Needing help with Addiction?

Step 1 - Honesty

2009-08-25T16:03:00.001-06:00

The key principle is: Admit that you, of yourself are powerless to overcome your addictions and that your life has become unmanageable.

I would like to talk with you about a story found in Mark 5 in the New Testament where we read that Jesus Christ is really busy going about helping & healing people. This chapter starts with Jesus casting out a legion of devils, then goes to healing a woman who touches his hem, and then on to raising the daughter of Jarius from the dead. Starting with Verse 22, I would like to summarize just what happened.
Jarius was a ruler of a synagogue, who had a daughter who was almost ready to die. He saw Jesus and fell at His feet “And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy ahands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.” Jesus went with him, thronged by the multitudes of people.

There among them was a woman who believed that just touching the hem of Jesus’ robe would heal her. The woman’s faith led her to Jesus, to reach out to the last person who she believed could help her. All of her physical resources were gone, the physicians had done what they could for her and yet she was not healed.

For twelve years she was an outcast. She knew how it felt to be cast out of the community. She knew the loneliness of being ignored and shunned by people, even, the women who had once been her friends. For twelve years she was not allowed to touch her husband or anyone else. She was not allowed to walk in the streets where there were people. She was not allowed to sit on anything in public places. No one dared to come and visit her. She was all alone in the world. In fact, the law decreed that if she was caught in public, they a right to kill her.

In her approach to Jesus she took an overwhelming risk. She dared to come to him in the midst of the crowd and then she dared to touch Him, even if it was just the hem of his garment. What she did was punishable by law, yet for her a death sentence had been passed on her for twelve years and she had nothing to lose.

She had no dignity left so she got down on her hands and knees and crawled her way through the crowd in order to touch Jesus’ garment. Her faith gave her the determination to reach out. She knew that her hope was to get to Jesus, the One who could bring her healing and wholeness. And she said in verse 28: If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that avirtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy afaith hath made thee whole; go in bpeace, and be whole of thy plague

Today, we may not physically be able to reach out and touch Him in order to be healed of our various afflictions, but we know that healing and change will take place in us, when Jesus touches us. That means we need to invite him into our lives, and let his Atoning sacrifice strengthen and heal. . I wish bare my testimony that there is a sure cure for heartache, disappointment, torment, anguish, and despair and even addiction. The Psalmist stated, “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Christ is the Great Physician. Learn of Him, know Him, and lean on Him.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

When You Are in the Service of your Fellow Beings Ye Are Only in the Service of Your God

2009-07-26T22:15:00.003-06:00

The Addiction Recovery Program is a spiritual program, but also a program of action. The study and implementation of the twelve steps and the principles found in the guide, “Addiction Recovery Program: A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing”, will lead to a restoration of your spiritual health through a newfound relationship with the Savior. At the same time, your heart will be changed as you pray daily and read the scriptures daily, particularly the Book of Mormon, which contains scriptures referred to frequently in the guide.Another way to change our hearts is to serve our neighbor. This service will help us grow in the light of the Spirit, and assure us progress in addiction recovery and the remission of our sins. In order to be free from addiction, one must get outside of him or herself and serve. The desire to help others is a natural result of spiritual awakening. We have to love our neighbor as ourselves. But, who is our neighbor?

We remember the parable of the man from Jerusalem on the road to Jericho who fell into the hands of robbers and was left half dead. A certain priest passed by on the other side and a Levite came, looked on him and likewise passed on the other side. Then Jesus taught, “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”

Then Jesus asked another question of the lawyer: “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?” And the lawyer responded, “he that shewed mercy on him.” Then said Jesus unto him, “Go, and do thou likewise.” (Luke 10:25-37).

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles teaches us, “Every time I read this parable I am impressed with its power and its simplicity. But have you ever wondered why the Savior chose to make the hero of this story a Samaritan? There was considerable antipathy between the Jews and the Samaritans at the time of Christ. Under normal circumstances, these two groups avoided association with each other. It would still be a good, instructive parable if the man who fell among thieves had been rescued by a brother Jew. His deliberate use of Jews and Samaritans clearly teaches that we are all neighbors and that we should love, esteem, respect, and serve one another despite our deepest differences—including religious, political, and cultural differences.”

As we serve our neighbor, we grow closer to our Heavenly Father and to His Son Jesus Christ. We may ask ourselves, why? The answer to this question can be found in the words of the Savior, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, y have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40).

In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin had a large tower built so that the multitude of his people could hear his words. From the tower he taught them the principle of service. “And behold, I tell you these things that you may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” (Mosiah 2:17).

I know that it is very difficult to think of the problems and needs of others when we find ourselves suffering from sin and addiction. But it is my testimony that one of the most effective solutions for our problems is to get outside of ourselves and serve our neighbor, and at the same time, our Savior Jesus Christ. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find it.

Tender Mercies from the Lord

2009-07-12T22:41:00.012-06:00

One of the steps in the 12 Step Program, talks about tender mercies. I would like to share with you some thoughts and quotes about the tender mercies of the Lord. Elder David A. Bednar gave talk a called, "The Tender Mercies of the Lord," and it can be found in the Ensign, May 2005, 99 or you can go to this link and read it online...
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=0a838fbe352fe010VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1 A couple of quotes from that talk are as follows:

"The tender mercies of the Lord are real and . . . they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord's timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them.

". . . The Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and though the Lord Jesus Christ."

I have seen many tender mercies throughout my own life, but it wasn't until I began as a missionary in the LDS Addiction Recovery Program, that I actually realized what they were. My defination of a tender mercy is a special and personal experience that happens to me just at the right time when I need it the most. After hearing Elder Bednars talk in conference, I began to be more aware of the tender mercies that happen to me, even so much that I have begun to write them down. I never want to forget these special experiences that come my way, not by chance, or by fate, but because the Lord knows my needs, loves me, and lets me know that he is looking after me.

Recognizing tender mercies is like the awakening that we have when we realize that we can't do anything without the Lord. Once we sufficently humble ourselves, and knock on the proverbial door, and ask to let the Lord in, our eyes are opened to the miracles and blessings that are all around us. You are no longer doing it alone, and you will understand this concept when you feel the Spirit within you, and you know that He is with you and watching over you and helping you along this tough journey through life.

Tender mercies can be great or small, miraculuous or simple, but they happen and they are real and a testiment of our Heavenly Fathers presence in our lives.

Last week, I was on the freeway driving in the center lane. Before I knew it, I noticed that there was some dibree in the road ahead. It appeared to be long, silver or stainless steel materials and rods. They were mostly in the lane to the right of me, but there was a piece of it stretched between my lane and the lane to the left of me. I felt that if I were to just stay in my lane, I could straddle the two piles of steel and metal, and miss them altogether. Then it started to happen. The cars in the other lanes, began to run over the dibree, and that propelled these metal objects in the air, hitting cars, and landing and spreading much worse on the freeway. I was driving 65 miles per hour and had to react quickly as the car to my side hit a piece and it was coming my way. I turned my wheel to the left to try to swerve out of the path or I feared it would go right through my windshield, however by doing so, I felt like I had lost control of my car. Through my mind instantly I spoke the words, "Heavenly Father, Help me!" Somehow, someway, almost as if someone took a hold of my steering wheel, my swerving out of control fomr side to side stopped, and I was once again back in control of my car and had also somehow missed the metal objects that I was trying to avoid. I knew without a doubt, that my Heavenly Father sent me a tender mercy and helped me avoid what could have potentially been a deadly accident on the freeway.

How quickly we forget the tender mercies and blessing that happen in our lives. For this reason, I started to write down in a journal the tender mercies that I have experienced. It is not only the acknowledgement that they have happened and that they are real, but a reminder to me and my posterity that the Lord is a huge part of our lives on this earth. I also can't help but feel the love that He has for me as he reaches out and helps me when I need it the most.

My incident brought to mind a story that my father told me one day as he was driving his truck home from Provo, Utah. He was driving down a hill and he had a prompting that he should get into the other lane. He felt an urgency about doing it too. He listened to his prompting and moved to the other lane, just in time to see a long metal pipe that was in the back of the truck that was ahead of him, propell itsself from the truck. If my father had not listended to this prompting, or this very obvious tender mercy from the Lord, the pipe would have gone through his windshield and through him as well. Tender mercy? There is no question in my mind.

These are just two tender mercies that came to my mind, but tender mercies come in all shapes and forms. Recently a man who had been struggling with alcohol addiction came to an LDS Addiction Recovery meeting that my husband and I were the missionar group leaders. He shared his story of a lifetime of alcohol abuse, and getting clean and then falling off the wagon over and over. This happened to be the second meeting that he came to that particular day. Later on, in talking with another missionary, it was revealed that this missionary became inspired to talk with this man who he met at the first meeting that day. In the conversation, the man revealed to the missionary that he had been contemplating suiside, and the missionary was able to interviene and say and do what was needed to save this mans life.

I don't believe for one moment that it was a chance happening or fate, I beleive that this was a tender mercy of the Lord who worked a miracle through a sensitive missionary. A mans life was preserved because the Lord knew what to do and inspired the action that was needed through the missionary.

This tender mercy shows me just how much the Lord loves his children. He doesn't discriminate between his children with his love, because he loves each and every one the same. He doesn't just love those who are walking on the straight and narrow path and loathe those who are sinning. He loves all His children and wants each of them to return home to his loving arms one day at the right time. He loved us so much that he provided us a Savior, even his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins. How hard would that be? Imaging giving your beloved son to be killed and suffer the sins of the world. I know that Jesus Christ was not the only one suffering on the Cross. The Lord sufferes too when his children are suffering, and as a loving father, wants to help.

God shows his love for his children throught the tender mercies that he showers upon us each and every day. It is our responsiblity to recognize them for what they are, and we need to remember to acknowledge and thank Him through prayer, and service
for sending these mercies, and His love, to us.

July - Pioneer Story

2009-07-05T11:29:00.010-06:00

For several days, I have had some thoughts on my mind of those who came before me. I am referring to those wonderful and courageous people (Pioneers) who suffered so much in their efforts to pave the way for me and for my family to have a better life. For my post today, I want to share with you a wonderful, short talk called "Where Much is Given, Much is Required" given by Boyd K. Packer. He relates a story of faith and prayer of a Pioneer family as they travel to get to Utah, and one of the trials that they experienced along the way. Since this is the month that we celebrate the entry of the Pioneers to Utah, I wanted to share this with you. How it relates to addiction recovery is this... Everyone in all times have experienced adversities in their lives that cause them grief, pain, sadness, hurt, sorrow and all manner of earthly suffering. I believe at times we need to set our own aside, and gain strength from others experiences. This is actually what is done in the Addiction Recovery meetings in the sharing portion. We gain strength and hope from the stories that others tell about their own addictions. Anyway... I thought you would enjoy this story of faith and gratitude.

"In the late 1850s many converts from Europe were struggling to reach the Great Salt Lake Valley. Many were too poor to afford the open and the covered wagons and had to walk, pushing their meager belongings in handcarts. Some of the most touching and tragic moments in the history of the Church accompanied these handcart pioneers.One such company was commanded by a Brother McArthur. Archer Walters, an English convert who was with the company, recorded in his diary under July 2, 1856, this sentence: “Brother Parker’s little boy, age six, was lost, and the father went back to hunt him.” (LeRoy R. Hafen and Ann W. Hafen, Handcarts to Zion, Pioneers Ed. Glendale, California, The Arthur H. Clark Co., 1960, p. 61.)

The boy, Arthur, was next youngest of four children of Robert and Ann Parker. Three days earlier the company had hurriedly made camp in the face of a sudden thunderstorm. It was then the boy was missed. The parents had thought him to be playing along the way with the other children. Someone remembered earlier in the day, when they had stopped, that they had seen the little boy settle down to rest under the shade of some brush.

Now most of you have little children and you know how quickly a tired little six-year-old could fall asleep on a sultry summer day and how soundly he could sleep, so that even the noise of the camp moving on might not awaken him. For two days the company remained, and all of the men searched for him. Then on July 2, with no alternative, the company was ordered west.

