The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers an Addiction Recovery Program, a 12-step program that "helps individuals overcome addictions through Jesus Christ and His Atonement."
The program is based on the teachings of Christ and the 12 steps are adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous. These steps include honesty, hope, trust in God, truth, confession, change of heart, humility, seeking forgiveness, restitution and reconciliation, daily accountability, personal revelation, and service.
"By applying these principles based on the teachings of Christ, individuals find the strength to overcome addictions and 'find new meaning to life,' (addictionrecovery.lds.org), officials said.
As stated at addictionrecovery.lds.org, ”Addiction harms an individual’s spirit, mind and body. True recovery focuses on healing all of the different aspects of ourselves that make us who we are. It is only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His gospel that we can be fully healed and freed from the bonds of addiction.”
As also stated, “Some people consider addictions to only be bad habits that can be conquered by willpower alone, but many people become so dependent on a behavior or a substance that they no longer see how to abstain from it” (addictionrecovery.lds.org). "That’s why studying and applying the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ are necessary, no matter the addiction, whether it be drugs, alcohol, pornography, etc.," officials said.
Anyone in Tennessee, or elsewhere, regardless of religious affiliation, may participate for free in the LDS Addiction Recovery Program. Local meetings are held at the LDS meetinghouse, 3067 Ooltewah Ringgold Road in Ooltewah. All meetings are confidential. Individuals who struggle with addiction can find meetings at addictionrecovery.lds.org under "find a meeting.” Meetings are also available for family and friends to help them support their loved ones through recovery.
Elder M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, states, “I testify that your body, mind and spirit can be transformed, cleansed, and made whole, and you will be freed,"