Secrecy fuels addiction. Every addict knows this.
Every Latter-day Saint knows this, too. The Doctrine and Covenants tells us, “By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them” (D&C 58:43). (emphasis added)
If we want recovery from an addiction—any addiction—we must be willing to give up our secrets. While we do not need to wear a scarlet letter or ring a bell announcing the truth about ourselves to everyone we encounter—we cannot hide it, either.
We must be willing to say, out loud, “I am not perfect. I have become addicted.”
This is hard. We know. Do it anyway.
If we do not walk out into the light, the adversary will still have a place in us, a toe-hold. We must be willing to be 100% honest about where we are, before it can become where we were.
We must claim our secrets before we can put them behind us and move on.
Shame and secrecy drive us to continue our addictive behaviors. Any speck of secrecy—pretending, shame, blame, fear of others opinions, fear of telling the truth—is a weakened place in our hearts where addiction can thrive.
If those around us choose to reject us because of our past weaknesses and secrets, then they do not fully understand the Atonement of Christ. In giving up our secrets, we access that Atonement which is absolutely vital to our recovery and our salvation.
~Colleen H.
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