Robert Parker, as the diary records, went back alone to search once more for his little son. As he was leaving camp, his wife pinned a bright shawl about his shoulders with words such as these: “If you find him dead, wrap him in the shawl to bury him. If you find him alive, you could use this as a flag to signal us.”
She, with the other little children, took the handcart and struggled along with the company.Out on the trail each night Ann Parker kept watch. At sundown on July 5, as they were watching, they saw a figure approaching from the east! Then, in the rays of the setting sun, she saw the glimmer of the bright red shawl. One of the diaries records: “Ann Parker fell in a pitiful heap upon the sand, and that night, for the first time in six nights, she slept.” Under July 5, Brother Walters recorded:
“Brother Parker came into camp with a little boy that had been lost. Great joy through the camp. The mother’s joy I cannot describe.” (Hafen and Hafen, Handcarts to Zion, p. 61.)

We do not know all of the details. A nameless woodsman—I’ve often wondered how unlikely it was that a woodsman should be there—found the little boy and described him as being sick with illness and with terror, and he cared for him until his father found him. So here a story, commonplace in its day, ends—except for a question. How would you, in Ann Parker’s place, feel toward the nameless woodsman had he saved your little son? Would there be any end to your gratitude? To sense this is to feel something of the gratitude our Father must feel toward any of us who saves one of his children. Such gratitude is a prize dearly to be won, for the Lord has said, “If it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!” (D&C 18:15.) Even so, I might add, if that soul should be our own."

At the bottom of President Packers talk he says: "Many of you are burdened with unhappiness and worry and with guilt. Many of you struggle under the bondage of degrading habits or wrestle with loneliness or disappointment and failure. Some of you suffer from broken homes, broken marriages, broken hearts. We are not offended at all of these things. All of these things may be set aside—overcome. Whoever you are and whatever you are, we reach out to extend to you the hand of fellowship so that we can lift one another and lift others."I would like to echo the words of President Packer and say to you, "The hand of fellowship is extended to you" and the invitation given that you are welcome to attend and participate in the LDS Addiction Recovery Meetings.... "so that we can lift one another and lift others." (You don't need to be LDS or be referred by Family Services to attend these meetings. All you need is to have a desire to break the bands of bondage that your addiction has held you in so tightly, and just come to a meeting.)

President Boyd K. Packers full talk can be found at http://www.schoolofabraham.com/muchrequired.htm

2009-06-28T10:39:00.007-06:00

For this week and weeks that follow, I would like to focus my thoughts for my posting, on the Article in the June 2009 Ensign called, “Addiction Recovery – Healing One Step at a time”I will be referring to this article and you might like to refer back to the portions I am focusing on by going to the direct link found at: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=3216ceb47f381210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

This article begins with a story of Mark, who was addicted to drugs and alcohol. Mark shares what led up to the acknowledgement of his addictions, and lists the attempts he made through counseling and rehab centers, to stop and recovery. This story is very typical of the addicts that we work with as missionary group leaders in the LDS Addiction Recovery Program. The stories are all somewhat different, but their reason for coming for help are all the same.

Mark says that once he found the Church’s 12-step addiction recovery program, “…He found the principles and direction that would change his life.” He goes on to say “The change occurred as he studied and applied the principles taught in the program workbook and weekly recovery meetings.” This statement is the key to success in Addiction recovery; that is, applying the principles in the workbook, attending weekly meeting, study, prayer and understanding including journaling, are all key elements into successful recovery efforts. Without the combined efforts of all of these key elements, and of course including the patient, humble efforts of the addict, joined with help of the Lord, no recovery will be completely successful.

In the Addiction Recovery meetings, addicts will be taught a different step in the addiction recovery process, each week. There are 12 steps of the Addiction Recovery program (ARP) and you can find them by going to this Ensign article p.65, or for the link to the 12 steps in the Addiction Recovery Guide, go to: http://www.providentliving.org/familyservices/AddicitonRecoveryManual_36764000.pdf
and click on the left hand column table of contents – “The 12 steps”.
Marks life began to change as he studied and applied the principles found within the Program Guide. He studied and understood the principles such as honesty, hope, and trust in God. He gained strength from the others who attended the weekly meetings through the sharing of their own experiences as they applied these principles in their lives. I personally want to insert a comment that I have learned as a missionary…

Though the 12 steps of this LDS program were originally adapted from the Alcoholics Anonymous -12 step program, I personally feel that the LDS Addiction Recovery Program is different and “unique” as it states in this Ensign article. The reason that I believe this program is unique is that the Spirit of the Lord is brought into the meetings. I have personally seen and heard addicts who have come to a meeting for the first time, break down and weep throughout the meeting and the sharing, not really understanding why they are crying and what they are feeling .

I heard one participant share in a meeting we were attending as missionaries, that he had been watching his neighbor who was also an addict, make tremendous changes in his life. He finally approached this neighbor and asked him how he was doing it. This good neighbor told him about the LDS Addiction Recovery program and how it has changed his life. He offered for his neighbor to go with him to his next meeting, and see for himself. The neighbor said, “But I am not LDS.” He explained that you don’t have to be LDS to come to a meeting, and that everyone was welcome.

This story goes on with the non LDS neighbor attending a meeting and literally crying throughout the entire meeting. When the sharing portion began as directed by the facilitator who is a recovered addict, the sharing started with the young LDS man who brought with him his neighbor. After he shared, his neighbor, an older gentleman who with tears in his eyes began his comments “I am ____ and I am an alcoholic and the reason I am here is because of the example of my young neighbor. I have known he was an addict for some time now, but I have noticed a tremendous change in him recently and I know that he is in recovery from his addiction. He brought me here tonight, and I don’t have any idea why I am crying and have been through this entire meeting. I have felt something that I have never felt in my life before, and it has made me weep.” I knew what was making him humbled to the point of weeping and so did many others who have recognized the spirit touching their hearts and souls.
The Lord’s spirit enters each ARP meeting, and that Spirit provides a spiritual, almost Testimony meeting feeling about it. Every meeting is the same, and that is what makes our meetings unique. The Spirit of the Lord brings a sense of humility and love, and participants feel this, and know that they are not alone. I would personally like to testify that Heavenly Father knows and loves each and everyone of his children alike. He loves them, the person; though he abhors the addiction for the hurt and pain it causes His children. Like the photo of Christ at the door, He is waiting at the door for us to let Him into our lives, and will not push or force us to open up our proverbial door. However once we do, He is there to help and bless us according to our needs. I urge everyone who reads this, to open up your door and let Him in, and see for yourself what a difference He can make as a daily presence in your life.

“Mark learned through the Atonement, individuals can not only stop their addictive behaviors, but also heal the underlying causes of their addiction.” I know that everyone can experience the same life changing blessings as Mark, through participating in and attending the LDS Addiction Recovery meetings. You can find a meeting in your area, by going to
http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,6629-1-3414-1,00.html

You can also find a recovery/study guide in many different languages by going to this link and selecting your language: http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,8517-1-4751-1,00.html

Next week’s post will focus on more of the material found in this June 2009 Ensign article. All italicized quotes can be found in the June 2009 Ensign called, “Addiction Recovery – Healing One Step at a time”

DRAW NEAR UNTO ME AND I WILL DRAW NEAR UNTO YOU

2009-06-21T09:49:00.005-06:00

The key principle of Step 11, Personal Revelation, is “Seek through Prayer and Meditation to know the Lord’s Will and to have the Power to Carry It Out”.

In Step 11, we make a lifelong commitment to seek one day at a time to know the Lord’s will and have the power to carry it out. One of the greatest blessings of the restoration of the Gospel in the latter days is the knowledge that we have a loving Heavenly Father who lives. He is literally the Father of our spirits and He knows each of us by name. Through prayer and personal revelation, our Father in Heaven communicates with us and guides our lives. Prayer and meditation are powerful antidotes to fear and depression. Over the course of addiction recovery, we must seek a period of quiet solitude for scripture study and prayer. If you haven’t done so already, schedule time for prayer and meditation, perhaps early in the morning. During this time you can put God first, before anyone else or anything else in the day. Pray to your Heavenly Father, seeking the Spirit to guide you. Then study, using the scriptures and the teachings of the modern prophets to guide your meditation. When this precious time of private meditation has ended, do not cease to pray. Silent prayer, in the depths of your heart and mind, will become your way of thinking throughout your days and focusing on your spiritual awakening.

“Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17-19

As we keep ourselves free from addictions and grow closer to our Heavenly Father and His Son through daily prayer and scripture study, we will be more able to receive the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve taught,

“The Holy Ghost will protect us against being deceived, but to realize that wonderful blessing, we must always do the things necessary to retain that Spirit…And we must never do anything to drive away that Spirit.”

The Lord respects our will and our agency. He allows us to choose to approach Him without compulsion. I testify that our Savior Jesus Christ will draw near to us when we invite him to be near. “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” D&C 88:63
In the Book of Mormon, Alma testified that when he prayed and fasted, his ability to receive revelation and know the will of God for him increased. Abstinence from our addictions can be considered a form of fasting.

“I say unto you (these things whereof I have spoken) are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.” Alma 5:46

I bear you my testimony that the Lord Jesus Christ is ready to help us. He is at the door, but we must open the door and permit him to enter into our lives. Prayer and meditation are the keys that can open this door.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

Needing help with Addiction new format

2009-06-08T09:26:00.002-06:00

In the past, since the creation of this blog, I have focused all my messages on a particular step, and continuing with the next step with the next post. I have decided to do things just a little bit differently, and hopefully this will be a good change for my readership as well. I will focus thoughts on different parts of different steps, and not in chronological order. Hopefully this will add depth and greater understanding on particular helps in the Addiction Recovery Guide once again found at http://www.providentliving.org/familyservices/AddicitonRecoveryManual_36764000.pdf

Return to God and Find Hope in the Atonement of Jesus Christ

2009-06-08T08:34:00.004-06:00

Addicts must eventually come to the realization that they are powerless over their addictions. Unfortunately, this realization often is accompanied by a feeling of hopelessness – that either God was too disappointed to help or that all avenues of help had been exhausted. The key principle of Step 2 – Hope is to “come to believe that the power of God can restore you to complete spiritual health.” Those suffering from addiction must be presented with an answer that they never considered or have discarded – turn to God and find hope in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

In Alma Chapter 32, Alma teaches us that to begin to have hope, or to exercise faith, we need only have a sincere desire and believe enough to give place to the word. He uses “word” to mean the word of God or the beauty of His gospel of redemption and atonement and compares the word to a seed. We are all God’s children, regardless of our circumstances. His light illuminates every soul. His spirit invites all to come unto Him and enjoy the blessings of the gospel. As the word of God takes root in an addict’s heart, it can begin to grow until it fills that heart with redemptive love. In answering the questions of the people concerning what to do because they were “afflicted and cast out”, Alma comforted them with these words:

“But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.” Alma 32:27

Just as a seed takes time to swell, sprout and emerges as a living plant, we must have patience and allow the word of God to grow in our heart and nourish its progress through faith and prayer. We must be sure our heart is right, humble and filled with hope in the atonement of Christ, so that we can nurture the word.

As I have said above, addicts may feel that God is too disappointed in them to help. We see in the scriptures many examples of the love and compassion that Jesus had for the sick, the sinners and the persecuted. Many times he went to and healed the sick that others refused to visit. In other occasions, he demonstrated charity and love to those who had committed serious sins.

The story of the woman taken in adultery is an example that can give hope to the sinner. See John 8:3-11. Early one morning as Jesus came to the temple courtyard, a group of scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They asked Jesus if the woman should be stoned to death. Jesus stooped and with His finger wrote something on the ground. When they pressed Him for an answer, He said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” One by one her accusers left, “being convicted by their own conscience,” until Jesus was alone with the woman. Jesus stood, looked around, and turned to the woman. “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?” “She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her. Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

Jesus did not condone the woman’s sin, but neither did He condemn her. He did not judge her to be an evil person, nor did He wish to impose a sentence upon her. The Master calls to each of us to “go and sin no more.” With these simple words, Christ’s benevolence and mercy are revealed. I am so thankful for the law of repentance. I bear you my testimony that by way of the atonement of Jesus Christ, our sins will be pardoned if we truly repent and fill our hearts with the love of God.

