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Many years ago, I read for the very first time, the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, [Latter-day Saints] should gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them up. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, p. 316)
It is so thrilling to see members of the Church embrace the good and true principles of the Twelve Steps—whether through the use of Hearthaven products or the official study guide published by the LDS Church.
It is my constant prayer that as the Twelve Steps continue to spread to our brothers and sisters throughout the Church, the emphasis will continue to be on using them to open a channel of communication and relationship with the Savior Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice. The power of the Twelve Steps to bring us to a mighty change of heart (Helaman 15:7), and then habit, will be greatly diminished if our faith is not channeled toward Jesus Christ’s saving grace. We need Him plainly, directly, personally. Anything that makes Him a peripheral figure, no matter how well-intended, is going to short-circuit our power to recover. When the very real plight of an addicted person is understood, it becomes obvious why this is so.
Those whose hope, peace, strength and potential are being consumed by an addiction (whether it be to drugs and alcohol or to sexually inappropriate behaviors or to unhealthy eating behaviors or to unwise spending behaviors, etc.) are in as desperate need of a Savior as Alma the younger was when he cried out in his heart directly to the Savior for rescue. (Alma 36:18 and Alma 38:8.) Those who are this far gone in the clutches of the Liar, Satan, have only one hope and that hope is in Jesus Christ’s power to redeem them. To put it plainly, they need their attention and their hearts to be turned specifically to the Savior, the one who has been endowed by the Father with the power to save. The fall has separated us from the Father, and it is Jesus whom the Father has sent to shepherd us home to Him.
[Continued tomorrow]
~Colleen H.
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