Keep the Twelve Steps of Recovery Focused on Christ

[Hemidakota]

ARTICLE EXCERPT:

Step One: Establishes the truth of my absolute need for the Atoning Power of Christ–that without His Spirit with me I am lost.

Step Two: Establishes Christ's singular place in the Atoning process as the One who the Father sent to save me and to whom I must come and seek oneness with if I desire to be triumphant over the effects of the fall in my life.

Step Three: Establishes the truth that it must be by my choice, by my initiative that I look to Christ and accept His ever-present willingness to be as one with me and save me.

Step Four: Establishes the truth about what my past life has been like and how I've departed from the Savior's teachings.

Step Five: Establishes my willingness to come unto Christ by telling the truth and allowing appropriate others to know of my past weakness and my willingness.

Step Six: Establishes the truth that no part of the process of redemption is mine except the willingness to be changed; that not even my own best efforts will bring about the change of heart I need. Only Christ can change my heart and thus my disposition or personality.

Step Seven: Establishes the truth that I must come to a place like Alma the younger and like the people of King Benjamin, and surrender myself unreservedly to the power of Christ's Atonement.

Step Eight: Establishes my need to seek the Spirit of Truth in guiding me to make a list of all those I have harmed in my past, and to become humble enough to make restitution wherever I can.

Step Nine: Establishes the sincerity of my repentance by asking me to make amends to all those whom the Spirit of Christ confirms would be blessed and not further injured by my attempts at reconciliation.

Step Ten: Establishes the truth that as long as I am mortal I will have the need to retain a remission of my tendency to sin.

Step Eleven: Establishes the truth that my relationship with Christ through personal prayer and quiet meditation is maintained by “the revelations of Christ” to my soul for my personal guidance and comfort.

Step Twelve: Establishes the fact that to keep my deliverance I must carry the message that the Savior is this near and this available, one miraculous day at a time.

Being Consumed in Christ

ARTICLE LINK: Meridian Magazine :: Line Upon Line: Keeping the Twelve Steps of Recovery Focused on Christ

[Misshalfway]

One of the reasons I love the LDS 12 steps is that it does kind of define what is "mine" and what is the Lord's. There are things I can't do or things I can't change about myself that the Savior absolutely can. But I have responsibility too. I think the 12 steps, if done in this balanced way, is so powerful and really opens the Atonement to those who need it as truth replaces the lies that keep progress from happening.

I guess I view the steps like baptism being the gate to the narrow path that leads to the tree. If one wants to recover from addiction or compulsion, I think they must commit to the path.....and it is there on the path that the relationship is forged with the Lord. And as one travels the path, the chains drop off one by one.

[Guest Godless]

I've always been a bit wary of religious recovery programs like this one. I know it's worked wonders for many people, and that's great. But I'm personally uncomfortable with the idea that I'm not in control of my actions and decisions. Kicking any sort of addiction can be incredibly hard, but I truly believe that most people have the willpower within themselves to overcome it on their own. This doesn't mean that they can't use their faith in God to find this strength, but there's absolutely no need for people to be told that they're completely and utterly powerless to change their ways. Anyway, not trying to start a debate or anything. I just didn't feel that I could keep my mouth shut on this topic.

[DigitalShadow]

I've always been a bit wary of religious recovery programs like this one. I know it's worked wonders for many people, and that's great. But I'm personally uncomfortable with the idea that I'm not in control of my actions and decisions. Kicking any sort of addiction can be incredibly hard, but I truly believe that most people have the willpower within themselves to overcome it on their own. This doesn't mean that they can't use their faith in God to find this strength, but there's absolutely no need for people to be told that they're completely and utterly powerless to change their ways. Anyway, not trying to start a debate or anything. I just didn't feel that I could keep my mouth shut on this topic.

I feel pretty much the same way, but did not want to start a debate here so I'll leave it to you :)

[the Ogre]

THE TWELVE STEPS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

These are the twelve steps that I know. I disagree with G-dless, but that's okay. I did stop cold turkey. I went to AA for a few months. The steps work.

I will note that some people who go through AA are not religious. I had a religion that I could choose that reinforced abstinence. Of the most importance was following President Kimball's advise to cut off all ties with the environments and groups where I could relapse the easiest. Not being around alcohol helped me kick it. Having a great support system helped me kick it. Having a good reason to quit (my children) helped me kick it. For myself, I'll say: having a loving, supportive H-avenly F-ther provided the miracle of my lasting abstinence. I am a recovering alcoholic. I know I can relapse easily.

[Misshalfway]

I've always been a bit wary of religious recovery programs like this one. I know it's worked wonders for many people, and that's great. But I'm personally uncomfortable with the idea that I'm not in control of my actions and decisions. Kicking any sort of addiction can be incredibly hard, but I truly believe that most people have the willpower within themselves to overcome it on their own. This doesn't mean that they can't use their faith in God to find this strength, but there's absolutely no need for people to be told that they're completely and utterly powerless to change their ways. Anyway, not trying to start a debate or anything. I just didn't feel that I could keep my mouth shut on this topic.

