When The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City‘s Mary Cosby officially reopened her church, one key person was missing from the congregation: her son, Robert Cosby Jr.
Prior to her church service commencing during Season 6, Episode 10, Mary’s cousin Big Joe noticed that she’d arrived “solo” to her Faith Temple Pentecostal Church. That’s when Mary explained that Robert Jr.’s absence was related to a setback in his post-rehab recovery journey.
“Robert Jr. got in the car, and I looked at him. He was high,” she shared with her cousin. “And I was like, ‘No, no, no, no, no.’ We’re still taking it a day at a time. And [we have] some good days, and some days [are] not so good. Today was a day that wasn’t so good.”
In a confessional, Mary unpacked her emotions surrounding Robert Jr. missing her powerful sermon.
RELATED: Mary Cosby Explains Why Son Robert Jr.’s Recent Struggles Are “Even More Hurtful”
“I’m a lot disappointed that Robert’s not here. I’m crushed,” she admitted. “But I know today is not his time. Today is not for him. So, I just have to keep trusting and believing that his time will come. And when it does, he’ll be ready.”
Mary concluded her chat with “Big Joe” by declaring, “It’s important for me to protect him.”
Why Mary Cosby thought her church might “help” Robert Jr.
Earlier on RHOSLC‘s Nov. 18 episode, Robert Jr. accompanied Mary for a sneak peek at the result of her church’s years-long renovations. Amidst talk about reopening the house of worship, Mary asked her now-22-year-old son where he was at “spiritually,” at that moment in time.
“When I went to Malibu, they had these AA things, these meetings about, like, having a higher power,” he responded. “I already knew who my higher power was. A lot of people were struggling with that. They’re powerless. You need a higher power. You need God.”
Mary, meanwhile, opined that, without “that higher help,” anyone could easily end up “back in that same dark circle” that they might be trying to escape.
RELATED: Mary Cosby’s Son Robert Jr. Speaks Out on the Difficulties of His Post-Rehab Journey
That comment prompted Robert Jr. to further update her, “All the people that I was, like, cool with, they all relapsed.” So, Mary asked if he had suggested that they pray, but Robert Jr. answered that he doesn’t “like forcing [religion] down people’s throats.”
As the RHOSLC mom told a producer, “We’re in the midst of Robert trying to find his destination or trying to find wherever his journey goes. So, opening these church doors will help Robert — and whoever else is in need.”
Inside Mary Cosby’s relationship with Robert Jr. amid his recovery
Mary made similar comments about Robert Jr. when her cousin Joe previously asked about his progress during Episode 4.
“I mean, we’re probably 100 times closer now,” Mary said. “Which is even more hurtful, because now I know when he’s fallen off, especially now that I’m fully aware of what’s going on.”
Describing her only son (with husband Robert Cosby Sr.) as “sharp” and “smart,” Mary predicted that Faith Temple’s reopening would have a positive impact on Robert Jr.
“He’s got a good heart,” she added. “I’m excited for us to come back to church. Church is always good to help. Bring him to church and have some prayer. That’ll help anyone.”
Before then, Robert Jr. had a candid talk with Mary about his post-rehab difficulties during Season 6’s second episode. Afterward, Mary admitted in a confessional that the conversation knocked the wind out of her.
As she navigates Robert Jr.’s setback on RHOSLC, find out how Robert Sr. has been Mary’s “support system” amid their son’s sobriety journey.
“I feel like his whole life, I’ve always been that helicopter mom. And I feel like that drove him to be, like, not wanting to let me down, so not telling me the truth,” she remarked. “And I felt like it’s actually changed me to back off and let him see that I trust that he’s going to make the right decision. Because it’s like you have to do it; we can’t do it for you.”