LDS Recovery

“All things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good…”

D&C 98.3

Our struggle with addiction was altering our lives. We could no longer control our compulsive behavior. We were paralyzed from the burden of our multitude of sins. Like Alma, we were in the gall of bitterness, and encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. ( Alma 36:18) What had become very clear to us was that as long as we continued in our addictions, our lives would steadily become worse. Our desire to change our lives was always overshadowed by the darkness of our addictions. To put it simply: we were lost in the dark mist of addiction with no sense of direction to find our way out. Through our desire for change and our humble cries for help, the Savior found us and placed us on the road to recovery. Like many others before us, we were given the 12 Steps of Recovery to find our way out of the madness and were set on a course that brought healing and serenity to our lives.

Our association with others in recovery taught us that our problems were not unique, and we found hope as others shared their stories. We came to know there was a power greater than ourselves, always there to help us on our path of recovery. The desire to receive help from God and others is an essential element in beginning the recovery process.

Out of love for our fellowman, along with our obligation to carry the message of recovery, we have written this workbook to bring hope to those that still suffer from the effects of compulsive addictive behavior.

What we are endeavoring to do in this workbook is to examine the 12 steps of recovery – to better understand what they mean and how to apply the principles within the steps to those areas of our lives that afflict us. Our hope is that in doing so, the reader may come to know the peace and healing that are associated with these wonderful principles. Recognizing, acknowledging, and becoming truthful about what is going on beneath the surface of our lives is one of the most important things we can do in the recovery process.

As you consider the principles of recovery taught in this workbook, it would be unfair to lead you to believe that the struggles of addiction will be immediately over. There will be, in the coming days, times when you will be overwhelmed by the urge to revert to a former behavior. Relapse may even occur. However, if you are willing to give recovery your best efforts, and to allow others, including God, to be a part of it, the cravings will begin to fade.

The Lord has said that “all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good...” (D&C 98:3). This counsel has provided us with a foundation of hope that recovery is indeed an obtainable reality. The outcome of a successful recovery experience can be described as:

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our character, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God...and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we came here to acquire and which will make us more like our Heavenly Father.”

Orson F. Whitney

Throughout the Bible and the Book of Mormon are many references to the principles and the simple truths found in the 12 Steps of recovery. We recognize that the 12 Steps do not contain all the ordinances and principles necessary to return to our Father in Heaven. However, the 12 Steps can aid us in our preparation to receive those ordinances. We testify that careful study of all holy writ (with emphasis on standard works), along with daily prayer, and regular attendance at church and recovery meetings are fundamental to recovery. Commitment to this effort will bring one to the healing power of Jesus Christ.

Introduction Step 1