Our hearts are broken when we hear of broken lives, and broken relationships. Addiction or other compulsive behaviors seems to break everything that is good. We are often asked to share some of our personal experience working in the addiction recovery program (ARP). Since participation is anonymous to encourage honesty and supportiveness, people introduce themselves by their first name only and we promise not to share what is shared at support meetings. But we can share our feelings, published materials and general experience. We invite you to listen with your heart as we try to express what has become deeply meaningful to us as service missionaries, and as children of God, brothers and sisters to all of God’s children.

Paraphrasing from program guidebooks, Healing through the Savior, 12-step Addiction Recovery Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is available to anyone who desires assistance in recovery from any addictive substance or compulsive behavior, or anyone desiring to seek change in their life. The meetings are held in a dedicated church meetinghouse and are structured, not an open forum to talk about problems. The program is based on the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step program, but has been adapted to the doctrines, principles, and beliefs of the Church. It is based on recovery through repentance and the power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. The weekly meetings are conducted by senior missionaries throughout the world with the help of a facilitator who is a recovering addict. The first miracle we notice each week is within our own hearts. As each participant walks through the door we feel nothing but Christ-like love for them; all judgment and criticism is taken from our hearts. The next miracles happen as the meeting progresses and they feel love from one-another and from God. The first part of each meeting includes group reading about one of the twelve steps. The reading material has been prayerfully composed by persons who have experienced hope and progress in applying the respective principles of action and recovery. The last part of the meeting gives the participants the opportunity to share their experiences of challenge, faith and repentance, which often encourages others. Love, and the spirit of the Lord is very strong in these meetings as all learn about, apply, and have success using God’s grace.

At the end of the meeting, a senior missionary is invited to bear testimony of how the Atonement of Jesus Christ has blessed them personally. These are sacred moments where Sister Hardman or I have pondered the Lords personal and infinite Atonement, given us great hope, and the Spirit confirms truth to our souls which we then testify with all our hearts to the participants. Truly the healing power of Christ is enabled and the spirit of God is felt. All are invited to find a life of peace, freedom and even joy, encircled in the arms of God’s mercy. Jesus came with healing in His wings and is mighty to save. He lives to bless us with His love. In Addiction Recovery meetings all find hope, help and healing, even those whose hearts break for their loved-ones. In Healing through the Savior, we find Him.

Invitation – For those interested in more details, attached is my personal summary of the 12-steps along with a few relevant scriptures and expected actions. We are finding that these principles and step-by-step approach to repentance is applicable to all of us and all our repeating behaviors that we would like to resolve. I now think of it as a master-class in applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my own life. If you’d like to give it a try, think of a compulsive behavior that you have, a behavior that is controlling your life in unfavorable ways, then intentionally work through these steps to apply the principles and regain your agency and make more meaningful progress in Coming unto Christ and being perfected in him. For example, I would like to be less judgmental and more patient with myself and others. This divine process is working for me. As I sincerely and intentionally apply these steps to me, I am making progress. I have more hope for myself and for others. I am enjoying more joy in the Lord.

Healing through the Savior – The Addiction Recovery Program

12 Step Recovery Guide Summary of Key Principles, Action Steps, and Scriptures

2 Nephi 31:20, Mosiah 27:25, Alma 7:11-12, Ether 12:27, Moroni 10:32

Step – Title (Key Principle)	Action Steps	Scriptures	Personal Notes
1 – Admit that you, of yourself, are powerless to overcome your addictions and that your life has become unmanageable. (Honesty)	Let go of pride and seek humilityBe honest and talk to someoneAttend meetings	2 Nephi 4:18-21Enos 1:4Alma 32:13-16
2 – Come to believe that the power of God can restore you to complete spiritual health. (Hope)	Develop a correct understanding of God’s characterPray and study the scriptures.	Phil 4:13Mosiah 7:33, 4:9Helaman 3:29
3 – Decide to turn your will and your life over to the care of God, the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. (Trust in God)	Decide to trust and obey GodReview and renew covenants with God	Luke 22:41-42Rev 3:202 Ne 10:24Mosiah 4:20
4 – Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself. (Truth)	Write an inventory with a sponsor’s help	Prov. 3:5James 2:17-182 Nephi 4:19
5 – Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs. (Confession)	Share our inventories from step 4 with our sponsors and confess our sins to God and proper priesthood authorities as neededLet peace into our lives.	Isaiah 1:18Mosiah 26:29Alma 22:18, 39:7, 39:13D&C 58:43
6 – Become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses. (Change of Heart)	Be willing to change through the power of GodFind connection with others in recovery and at church	Ez. 36:26Mosiah 3:19, 5:7Alma 22:15-18D&C 50:40-42
7 – Humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove your shortcomings. (Humility)	Ask God to do what we cannot do for ourselvesStudy the sacrament prayers	John 15:4-5, 10-11Mosiah 4:2-3, 5:7-9Moroni 4:3, 5:2
8 – Make a written list of all persons you have harmed and become willing to make restitution to them. (Seeking Forgiveness)	Write a list of people we might have offended or harmedForgivePray for charity.	Matt 18:21-22, 32-33Luke 6:37-381 John 4:18-19Moroni 7:47
9 – Wherever possible, make direct restitution to all persons you have harmed. (Restitution and Reconciliation)	Approach othersRecognize the blessings of recovery	Mosiah 27:35Alma 34-31-32, 39:12-13D&C 1:32
10 – Continue to take personal inventory, and when you are wrong promptly admit it. (Daily Accountability)	Spiritual preparation for each dayDaily repentance.	Luke 9:23Mosiah 4:30Alma 5:14-15, 7:23Moroni 6:8
11 – Seek through prayer and meditation to know the Lord’s will and to have the power to carry it out. (Personal Revelation)	Come unto Jesus Christ through prayer, fasting, and meditationMeditate in stillness and quiet	Romans 8:26Alma 7:233 Ne 20:1D&C 6:36, 42:61
12 – Having had a spiritual awakening through the Atonement of Jesus Christ as a result of taking these steps, share this message with others and practice these principles in all you do. (Service)	Serve othersParticipate in temple and family history work	Luke 22:32Romans 1:16Mosiah 2:17, 28:1-4Alma 5:14, 29:9-10Mormon 9:11, 16-19

Hardman Rev: Sep. 9, 2025 (Reference. Healing through the Savior, The Addiction Recovery Program, 12-Step Recovery Guide, 2024 Intellectual Reserve, Inc.)

(For more information about Healing through the Savior including videos and podcasts of recovery meetings see addictionrecovery.churchofjesuschrist.org)