Obedience, Suffering and Salvation

Dear Reader,

Today in my readings I was guided to Hebrews 5:8–9:

“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”

This passage carries both mystery and wisdom. It tells us that even Christ, the Son of God, “learned” obedience through suffering—and by doing so became the source of salvation for all who obey Him.

Whether or not one accepts the Bible as divine scripture, the words themselves hold great truth: obedience, suffering, and salvation are inseparably linked.

For me in recovery, I have learned that obedience often looks like following the guidance of a sponsor or trusted friends in AA. Almost always, this guidance leads me to a quiet calm and a peace of mind. At times, however, obedience brings discomfort—especially when I am asked to face resentments, make amends, or clean up my side of the street. Yet in the end, I discover that the suffering of pride or self-will opens the door to a higher plane of happiness, leaving the shadows of my past behind.

One example stands out. After my divorce, I continued to “bad mouth” my first wife to family and friends. It was easy to justify my resentment, since others agreed with my side of the story. But carrying that torch of resentment chained me to the past and kept me from moving forward into a freer life.

Eventually, through my sponsor’s direction, I saw the marriage more honestly. I recognized my own actions that had contributed to its failures. I wrote a letter of amends. That act—simple yet difficult—broke the hold of resentment and released me to live more joyfully.

In that moment, obedience led me through the suffering of wounded pride into the salvation of peace. I also discovered new strength in “handling situations which used to baffle me.” For me, salvation can be described simply as a life with fewer resentments and a way to heal them when they arise.

I leave you, dear reader, with these reflections from others who speak to the same truth:

C. S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity:
“The Son of God suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like His.”

Viktor Frankl, in Man’s Search for Meaning:
“In some way, suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Step Five:
“We pocket our pride and go to it, illuminating every twist of character, every dark cranny of the past. Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted. We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease.”

In the end, obedience is less about blind submission and more about trust—trusting God, trusting the process, and trusting that even suffering has a purpose. My journey has shown me that when I accept this path, I find not only release from resentment but also a deeper joy and peace. I hope you, dear reader, may also discover in your own way that through obedience and endurance, salvation—however you define it—can be both present and real.

One Day We Must Choose

Dear Reader,

Life is made up of choices. Some are small and forgettable, others are life-changing. Every choice carries a consequence, and as James E. Faust wisely taught:

“In this life, we have to make many choices. Some are very important choices. Some are not. Many of our choices are between good and evil. The choices we make, however, determine to a large extent our happiness or our unhappiness, because we have to live with the consequences of our choices.”

From this I’m reminded of two truths:

1. Most choices lead either toward positive action or negative action.

2. Every choice brings consequences we must live with.

Each decision sets in motion a chain of events that leads somewhere. Sometimes the cost is only wasted time. Other times, the result is life-altering.

I remember my first drink. It changed how I felt—and I liked that change. So I pursued it again and again, until the relief I sought could never be reached, no matter how much I drank. That is why AA puts it so clearly: “One drink is too many and a thousand never enough.” And so it is true: “If you don’t take the first drink, you can’t get drunk.” Because “It’s the first drink that gets us drunk, not the last.”

But choices can also open the door to life.

The day I asked for help and chose to “put the plug in the jug,” I chose another path. The AA Big Book describes it simply: a life that is “happy, joyous, and free.” Today I extend that choice by serving family, friends, and my community. M. Scott Peck once observed:

“The whole course of human history may depend on a change of heart in one solitary and even humble individual—for it is in the solitary mind and soul of the individual that the battle between good and evil is waged and ultimately won or lost.”

For me, that battle was won one choice at a time. The difference is striking: once, I was consumed by alcohol; today, I am available to help others. This week I attended a meeting in a local detox center. It brought me back to my own early days when all I had was hope—and it filled me with gratitude for the choice I made long ago.

Now I live with faith, sustained by the grace of a Higher Power. My daily decision to stay sober is not mere willpower—it is strengthened by God’s grace. The Book of Mormon teaches this beautifully:

“Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; … they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death…” (2 Nephi 2:27).

And again:

“Remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; … ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.” (Helaman 14:30).

Every day presents opportunities, and the path we walk depends on the choices we commit to make. My hope for you is that you will choose well—choosing liberty, choosing grace, choosing life.

