An Addiction Recovery Program Conference

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have an addiction recovery manual and program set up in the likeness of the original 12 steps established from AA. It is (appropriately named) The Addiction Recovery Program or ARP to shorten it. Well not far from where I live, they have a conference once a year with speakers to help inspire and encourage recovery as a whole. This weekend was the conference. It was fantastic. I don't want to compare it to General Conference because they are each so important for what they each do. Each one in its own right, is amazing.
I was able to attend classes about "The Biology of Addiction" (which just happened to be taught by the same man that I took an Anatomy and Physiology class from),  "Food: Friend or Foe" & a class about "Trust and Forgiveness." All of this was then followed up by a meeting this evening to hear from some men who have been thru the 12 steps in their own lives as recovering alcoholics and drug addicts who now facilitate rehab treatment centers.

It was reassuring to be amongst those who struggle, who have taken a step towards looking at God, and being willing to admit that mistakes have been made, but also willing to work the 12 steps in order to do what it takes to be sober for another 24.....taking it just one day at a time. I really appreciated in one workshop, the teacher stood and remarked that although he had taught hundreds of times the material he was teaching us, for some reason it felt different being with us. I knew exactly what he meant.

I'm not sure how many ARP meeting I've been to. Nor can I tell you how many times, I have sat in on an ARP meeting and have felt the spirit of God come upon me. It really is such a profound experience. Sitting there at a meeting to share that you have made a mistake, perhaps a little bit about your mistake without sharing all the finer points of your addiction. And then you feel it. The spirit.

I remember struggling with that at first. I had been taught that if you mess up, if you make a mistake that the spirit can no longer dwell with you. Yet here was that familiar feeling. At times, feeling the spirit can be so strong, there is no denying that feeling or what is going on. It was at the meeting tonight that helped me put the pieces together. He simply and poignantly explained the addiction or addictive behavior as an illness.....a disease of sorts. Weakness is not the same as a sin. Our fallibilities, our mortal time, our need to practice some things over and over and over and over and over again are not for punishment. They are for our growth and development. Why can't the spirit be with me if I'm sick, if I'm fighting a disease? He can.

The spirit has been in many ARP meetings, sometimes a stronger presence than what I feel at church at times. The classes yesterday and the gathering this evening are a testament to that. Although we are broken people, and we have broken lives, we are also willing to show up and risk the chance of being noticed &/judged. But we also have broken hearts and contrite spirits. Perhaps the Lord loves broken things. Perhaps he knows those who are striving to know him. And perhaps (as Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained).....that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it.