Christ, Personal Revelation
I love Christmas for a lot of reasons, and one of them is that I get the chance to attend a Messiah sing-in…or is it a “sing along”? Whichever, it’s so glorious to stand up and sing the “Halleluiah Chorus” at the top of my lungs and have my very “littlest angel” voice...
Christ, Led by Spirit, Personal Revelation
As I go through a day looking to Jesus to live, I find myself miraculously doing right, doing well. The miraculous part is that I’m not striving or trying to do right—or even to avoid “not-right” behavior. It’s happening automatically as I...
Codependency, Perfectionism, Recovery, Twelve Steps
In a recent Twelve Step meeting I attended, someone shared about how much it bothers her when she does things that hurt others. It just throws her into a terrible state of brooding, . . . upset, . . . temptation to use her addictive behaviors. As I sit here and...
Led by Spirit, Personal Revelation, writing
As I knelt down this morning to offer my formal “opening prayer” for the day, I automatically (after 20 years of daily repetition) reached for my pen and notepad. I had to smile as the recognition whispered through my mind: “This is how it all began.” And it is so...
Personal Revelation, Twelve Steps, writing
We’re all different, and I can’t tell anyone else’s story or anyone else’s truth, but I am blessed to come here and have a place to tell mine. This is my truth—the truth that it has taken me many years in recovery to finally believe: Conscious...
God's In Charge, Recovery, Twelve Steps
Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in HIM. Wherefore, let us be faithful to him. (1 Nephi 7:12) Wow! What a twelve-step...
God's In Charge, Led by Spirit, Recovery
As we humble ourselves and rely more and more on the Spirit to guide us, we begin to awaken to the truth that we are actually having a close relationship with all three delightful members of the Godhead. Through the mediation of the Holy Spirit, we begin to perceive...
God's In Charge, Led by Spirit, Personal Revelation
“. . . And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart.” (1 Nephi 2:11) As you increase in recovery, you learn to depend more and more upon God to lead you—day to day, and sometimes even minute to minute. If and when you...
Addiction, Perfectionism, Recovery
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 I Will Not Leave You Comfortless What I have shared this week is not theory on or commentary about the Savior’s absolutely essential role in overcoming addiction. It is my testimony of lived experience. I have...
Addiction, Perfectionism, Recovery
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 An Apostolic Witness of the Savior’s Central Role in Recovery from Addiction I am so grateful for Elder Robert D. Hales’ address in General Conference of April 2009 and for his powerful testimony concerning...
Addiction, Perfectionism, Recovery
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 The Savior’s Perfect Patience with Our Infirmities/Imperfections The testimony of the restored gospel reminds me of my original relationship with God—both with my Father and with my Savior. It tries to tell me...
Addiction, Perfectionism, Recovery
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 Perfectionism Is At the Core of Almost All Addictive Behavior I know it sounds insane, but it’s true: At the core, in the heart of almost every addict of any variety, there lies a soul that is super-sensitive to...