Step 6 - Change of Heart

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The key principle of Step 6, Change of Heart, is “Become Entirely Ready to Have God Remove all Your Character Weaknesses.”

The addiction recovery program of the Church is spiritual and is a plan of action. If we will follow the principles of the program and allow them to work in our lives, we will find ourselves restored to spiritual health through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The scriptures are full of references to the heart. The heart is often used interchangeably with the spirit, disposition or character. Just as a strong, healthy heart is critical to our physical well being, a broken, or humble and contrite heart is the condition required for the atonement of Christ to heal and strengthen us spiritually. The Lord desires to bless us with a change of disposition as we turn to him humbly and prayerfully and seek his help to remove those character weaknesses that lead to addiction and sin. Through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord promised:
“A new heart…will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

This change of heart is a difficult process, and contrary to the disposition of the “natural man.” However, as you yield your heart to God and grow stronger in humility, the resolve in your heart to not return to past addictive behaviors will become firmer and firmer. You will find yourself wanting to return to fellowship with members of the Church and become a child of God.

The restoration of our spiritual health and change of our hearts may also be described as becoming like a little child. The Lord Jesus Christ loved the little children and, sometimes to the consternation of his impatient and imperfect apostles, took the time to gather them, place them on his knee and love them. He told his disciples and us that unless we become like little children, we cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

“For the natural man is the enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticing of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” Mosiah 3:19
I believe this scripture captures the essence of and describes the process of addiction recovery. I testify that as we take upon ourselves the name of Christ and are strengthened by His Spirit, our character weaknesses will be strengthened and the atonement will work in our hearts. My prayer for you echoes that of the Apostle Paul:

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth , and length, and depth and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19

Step 5 Confession

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Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.

Many addicts tend to isolate themselves from others, as sometimes they have not felt connected or like they didn’t fit in. However, as they began to attend the recovery meetings, they eventually began to emerge from their isolation as they saw the other participants speak and share about their addictions openly and freely, which gave them hope. Most times, the newcomer will sit the recovery meetings and listen and will not participate in the sharing part of the meetings. That is ok, as eventually they will understand that they are safe to share, and the other participants in the meeting are there to support and care and provide hope in healing through their sharing.

Confessing ones sins is a very difficult process for everyone. It is hard to face a person and disclose to them what they have done and to express the remorse that they feel. Confession is an ongoing effort to repair and reestablish broken relationships. Confession is also seeking forgiveness from the Lord through prayer and through the Priesthood.

Confession demonstrates before God, ourselves and another wittiness, our commitment to a new life based firmly on telling the truth. President Spencer W. Kimball counseled: “Repentance can never come until one has bared his soul and admitted his actions without excuses or rationalizations… Those persons who choose to meet the issue and transform their lives may find repentance the harder road at first, but they will find it the infinitely more desirable path as they taste of its fruits.” Once a person has honestly repented there was nothing left to hide. Alma 22:18 says, we “give away all our sins” so that we could receive a greater knowledge of Gods love and the love and support of many good people who rallied around us.

Start with your bishop. Serious transgressions must be confessed with proper priesthood leaders, and usually the Bishop. The Lord is the one who forgives sins but priesthood leaders play a vital role in the process of repentance. They will keep it confidential, and help you through the process. Confess all mistakes, and resolve all your mistakes. The sooner you begin this process, the sooner you will find peace and joy that come with the miracle of forgiveness.

The following are links to some excellent guidance about confession:

http://www.providentliving.org/familyservices/AddicitonRecoveryManual_36764000.pdfLDS Addiction Recovery Manual Step 5 “Confession”, page 29.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=ed23ba9ff599b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 - “Confession” by J. Richard Clarke

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=0cbd6a4430c0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “The Path of Growth” - By Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander Of the Seventy

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=88021b08f338c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=2909862384d20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1 Chapter 4: The Miracle of Forgiveness,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, (2006),34–45

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=786d0e46d0bdb010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “Questions and Answers,” Tambuli, Apr 1985, 29–31

One last thought of mine about repentance and confession. When we sin, we feel like our shoulders bare heavy weights that build up to the point that they practically weigh us down. With every sin, our load gets heavier. But when we confess and repent of our sins, those heavy weights that have held us captive and stopped any positive progress, one by one are lifted, and they no longer weigh us down. Confession is gift that we must initiate and do for ourselves in order to receive it.If we confess, give away our sins, and truly repent, then they are with us no longer, and like the scripture says in Isa. 1: 18 Come now, and let us areason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Much of this post has taken excerpts from the LDS Family Services Addiction Recovery Program guide.

Step 4 - Truth

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Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself.

By doing so, you show your willingness to trust in God. Now you will make an inventory of your life by surveying or summarizing the thoughts, events emotions, and actions of your life and making it as complete as possible. You commit to honesty, and include your own weaknesses, and not anyone elses. It is far too easy to justify your own bad behavior by blaming people or things. This inventory is where you will take responsibility for your past and current actions, even thought this will be painful, and embarrassing and will create a myriad of emotion within you.

This step is the one that most recovering addicts say is a real turning point, because by writing down what is required, they have to face themselves, the self that they created. It is like looking in the mirror and not really liking what they saw. Because you are facing yourself and your deeds, it is what makes you realize where the true blame lies. This is a step that many would rather skip, but it is vital to recovery. Taking a direct quote from the Addiction recovery guide, it reads, "Addiction crippled our ability to reflect honestly about our lives. It limited our ability to understand the damage and havoc--the liabilities-it caused in all our relationships." This step is difficult and long, but necessary!

Through this inventory, you will align your life with the will of God. You will identify negative thoughts, emotions and actions that ruled your life. By discovering those destructive elements in your life, you will take the first step toward correcting them. This inventory step will open doors to additional faith and hope as you continue to seek recovery and overcome addiction.

So what do you do? Rather than write everything down, I would refer you to the Addiction Recovery Guide in page 21 under how to do an inventory. If you don't have a guide book you can find it online athttp://www.providentliving.org/familyservices/AddicitonRecoveryManual_36764000.pdf It is a very personal process and you can speak with others who have done it or follow the suggestions in the guide.

"I invite each one of you to thoughtfully review your life. Have you deviated from the standards that you know will bring you happiness? Is there a dark corner that needs to be cleaned out? Are you now doing things that you know are wrong? Do you fill your mind with unclean thoughts? When it is quiet and you can think clearly, does your conscience tell you to repent? For your peace now and for everlasting happiness, please repent. Open your heart to the Lord and ask Him to help you. You will earn the blessings of forgiveness, peace and the knowledge you have been purified and made whole. Find the courage to ask the Lord for strength to repent now." (Richard G. Scott, in Conference Report, April 1995, page 103 or in the Ensign, May 1995, page 77)

I love the scripture found in Ether 12:27 which states..."If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." And this can be followed up by the scripture found in John 8: 32 which says...."Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free".

When you take this opportunity to take a deep look at yourself, and who you've become through addiction, you are blessed with an awakening. Your eyes are open much more widely and you can see yourself for who you really are. With your eyes wide open, if you don't like what you see, you have the opportunity to change things. Like the Scripture John says, you will know the truth about yourself, and only then when you can understand truths about your past behaviors, then you can be able to become free from the bonds that have enslaved you through your addiction. I bolded the words "YOU" intentionally so that you could see that your addiction isn't about anyone else, anyone elses choices, problems, things that people have done to you but what you have done to yourself.

With eyes wide open, and through the help of the Lord, you can overcome your addictions, and I know this because I have seen and heard so many stories of recovery while serving as a missionary in the LDS Addiction recovery program. I urge you to find a meeting and go. One participant and family support traveled from one state to our meeting, which was miles and miles, just to find help for their addiction. They did it because it had to be done and they knew it and they found help and hope through attending these addiction recovery meetings. Go to http://providentliving.org/content/list/0,11664,6629-1,00.html and click on "addiction recovery support groups" and locate the closest group to where you live. Then go, and begin the steps toward you own recovery and receive support from those who have been working the program, through the testimonies of the Missionaries, and the facilitator.

Step 3 - Trust in God

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“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."

Addiction Recovery Meetings

Addiction recovery meetings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints assist those who desire to recover from addiction. Family and friends whose lives may be affected by the addiction of another are also welcome.

I have had the opportunity to attend many of these meetings as a missionary in this inspired program, and believe they are some of the most spiritual meetings I have ever experienced. The Spirit of the Lord is found there in rich abundance. The meetings are made up of a group of brothers and sisters who share their experience, faith, and hope as they study and apply the principles of the gospel as they correlate with the 12 steps of recovery. These meetings provide a safe place for honest sharing because principles of confidentiality and anonymity are closely adhered to, and appropriate language and behavior are used to invite the Spirit to be in attendance.

The Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing says, “Participation in a support group or a recovery meeting may not be feasible for everyone. If you cannot attend a recovery meeting, you can still follow each of the steps, with minor modifications, as you work with your bishop or a carefully chosen professional counselor. When attendance at a recovery meeting is possible, you will find it helpful for at least two reasons. First, at these meetings you will study specific gospel principles that, when applied, will help you change your behavior. Second, these meetings are a place to gather with others seeking recovery and with those who have already taken this path and are living proof of its effectiveness. In recovery meetings you will find understanding, hope, and support.

Step 2 - Hope

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Come to believe that the power of God can restore you to complete spiritual health.

Addiction tends to strip the addict of Hope. If they believed in God before their addiction, they feel that they have disappointed God, and those who have grown up without a knowledge of God certainly had nothing to grasp on to for Hope. Step two teaches us that if we will turn to God, we can find Hope through the atonement of Jesus Christ. The scriptures tell us that God loves the sinner but hates the sin.

Reaching out for help is a humbling experience. Hope can be discovered in the LDS Addiction Recovery meetings. Men and Women honestly and openly describe what their lives had been like, and what had changed them, and what it was like to live in recovery from addiction. Many people who attend the meetings once felt hopeless, but now they are attending meetings, praying, reading scriptures and writing in their recovery journals.

Satan has so many tools and he wants to drag anyone down to his level who will open a door even just alittle. Once he has them in his snare, he feeds them with despair, hopelessness, and takes many with him to the brink of destruction.

God on the other hand is there waiting at the door for you to reach and open it. He won't force you, but waits patiently for you to use your agency and reach out to him for Hope. Heavenly Father provided the entire world Hope though the Atonement of his son Jesus Christ. This hope can heal sin, or the strongest addiction but you have to humble yourself and reach out to Him. The above art is a depiction of Christ at the door. Notice that there is no handle on the outside of the door. The reason is because it is up to you to grasp hold of the handle and open up the door and let him in, or not.

Addiction Recovery meetings are held all over the world. They cost nothing to attend, and everyone including non LDS are welcome. You don't need an appointment, you can just find a meeting and show up. There are no judgements made, and what is shared in the meetings stays there. You will receive a message on the weekly study steps and will have opportunity to share or listen to the participants share their stories of how the steps have helped them in their lives to deal with their addictions.

It is my testimony that there is hope in healing through the Addiction Recovery Program. You can find it by going to http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,6629-1-3414-1,00.html Scroll down the page to find a support meeting in your area. You can even download the Addiction Recovery Guide and print it off, or you can get one by attending a meeting.

Step 1 - Honesty

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Admit that you, of yourself, are powerless to overcome your addictions and that your life has become unmanageable.

When people in general have a serious problem, they generally do all that they can to hide it so that others don't know about it. It turns into their secret life and that life in turn, changes a person. They learn to lie, cheat, steal, choose deception, and make up all manner of excuses, just to prevent others from knowing about this new secret life of theirs. They think that if no one finds out, then they are not hurting anyone, including themselves.