I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Overcoming Cravings and Triggers: Finding Strength in the Moment

Dear Reader,

So often we think of recovery only in terms of alcohol or drugs. In my experience, however, most alcoholics and addicts have multiple areas of powerlessness. For me, this often surfaces in something as simple as snacking. At the end of the day, when I sit down to watch TV or begin writing, I find myself craving food without restraint. While it may seem small compared to alcohol or drugs, the pattern is the same: my will feels powerless, and the craving takes charge. In trying to resolve this dilemma, I offer the following thoughts on triggers.

Anyone who has walked the path of recovery knows the sudden and powerful urge that can arise when a trigger appears. Whether it comes in the form of stress, loneliness, a place from the past, or even a simple smell or memory, cravings can feel overwhelming. The truth is, these moments do not mean we are failing—they mean we are human. What matters is how we respond. Below are some suggestions to break or at least weaken the pull of a trigger.

1. Pause and Breathe
When a craving strikes, the first step is to slow down. Even a deep breath can create space between the urge and the action. That pause allows us to remember the simple AA truth: “One day at a time.” I have found this technique successful when I feel out of control and my thoughts begin drifting toward harm, either to myself or others.

2. Call on Support
One of the gifts of recovery is that we do not walk alone. Reaching out to a sponsor, friend, or support group can transform isolation into connection. Speaking the truth out loud—“I am struggling right now”—removes the craving’s power to grow in the dark. As the fellowship reminds us: “You are not alone.” Even speaking aloud to my house pet helps. As soon as I hear my own words, I recognize the craziness of my thinking, and that alone can bring me back to self-control.

3. Change the Environment
Triggers often thrive in familiar settings. Sometimes the best strategy is simple: step outside, go for a walk, open a window, or physically move to a safer space. A shift in place can lead to a shift in mind. The Savior invites us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). My experience with this action has been healing, and it often opens the way for me to get other things done that I had been putting off.

4. Engage the Spirit
Prayer, meditation, and scripture remind us of a Higher Power who cares for us. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear” (1 Corinthians 10:13). And the Book of Mormon assures us: “I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs” (Mosiah 24:14). In these moments, we practice “Let go and let God.” This action for me is vital. Stopping to pray is not only an act of faith—it opens the channel for divine help.

5. Reframe the Struggle
Cravings are not just obstacles—they can be teachers. AA reminds us: “Pain is the touchstone of all spiritual growth.” When we face our triggers, we discover the strength of surrender. As one theologian wrote, “Addiction should be understood as a form of idolatry... replacing God’s rightful place with something that cannot provide what it promises” (Jake Williams). Turning to God in weakness replaces false promises with true healing.

6. Remember the Big Picture
Cravings rise and fall like waves. They do not last forever. In the moment, it helps to recall why we chose recovery—family, freedom, peace, health, and hope. As Paul testified, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). And LDS teachings echo Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Dear friend, triggers may come, but they do not define you. Each time you pause to breathe, pray, or reach out, you are choosing life over chaos. Overcoming cravings is not only saying “no” to the old—it is saying “yes” to the life Christ is offering you, one moment and one victory at a time.

I testify of the power of these practices and the wisdom they bring. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Zion Effect vs. The Addiction Effect: Living a Restored Life through Faith

 

Dear Reader,

During the past week I have been reflecting on the establishment of Zion in the Americas. In that process, I came across a concept that felt new and powerful to me: living with the Zion effect.

The Zion effect is one of belonging, unity, and real transformation. It is what happens when people come together in love, honesty, and service—becoming “of one heart and one mind” (Moses 7:18). In contrast, the addiction effect isolates us. It drives us into hiding and leads to destructive behaviors.

I know that effect well. There was a time when I was totally on my own, without family or friends. I stopped attending holidays, avoided calls, and cut off relationships so no one could see how I was living. Addiction numbed me, but it also severed me from the very connections that give life meaning.

Today, I choose differently. I choose the Zion effect. Zion is a place of God’s love and salvation, a land of promise and joy. It is where we lift and are lifted, where we help each other discover freedom and healing. In my recovery, I’ve learned that it is in serving others that I find my deepest purpose and meaning.