I don't think you are starting a debate. I think you are bringing up a fabulous point. One that is often missed. In fact one of my problems with the 12 steps is the notion that an addict will always be an addict.

I think it may look as though one is absolving themselves of all power, but in reality it is the addiction that does that. The 12 steps is simply a tool that I believe helps one embrace their power properly while relying on God's power to do so. For those who don't believe in a supreme being, I would say that trying to overcome alone is less effective and admitting they need help is the most powerful thing they can do.

There is nothing in the 12 steps that says they are utterly powerless. In fact it is the opposite. It takes one from victimhood mentality into embracing personal responsibility. The only thing that it says is that "we are powerless" to stop using on our own. And if you understand what addiction mentality does to a person, you will understand it will keep a person away from help as it lies to them or flatters ones ego thru denial that they don't need help or that they don't have a problem or that they aren't out of control.

Now, after having said all of that, I want to make it clear that I don't think the 12 steps paradigm is the only effective program. I honestly don't believe it is. But I do think that it has value and should at least be part of the addiction recovery tool belt. And because I believe in Jesus and the power of the Atonement, I do support Hemi's post that the 12 steps are most effective when coupled with reliance on the Savior. It is something I have witnessed first hand and there was nothing whatsoever in the process I witnessed that denied anyone power. In fact, it was the opposite. It was the restoration of power that was lost.

Edited May 28, 2009 by Misshalfway

[Misshalfway]

I've always been a bit wary of religious recovery programs like this one. I know it's worked wonders for many people, and that's great. But I'm personally uncomfortable with the idea that I'm not in control of my actions and decisions. Kicking any sort of addiction can be incredibly hard, but I truly believe that most people have the willpower within themselves to overcome it on their own. This doesn't mean that they can't use their faith in God to find this strength, but there's absolutely no need for people to be told that they're completely and utterly powerless to change their ways. Anyway, not trying to start a debate or anything. I just didn't feel that I could keep my mouth shut on this topic.

I don't know what kind of exposure you have had to addiction mentality, but I can tell you that it is the addiction that takes ones power away. It makes people lose control. It makes people irrational and trapped and stuck in cycles of destructive thinking which leads to destructive behaviors. And it does take more than will power to stop.

But I don't think it is the 12 steps that teaches that an addict is completely powerless. Instead what I think it says is that we are powerless to change without the help of others or a higher power. If you read the steps above, I think you will see an emphasis on personal responsibility and honesty about ones actions-- something addicts don't like to face, but something that is crucial for recovery.

So, I guess what I am saying is that you are right and I agree with you. I just see the 12 steps as a tool (not the only tool) to accomplish what you are suggesting.

[pam]

This doesn't mean that they can't use their faith in God to find this

And all along I thought you were totally Godless.

[foreverafter]

But I'm personally uncomfortable with the idea that I'm not in control of my actions and decisions. Kicking any sort of addiction can be incredibly hard, but I truly believe that most people have the willpower within themselves to overcome it on their own. This doesn't mean that they can't use their faith in God to find this strength, but there's absolutely no need for people to be told that they're completely and utterly powerless to change their ways. .

I believe that we are in control of our actions & decisions for the most part. So much so that we ourselves, by those actions & decisions, determine our eternal destiny & we are held accountable for them & will suffer consequences here & throughout eternity for the bad choices & actions we make, if we don't choose to repent. Repentance is work, something we ourselves have to do by sacrificing & serving others & praying. If we do enough repentance work, then we earn the gift of strength to overcome our sins. But we must earn God's help by doing our part & all we can. He won't do it all for us just because we ask him to.

But even though we are accountable & in large part in control of our actions, it still remains impossible to live a righteous life & keep our covenants, including marriage covenants, & make correct decisions without Heavenly Fathers help, which we must pray continually for. Life is just too hard & temptations too strong to be good on our own. If we have been severely mistreated or abused it is impossible to not become abusive in return unless we pray for the strength to love our enemny. The natural man just doesn't naturally feel to love those who hurt us, that inclination must be a gift from God because we turn to him & pray for it, while choosing to do all we can to serve our enemy, then the love comes. Prayer & confession without serving others & doing all we can, is all in vain Alma says.

We must do all we can & then if we have done our best at trying to overcome our sins & weaknesses then Heavenly Father will give us the additional strength & guidance to finally conquer them & find peace & happiness again.

Edited May 28, 2009 by foreverafter

[Moksha]

THE TWELVE STEPS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

These steps have always seemed like a detailed approach to repentance, although they have been very effective for helping people cope with the effects of their addiction or their relationship with somebody who has an addiction.