She's one of Utah's best known religious leaders. Once a Mormon, she's now the head of the state's Episcopaleans.

She's also had to overcome a difficult personal situation, in recent years. A battle with alcohol addiction.

Religion Specialist Carole Mikita has a story about a remarkable woman.

Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish may not always be in the headlines, but she is one of our area's most respected religious leaders. And how a woman who was raised LDS and became a bishop of another church, is just one of several fascinating life experiences we call "A Leap of Faiths."

Rt. Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish/Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Utah: "I'M A WOMAN. I'M A PRIEST. I'M A BISHOP. AND THOSE ARE SO INTEGRAL TO MY LIFE AND MY IDENTITY THAT I NEVER SET OUT TO BE A PIONEER IN ANYTHING ."

Carolyn Tanner Irish has, as she describes come full circle. The journey has been full of discovery of self and faith in action.

She was born in Salt Lake City, and raised in a devout LDS household - one of six children of Grace and O.C. Tanner, the founder of the famous jewelry company.

Rt. Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish, Bishop Episcopal Diocese/ "I FEEL LIKE I HAD AN INCREDIBLE GIFT OF THE LDS CHURCH IN THOSE CHILDHOOD YEARS AND IN THE FREEDOM AND THE COMPANIONSHIP THAT IT ALLOWED ME."

Bishop Irish began her serious study of other religions while at both Stanford and Oxford.

She and her husband settled in Washington, D.C. and had four children. Carolyn then also settled into a new church, the Episcopal Church.

"I KNEW THAT THAT WAS A CHURCH I COULD LIVE IN ALL MY LIFE."))

There was an epiphany, a realization, she says, when she knew that she should become a priest. That was 1978. She traveled home to Utah to tell her parents.

"THERE WAS THIS SILENCE. AND FINALLY, MY FATHER SAID, 'OF COURSE.' AND THE LOVELINESS OF THAT FOR ME WAS, HERE'S THE PERSON, PROBABLY HAS KNOWN ME LONGEST AND BEST IN MY LIFE, AND IF HE SAYS, 'OF COURSE' THEN HE SEES A FIT. I FELT SO AFFIRMED IN THAT."

Her role as Bishop of the diocese has meant long hours of service for her large congregation.

Now Carolyn Tanner Irish finds that she needs her congregation's support to go down another road, this time battling alcoholism.

"IT'S MUCH MORE A MATTER OF ACCEPTING WHAT YOU MUST ACCEPT, THAN IT IS OF DECIDING. SOMETIMES THAT'S LIFE. YOU JUST ACCEPT WHAT REALITY IS. I HAVE OFTEN SPOKEN OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE AS BEING BOTH ABOUT REALITY, THAT IS TRUTH AND POSSIBILITY, AND THAT IS HOPE."

Hope for herself and others who have told her that because of her, they, too, are now willing to change.

"I WOULDN'T WISH SUFFERING ON A SOUL IN THIS WORLD. BUT THE FACT IS, OF THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WELL AND RESPECT MOST, MANY OF THEM HAVE GONE THROUGH A KIND OF VALLEY OF DEATH. I'M TELLING YOU, I HAVE LEARNED A LOT, I HAVE EMBRACED A LOT AND I'M THANKFUL."

In the public arena, Bishop Irish has taken on some tough issues -- guns in churches and schools, the English Only Initiative. Part two of the interview with her airs Friday night at ten.