Dr. Carl Jung once wrote to Bill W., “Spiritus contra spiritum — the longing for wholeness expressed in destructive drinking can only be met by a spiritual awakening.” In recovery, that awakening often comes through community—through Zion-like belonging. Johann Hari’s insight echoes this: “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection.”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland offered reassurance to all who struggle: “Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind.” This is the Zion effect in action: mercy, kindness, and shared healing.

Step 12 in the AA program calls us to carry the message and serve others. In many ways, that is the invitation to build Zion—one act of service, one prayer, one honest conversation at a time. As Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught: “Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens. If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards, and stakes, we must rise to this standard.”

Each day we are faced with a choice: will we live in the addiction effect—isolated and numb—or embrace the Zion effect, where our struggles are brought into the light and met not with shame, but with love?

As William James reminded us, “The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.” The Zion effect is exactly that: spending our lives on connection, service, and faith—things that endure beyond us.

So today, I invite you: choose honesty, choose connection, choose service. Build your own land of Zion. Live in the effects of your recovery, and embrace your Zion effect.

Love: The Connecting Principle of Heaven and Earth

 

                          

Dear Reader,

This morning I was reminded of a simple but profound truth. A friend sent me a line from Rumi, the great Sufi poet: “Love is the bridge between you and everything.” Those words stayed with me, and I responded with my own reflection: Love is not just an emotion, but a connecting principle that binds us to people, the world, and the divine.

William Blake, the English poet, once wrote: “And we are put on earth a little space, that we may learn to bear the beams of love.” His image is powerful: divine love shines like sunlight, sometimes so bright it is hard to receive. Yet our earthly journey is, in many ways, learning to open our hearts enough to live within God’s radiant love.

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God’s Divine Love Is More Than Emotion

The Apostle John tells us simply: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). This means love is not something God merely shows — it is His very nature. As modern scholar N. T. Wright puts it: “The central claim of the Christian faith is that God’s love was made visible in Jesus Christ.” Divine love is woven into creation itself: in the beauty of the earth, in the bonds of family and friendship, and in the still, small voice that whispers peace to our souls.

In recovery, we learn this lesson firsthand. Step 11 reminds us that prayer and meditation draw us closer to our Higher Power, and through that connection we find strength to love and serve others. Love, when rooted in God, becomes the bridge that restores broken relationships, heals wounded hearts, and gives new purpose to life.

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The Book of Mormon on Divine Love

The Book of Mormon bears powerful testimony of God’s love. Moroni teaches: “Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever” (Moroni 7:47). This is not a fleeting feeling; it is the eternal, steady love of the Savior that never fails. Nephi also assures us: “The Lord God will consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain” (2 Nephi 2:2). In other words, even our struggles can become bridges to His love, if we allow Him to transform them.

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Bearing the Beams of Love in Our Day

Modern prophets and apostles echo these truths. President Thomas S. Monson once said: “Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland reminded us: “However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made... I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love.”

These voices remind us that divine love is infinite and personal. It meets us where we are — in joy, in sorrow, in repentance, and in service — and lifts us higher.

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Our Calling: To Cross the Bridge

If Rumi is right, then love is the bridge that connects us to heaven and earth. Through prayer, we cross that bridge to commune with God. Through service, we cross it to connect with our neighbors. Through gratitude, we cross it to embrace creation. And through repentance, we cross it to return to the Savior’s open arms.

Our task is not to build the bridge — it already exists. Our task is to step onto it, day by day, learning to walk in God’s love, and learning, as Blake said, to “bear the beams of love.”

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Closing Thought
Dear friend, may you come to see that divine love surrounds you even now. It is not earned by your worthiness nor withdrawn by your weakness. It is simply who God is. And as we live in that love, it connects heaven and earth, and transforms us into instruments of His grace.

Salvation Our Goal, Prayer and Action Our Method

 

Dear Reader, 

About a year ago, I wrote some thoughts on Salvation as a goal in life. I suggested that Salvation comes through Prayer and Action. At the time, my ideas were not fully organized. Today, I’d like to clarify what I meant. 

We all struggle from time to time with life’s situations. For those of us in recovery, this is especially true. For years we drowned our feelings in alcohol or drugs. It didn’t matter whether the challenge was good or bad — the stream of life always felt too strong. The job seemed impossible, or the boss unfair. Spouses or family didn’t always understand the stress of keeping food on the table or raising children. At times it felt as though the current would pull us under at any moment. 