A woman who was a wonderful wife and mother, had a serious surgery and was in need of painkillers to move on from her surgery. Over time, innocently she became addicted to the pain killers and the painkillers or drugs began to rule her life. She changed and began her secret life. She did everything she could to get her drugs but thought that no one would find out. She went from doctor to doctor to get perscriptions of her drugs, but once the doctors stopped writing them she had to resort to other ways of getting the drugs she felt she needed. She even resorted to bringing her own children into her secret life, and take them to doctors and she was able to get drugs for herself that supposedly were for the treatment of her children. She also found out that if she could pay the price, she could get her drugs off the internet. She also resorted to get her drugs by raiding the medecine cabinets of her friends, but once she was caught, and not only lost her drug store supply from the medecine cabinet, but lost her friend.

Soon she felt she needed to expand her horizons and sought out other women in her same addicted state, thinking that working together they could get what they needed. These women lied, deceived, and did unthinkable things to get their drugs and traded them back and forth with each other. One time when they went to get them off the street, one of the women got caught, and was almost killed, and the other women's lives were also put in jepordy. Credit cards were ordered, and charges added up into the thousands, putting their families into grave financial debt. They came up with great ways and amazingly believable excuses to justify or hide these charges from their husbands. They were living a lie, and their need for drugs changed them, affected themselves, their relationships with all those who loved them.

Where does it stop? Well this particular story didn't stop here, but went on to destroy families and marriages. Satan doesnt' stop his efforts to destroy the family. If he can find a tiny crack and like a noxious week, squeeze into it. Once he does and once he is in, the crack doesn't stay small, and like the weed it grows and grows until it enlarges develops into a full blown habbit. At this point, Satan won his prize and that prize is you, your family, and all of those those your devious actions have hurt.

The story I just told is true and didn't end where I stopped telling it. Gratefully in time, this story had a happy ending, but not before lives were damaged, family were torn apart and put into financial disaster, and drastic reparation had to be made. This true story is not isolated. If you see yourself in any way shape or form mirrored in this story or you suspect or are willing to admit that you are addicted, then I urge to to do something about it now. Take the first step. Admitting that you have a problem and seeking to do something about it is the first step. Locate an LDS 12 step program in your area and go to it. (you can find the links on this blog) Do it for yourself, and do it for those you love, but just do it, and do it now. If you are reading this, it is obviously time or you wouldn't have sought out this blog. Help yourself and get help now. Don't let more destruction happen.. break the pattern now and get help!

PRAYER, FAITH AND PATIENCE ARE NECESSARY TO OVERCOME ADDICTION In the 24th chapter of Mosiah, the king of the Lamanites appointed Amulon, leader of the priests of King Noah, to be king and ruler over his people. Amulon began to exercise authority over Alma and his people, gave them difficult tasks and brought them under bondage. Amulon knew that Alma had believed the words of the Prophet Abinadi, and in his anger sought retribution against Alma.

The afflictions and suffering of the people of Alma were so great that “they began to cry mightily to God. And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.” Alma and his people ceased praying in public and out loud to God. They were truly captive and enslaved.

But Alma and his people continued to pray silently in their hearts, and the Lord “did know the thoughts of their hearts. And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders.”

The burdens that were placed upon the shoulders of the people of Alma were made light and the Lord “did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.”

“Now it came to pass that Alma and his people in the night-time gathered their flocks together, and also their grain; yea, even all the night-time were they gathering their flocks together. And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep. And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness.”

I believe that addicts find themselves in a situation very similar to that of Alma and his people. They are captives and enslaved to their addiction and need the comfort and help of the Lord to be rescued. But before being led out of captivity, they must pray always in secret and in their hearts and demonstrate much faith and patience. I know that our Savior lives, and is ready to rescue us and free us.

Step 12 - Service

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Step 12 - Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, share this message with others and practice these principles in all you do.

Service will help you grow int he light of the Spirit throughout the rest of your life. You learned in step 10 that you evaluate your life each day and be accountable for your actions. Then in step 11 you learned to remember the savior from moment to moment so you will have the guidance of the Holy Ghost as constant as possible. Now Step 12 involves the third anchor and that is service to others. This step aids in your continued recovery and a remission of sin and to remain free of addiction, you must get outside of yourself and serve.

Desire to give service is a natural result of your spiritual awakening. (ARP Guide) So, how do we serve? One way is through sharing the message of hope with other addicts or to those who are troubled. When you share with others, you can share your testimony of the mercy of the Lord and let others know that they too can receive this same mercy through the Atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many addicts feel alone and don't think that they could ever be forgiven of the hurt that they have caused to themselves and to others, but you can stand as a wittiness to the truth of the Atonement.

President Ezra Taft Benson taught: "Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their mussels, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life."

When you personally have reached step 12, it is important that you realize that you should not put away your ARP book and say I am done. You should still continue to attend meetings and participate as you have through the entire 12 step process. Open your book and read your journaling to strengthen your own resolve to continue to move forward for the rest of your life. Set forward thinking goals, which will probably be much different than those that you have set while in this program. Now that you are living free from your addiction, you have so much to look forward to and you need to live in maintenance for the rest of your life.

Service is a way for you to be able to maintain your addiction free life. Many individuals choose to become facilitators in the addiction recovery program. Facilitators are not a church calling but a volunteer service and a greatly needed service in the Addiction Recovery program. As you attend meetings and see that after the Missionaries present their part of the Addiction Recovery program, the sharing portion of the meeting is turned over to a facilitator. Facilitators set a positive tone, invite the spirit and give a directed focus for the sharing portion of the meetings. They can draw upon their own personal knowledge to lift and give hope to the other participants. Their sharing is directed toward what they have learned as they work the particular step of study for that week. What a blessing Facilitators are, and how great a service they render.

Services doesn't just stay within the Addiction recovery program. Service can be given everywhere. Serve in your wards and stakes. Serve in your homes and neighborhoods. Serve in your community and in the world. Everywhere you look there are opportunities for service and they are not hard to find if you are looking. One recovered addict is now the High Priest Group leader in his ward, and is constantly involved in helping out the widow's of the ward and he is also a facilitator and and serving as a missionary in the LDS Addiction Recovery Program. In a different ward and Stake, a returned missionary who learned Spanish on his mission, helps out in with the Spanish community and attends and assists in many ways using his time and language skills giving service.

If you think about this world being filled with Heavenly Fathers children, and you realize that you are actually all related through Him, then maybe serving your family members would be easier to think about than serving someone you don't know. Humanity is really just one big diverse family. When I personally think about service, this scripture comes to mind... "When Ye Are in the Service of Your Fellow Beings Ye Are Only in the Service of Your God" (Mosiah 2:17) The result of service is a crowning blessing, as the Lord promised: I delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory. ( D & C 76:56)

I pray that we can all lose ourselves in the service of our fellow beings, because as the scripture says, when we do so, we are only in the service of our God!

STEP 11 – PERSONAL REVELATION

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The key principle of Step 11, Personal Revelation, is “Seek through Prayer and Meditation to know the Lord’s Will and to have the Power to Carry It Out”.

One of the greatest blessings of the restoration of the Gospel in the latter days is the knowledge that we have a loving Heavenly Father who lives. He is literally the Father of our spirits and He knows each of us by name. Through prayer and personal revelation, our Father in Heaven communicates with us and guides our lives. Prayer and meditation are powerful antidotes to fear and depression.

Over the course of addiction recovery, we must seek a period of quiet solitude for scripture study and prayer. If you haven’t done so already, schedule time for prayer and meditation, perhaps early in the morning. During this time you can put God first, before anyone else or anything else in the day. Pray to your Heavenly Father, seeking the Spirit to guide you. Then study, using the scriptures and the teachings of the modern prophets to guide your meditation. When this precious time of private meditation has ended, do not cease to pray. Silent prayer, in the depths of your heart and mind, will become your way of thinking throughout your days and focusing on your spiritual awakening.

“Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17-19
As we keep ourselves free from addictions and grow closer to our Heavenly Father and His Son through daily prayer and scripture study, we will be more able to receive the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve taught,

“The Holy Ghost will protect us against being deceived, but to realize that wonderful blessing, we must always do the things necessary to retain that Spirit…And we must never do anything to drive away that Spirit.”

The Lord respects our will and our agency. He allows us to choose to approach Him without compulsion. I testify that our Savior Jesus Christ will draw near to us when we invite him to be near.

“Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” D&C 88:63

In the Book of Mormon, Alma testified that when he prayed and fasted, his ability to receive revelation and know the will of God for him increased. Abstinence from our addictions can be considered a form of fasting.

“I say unto you (these things whereof I have spoken) are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.” Alma 5:46

Step 10 - Daily Accountability

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The key principle of Step 10, Daily Accountability, is “Continue to Take Personal Inventory; and When You Are Wrong, Promptly Admit It.

Recovery from addiction is as much a spiritual process as it is a physical one. The first nine steps of the Addiction Recovery Program focus on changing our hearts in a spiritual awakening so that the Lord will accept our repentance and bless us with his healing power. Step 10 represents acceptance of the truth that we must continue to live each day in spiritual principles. My conversations with and observations of recovering addicts often focus on “living one day at a time” and sometimes, in the early stages of recovery, “one hour at a time.”

As we progress in our recovery, we learn for the first time or begin to practice again those spiritual principles and actions that will bring us closer to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ: daily prayer and meditation; daily scripture study; forgiving others and ourselves; attending our church and group recovery meetings.

Because of the difficult times and adversity we face in the world today, and because Satan desires to have us again give in to our addictions, we must focus on living one day at a time in spiritual harmony with the Savior. Because we are human, we will stray from our new found spiritual principles and practices. If we stray from them, we must repent immediately and ask our Heavenly Father at once to restore our peace though His Spirit. Honesty and humility can strengthen us each day. We will become more conscious of Heavenly Father’s presence in our lives as we call on him daily to help us stay spiritually clean. We will learn to value progress and to forgive imperfection in ourselves and others.

Honest, daily self appraisal will become a way of life as we let go of our fears, place reliance on the Lord, and overcome temptations one day at a time.

It could be dangerous or deadly if we didn’t pay attention to what we are doing while driving a car. Daily accountability and self appraisal will help us stay awake and alert to where we are going with our lives.

We are taught in the Book of Mormon to watch our thoughts, words and deeds:

“If ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.” Mosiah 4:30

As we continue in our spiritual growth, promptly admitting that we are wrong is a difficult discipline to develop. This is contrary to the nature of man, and to the addict’s tendency to blame everyone else for his or her problems. I testify that the Lord is patient and willing to forgive. Knowing that the Lord is willing to forgive us as often as we repent with real intent can give us courage to try again each time we fall short.
“As oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven. Moroni 6:8

Step 9 - Restitution and Reconciliation

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Wherever possible, make direct restitution to all persons you have harmed.

Before I share with you my comments about this step, I would first like to remind you that if you do not have an Addiction Recovery program study guide, you can go to http://www.providentliving.org/familyservices/AddicitonRecoveryManual_36764000.pdf and read it in English and even print it off. You can get this Program study guide in many other languages as well by going to http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,8517-1-4751-1,00.html
Many years ago, before I even knew about this step or the Addiction Recovery program, I had determined. that I needed to put some past hurt feelings behind me so that I could move on in my own progress in this life. My list was small but the two or three names on that list caused my heart to hurt and feel such an array of emotion that I knew I needed to heal. I couldn’t remember all the details of the situations and hurts, but I did still harbor the same bad feelings toward them. It was amazing to me that I could remember more of the hurtful details of these few past experiences, than the details of the good and positive ones that I have had. This told me that I really needed to put them behind me once and for all and nobody could do this but me.I pondered and prayed as to how I could best accomplish this. I decided that I should just make a phone call and hopefully the person I needed to talk to would humor me enough to listen. With much fear and trembling and a very humble heart, I made the first call. The person I wanted to speak with actually answered the telephone. I introduced myself to her and with a bit of surprise in her voice, she responded with an “It’s nice to hear from you after all these years.” That small sentence let me know that what I was about to say would be received. Before I knew it, a wealth of tears began to flow and my voice became shaky, as I told her of the bad feelings I had toward her in the past and that I wished to ask her forgiveness for whatever I had done to make her feel toward me the way she did. She responded in kind, and though I felt embarrassed for crying, it was such a huge relief to get those words and feelings out in the open after such a long time. She accepted my apology, and said that she was sorry for whatever she had done to make me feel that way. Our conversation ended quickly but on a positive note.

