Nearly 800 people from across the United States attended the LDS Family Services Addiction Recovery Program Conference Aug. 24-25, part of a small army the Church has marshaled in its war against addictions of all kinds.
The conference, titled, "My Grace is Sufficient for All Men" included speakers, panel discussions and instructions fine-tuning the program. It was held in the Little Theater of the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve offered remarks. Others who spoke included administrators, group leaders and participants. Those who operate the Church program on the local level were enthusiastic in their support of participants, a seamless meshing of gospel and recovery cultures.
The ARP, as the program is called, is a gospel-based program made up of group leaders, usually a Church-service missionary couple trained in the program, and a facilitator, typically someone who has experienced addiction recovery, and participants, according to LDS Family Services.
The missionary couple begins an ARP meeting with a prayer and the reading of gospel principles associated with addiction recovery and repentance. The facilitator conducts the sharing portion where participants are invited to express personal experiences of faith, hope and healing from addiction. Meetings last about 70 minutes.
Meetings are free and open to anybody. Bishops may refer members but no referral is needed. Times and locations of meetings can be found at www.ldsfamilyservices.org.
Anonymity and confidentiality within the groups foster honesty and create a safe haven for participants. While the groups are open to those with various kinds of addiction, individuals find they share much in common with one another. Family and friends are also welcome to attend meetings. Groups specifically for spouses and family members are available in some areas. Family and friends who practice the same principles taught within these groups will discover hope and healing for themselves.
Participants are invited to follow the 12 steps in the book, "A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing." Nearly 100,000 copies of this book have been distributed since it was published just over a year ago, indicative of the breadth of the problems of addiction in this day, and the hope for recovery the program has instilled in participants.
In his remarks, Elder Ballard expressed appreciation for those who are serving in this program.
"Far too often, some families and even society write off these people who are addicted and say they are of no value ... that they are beyond help," he said. "I don't believe that. I do not believe that anyone is beyond feeling the power of the love of Christ."
He said leaders should work to "ignite into the hearts and minds of Heavenly Father's children who are captured in one kind of addiction or another to the reality that they are a son or daughter of God and they have a destiny."
Elder Ballard said that all people have agency and the capacity to choose between good and evil.
"The struggle for the soul is not new," he said. "This war raged in the heavens before we came; it is raging throughout the world, and unfortunately it is penetrating our Church membership."
He encouraged people to sometimes "get off the merry-go-round. Some of our people are moving and spinning so fast and they don't have any quiet time. Quiet time is precious time. In those quiet moments, people can come to an understanding whether they have an addiction or whether they are neglecting something ... related to their spirituality.
"When somebody comes to that point, he or she is more teachable, more willing to accept responsibility for their own behavior and not try to blame others or his or her circumstances."
He counseled bishops that the burdens of dealing with problems do not rest entirely on their shoulders. Rather, they should seek advice from councils and from the "wise women that sit on those councils, and we should never lose sight of the extended family."
The adversary will try to stop this work, but "we will fight with the pure love of Christ to help relieve the souls of our Father's children by turning their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ, and by opening to them the marvelous vision of the Atoning Sacrifice of the Son of God and what that can mean to you and me and everyone else to find our way safely back into the presence of our Father in Heaven."
He cited a scripture in closing, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
In attendance were group leaders who commented on their work. They expressed the love they felt for participants, but said progress can be slow.
Orville and Sandra Lucas of St. George, Utah, said the program is growing rapidly.
"The spirit is very strong; it is a wonderful program," said Brother Lucas. "I think everyone should attend this to see what it offers."
One speaker, Ben, a former group participant now serving as a Church-service missionary with his wife, shared his own journey of recovery, a story filled with pain, anguish, hope and joy. As a young man, Ben delayed his mission and started hanging out with a different group of friends. He started smoking and drinking. He experimented with other drugs and soon was addicted to meth.
As Ben's life quickly spiraled out of control, and when he thought it could get no worse, he decided his only hope was to put God back in his life. He wondered what it meant to turn one's life over to the Savior.
Soon after those thoughts, Ben heard a presentation by some Church-service missionaries in the ARP. He decided to attend a meeting. He knew almost immediately the 12 Steps taught there were the missing pieces in his life.
As Ben attended meetings and progressed in his sobriety, recovery and healing followed.
