If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and struggling with addiction, there are many resources available to help. These include an LDS Addiction Recovery Program (ARP) that uses the principles of the Gospel to provide a strong support system.
In addition to providing support, the ARP also teaches individuals how to deal with temptations and re-learn coping skills through education on the gospel principles.
LDS Addiction Recovery Program
The LDS Addiction Recovery Program is a treatment program offered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that helps members struggling with addiction overcome their substance use. It incorporates a number of features, including community support and education on the principles of the LDS gospel.
The program follows a 12-step approach that is based on Alcoholics Anonymous but rewritten so that each step leads back to the Atonement of Christ. These steps are:
Honesty, Hope, Trust in God, Trust, Confession, Change of Heart, Humility and Seeking Forgiveness.
These steps can help individuals achieve long-term sobriety and lead happy, fulfilling lives without relapse. They can also help individuals develop healthy coping skills and a strong relationship with God.
The LDS Church encourages its members to abstain from the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco as well as any form of caffeine. These practices are part of the Word of Wisdom, a Church doctrine that is considered a prerequisite for baptism, temple attendance and missionary service.
LDS Recovery Support Group
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, a support group may be the answer. LDS recovery support groups follow a 12-step approach with gospel principles, and are led by Church-service missionaries.
A meeting facilitator has most likely been in your shoes and can help you find hope and healing. All meetings are open to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to individuals from other faith traditions.
These meetings are also for spouses and families of people struggling with addiction or problematic behaviors. Regardless of whether your loved one is in recovery, these meetings can offer support and healing through the Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
These meetings are adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous, and they use a set of gospel principles as their guide. Participants attend in person or over the phone, and all information shared will remain confidential.
LDS Spouse and Family Support Group
When a loved one struggles with addiction or compulsive behaviors, it can be a very challenging experience. You may feel overwhelmed, betrayed, angry, hurt, or even hopeless.
A spouse and family support group may be just what you need to find the healing you and your loved one deserve. Designed to help you and your family navigate the challenges of a loved one’s recovery, these meetings are led by volunteer Church-service missionaries.
The LDS Spouse and Family Support Group is one of many resources available to those who are coping with an addicted loved one. See our Meetinghouse Locator application for a listing of all the LDS support groups in your area.
For more information about the Addiction Recovery Manual and other LDS recovery resources, visit the LDS website. The Spouse and Family Support Group is the newest addition to the Church’s list of support programs. The group is a safe place for those who are suffering from the effects of an addicted loved one’s choices and will help you feel the love of your Heavenly Parents.
LDS Recovery Podcast
The LDS Recovery Podcast features interviews with addiction survivors who share their stories of struggle and how they found hope in the recovery community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!
Corey Markisich (Executive Director at Wasatch Recovery) opens up about how anxiety affected his childhood, experimenting with Oxycontin in high school and abusing pain medication. He also shares how he became involved in a major drug ring in college, and how Wasatch Recovery has helped him address his trauma and find recovery.
Riley Loosemore (Peer Recovery Coach at USARA) joins Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley to talk about how he began to experiment with drugs at the age of 12 due to the loss of his parents and how his life started to spiral out of control.
We wrap up the podcast by discussing how AA’s Twelve Steps adapted to fit better with Mormon gospel teachings, and how recovering addicts can help non-addicts on their own spiritual journeys. We also explore how the Big Book impacted their journeys and how interacting with other recovering addicts can increase your own spirituality.