After hanging up the telephone, I felt such a huge relief that I burst into tears again and sobbed. Once I got control of myself, I realized I felt like a new person. I had just lost at least 40 lbs. that I had been carrying around with me for so many years. That burden was lifted, and I felt finally at peace. I wondered why I had waited so long to make that call. I guess it was fear, hurt, anger, and all the other emotions that went along with it. Those were now gone and I could move on.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ can lift the burdens that weigh us so heavily down. Christ paid the price for all of us and we all need to remember this wonderful gift. We need to do our part to make this burdon lifting Atonement happen and that is to
humble ourselves, to admit our wrongs, and make restitution.

There is no need to fear this process of making restitution with others, because either they will forgive you or not, but it will cleanse your soul, and lighten your load. It is worth it and the sooner the better as I have learned. I hope and pray that you too will seek the opportunity to use the Atonement in your life, and be able to really live and be happy again.

Step 8 - Seeking Forgiveness

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Make a written list of all persons you have harmed and become willing to make restitution to them.

This step focuses on reaching out to and mending relationships with others. It involves a lot of soul searching, courage and prayer in making a list of those who you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from. Prayerfully seek the guidance from Heavenly Father . as He is there for you will help you to be able to accomplish this daunting task.

“By becoming willing to make amends, you benefit from the peace of knowing that Heavenly Father is pleased with your efforts. This step helps you take the actions that enable the Savior to set you free from your past. “ (ARP manual, Step 8, p. 48.)

The Apostle Paul wrote a great discourse on charity. The writings of the prophet Mormon clarify what charity is and how to obtain it. He defined Charity as "the pure love of Christ” and taught that the Father gives it to those who ‘pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart” and to "all who are true followers of his son, Jesus Christ” (Moroni 7:47,48). Charity is a gift that we receive as we learn to follow Jesus Christ and as we love Him with all our hearts, minds and souls. Filled with this pure love from Him and for Him, we find ourselves able to love others as He loved us. We become able to forgive the faults of others and to make amends for our mistakes.

“The nearer we get to our Heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs…. If you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another” (Joseph Smith, in History of the Church, 5:24).

How important is it for us to be able to take this step and learn to forgive? Jesus explained it to Peter in Matthew 18:21-22 "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: until seventy times seven” Just as Christ told Peter to forgive seventy times seven, we desire the same from others.

A friend of mine shared a thought with me once. She said, “The Lord made our shoulders round so that things could roll off of them instead of square shoulders that would make things stack up and weigh us down.” I testify that as we take the action of forgiving others and ourselves, the heavy load we have been carrying, will be lifted! You will then be able to feel exquisite joy. Compassion and love will enter your heart and soul to replace anger, hurt, hatred, bitterness and sorrow.

“…men are that they might have joy. (2 Nephi 2:25) I pray that through this process of seeking forgiveness, you can find the joy and happiness that was meant for you in this life.

Charity, The Pure Love of Christ
by Susan Noyes Anderson.

Will our hearts ever know the love
That does not count the loss;
That bows itself beneath our sin
And suffers on the cross;
The kind of love that never fails
No matter what the slight;
That love that fills our minds and hearts
And souls with Christ's pure light?

This love's a gift, but one that can't
Be given or received;
A gift that must be earned and learned
By selfless word and deed.
If we would take the love of Christ
Upon us, we must give
Our hearts and hands and minds to Him
Each day that we might live.

And once we give ourselves to Him
Who is our Elder Brother;
We'll come to know His perfect love
By loving one another.
This gift we seek is charity,
But we must pay the price;
For love that does not count the loss
Comes wrapped in sacrifice.

Step 7 - Humility

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The key principle of Step 7 is:

All 12 steps of the Addiction Recovery Program require humility, but Step 7 specifically requires it. Developing a change of heart in Step 6 should bring us to our knees, humbly asking our Father in Heaven for forgiveness of our sins and for help overcoming our addictions. Our humble prayers should focus on becoming one in heart and mind with Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, realizing that we have no hope of salvation by our own efforts, but only through the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.
This dramatic change within us will not begin until we allow the Lord to do it. We must surrender our pride and put everything in the Lord’s hands. Many participants in the Addiction Recovery Program come to recovery meetings in desperation, driven by the consequences of their addictions. They are compelled to be humble. The humility described in Step 7, however, has a different motivation – it must be voluntary, the result of our own choice to humble ourselves.

The people of King Benjamin offered the kind of prayer that we must offer in Step 7. They felt peace and joy when the Spirit of the Lord came upon them and gave them a remission of their sins:

“And they viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less that the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.”

And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ…” Mosiah 4:2-3

The peace and joy that came to the people of Mosiah probably will not come instantly as described in these verses from the Book of Mormon, but will require much effort, tears, and suffering – it will require a sufficient period of time to demonstrate to the Lord that we have truly humbled ourselves.

The Addiction Recovery Program is a program of action. Note that the following instructions from King Benjamin are full of actions that must be taken:

“Believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now if you believe all these things see that ye do them…I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come…And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true. And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably.”

Wonderful promises are contained in these scriptures. I testify that our Heavenly Father lives, and that his Son, Jesus Christ lives and desires to bless those who truly humble themselves with His peace and love. He is the Prince of Peace.

Step 6 - Change of Heart

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The key principle of Step 6, Change of Heart, is “Become Entirely Ready to Have God Remove all Your Character Weaknesses.”

The addiction recovery program of the Church is spiritual and is a plan of action. If we will follow the principles of the program and allow them to work in our lives, we will find ourselves restored to spiritual health through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The scriptures are full of references to the heart. The heart is often used interchangeably with the spirit, disposition or character. Just as a strong, healthy heart is critical to our physical well being, a broken, or humble and contrite heart is the condition required for the atonement of Christ to heal and strengthen us spiritually. The Lord desires to bless us with a change of disposition as we turn to him humbly and prayerfully and seek his help to remove those character weaknesses that lead to addiction and sin. Through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord promised:

“A new heart…will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

This change of heart is a difficult process, and contrary to the disposition of the “natural man.” However, as you yield your heart to God and grow stronger in humility, the resolve in your heart to not return to past addictive behaviors will become firmer and firmer. You will find yourself wanting to return to fellowship with members of the Church and become a child of God.

The restoration of our spiritual health and change of our hearts may also be described as becoming like a little child. The Lord Jesus Christ loved the little children and, sometimes to the consternation of his impatient and imperfect apostles, took the time to gather them, place them on his knee and love them. He told his disciples and us that unless we become like little children, we cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

“For the natural man is the enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticing of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” Mosiah 3:19

I believe this scripture captures the essence of and describes the process of addiction recovery. I testify that as we take upon ourselves the name of Christ and are strengthened by His Spirit, our character weaknesses will be strengthened and the atonement will work in our hearts. My prayer for you echoes that of the Apostle Paul:

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth , and length, and depth and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19

Step 5 - Confession

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The key principle of Step 5, Confession, is “Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.”

Step 5 is perhaps one of the most difficult steps to take in the addiction recovery program. It is natural to feel fear and an unwillingness to bear our souls in the confession of sins. However, peace and joy can again come into our lives through this cleansing process and through the “miracle of forgiveness.”

The first step in confession is to confess our sins to our Father in Heaven. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read the following: “I, the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness.” D&C 64:7

We must always remember that our Heavenly Father lives and is literally the father of our spirits. He loves us unconditionally and knows our name. Confessing our sins to a loving, caring Father in Heaven begins the process of making positive changes in our lives and gives us courage and strength to eventually confess to another person.

We all have a duty to confess our sins to our Heavenly Father; however more serious transgressions must also be confessed to proper priesthood leaders, usually the Bishop. Only the Lord can forgive our sins, but confidential confessing of sins to a priesthood leader plays a critical role in the process of repentance. Our priesthood leaders have been called of God and are blessed with loving discernment and inspiration in counseling with us. Our priesthood leaders usually understand the addiction recovery process, will prayerfully counsel with us, and will respond with understanding and compassion. We must remember to be humble, honest and fully open with our priesthood leaders.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” James 5:16

We must use care and wisdom in selecting a person other than our priesthood leaders to share our wrongs. We must not share our sensitive information with individuals we might suspect might extend improper guidance, provide misinformation or have difficulty maintaining confidences.

I testify that through properly and fully confessing our sins, we will receive a greater knowledge of God’s love for us and the love and support of many good people who will rally around us. We can take courage in the following statement of President Spencer W. Kimball,

“Repentance can never come until one has bared his soul and admitted his actions without excuses or rationalizations…Those persons who choose to meet the issue and transform their lives may find repentance the harder road at first, but they will find it the infinitely more desirable path as they taste of its fruits.”

Step 4 - Truth

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The key principle of Step 4, Truth, is “Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself.” In this step, the addict creates this written inventory of his or her life, summarizing the thoughts, emotions, events and actions of life that led or contributed to addiction. The manual, Addiction Recovery Program: a Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing, provides detailed instructions on how to prepare for, organize and construct this moral inventory. The manual outlines four necessary elements of this inventory – writing, honesty, support and prayer.

The thought of writing a detailed, searching and fearless inventory of ourselves is overwhelming. Completing the inventory will take time, but there is no need to rush through it. In listening to the sharing of recovering addicts who have completed this step, two things are very clear:

1. The written inventory will take a very substantial amount of time and will be difficult.
2. The completed moral inventory was the key to addiction recovery and served to lift the burden of years of damaging behavior and relationships.

Addiction clouds one’s ability to search within and honestly reflect about his or her life. Before the addict can rely on the Savior for help in overcoming addiction, a framework is needed to allow Him to help sort out the past honestly. A written moral inventory provides this framework.

As we prayerfully and honestly open our hearts and put our feelings in writing, we will find that the Holy Ghost will be with us to “bring all things to our remembrance”. To quote the manual, “When you prayerfully write about your life, you give the Holy Ghost an opportunity to help you see and understand the potential lessons that come from each of your experiences.”

After years of damaging behavior, Alma the Younger was forced to do a searching moral inventory of his past sins and relationships:

“I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.” Alma 36:13

Remembering our sins, weaknesses and imperfections and prayerfully writing them down is a painful but necessary process. However, as with Alma the Younger, this difficult process can propel us into a new life of peace and happiness. It took a miracle to turn Alma’s life around. Miracles have not ceased, and miracles can work in our lives to help us overcome addiction, sin and transgression.

I testify that as you commit the significant time required to truthfully write about your past, your damaging behavior and relationships, thoughts, actions and places that contributed to your addiction, little by little, the windows to your heart and spirit will open and light will enter.

“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:22

Step 3 - Trust in God

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Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

The program of addiction recovery and healing is spiritual, but it is also a program of action. If you follow the steps and principles in the manual, Addiction Recovery Program: a Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing, you will find yourself being restored to spiritual health through a newfound relationship with the Lord. In addition, a change of heart will come through daily reading of the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon, scriptures from which are frequently quoted in the manual.

Those that have successfully recovered from addiction testify that recovery was more the result of the Lord’s efforts than their own. The Lord will work the miracle, but we must invite him into our lives. The Lord will never take away our free agency, but we must make the decision to allow God to heal and recover us. In other words, changing our lives and overcoming addiction must be our choice, and not the choice of our parents, our spouses, our family or friends.

The key principle of Step 3, Trust in God, is “Decide to turn your will and your life over to the care of God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.” This action step is summarized in the Book of Mormon.

“…and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God.” Alma 5:13

In the third chapter of Helaman, the Book of Mormon describes a people who were strengthened through humility and by yielding their hearts to God.

“Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.” Helaman 3:35 – italics added.