That is how I felt before I reached out for help — first in AA, and later by putting my faith in a Divine source. 

Malcolm Muggeridge once reminded us: “Never forget that only dead fish swim with the stream.” Life is a journey against the current. I had to stop letting life simply happen to me and begin swimming as though my life depended on it. 

Demetri Martin once joked: “Swimming is a confusing sport, because sometimes you do it for fun, and other times you do it to not die.” That’s recovery in a nutshell. Sometimes it feels joyful, sometimes it feels like survival. At those moments when I wasn’t sure, I had to adjust — to change the stroke, so to speak — and keep going. 

I could not do this alone. I leaned on my sponsors, the fellowship of AA, the support of church members, and the wisdom of scripture. As Robert Collier said: “Most of us, swimming against the tides of trouble… need only a bit of praise or encouragement — and we will make the goal.” That encouragement kept me afloat more times than I can count. 

Recovery also requires vision and courage. Michael Phelps put it well: “Don’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the further you get.” When I stopped placing limits on what was possible, I began to dream again — of a new life in Christ, of recovery, of becoming more than I ever imagined. 

But willingness by itself was not enough. Bruce Lee reminds us: “Willing is not enough. We must do.” Recovery, like faith, is about action: prayer, service, living the commandments, and aligning ourselves daily with God’s will. These small daily actions make us stronger, one 24 hours at a time. 

Scripture promises us: “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved” (2 Nephi 31:15). Salvation is not about perfection but persistence. Our prayers need not be flawless, only faithful. 

If recovery and salvation are your goals, then Prayer and Action are surely the method. And so I encourage anyone who feels overwhelmed today: swim with courage, lean on faith, and trust the One who strengthens us against every current. 

I write this in a spirit of truth and Jesus Christ,  
Amen. 

Light, Truth, and Growing Grace by Grace

 

Dear Reader,

When I first came to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I carried with me not only my experiences from recovery but also my early spiritual roots in the Christian Science faith. As I now study the revelations of the Doctrine and Covenants, I sometimes hear echoes of Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. One such place is in Section 93—a chapter that speaks of Christ as the Light, the eternal nature of truth, and our own divine potential.

In D&C 93, Christ identifies Himself as “the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” This message has companions across centuries. The Apostle John wrote: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:4–5). Mary Baker Eddy echoed this idea: “Truth and Love enlighten the understanding, in whose ‘light shall we see light’” (p. 510). C. S. Lewis later expressed it beautifully: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Another theme in this revelation is the nature of truth itself. Joseph Smith recorded that truth is “knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come.” Luther, centuries earlier, declared: “Peace if possible, truth at all costs.” Truth in scripture, in reformation, and in modern revelation remains consistent: it is eternal, not relative, and it calls us to build our lives on what endures.

Section 93 also speaks of Christ growing “from grace to grace” until He received a fulness of the Father’s glory. This phrase gives me hope. It reminds me that spiritual progress is not instant but step by step. St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” Eddy likewise wrote: “The human capacities are enlarged and perfected in proportion as humanity gains the true conception of man and God” (p. 258). Together, they remind me that growth—whether in sobriety, faith, or family life—happens one day at a time, grace for grace.

There is also a very personal rebuke in this revelation: Joseph Smith and other early leaders were chastised for neglecting their families. The command was to bring up their children in light and truth. Paul urged something similar: “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Eddy likewise emphasized moral and spiritual teaching at home: “Children should be taught the Truth of creation, that the real man is made in the image of God” (p. 236). For me, in recovery, this responsibility now extends to the way I show up in every relationship—with honesty, patience, and the willingness to carry the light I have found.

Finally, what is the invitation of Section 93 for today? To walk in light, to grow in grace, to honor truth, and to nurture it within our families. For me, the journey is no longer about choosing between the voice of Christian Science and the voice of the restored gospel. It is about hearing how both prepared me for a deeper understanding of God’s love through Christ.

Reflection: As a man in recovery and as a new disciple in the restored Church, I am learning that the light of Christ has always been reaching for me—whether in the words of John, Luther, St. Francis, C. S. Lewis, or Mary Baker Eddy. Today that same light calls me forward: to live truthfully, to grow patiently, and to walk humbly toward the fulness of God’s glory.

