The Mormon Church has openly acknowledged this problem, but the memo itself is of interest--as is at least one inside response to it:

"New Addiction Recovery Website

". . . A new Addiction Recovery website has been released by the Church, providing a new resource to help individuals burdened with addictions with alcohol, drugs, pornography, sex, and other addictions. The new site provides information about local support groups, recovery help materials, and more. . . ."

The source provided internal Mormon Church employee access to the website (including a version that gave the name of the Church employee who wrote the website's cover piece and what appears to be the date of its creation) but posting that internal link here might be problematic for the source, so a public link to the website is provided instead, at: http://arp.lds.org/?lang=eng

The reaction of one Mormon Church employee to the announcement was, "Fantastic! At last the best kept secret can be found. . . . "

(The source--who, by the way, posts on RfM--has seen this post and wrote to me as follows: "Thanks, Steve, for protecting my identity. I saw your thread . . . . I receive the . . . emails [time period of receipt deleted]. I'll send one or two of them your way now and then . . . because I don't want my access pulled." We remain in contact).



Edited 18 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2012 06:21PM by steve benson.

The problem I have with the church is their very definition of addiction!

Mormonism!

The need for weekly chastisement and discipline for minor infractions in order to expiate deep feelings of unworthiness.

The need for authority to provide tangible proof of worthiness (plastic temple recommend) to offset deep feelings of unworthiness.

The need for making unwanted visits to neighbors in order to report their shortcomings to authority in order to pitdig on them and make self feel superior (to offset deep feelings of unworthiness).

The need for authority figure to structure one's free time by creating work and make-work so there is no time to think about deep feelings of unworthiness and their possible source.

Extreme dependance on authority figures for simplest mundane lifestyle choices, like underwear worn while gardening.

Refusal to think for self, remaining in an infantile position by deferring personal and family decisions to others of same age and education and no special training whatsoever.

Anagrammy

Are these groups church sponsored?

If so, are people allowed to remain anonymous (if not, I would assume there would be no future upward mobility in TSCC for them. Not that's a bad thing.)

http://arp.lds.org/?lang=eng



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2012 04:57PM by steve benson.

Looks to me like a move by TSCC to make sure that vulnerable people receive treatment and so-called support ONLY from TSCC-approved sources.

Of course, living with the cognitive dissonance TSCC fosters would make more people vulnerable to addiction. There's that fact, plus the issue of TSCC defining "addiction" so broadly that normal behavior falls within their "addicted" categories.

Just another lever with which TSCC can apply pressure to conform.

Heaven forbid that truly addicted persons should receive help from non-LDS counselors, counselors who not pile on LDS guilt trips to make the situation worse.

Some of the addicted people will be looking for a way to live with the cog dis and with the expectations of perfection. TSCC wants to rope these people in tighter so that they will continue to pay tithes.

I agree with this. TSCC is happy to help "treat" addiction, but not in any way that would threaten the delusion of mormonism itself.

TSCC is also happy to invent serious addictions in order to convince people how much they need mormonism. Porn addiction is a prime example.

Then of course there is the unethical therapeutic fiction of Evergreen.

I know of 3 church members with addiction problems. All three are male. All three have been to rehab more than once. All three are in a medical profession. All three have been either bishops or in the bishopric while their addictions were active.

When I see the church getting alarmed about addiction, I think it's because these upper level types are the ones with the problem.

If it were blue collar types, and rebellious kids they probably wouldn't pay much attention. They can fix that by running them out the front door.

Lets face it, the addiction to which they really refer is "tuggin' yer bird" (with a little porn mixed in there - it's also for men only, my guess is.) More "fake service" and PR opportunities.

The church culturally is averse, unqualified, unprepared, and unwilling to deal with: drugs e.g. crack, meth heads etc., alcohol (alcoholics would/shoul never go to the LDS church seeking help, have you seen 'Intervention'?), REAL SEX ADDICTION, e.g. engaging in robust flailing S&M intercourse with hundreds of people- includes orgies, gay/bi, filming, chronic masturbating, diesel engines etc., gambling addiction- you know losing all your money all the time, using food stamps for food and your paycheck for Wendover. Hoarding cats...maybe TSCC could handle that, but it's more of a phobia than an addiction.

So the LDS church wants to help addicts huh? No f@ckin thank you.

All this is? A way for pissed off angry wives who catch dear hubby tuggin his bird at the computer on Saturday night to levy punitive punishment on him in addition to a Sunday night meeting with Bishop Jackwagon.

Only meat in times of famine or winter...or...shoot, I don't remember when it is.