It is my testimony that fasting and praying will strengthen our ability to yield our hearts to God and abstain from addiction. In the moment of temptation, prayer will strengthen our humility and faith in Christ. We must be willing to yield our hearts to God instead of yielding to addiction in the moment of temptation.

To humble ourselves is a decision that we must make. Satan will try to get addicts to believe that although God has helped others, He will not help them because they are helpless and hopeless. Recognize that this is a lie, and always remember that you are a child of God.

“He did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him; and because they cried mightily unto him he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him.” Mosiah 29:20

Step 3 is a choice. I testify that recovery from addiction happens by God’s power, but only after you choose to seek his help.

Step 2 - Hope

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Alma 32:37 "...if ye nourish it with much care, it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit."

Addicts must eventually come to the realization that they are powerless over their addictions. Unfortunately, this realization often is accompanied by a feeling of hopelessness – that either God was too disappointed to help or that all avenues of help had been exhausted.

The key principle of Step 2 – Hope is to “come to believe that the power of God can restore you to complete spiritual health.” Those suffering from addiction must be presented with an answer that they never considered or have discarded – turn to God and find hope in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

In Alma Chapter 32, Alma teaches us that to begin to have hope, or to exercise faith, we need only have a sincere desire and believe enough to give place to the word. He uses “word” to mean the word of God or the beauty of His gospel of redemption and atonement and compares the word to a seed. We are all God’s children, regardless of our circumstances. His light illuminates every soul. His spirit invites all to come unto Him and enjoy the blessings of the gospel. As the word of God takes root in an addict’s heart, it can begin to grow until it fills that heart with redemptive love.

In answering the questions of the people concerning what to do because they were “afflicted and cast out”, Alma comforted them with these words:

“But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.” Alma 32:27

Just as a seed takes time to swell, sprout and emerges as a living plant, we must have patience and allow the word of God to grow in our heart and nourish its progress through faith and prayer. We must be sure our heart is right, humble and filled with hope in the atonement of Christ, so that we can nurture the word.

It is my testimony that recovery from addiction or overcoming difficulties in our lives must begin simply with planting a seed of hope, exercising “a particle of faith.” That seed of hope can be planted in the heart of the addict through a kind word or deed, beautiful, uplifting music, a passage of scripture, an expression of love and support, and the bearing of our testimony in a loving, forgiving Savior who suffered all that we might be forgiven of our sins and redeemed from our weaknesses and addictions.

Step 1

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Admit that you, of yourself, are powerless to overcome your addictions and that your life has become unmanageable.

If you are visiting this site for the first time, I want to personally welcome you. You have actually popped in on the first step in the 12 step program and that is good. Maybe you are curious as to what this site is about. Maybe you are visiting because you don't know if you have a problem with drugs, alcohol, pornography, eating disorders, anger, or one or more of the many addictive things that plague so many people. You are in the right place and what you are doing right now, if you will let it, can help you to move toward getting yourself under control and on your way to putting your addictions behind you. I am convinced that this Addiction Recovery program isn't just for the Addicted individuals, but for all people who need to improve their lives, decision making, etc., or who are seeking repentance and seeking the forgiveness of themselves, others and form the Lord for troubles in their lifes.

I know a person who has several serious addictions, however this person either doesn't want to recognize that he is in trouble, or this person doesn't quite know what to do about them. In any event this person is not seeking help, continues to lie and deceive those he loves the most, so that they don't find out just how much trouble and torment he is in. When confronted about his addictions, He assures everyone that he isn't doing the things that people think he is doing, and tells all kinds of stories to confirm this fact. The trouble is that none of it is true. The addictions that this person has been living with are alive and well and not getting any better, and most likely getting worse.

Can you see yourself in the description I have just given? If you can and you can humble yourself sufficiently to admit that you have a problem, then there is help and there is hope in healing. Your wounded heart can heal, and you can find happiness in everyday clean living, if you will just take the first step. Most people are powerless to help themselves, and really do need the help of others. I want you to know that there is one person that you can always count on, that is always looking out for you. Our Heavenly Father loves you and knows you by your name and knows everything about you from the very beginning of your life up until right this very minute. He still loves you even though you have some addictions and troubles that you might feel that nobody could love you. Heavenly Father still loves you and wants nothing more than for you to reach out to him and admit that you of yourself are powerless to overcome the addictions that you have and that you are powerless to do it by yourself. You need Him and He wants and needs you because you are his Child, and He loves you.

I urge you to get down on your knees in humble prayer and pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. You really can do it and no matter how simple your utterance in prayer, He will listen and will feel so grateful that you are turning to Him.
Like the scripture says..." If you ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ" He will manifest to you truths that you need to know. He will lift and comfort you, and you will know that there is Hope in healing.

I testify to you that God the Eternal Father is indeed our Heavenly Father and that He loves each and everyone of us equally and discriminates with no one when it comes to his love and devotion to his children. I testify that He loves us so much that He sent his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to atone for our sins. I testify that Jesus Christ atoned for every transgression, every pain and sorrow, every hurt and torment that we suffer through addiction or other devices, and by doing so made it possible for you and I to repent and be forgiven of our sins.

With this great gift and sacrifice, how could we deny ourselves of the blessings that come through repenting of our sins, being forgiven and becomeing clean in every way once again? What a blessing, and such great love from both our the Father and His Son.

Please go to the link that is listed on this blog and look up the Addiction Recovery Program. Find where there are meetings closest to you. Go to a meeting, and get started on your way to recovery. The ARP manuals are available in many languages and you can even print one off for yourself on that website and they are available at any meeting you attend. Read through the introduction and step one, and work the step this week. Journal your thoughts and read the scriptures that are outlined. Ponder, Pray and do your part. Your life can be blessed as a result of your earnest efforts on your own behalf. Take the first step!

Step 12

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Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, share this message with others and practice these principles in all you do.

JUSTINA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION (bottom photo)

I must say that this is probably my most favorite step out of all of the 12 steps that I have taught in the Addiction Recovery Program. This step is like the icing on the cake for an Addict because he or she has come to the point of being forgiven of their sins, had taken the steps to make restitution to all of those they have harmed, and these things by themselves must feel like 100 lb. weights have been lifted off of each of their shoulders. This also means that they have felt the Spirit of the Lord and have learned to acknowledge the Lords hand in their lives. They now understand that Heavenly Father knows and loves them and wants to be there for them and will be as they kneel in prayer and keep Heavenly Father a part of their lives.

This step 12 is the Service Step. It is the step that is for me and for everyone else, the "Feel Good Step." What I mean by that is that when we are serving others, it simply recharges our batteries on feeling good. It feels good to do something for someone else. It feels good to know that we are helping others. It feels good to know that we no longer participate in our Addictive behaviors and have found that by going out and doing something for someone else, relieves our minds of wanting to indulge in addiction, ever. It may seem sort of selfish to think of it in these terms, but how long has it been for you to really feel good, and clean and forgiven of your sins and indiscretions? You deserve to feel good because you have lost your desire to do what you know you shouldn't and you are taking the steps that will draw you closer to your Heavenly Father. You deserve a pat on the back and a huge hug, because so many are so proud of you.

Overcoming Addiction is a huge and long and drawn out process. It isn't something that just happens overnight. For most with addiction they come to understand that though they have overcome the need and desire for their addiction, it will always be there, and so will Satan to tempt them and try to draw them back into their old ways. Some people fall but those who hold fast to all that they have learned in these 12 steps and know how much better they feel inside and out, they will be the winners.

This whole world is like a Cinderella land in that seemingly individuals who appear to be losing the battle, can become winners... each and every day. Remember the story about how Cinderella slipped her foot into the glass slipper and found the prince of her dreams? Well that didn't happen until she had gone through some pretty rough times and some pretty serious struggles. Cinderella gave service for abuse, and love for hate, but Cinderella was a loser who became a winner. How does this relate to Step 12? Addiction is a disease that drags us down into the depths of despair. Addicts do things that they fell like they have to do to support their habit. But one day when they are at a point when they know that something must be done, they give up their will to the Higher power, which is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They pull themselves up by the boot straps, and reach out to those who can help them. They begin to understand that their situation isn't something that can't be changed. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, or relating to the Cinderella story... there is a glass slipper out there and there is also someone eager for you to find it.

Cinderella elevated herself out of the seemingly hopeless situation and found the prince her dreams. She lived happily ever after. What I think we can learn from this story is that all things are possible, and even when we are having a difficult time, if we give service to others, that will lift our spirits and the hearts of others. Service is a way of contributing to the betterment of others. We can give service in our own families, our church, and in our community. Service is a way of saying thank you to Jesus Christ for his atoning sacrifice that made it possible to be forgiven of our sins.

What a tremendous glass slipper we have been offered, and when we slip our foot inside and embrace this gift we feel so much better, and that is the way it was intended. When the Lord sent us to earth, he didn't intend for us to be miserable, he wanted us to be happy. He provided us with beauty all around us in nature, in our friends, and our families, our faith and church, and gave each of us talents to use and develop and find joy in this life.

It is my testimony the "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." I pray that you will find the joy in giving of yourself in the service of others, thereby showing your gratitude to the Lord.

Step 11 Personal Revelation

2009-01-09T21:14:00.008-07:00

Seek through prayer and meditation to know the Lord’s will and to have the power to carry it out.

Step 11
This step to me is the one that most closely relates to the term that we have all heard and that is to "Be born again." When a person is born again, to me it means that they have fully committed themselves to a desire to only do good and are desirous of doing only that which Heavenly Father would have them do. It is a life long commitment to do the Lords will one day at a time. You now understand that through living the commandments of the Lord, your desire is to do those things that bring peace, joy and fulfilment and you understand that nothing of this world can fill your soul with you that peace.

You understand that prayer is a portal to the Lord and that He is there to listen. You understand that as you strive to keep yourself clean and in tune with the promptings of the Holy Ghost, you can be guided on a path that will help you achieve the goal that Heavenly Father sent you on this earth to do. In the Addiction Recovery Manuel it gives a quote form Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Qurorm of the twelve. He says, "The Holy Ghost will protect us against being deceived, by to realize that wonderful blessing, we must always do the things necessary to retain that spirit. We must keep the commandments , pray for guidance, and attend church and partake of the sacrament each Sunday. And we must never do anything to drive away that Spirit. Specifically we should avoid pornography, alcohol, tobacco and drugs and always avoid violations of the law of chastity. We must never take things into our bodies or do things with our bodies that drive away the Spirit of the Lord and leave us without our spiritual protection against deception."

Prayer and meditation are powerful antidotes to fear and depression. Step 11 represents a commitment to improve your relationship with God through a lifetime practice of seeking guidance daily and obeying the commandments. Once again, being born again is a change of heart and soul, and to me, this is what step 11 is talking about. Working on your heart and your soul will bring you the peace that you have desired for so long and it is yours for the taking when you turn your life around, and keep clean from your addiction.

It is my testimony that Prayer is an opportunity for all of us to get closer to our Heavenly Father. I have heard so many friends and associates tell me that they didn't have a relationship with their own fathers, so if this is you, what a great blessing for you to have a genuine relationship with your Heavenly Father. He will never disappoint you as you draw closer to him. He will always be there to listen to the pleadings of your heart. Pray in the morning, pray at night, pray on your meals and for thanks to Him who has given you, your all. Take the time you need to pray and soak in the peace and love that only a loving Father can give to you.

Have a terrific week and practice what you have learned from this step.

Step 10 Daily Accountability

2009-01-04T13:00:00.008-07:00

Step 10 - Continue to take personal inventory, and when you are wrong promptly admit it.

My husband had surgery this past week and we were not able to go to serve as missionaries for our ARP meeting this week, however I wanted to make sure to include a message about this wonderful step.

In Alma 5:14-15, he taught that maintaining a might change of heart takes effort. In verse after verse, he indicated that honest, prayerful self appraisal and immediate repentance must be a continual part of life. The guide says that to retain what you have gained, you must stay in fit spiritual condition. To do this you continually ask searching questions about your feelings, thoughts, motives and conduct. This will keep you from slipping back into the habits you are leaving behind. Take your weaknesses to your Heavenly Father in prayer and ask him to help you find peace. Keep your heart open and focused on the lessons that you have learned from the life of our Savior and what he taught.