I testify to this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Seeking Emotional Stability

 

Dear Reader,

It is my thought that everyone seeks love and support from other people or something. For example, a newborn reaches out to mother or father to feel protected and supported. The young and old find this emotional stability in people, animals, and in some cases the trees of the forest. This cry for connection is instinctive in all humans and can be found in the vast number of living creatures.

I believe that this need can be found in every one of us, and with the alcoholic or addict this need is massively out of proportion to our other needs. As we sink into our need for the next drink, we demonstrate this by associations with more abusive or demanding companionships. It can be said that if the drink does not kill, the continuing affronts to our soul’s will.

The question is: how does one gain EMOTIONAL STABILITY?

Bill Wilson writes in Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p.116:

“When we developed still more, we discovered the best possible source of emotional stability to be God Himself. We found that dependence upon His perfect justice, forgiveness, and love was healthy, and that it would work where nothing else would. If we really depended upon God, we couldn’t very well play God to our fellows nor would we feel the urge wholly to rely on human protection and care.”

The wisdom of AA confirms:

“When I let go of what I think I need and allow God to give me what I truly need, I gain emotional stability.” (AA Daily Reflections)

In my experience, the more I depended on people for my emotional needs and security, the more I failed to be fulfilled or feel secure. The reality is when we have expectations of controlling people, places, and things, we fail at maintaining any emotional foundation. As Jesus warned in Matthew 7:27:

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

But we are not without hope. Stability is possible. Marcus Aurelius reminds us that:

“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” (Meditations, 8.47)

And Thomas Merton adds:

“We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.”

Scripture affirms this path:

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

This is the peace that God offers us when we turn from people-pleasing and self-centered expectations to His sustaining love. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught:

“Faith in God means trusting not only in His wisdom but also in His love. It is by this faith we find peace in the storms of life.”

And C.S. Lewis reminds us why this is so:

“God cannot give us peace and happiness apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” (Mere Christianity)

It would be misleading to say I can accomplish this perfectly. It is by a daily reprieve and working the principles of a 12-step program that I arrive at the understanding that only a loving God can supply me with inner peace and emotional stability.

Winners Keep Trying and Praying

 

Life is filled with setbacks—missed shots, failed plans, unanswered questions. But being a winner isn’t about never falling short. It’s about refusing to quit, and trusting God enough to keep moving forward.

Michael Jordan reminds us that failure is not the opposite of success—it’s the path to it. Each miss, each stumble, becomes the training ground for the next victory. In the same way, our spiritual lives are marked not by perfection, but by persistence.

 " I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."   Michael Jordan 

As SZA says, we don’t control outcomes. What we do control is our intention, our will, and our heart. This is where prayer comes in. Prayer isn’t bargaining with God—it’s aligning our will with His, even when we don’t understand His ways. Timothy Keller put it well: “God will only give you what you would have asked for if you knew everything He knows.”

The book of Job reminds us that faith isn’t just a business deal with God—it’s a relationship where the reward is God Himself. Job said, “When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). In other words, the trial is not the end; it is the furnace where faith is purified.

And like Nephi, we can admit: “I know that He loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things” (1 Nephi 11:17). We may not always understand why, but we can always trust Who.

So, what makes a winner? It’s not flawless achievement. It’s the courage to ask questions, the humility to pray, and the faith to try again—believing that God is shaping us into something stronger, purer, and more beautiful than we can see now.

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👉 Reflection question: What’s one area of your life where God may be asking you not to “win” in the world’s eyes, but simply to keep trying and keep praying?

A Five-Part Story: Childhood, Life, A Cry for Help, Recovery, and Faith

 

Dear Reader, 

Today I was introduced to Marcus Borg, author of Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. The title itself intrigued me, as did the background of the author.

Marcus Borg (1942–2015) was an American New Testament scholar and theologian, widely recognized as one of the most influential voices in Liberal Christianity. His book invites readers on a journey of reflection—one that connects scholarship, recovery, faith, and everyday life.

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Childhood

My first impressions of Jesus came through Sunday School. I had a hard time believing that paper pictures of a “storybook Jesus” held much value. By the age of eight, I changed churches and began attending my grandmother’s Christian Science congregation. There I learned that Jesus healed, taught, and fed multitudes through divine power. I was taught that Christ’s sacrifice opened the way for all people to enter the loving Kingdom of God.

