Addiction Recovery for LDS Members

Addiction recovery is a comprehensive process that incorporates medical and therapeutic treatment. Members of the Church of Latter-day Saints not only recognize the importance of their faith but also see it as essential to their overall health and wellbeing. Sometimes, a wounded spirit is as much the cause of addiction as anything else. That is where addiction recovery with an LDS focus becomes necessary. It’s more than just rehab for Mormons – it’s about treating every aspect of ourselves that make us who we are. For LDS members, that includes our relationship with God.

Recovery is possible

One of the common misconceptions of addiction is that it is simply a collection of bad habits that can be solved through self-discipline alone. But addiction is a disease, which means that – in addition to good behavior and positive choices – it requires treatment. Addiction will not disappear on its own, nor will it ever truly disappear. Recovery is not about “curing” addiction, it’s about learning to live with addiction. Staying sober requires committing to your health and avoiding things that lead to using drugs and alcohol. If you don’t focus on your treatment, your recovery path only gets longer and more difficult.

That is exactly why spirituality plays such an important role in the process. Faith in God and the teachings of Jesus Christ have helped millions of people manage their addiction, and many of them reconnect with the Savior in deeper, more profound ways as they navigate recovery. It isn’t a coincidence when people embrace a sober life and improve their relationship with God at the same time.

The LDS Addiction Recovery Program

The LDS Addiction Recovery Program (ARP) is a drug and alcohol addiction treatment process that takes the traditional 12-step model and applies to it the specific Mormon understanding of Christ’s Atonement and the power of repentance. LDS members will recognize the key concepts and teachings, providing an added layer of comfort and familiarity as you begin recovery. It is a faith-based treatment environment that helps Mormons uncover the root cause of their addictions and repair their faith in Jesus Christ.

In this program, you will still undergo the same tried-and-true and universally accepted addiction treatments, including medical detox and individualized therapy. Those are the steps that benefit people from all walks of life. But on top of all that is the added focus on Mormon faith and spirituality, which enhances the experience for LDS members thanks to its emphasis on the Church and the value it brings to their lives. You must treat the body, the mind, and the soul.

The 12 steps of ARP

These 12 steps are similar to the traditional 12 steps from Alcoholics Anonymous but are altered to reflect the Mormon faith and the values communicated by the church. As part of your recovery, you’ll go over what happens during each step with the help of your counselors, and then you’ll be tasked with carrying them out as you practice sober living. The 12 steps of ARP are:

Step 1: Honesty

Admitting you are powerless to overcome your addiction and that your life has become unmanageable.

Step 2: Hope

Believing that the power of God can bring you back to full – spiritually, physically, and mentally.

Step 3: Trust in God

Turning your will over to the care of God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Step 4: Truth

Making an honest moral inventory of yourself and your choices.

Step 5: Confession

Admitting to the nature of your wrongs to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to the proper priesthood authority, and a fellow Mormon in recovery.

Step 6: Change of Heart

Preparing to have God remove all your character weaknesses.

Step 7: Humility

Asking the Heavenly Father to remove your shortcomings.

Step 8: Seeking Forgiveness

Creating a list of the people you harmed and being willing to make things right again.

Step 9: Restitution and Reconciliation

Whenever possible, making direct reparation to anyone you have harmed.

Step 10: Daily Accountability

Continuing to take a personal moral inventory and having accountability for personal failings and shortcomings.

Step 11: Personal Revelation

Through prayer, seeking insights into the Lord’s will, and having the strength to carry it out.

Step 12: Service

Sharing your spiritual re-awakening with others in need and promoting the principles in everything you do.

Alpine Recovery Lodge can guide you through this process. At our treatment center, you will receive spiritual healing on your way to recovery from substance abuse. Contact us now at 866-209-3549, or fill out a contact form – you’ll hear from us soon.