Serve others and in doing so, the focus of your own problems, troubles and thoughts will soon turn toward humbling yourself and the desire to help others. It is amazing to me how simple service is yet so many of us somehow let this slip in our lives. One of my favorite stories that I have listened to as a child as well as passed on to my children is a story of an old man who wants to be happy. He finds that when he gives away service to others, he finds happiness within. The words go like this...."Said Old Gentleman Gray, on a Christmas Day... if you want to be happy, give something away." You can find the whole story in this blog archives by going back to Thursday, November 20, 2008 posting entitled: Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving time. Read through this story and listen to the message. It is simple yet profound. Impliment service in your life and think about this quote as you serve..."If you want to be happy, give something away!"

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve was quoted in the ARP manuel saying: “Worthiness interviews, sacrament meetings, temple attendance, and other Church meetings are all part of the plan that the Lord provides to educate our souls, to help us develop the healthy habit of constantly checking our bearings to stay on the path of faith. Regular spiritual checkups help us navigate life’s highways and byways. . . .
“. . . We can all . . . benefit by looking deep inside our hearts during reverent moments of worship and prayer and asking ourselves this simple question, ‘Am
I true?’ “The question becomes more powerfully useful if we are completely honest with our answers and if it motivates us to make repentant course corrections
that keep us on the path of faith” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1997, 20; or Ensign, May 1997, 17).

Imagine how wonderful it will be, actually you don't have to imagine if you really do it.... but how nice will it be for you to know that you are forgiven of your past sins and finally able to worthily partake of the sacrament. In a past poste, I quoted someone who said that partaking of the sacrament each week is like being rebaptized. When we are baptized we are made clean and promise to keep the commandments that the Lord has given us. There is no more wonderful feeling than to know we are clean and pure once again. This is definately something that we all need to work toward in the remission of our sins and addictions.

As you work this step, you will become more aware of Heavenly Father's prsence in your life as you call upon Him to help you stay spiritually clean. You will even be less judgemental of others and be able to forgive others imperfections as well as your own. It is such a joy to realize that anytime and anywhere we feel a need to pray, that Heavenly Father will give his undivided attention and listen to the pleading of our hearts and be receptive to our needs. Your love for Him will increase and you will know that He is the guiding light and power for good in your life. He is also a loving father who wants nothing more than for you to come home to him one day after you have learned all that you have been sent here to earth to do. We always have a understanding and loving Father in our lifes!

I pray that you will have a good week and will exercise the principles taught in step 10 as well as continue to work the other steps as well.

Step 9 - Wherever possible, make direct restitution to all persons you have harmed.

2008-12-30T00:23:00.003-07:00

This week the focus is on making restitution to all persons you have harmed. So far, I think this might possibly be the most challenging step of the 12 step program. This means that you contact individuals you have hurt with your addictions or behaviors and let them know how sorry you are about what you did to them, and ask for their forgiveness.

In this past Sunday nights Addiction Recovery meeting, an LCSW from out of State visited the meeting my husband and I were missionaries for. During the sharing portion of the meeting, he described this step in a way that everyone could understand. He said that taking this step is like falling on the gravel and rocks on the round and scraping up your knees really bad. He said that we have two choices... ONE is that we can sit there on the ground, with the rocks in our bleeding and pretty banged up knee feeling sorry for ourselves and let the wound fester until it is infected and much worse and causing us more pain, OR... we could pull out the rocks in our knees, clean up the wound and then watch the healing proceed. In other words, we can either hang on to all of the hurts we have caused for the rest of our lives and let them fester causing ourselves and others long term grief and pain , OR we can repent and clean up (get rid of the rocks and gravel) the mess we have made. We do this through the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and all those pieces of gravel that had caused ourselves and others pain, can be made clean, and right again.

I loved this analogy because everyone in the room knew what he was talking about and understood what they needed to do. I share this with you to encourage you to get rid of the hurts that weigh you down and keep you festering. Take the opportunity to make restitution to the Lord, and to those you have harmed in the past. You may not always get the desired outcome, but at least you will have taken the steps to let the healing begin. Your new addiction free life can be the example to those you have made restitution to, that you have really changed and you are no longer the person who desires to hurt others.

The Atonement has made this possible. I coin the phrase from a friend of mine who said to me one day... "The Lord made our shoulders round so that things could roll off of them." If our shoulders were squared, things would just stack up until they weighed ourselves down. They aren't and I urge you to lighten the burdens that you carry buy taking this step today. It will take some time, but once you have made amends to everyone, your burdens will be lighter, and your soul will feel cleansed.

Good advice from the Scriptures & church leaders

2008-12-19T20:59:00.008-07:00

"Be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you His, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life." Mosiah 5:15
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"Pray in faith for help. Go to your Father in Heaven. He wants to help you, but because of your agency you need to take the first step. Important lessons will be learned as you are on your knees. Some will distill in your mind and heart as you seek to establish the right balance in your life. Powerful personal development will come through urgent prayer offered in faith from a foundation of righteousness.

When all the challenges pour down on you, you will have a quiet inner feeling of support. You will be prompted to know what to do. You can live in a world of turmoil and great challenge and be at peace. You will be inspired to know what to do and to have the power or capacity to do it. Remember this promise of the Lord as clarified by President Harold B. Lee: “Ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves [that is, keep my commandments] and ye shall be endowed with power.” D&C 43:16" Richard G. Scott, “Making the Right Decisions,” Ensign, May 1991, 34
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"Our personal conversion comes as we begin to live the way the Lord wants us to live—steadfast and immovable in keeping all of the commandments, not just those that are convenient. This then becomes a process of refinement as we strive to make each day a little better than the last" ("Righteous Traditions," Cheryl C. Lant, Primary general president Liahona and Ensign, May 2008, 14).
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I love to create and I decided to do a pictorial of the life of Jesus. I call it "The Savior of the World." I wish this was a bigger world so I could be able to fit in the miracles he performed, walking on water, Sermons, and so many other wonderful parts of his life. HE is truly the Savior of the world!

Step 7 Humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove all your Short comings.

2008-12-16T15:55:00.007-07:00

Sunday evening, we had a great Addiction recovery meeting. We focused on Step 7. In this step, there are some scriptures in Moroni where the Sacrament prayers are found. The Addiction Recovery Program manual suggests that you read through these prayers and personalize them as if they were being said for you. It was interesting that also on Sunday in our Sunday School class, that we discussed these very scriptural references. A point was brought out by the teacher that when we worthily partake of the sacrament, it is as if we are being rebaptized each week as we promise to keep our baptismal covenants. I had never really thought about it that way though I realize that I do renew my baptismal covenants as I partake of the bread and the water.

Partaking of the sacrament for a recovering addict is such a huge step and a blessing. It is something to be taken very seriously as we are repromising Heavenly Father that we will do our very best to stay on track. We should look foreword to partaking the sacrament each week as an affirmation to ourselves, that we promise to stay clean and sober and free from our addictions. It can be a great motivator!

Partaking of the Sacrament is another way besides coming to an Addiction Recovery meeting, and working the program that can help us resist temptation to indulge in our addiction.

I would encourage you to read step 7, study the scriptural references and quotes, and write down your thoughts in the study portion of the ARP manual. When you feel tempted to slip, pull out your book and read what you have written. This journaling will help you to not only see your addiciton for what it is, but to see your progress, and be a motivation to not go backwards.

Are you aware that there is an LDS Addiction Recovery website that you can participate in with others who are in the program? Go to http://www.ldsar.org/

Recognizing the spirit

2008-12-08T22:06:00.003-07:00

In our meeting last Sunday as we were teaching the participants about "Changing the heart" I began to have thoughts about what makes a change of heart. I began to think about the fact that when we are able to recognize the spirit in our lives, we can differentiate between the good thoughts that come from the spirit and the bad thoughts that come from Satan. The Spirit would NEVER direct us to do anything that could hurt us in any way. The spirit of the Lord works from the inside... inside our heart, inside our mind and inside our soul. When Satan tempts us he is working on our physical needs. He entices individuals to satisfy their need for drugs, alcohol, tobacco etc. The spirit would never want us to hurt out body or our spirits.

It is important that we place ourselves where we can get promptings from the spirit. In the Addiction Recovery meetings, the Spirit of the Lord is so strong that even those who have never felt the Spirit, can feel something. They may not know what it is that they are feeling, but they know that they are feeling something good that brings them to tears. When we attend our Church meetings, study the scriptures and pray we can't help but invite the spirit of the Lord to be with us. It just feels good to know that you can have the spirit of the Lord as your constant companion, but we have to be ready to receive it.

In one ARP meeting that my husband and I were the missionaries for, a brand new participant came, and in his sharing, he expressed that he felt something at the meeting, that he had not ever felt before. He said it was a feeling that made him feel warm and peaceful. Of course as missionaries, we knew that he was feeling the Spirit, but that spirit of peace and love and warmth was what gave him the strength to stay clean and sober for that following week. Whenever he felt like he wanted to drink, he remembered that feeling in the meeting and was able to resist temptation.

I urge you to find a meeting in your area to help you with your addiction. Attend, and participate, and listen. You will be able to feel what I have been talking about. Feeding the spirit will get you closer to Heavenly Father, and that is what we all need to do in our lives. Have a good, clean and sober week!

This week we are on Step 6

2008-12-04T22:35:00.002-07:00

Step 6 - A Change of Heart - Become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses.

What does it really mean to have a change of heart? I guess if you think about this literally, to change ones heart means that whatever was in it up to the point needs to be gone and something new put in it's place. The step says, that you will replace pride with humility. You resist old patterns of behavior and replace them with an open mind as the spirit suggests a better way of living. The Prophet Ezekiel said in Exekiel 36:26 ( get out your scriptures and mark this one ) " A new heart... will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh.

I love the quote in the Manuel from President Ezra Taft Benson that says, "The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take the people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people and then they can take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.... May we be convinced that Jesus is the Christ, choose to follow Him, be changed for Him, captained by Him, consumed in Him, and be born again."

So I go back to the original question... What is a changed heart? I suggest that a change of heart happens to a person who is truly converted and only desires to do the things that the gospel teaches. A changed heart is one that looks to the example of Jesus Christ in how He lived his life, and the changed heart desire to walk in his foot steps.

I think as everyone grows up, and I mean as we mature and get older, we tend to look at things from a different perspective. It isn't so much as to what makes us happy but how we can contribute to the happiness in others. This is exactly the example that Christ gave to us. He was always doing things to help other people. He of course had Godly powers and was able to perform miracles, but as you become willing to be changed by Him, you will learn of His power to heal you.

Once you have a change of heart, you no longer desire to do what you did in the past. It feels so good to feel again and a natural consequence of this change is to the desire to keep this new feeling alive and moving fore ward.

I hope that you can make this change of heart in yourself. I know that you can do it, because you are not alone in this addiction struggle. So many really good people fall prey to addictive behaviors, and ultimately it leads to the desire to change. You can change, just like others. I urge you to attend Addiction Recovery meetings as often as you can, because the others that I have just spoken about are there at the meetings and can help lift you and strengthen you through their own experience in working the steps. Attending your meeting can give you what you need to make the positive changes in your life. Like the little quote says..." There is no time like the present!"

Step 5 Confession

2008-11-30T12:13:00.003-07:00

Now this is a step that can cleanse your soul. What a great opportunity to come clean not only with regard to your addiction, but in your whole life. Think about all the times you have felt guilty about your past actions, or deeds. Things that you aren't exactly proud about. Things that you know better than to have done, but you did them anyway, and you have carried them along with you in your conscience throughout your whole life. What would you give to have a clean conscience?

We have such a great opportunity that can cleans our heart and soul. This isn't just for addicts, it is for everyone. Many of you who will be reading this post will have already gone to your bishop for help with your addiction. He probably has directed you to the Addiction Recovery program, so he already knows of your addiction. That should make it easier to go back to him as you take step 5 in this program and confess to him your sins. He is the ONE who has the priesthood keys to listen to your confession and help wipe away your sins from your life once and for all.

