My Story

One day my Bishop called me into his office.  "How are you doing?" He asked.  This question reflected the continuing struggle I had with addiction since age 11.  I sighed.  After countless 12 step meetings in the community, a two and a half month inpatient treatment program, hundreds of hours in a therapist's office - I still couldn't "shake free" of my addiction.  I silently resigned myself to always being in my addiction.  Recovery just wasn't going to happen for me.

The Bishop picked up a piece of paper and scanned it.  "The Church has a recovery program.  Maybe you should check it out," he suggested.  I had already worked through the 12 steps in a traditional setting, but I nodded.  "I'll go," I said.

During the first meeting, as I sat around a table in the High Council room, I was amazed at what I felt.  For the first time in many years I felt loved.  It was as if my whole body was engulfed in a tidal wave of love.  I cried during the meeting.  Heavenly Father loved me!  He loved me!  This was such a personal, intimate experience - I could barely contain my emotions.  Even on my best day, I had never experienced such a spiritual experience.

Gone was the doubt.  Gone was the hesitancy.  And gone was the hopelessness. 

Such was the beginning of the greatest journey I have experienced during my mortal existence.

Welcome to My Blog!

Welcome to my blog.  I am creating this blog to share my ideas about recovery and the LDS community.  I will periodically place portions of my forthcoming workbook on the blog as well.  I want to thank Walnut Springs, and Leatherwood Press for their support and commitment to this important topic.  I also want to thank the countless LDS recovering addicts that have asked questions, offered insight, and shared their stories.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints through LDS Family Services has created The Addiction Recovery Program, or A.R.P.  Service Missionaries are called to head each of the local recovery groups.  The groups use the Addiction Recovery Manual that The Church has published to help members in their recovery.

The statistics are impressive.

The Church’s Addiction Recovery Program is one of the fastest growing programs the Church has implemented.  There will be over 50,000 meetings held during 2010, with nearly 500,000 members attending.  The Church’s Addiction Recovery Program has seen an almost 300% increase in the total number of members attending these meetings over the course of the past five years.  With the program being translated into Spanish, and several other language translations being considered, the growth will only increase.

Tommorrow I will share my story.