged, and all must learn how to repent, forgive and move forward.

Deseret News