One young woman shared with me her experience of going to the Bishop to confess her sins. She said that it was very difficult to get the courage to go to him, because she was sure that he would think she was a bad girl. Still, she went and found the opposite of her fears. She found a kind, loving and very compassionate man, who listened and wept with her as she confessed her sins to him. She said that after she had told him of her sins, he took her by the hand and told her that the Lord had accepted her confession and that her sins were forgiven. She said that it felt like the weight of the world that she had been carrying around with her from sin, was lifted and that she bore that burden no more.

What a marvelous blessing Confession can be in our own lives. Confession can be the step that get you over your addiction. I urge you along with all of the rest of us who have troubles of any kind that are of the nature that need to be brought before the Ecclesiastical authority, to do it now. Stop carrying them around with you, and let your life move on without being drug down by your conscience or hurting heart.

The Lord loves you and wants you to be happy. Confession can cleanse you. There isn't any time like the present to do it, so do it now.

Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving time

2008-11-20T17:03:00.004-07:00

Thanksgiving is coming up very soon and it is more than a time to feast. Thanksgiving in essence is a holiday for GIVING THANKS. Might I suggest that this year, you focus your thoughts and actions toward "giving thanks" and away from "giving in" to your addictions. When we focus outward instead of inward, our level of happiness is greatly effected. The last step in the 12 step program is about giving service. Service is the icing on the cake to success for anyone suffering from addiction, as well as struggling with the ailments & trials of life. Once again, I say, "focus outward instead of inward" and think about ways that you can brighten the life of another.

There is a terrific side effect to giving service. When we lose ourselves in the service of others, we forget about our self and our struggles and immerse our thoughts and actions to the point that not only is the receiver happy but we the giver receives a feeling of joy and happiness that cannot come in any other way. It is a great feeling and I hope that you will make the opportunity to feel it for yourself.

I have a gift for you. This gift is in the form of a story that my family has told for over 40 years every Thanksgiving. This story is about giving service. It is soooo cute and has the greatest message. Feel free to pass it on to your family and friends. Also, if you go to another of my blogspots located at http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com you can download and print the photos that I have designed to go with each part of the story. I spent hours and hours on the pictures and I know you and others will enjoy them. Once again.... my gift of service to you!

Everyone I have passed this on to for years, has loved it too. Well, I am now passing it on to you. Here is my family's version of the poem:

"Old Gentleman Gray" by Marian Douglas

Said Old Gentleman Gray, “On a Thanksgiving Day,
If you want to be happy, then give something away.”
So he sent a fat turkey to Shoemaker Price,
And the shoemaker said, “What a big bird! how nice!
And since a good dinner’s before me, I ought
To give poor Widow Lee the small chicken I bought.”

“This fine chicken, oh, see!” said the pleased Widow Lee,
“And the kindness that sent it, how precious to me!
I would like to make some one as happy as I
I’ll give Washerwoman Biddy my big pumpkin pie.”

“And oh, sure,” Biddy said, “’tis the queen of all pies
Just to look at its yellow face gladdens my eyes.
Now it’s my turn, I think; and a sweet ginger cake
For the motherless Finigan children I’ll bake.”

“A sweet cake, all our own! ’Tis too good to be true!”
Said the Finigan children, Rose, Denny, and Hugh;
“It smells sweet of spice, and we’ll carry a slice
To poor little Lame Jake who has nothing that’s nice.”

“Oh, I thank you, and thank you!” said little Lame Jake;
Oh, what beautiful, beautiful, beautiful cake!
And oh, such a big slice! I will save all the crumbs, a
and will give ’em to each little birdie that comes!”

And the birdies they twittered as if they would say,
Like Old Gentleman Gray, “On a Thanksgiving Day,
If you want a good time, then give something away.”

One Terriffic Example!

2008-11-17T21:57:00.002-07:00

Last evening, a 12 year old young man brought his father to an Addiction Recovery Meeting. Let me clarify, the Dad drove, but it was his son who looked up on the Internet the LDS Addiction recovery Program" in his area and together Father and Son came to the meeting. The son sat by his father during the reading of step 3, which was the step we were focusing on this evening. During the sharing portion of the meeting, I took this charming young man into the next room and visited with him while his father and the other Adults shared about their addictions. Because of the Adult nature of the sharing, children under the age of 17 - 18 do not attend these meetings. I was so impressed with this young man and as we talked while waiting for his father in the next room I could feel a sweet and eager spirit with a tremendous desire to help but most importantly, I could sense his deep love for his father. Imagine, a 12 year old wanting so much for a change and a loving father desiring to change not only for himself, but for his son and family. I think this is more common than we think with addiction. Addiction doesn't just effect the addict, it pours out into the entire family.

My reason for sharing this story is to remind whoever is reading this, that you need to get the courage and strength to make a change now for yourself and for your family. Your addiction effects their lives, and not in a good way. If you love your family, love them enough to put them first before your addiction and get rid of it once and for all. Take the step today. This blog tells how to locate a Meeting near you or to at least download the Addiction Recovery Program Manual. Take the first step and read the introduction in the manual. Don't let addiction dominate your life anymore.

Step 3 Trust in God

2008-11-13T21:15:00.007-07:00

Last night, in the Addiction Recovery meeting that my husband and I were the missionaries for, a song came into my mind as the sharing portion of the meeting was going on. The step that was being taught was step 3 " Trust in God." I shared the words of the song... I am a Child of God and I would like to share them with you...

"Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way,
Teach me all that I must do,
To live with Him someday."

I believe that God is in our lives much more than we even realize. As I look around, the touch of His masterful hand, is everywhere. He sends his tender mercies to us right when we need them the most, though many of us fail to recognize them. As I put my trust and faith in his love and mercy, I begin to realize that he is walking beside me on this difficult journey in life. He is there to help me find the way, if I reach out and take His hand. The experiences that I have in this life teach me and mold and shape my character. They also help me to understand that I simply cannot do it alone, and I need to trust that I can call upon Heavenly Father at any time and he will be there to listen.

You and I are children of a loving Heavenly Father and he wants nothing more than to have his children return to live again with him someday. I pray that we all will let down our guard and humble ourselves to submit to the will of the Lord. He is there with His hands outstretched and waiting for us to ask Him for His help because you are His child and he will not turn you away.

Work on trusting the Lord this week and try to recognize the tender mercies that he send into your life. Get out your Addiction Recovery Program manual and write down your thoughts and feelings. Read the scritpures that are in the Study and understaning portion of Step Three, and pray about what you have read, and "He will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost, and by the Power of the Holy Ghost you may learn the truth of all things." Moroni 10:4,5
Have a terriffic week and stay sober. It IS worth it!

SOMETHING NEW FOR YOU TO READ

2008-11-09T22:04:00.004-07:00

I just found this... "INDIVIDUALS WITH ADDICTION FIND HOPE AND HELP" Go to:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://newsroom.lds.org/Static%2520Images/Newsroom/photo/med_AV080428_cah005.jpg&imgrefurl=http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/individuals-with-addictions-find-hope-and-help&h=221&w=290&sz=9&hl=en&start=3&usg=__Um5skZrUvgmvQR08jUAUObDY7A4=&tbnid=0_HQ8Ip3AEOINM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3DLDS%2BAddiction%2Brecovery%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

How do you resist the temptation of feeding into your addiction?

2008-11-05T19:33:00.003-07:00

Please comment below and let others know what you do to resist giving in to your addiction!

Why did I create this blog?

2008-10-15T23:38:00.010-06:00

I have been asked several times in the past few days why I created this blog. My answer is... I belive that if my efforts help just one person, then I will feel that I accomplished what I set forth to do. One of my favorite pictures is Christ holding one little black sheep on his shoulders. Christ taught the importance in seeking out the one lost sheep. So far this blog has helped 4 individuals this past week. I just hope it continues to help more and more. Pass this on to others you think might like to see the blog.. you just never know who needs help.

I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment below by clicking on "COMMENTS". If you leave me your email address I will email you back.

Have the courage to change through Christ.

2008-10-12T23:45:00.002-06:00

2008-10-12T13:32:00.014-06:00

You can start today, or tomorrow or next week on trying to rid yourself of your addiction. It is completely up to you. There isn't anyone holding you back but yourself. God doesn't force you to do anything that you don't really want to do, so it is up to you to make that decision for yourself. One thing I want you to know is that the Lord is there with his arms stretched outward and waiting to wrap them around you because He loves you and wants you back. You have your free agency and He won't take that away, but I am here to tell you that He knows you, your heart and even your soul. You are his child and He is a Loving Father.

Look deep into your heart and soul and then get down on your knees and ask Him for help. He is always there to listen to you, and does hear your voice. He sees your suffering and wants to help if you will give him that chance. Do you realize that He sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to earth many hundreds of years ago with the express purpose of Atoning for your sins? ... Yours and everyone else's who has ever lived on this earth. How hard that must have been for Heavenly Father to let Him go, realizing that he would suffer and feel all of the pain and torments you feel but what everyone else has ever felt, and bleed from every pour. Then Jesus would have his life taken from him because "they didn't know what they were doing".

Christ has already paid the ultimate price for you and for me. What a gift... the ultimate gift! Now it is up to you. The gift has been given to you. Are you going to open it up and embrace it and let it heal you? That, once again, is up to you.

I pray you will consider my thoughts and I urge you to go on the Internet and click on http://www.providentliving.org/familyservices/strength/0,12264,2873-1,00.html This will take you directly to the page that LDS Family Services lists the Services that it provides. The 4th one down is the "Addiction Recovery Program". Click on it to open up the Addiction Recovery Program page. You will see that there is a PDF Download on the right that lets you open up and download a copy of the Addiction recovery guide. (These guides are also available to purchase at the LDS bookstores.) Read the Introduction and read about this inspired program.

Next.... Click on "addiction recovery support groups" and that will take you to the page that lists all the Addiction Recovery support groups wherever they are located throughout the world. Click on the area that is closest to you and another page will come up that lists the Addiction Recovery Program meetings in your area with the Days, Times, Location, addresses and specific room that the meetings are held at.

All you have to do now is to pick a meeting and show up. These meetings are for LDS members and Non LDS individuals alike, simply anyone seeking help with their addictions. When you arrive you will find a set of LDS Recovery missionaries, and a facilitator waiting to help you work through the 12 steps and key principles of the program, that will help you with your recovery.

You don't have to come by yourself unless that is what you choose. You can bring family members, or friends who are supportive of your recovery. Because of the nature of addictions and the sharing that will happen in these meetings, you should not bring young children to the meetings with you.

There is no cost to you or others to attend these meetings. If you want to purchase your own spiral bound copy of the Addiction Recovery Guide, instead of printing it off for yourself from the website listed above, you can do so at a meeting for the cost of $5. You will need a manual to bring with you to the meeting and to work through and study and read at home.

I will pray for you and that you will make a choice that can change your life. Once again, nobody is going to force you to do it, you have to make that choice by yourself, but I will testify to you that once you start on your way to recovery, you will find happiness in those things that are real, that mean the most in your life. These are the very things that will eventually lead you back to your Heavenly Father again one day.

I know that this program can help you because I am a missionary in this program, and I have seen the change that happens to individuals who finally become honest with themselves and admit that they need help. I have seen peoples lives change as they put their faith and trust in the Lord and turn their will and life over to God's care and in our Saviors hands.

I have listened to the participants finally have the courage to admit the nature of their wrongs and seek forgiveness of others that their addictions and behaviors have harmed.

I have seen hope re-enter into their eyes, minds and hearts as they discover that God can restore them to complete spiritual health.

I have seen change of heart and healing happen in the relationships of the addict and their families. I have watched tears of joy flow in the eyes of family's put back together by the addicts sincere and humble repentance through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I hope that you will let this change happen in your life. You can do it for yourself or do it for your family, but I urge you for whatever reason, just do it now!