I had the chance to go to ARP, Addictive Recovery Program run by LDS Family Services. I love ARP, I learn so much every time I go. We go with people either we are teaching or who are in our ward, but I wont say names, it's confidential. I have not had a major addiction that I've been trying to overcome, but I do have character weaknesses I am working on. I am always reminded that I need to start implementing the 12 steps into my life whenever I attend. ARP uses the 12 steps in AA meetings, I've been told, but with a twist, using the Atonement to overcome addictions. Last night we were on step 6 Change of Heart: become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses. The reading in the step is really good, and I think it's something that everyone can use, whether you're working on overcoming an addiction or not. Everyone has character weaknesses to overcome, so I wanted to share a little bit with y'all. One quote I really loved from there was, "Probably the most humbling thing to acknowledge is that you still harbor a prideful desire to change without the help of God." I think many people can relate with this. It's so easy to think that we know what's best, or that we know what's right. Thing is thought that God knows so much better, so why not turn to Him for help? Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." God knows us very well and knows what we need to help us out. We also cannot become clean again without the help of our Savior. "Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me," Alma 7:13. Not only does He have the power to remove sin from us, but He can also empathize with us since He has suffered according to the flesh. I know that it is hard to be able to turn over to Christ completely to have Him help us overcome our weaknesses, but that is what He is there for. He can help us find peace, help us find relief, and help us find joy again, something we cannot find without His help. I know that Christ is always there for us no matter what, and that He cares about us, and that He loves us with everything He has in Him.
To learn more about ARP, or to find meetings check out addictionrecovery.lds.org.