Well, blimey. :-)

As many have noted on this board being treated for addiction by Mormons is like asking chickens to visit Colonel Sanders.

Until they get over their religion addiction and start to think clearly and rationally (without the needless guilt trips, the cognitive dissonance, the quest for perfection and the ass-backward attitudes about sex) then I say good luck to them.

Their need to please the upper ups, the inability to say no, always having to appear to be nice. Those things will get in the way of managing addiction every time.

For a church who knows nothing about addicts and addiction to claim to be able to heal them is insane.

Any recovering addict will tell you that addicts are exceptional liars. How do you be a mormon and not a liar? If you start telling the truth, you won't be a mormon for very long. If you try to go the route of keeping it all in, you won't progress far in managing your addiction.

I looked at the "recovery manual"--it stresses working with the bishop, praying, studying scriptures, and attending your meetings in order to overcome your addictions.

YOu'd think by now "they" would understand that there are some addictions that require intense therapy and trained professionals.

I'm sorry but a sex predator who seeks children--I really don't think this program would help him or her, do you?!?!

The insurance salesman down the street who has never tasted alcohol isn't going to be of help anyone in a state of full blown addiction. To pretend otherwise is literally playing with peoples lives. This should be good for a few lawsuits.

And by 'meetings' are they talking about the 3 hour bore on SundaY? The meetings where the self righteous get up and judge others who aren't quite as good as them? The one who brag about never being in the same room with beer? Those meetings? They can't be serious.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2012 06:05PM by Mia.

I wonder if they treat addictions to such things as:

Multi-level marketing schemes
Weekly three-hour religious meetings
Reading Mormon scriptures
Wearing funky underwear
Trying to convert everybody to your church

I have to admit it. They cured me of all those issues. I'm completely healed and recovered. There will be no relapse.

True dat Mia.

When I came to my church for help with a very serious addition their only response was to excommunicate me and told me to read on study the scriptures. I just read their program and it is still the same attitude. Everything you need to recover is in the gospel and the scriptures. BS I feel sorry for those who enter this program hoping they will get relief... there might be some periods of abstinence but no true sobriety will occur without the right help.

. . . the Mormon Church's approach to dealing with addictions has a demonstrated track record of predictable failure.

Mormonism's version of theortical theism just doesn't work.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2012 06:56PM by steve benson.

and "ditto" for its programs. Feel-good injections to save people from themselves is self limiting. They might as well issue PH placebos because that is about the amount of Godly authority they have.

Why don't they just cure addicted people through the power of their priesthood?

Seems easier than moving mountains.

Just lay on hands, fill the hole in the soul with celestial Serotonin and Voila - problem solved.

Else, what the hell is their 'priesthood' good for?

Fraudulent cult.

I love this part:

"They didn't want me around, not because they didn't love me, but because when I was around, there was cheatin', lyin', stealin'."

Sure, because that's the only thing that alcoholics do.

They never work, cry, sing, dance, love, hate, or experience any of the normal range of emotions we all have.

They are the "other" and should be shunned.

MAY I ASK? IF THE SAVIOR HELPED HIM GET OUT OF ALCOHOLISM, WHY DIDN"T HE PREVENT HIM FROM GETTING INTO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Fer Crissakes, he started when he was a kid. Doesn't Big J care about kids?

Just asking...

Anagrammy

Why do they need a website to say "Pay, Pray, and Obey?" Or is it "Pay, Lay, Ale?"
Has anyone else noticed how Pay Lay Ale sounds like an incantation or spell as in "I Put A Spell On You?" (because you're mine!)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2012 08:20PM by enoughenoch19.

ROTFL !


Steve, you owe me a new keyboard for that one.


I was drinking a big ole glass of iced tea when I read your comment, and, well, you just owe me for a new keyboard. We'll just say this one is soaked.

no, it's Pay Pal Lay!

It is The Mormon Church leadership itself that has a CONTROL ADDICTION!

It cannot allow members to seek help from anyone else. Or to let any outsider inform these members that their problems are generated by the church.

The members must be kept dependent on the church. They must remain in a childlike state. They must not turn to any outside resources that will give them a new (and perhaps healthier) perspective on their lives. They must not associate in groups with non members or they may develop a new (and better) sense of what normalcy is.

The church is like a sick, insecure parent that cannot let a child naturally mature away from them. The child must remain dependent forever or that parent loses power.

The church defines "addiction" for its own best uses. And it must remain the only true solution in the member's (child's) life.

Ultimately, the child is sick because the parent is sick.

Nice!