Day 91 – Step Work
As you try to help others, you must understand that it will be difficult for them to remain in recovery if family members do not support them or do not understand that recovery takes time. Anyone can recover however, no matter how others—even closest loved ones—choose to react.
Share your feelings and experience with the fact that recovery truly is a process that takes time.
Recovery has taken me over 25 years and I still don’t feel like I’m out of the woods. Recovery is one day at a time, literally. If I think I’m free from my addiction, I need to really assess where I am and where my heart is, because when I get casual, Satan is there to pounce.
Recovery hasn’t been easy. Recovery has been a moment to moment experience. I’m grateful for the willingness to try to turn my life and will over to God and let Him direct me for good. But I know there is a long way to go and I know I need to be willing to submit for the rest of my life (or at least for today).
How might this knowledge help you serve your fellow addicts better?
Hopefully I can give them hope that they can do this if they’re willing to submit. If they want it to happen overnight or really quickly, I can reassure them that all they can worry about is today, right now.
I can encourage them to just work on today because, before they know it, today will be 384 days in recovery and they will be a completely different person than who they were before.
I look forward to learning as I try to help others in their recovery.
As you carry to others the message of recovery through gospel principles, you must be patient and meek. There is no place in your new life for ego or any sense of superiority. Never forget where you have come from and how you have been rescued by the grace of God. Jesus Christ will do the same “in all cases” for those who will repent and turn to Him (Mosiah 29:20).
How does the reality of step 1 serve to help keep you sufficiently humble?
I am nothing; as to my own strength I am weak; nevertheless, I will be happy in what has happened in my life – the fact that, through Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, I’ve been changed in ways that I never knew were possible. I am so grateful for this understanding. I am so amazed at what the Atonement can do for me and for anyone who is willing to just turn their will over to Him.
I look forward to today and to giving my life and will over to Him.
Share your feelings about being rescued and your testimony of how that was made possible.
I feel so lucky. I was on the edge of destruction. I nearly lost my family because of a stupid choice on my part. I was so caught up in my addiction that I didn’t think of anyone but myself. I was so selfish, prideful and beyond feeling. It’s hard to even believe that was me.
But today, through the Atonement and through submission, I am a new person. Today I feel the strength and power of God in my life. Today I feel the Spirit in my life again, helping me handle situations differently.
I love my family. I love Becky so much. I look forward to connecting with her emotionally every day.
I love my kids too. I hope to be able to teach them what I’m learning so they don’t have to go through the same challenges I’ve put myself in.
The only way I’ve been rescued is because I was willing to submit my will to God and not look back. But this wasn’t a one time ordeal – this has been over and over and over again. Sometimes multiple times per minute or hour or day. And it will continue to be a moment to moment process. But I’m willing to continue down this path because I know its the plan of happiness, and I’ve never felt more joy and peace in my life.
In your enthusiasm to help others, be sure to keep a balance between sharing the message and working on your own program. Your primary focus must continue to be to apply these principles yourself. Your efforts to share these ideas with others will be only as effective as the recovery you maintain.
These principles you have learned and practiced to overcome your addiction are the same principles that will lead you in all aspects of your life to act according to the Lord’s plan. Using these principles of the gospel, you can endure to the end as the Lord has commanded and you can do so with joy.
Do you feel ready, willing, and able to practice ALL of the maintenance steps, one day at time? Please explain.
Yes! I’m so excited to be living in recovery today and trying to practice the maintenance steps one day at a time. I feel a bit nervous and hope to have someone I can still work with, talk to, and help me stay accountable. I don’t want to get casual and fall back into terrible habits.
I feel willing. I feel ready. And I feel able.
Action Steps
Bear public testimony; magnify callings and talents in serving others; hold family home evening and family prayer; prepare to attend the temple and worship there
Your testimony of the love and mercy of Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, is no longer a theory. It has become a living reality. You have experienced it for yourself. As you have become aware of His love for you, you have also become aware of His love for others.
Please share your testimony of these things in your life today.
My testimony of the Savior and of His sacrifice is all I really have. Without Him, I wouldn’t still have the blessings I have in my life. I’m so grateful for the Atonement and how it helps sinners like me recover and be redeemed.
I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and knows me and wants me to succeed. I know that He knows and loves Becky too and wants to help her.
I know that, as a parent, I’m learning how He feels about me as I feel the same way, to an extent, for my own children.
I’m grateful to be where I am today and look forward to living my life in recovery one day at a time. I look forward to studying the scriptures and words of the prophets. I look forward to drawing closer to my Heavenly Father and His Son through study, meditation, and personal prayer.
President Howard W. Hunter taught, “Those of us who have partaken of the Atonement are under obligation to bear faithful testimony of our Lord and Savior” (“The Atonement and Missionary Work,” seminar for new mission presidents, June 21, 1994, 2).
Do you feel “obligated” to share the blessings of the program with others? Explain.
Obligated seems to be a strong word. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to share what I’ve learned with others. I feel excited to be able to help others see the hope and light that can and does come as one submits their will to Him.
I feel lucky to be where I am today. I feel happy to want to share and want to help. I look forward to being led by the Spirit in order to help those who are ready to be helped.
Bear testimony to your family in word and deed in the privacy of your own home. Bear testimony in regular family home evenings, family prayer, and family scripture study. Bear testimony as you join with your family in service projects and as you live your life in a Christ-like way. You can also bear testimony in Church settings, such as in fast and testimony meetings or in classes or while giving Church service.
How are you doing in each of these activities? Will you strive for improvement as part of your efforts to practice step 12?
I feel I am doing pretty good. I feel there is always room for improvement and progress in the gospel. I look forward to continuing to improve, practice and learn to submit my life more and more to Him.
I also look forward to discovering new things about myself – both character weaknesses and strengths that will help me realize my potential more and more while I’m on this earth.
Finally, I look forward to working with my wife and kids to have the happiest home we can possibly have. To invite the Spirit in to our home all the time is one of my biggest desires. I want to get rid of contention completely. I don’t want to yell or get angry – I just want to enjoy the journey together.
Magnify the Church callings you receive. If you do not have responsibilities in your ward or stake, let your bishop know that you are available to serve. You can also bless others by participating in family history work and by preparing to worship and serve in the temple and to make covenants there with the Lord. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught, “Temple service is the end product of all of our teaching and activity” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2005, 3; or Ensign, Nov. 2005, 4). The principles taught in this guide will lead you to the temple; they will increase your desire to serve there.
In recovery, we have learned that half-measures availeth nothing. How does this principle apply to your church activity and service?
I have to be all in! Going half-way in anything does no one any good. I’m grateful for my desires to serve in the Church and to help my brothers and sisters find God in ways they may not have thought were possible.
How has your church service been in the past? Did you magnify your callings, do your home teaching consistently, attend the temple regularly, etc.?
It’s been ok but could always be better. I want to be more consistent in my home teaching work. My families are so easy – but I know I need them and they need me and we need one another.
I feel like I can also make more time to attend the temple and worship there.
Overall, I look forward to what’s in store and am willing to do whatever Heavenly Father directs me to do.
If improvement is called for, will you commit to do so now?
Yes, I commit!
How will you act on this commitment?
I will continue to set goals and do my best to write out how I feel. I will make spiritual goals the forefront of my day. I will help others, which will remind me how important it is to stay on the straight and narrow path!
I look forward to a life in recovery from addictions!
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