Looking for help?

[jiminycricket]

Forgive me if this sounds like propaganda... I promise you, my motivation is pure.

For any who have come here looking for help turning your life around, for help changing some habit or some characteristic within yourself, or for help repenting or coping with the faults of others, may I recommend a free program the church has established through LDS Family Services called Addiction Recovery Program, or ARP for short.

Don't let the name fool you; while it is an adaptation of the AA 12-step program, it is not exclusively for those with "classic addictions." As I tried to suggest in the previous paragraph, if there is any sin that you struggle with on an ongoing basis, or a single sin that you've committed that has left you spiritually stripped and wounded, this program can help you. If there is anyone in your life whose sins have directly affected you, the program can help you. I attend an LDS-FS ARP group myself, and it has helped me a great deal - not only with my addictions, but also in many other areas of my life. It's actually very uplifting. Although the title of the class is accurate, I often call it, "The Atonement for Dummies," or, "Repentance for Dummies," or even, "Christlike Living for Dummies." Those titles paint a better picture of the class, I think.

For any who are interested, but still don't think your problem is big enough to warrant going through a 12-step program (and peripherally to any who still attach a certain stigma to addicts, addiction and people who attend 12-step program meetings), may I suggest that you read an article published in Meridian Magazine titled, "Confronting Addiction in the LDS Community". You will likely find it eye-opening. Thanks to tefor for finding the article and bringing it to our attention!

As I understand it, the group meetings are always led by couples (local couple missionaries). They go to great lengths to ensure that participation is 100% confidential. In fact, group leaders are specifically prohibited from telling anyone, even Priesthood leaders, any specific information about individuals in the class (who is attending, what they've talked about, etc). Elder Sigg, one of my group leaders, enjoys telling us that if a bishop asks about one of us, he has been given authority to say, "Who?"

The ARP website I linked above provides a search tool that can help you locate a group near you, and you can preview the class material by opening the program manual PDF. You can also order a hard copy of the ARP manual on the Church Distribution Services website for about $6.

I highly recommend the program to you. Be courageous. Look up your local group and visit a meeting. Give it a shot. You'll be glad you did.

Jiminy Cricket

[talisyn]

Thank you for the info. The church has tons of good info on various sites. I know I don't use the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or provident living site as much as I should. Did you know they also have the family home evening stuff there too? I found a recipe for homemade clay I lost years ago

[Honor]

My mother went as a temporary companion to her friend who was leading the meetings and LOVED what she found. She bought several copies of the book and sent it to myself and my siblings. She said she never realized how many things in this life have a huge impact on our spirit and can hold it captive through addiction, be it a harmful substance, an unhealthy relationship with food, too much time spent on needless things (internet? ), etc...
This life after all is meant for us to learn and gain experience with our mortal bodies which make up half of our soul. I believe that you cannot have something impact your body without it affecting your spirit.
Gee Honor... long winded much?

Thanks for the info and links!

[tefor]

This program is wonderful. I started attending about a year and a half ago for help with addictive behaviors and have recently started going back on a regular basis. Even though the behaviors are no longer an issue, the spiritual and emotional difficulties that led to the behaviors are. That's what's so great about the program: it teaches that addiction is really a manifestation of deeper spiritual maladies and addresses those. (And those who might think that addiction is only a problem for winos, junkies, and perverts may want to read this.)

[jiminycricket]

Special thanks to tefor for the link to that fantastic article! Tefor, is it okay if I add that link to the OP? I think it is most useful and I don't want people who might only read the OP to miss it ...

Jiminy

[tefor]

Originally Posted by jiminycricket

Special thanks to tefor for the link to that fantastic article! Tefor, is it okay if I add that link to the OP? I think it is most useful and I don't want people who might only read the OP to miss it ...

Jiminy

Go for it--the more people know about that article, the better. (She also serialized her terrific book He Did Deliver Me From Bondage on Meridian a while ago. I believe that it was a prototype of sorts for the Addiction Recovery Manual produced by the Church.

[ruthiechan]

The PDF of the manual is available here: Program Study Guide

[InnerGold]

The Church has a lot of good programs. This is one of many; however, their program does not work for all people. We have had several people who have come to us, devastated, because they did not overcome their pornography and sexual addiction so they feel like they are forever going to be lost. We are continuously counseling with Bishops and Stake Presidents/Ecclesiastical Leaders how to handle pornography and sexual addiction.

If people fail in a program, they feel like there is absolutely no hope. There is hope but you have to encompass education with the atonement.

[Berean]

That sounds good if I could have the guts to admit I need that kind of help. I am seeing a terrific LDS therapist.

[InnerGold]

I am so glad Berrean that you have someone who is helping you. Please let your therapist know about the InnerGold system. It will help him to be even better. A person can never stop gaining an education. We are continuously looking for ways to help more and more people.