Need Help Pretty Badly

[Hemidakota]

We had an amazing talk in Sacrament meeting today. It was on agency, but it was given by a man who is one of the stake Addiction Recovery Program specialists. He talked about agency in the context of addiction, and gave some interesting insight. He said that a lot of the time, addicts (of pornography or whatever) will think or say to themselves "If I could just choose not to do it, it would make all the difference. I need to just choose not to (fill in the blank)." In reality, he said, what they need to do is not choose not to (blank), but rather they need to choose Christ. When they choose Christ, and commit to that, it will affect all the rest of their decisions.

Maybe not very helpful, but I wanted to throw it out there.

Adding to Wingnut post, at the moment when the whispering desires enters our thoughts, we should immediately displace it with a uplifting primary song, something uplifting, something that is of GOD. All additions can be conquered if we choose it.

[jiminycricket]

Um... oops. I mentioned something earlier, but forgot to develop the point.

"Those kinds of habits can be very disorienting, discouraging, demeaning and demoralizing. It can quickly become all you can do to keep your head above water."

It is entirely common for doubt to follow this kind of sin. You need to realize that it is the addiction to sin that has left you disoriented and vulnerable to doubt. That doubt has stripped you of hope, and is eating away at your morals and your conviction of your own worth. This is the devil's attempt to solidify and use the foothold he has attained in your life to his full advantage against you. It is another of his flaxen cords turning to chains. You can halt that transformation if, amid all the inner turmoil you feel, you are aware of his plot, refuse his half-truth -coated, comfortable lies, and diligently maintain your hope. You have the power to recognize truth, and the Savior has the power to save you from your sins. Be patient. Don't give up. If you hang in there, it will happen.

A few quotes that help me get through the tough times:

Winston Churchill was once invited to speak to an elementary school class. He came, and when it was time for him to speak, he stood up and said, "Never, never, never give up." And sat back down.

"Things will work out. Keep trying. Be believing. Be happy. Don't get discouraged. Things will work out." - President Gordon B. Hinckley, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator

"Never get discouraged. If I was sunk in the lowest pit of Nova Scotia, with the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I would not be discouraged. I would hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I would come out on top." - The Prophet Joseph Smith (to George A. Smith)

Jiminy

[talisyn]

Adding to Wingnut post, at the moment when the whispering desires enters our thoughts, we should immediately displace it with a uplifting primary song, something uplifting, something that is of GOD. All additions can be conquered if we choose it.

Oh yes those primary songs have a way of chasing out even the worst thoughts and feelings...if you want them to.

My favorite is 'Keep the Commandments'. Something about the slowness and solemnity of the song makes it my own little front-end loader when I need to clean my mind of impure thoughts.