Borg observes: “Most of us first met Jesus through childhood stories or church lessons. Those images—Jesus as gentle shepherd, miracle worker, or distant divine judge—stuck with us.”

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Life

Near the age of twenty-one, when my mother died of cancer while relying on Christian Science for healing, my image of Jesus as a divine healer shattered. The Jesus I thought of as comforter felt distant, even absent.

I turned instead to living life my way: socializing, dating, marriage, family, chasing success, and eventually alcohol and drugs. For twenty-two years, the once spiritually minded child brushed only briefly against the thought of God or the holy.

The consequences came hard—two divorces, losing custody of my son, and near homelessness. In recovery terms, I had “hit bottom.”

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A Cry for Help

At that point, a hand reached out to me through Alcoholics Anonymous.

Borg reminds us: “The good news is—faith isn’t about clinging to one frozen picture. It’s about rediscovering Jesus again and again, in ways that deepen as we grow.”

In AA, I found a fellowship of people who understood my struggles and who had overcome them. They stayed sober by living the Twelve Steps, serving others, and carrying the message of hope. Because I could see the results of their actions, I began to believe recovery was possible.

I was asked to find a Power greater than myself, and to turn my will and my life over to that Power “as I understood it.” At first, that Power was simply “The Force”—a mystical energy like the one George Lucas imagined in Star Wars. Over time, that “Force” became real to me as God, my Higher Power.

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Recovery

For more than thirty-four years, that Higher Power has given me strength to rebuild my life and to help others in their recovery. Sponsoring men and women, walking with them through their struggles, has been one of the greatest gifts of my sobriety.

And yet, even after decades of recovery, I sensed something was missing.

Marcus Borg helped give language to that gap: the “pre-Easter Jesus” and the “post-Easter Jesus.”

• Pre-Easter Jesus: A man of flesh and blood, who walked the dusty roads of Galilee, who felt pain, and even wept at the death of Lazarus.

• Post-Easter Jesus: The risen Christ, Son of God, alive in the experience of believers.

One mortal, one immortal.

As mortal, Jesus was:

• A spirit-filled person deeply connected to God.

• A wisdom teacher who told stories that shook people awake.

• A social prophet who challenged injustice.

• A movement founder who inspired others to live differently.

Borg notes: “Seeing this human Jesus doesn’t take away from faith—it makes him even more approachable.”

I see this pre-Easter Jesus in my own recovery—welcoming outcasts, teaching compassion, and embodying what Borg calls “firsthand spirituality”—living in the presence of God here and now.

As the Gospel of John declares: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us… full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Borg describes this as “the wisdom of the universe walking around in sandals.”

Reflection question:
If you pictured Jesus as the embodiment of wisdom, how might that change the way you follow him?

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Faith

Arriving at the post-Easter Jesus, I see my present life: one of charity, love, and faith.

My recovery today is built not only on freedom from alcohol but also on fellowship with my new family in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here I serve locally in missionary work, and in the temple as a worker.

It is a life centered on repentance, service, and grace—helping souls on both sides of the veil and embracing God’s gift of new beginnings.

As Borg writes, faith is not just believing—it is living a story of liberation, homecoming, grace, and growth.

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Well, there you have it: A five-part story of my life—Childhood, Life, A Cry for Help, Recovery, and Faith.

Thank you for reading. I testify of these truths in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Finding Recovery through Grace and Faith

 

Dear Reader,

In an AA meeting today, I heard someone share about recovery rooted in scripture. It reminded me of Paul’s writings in the Book of Romans, where he speaks of God’s grace and the necessity of faith—for both Jew and Gentile.

This message of grace and faith is not just theology; it is recovery in action.

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Grace and Faith in Recovery

Paul teaches that we are justified not by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ and the grace of God. No amount of personal effort alone can conquer addiction. Grace saves, and faith opens the door.

• Romans 3:28 — “A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

• 2 Nephi 25:23 — “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

For me, admitting powerlessness and turning to a Power greater than myself began the journey. Faith became the channel through which grace gave me strength to overcome cravings. Faith is not just belief—it is trust in God’s promises and willingness to act. In recovery, that means working the steps, surrendering daily, and trusting God to do what we cannot do.

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The Power of Grace

Scripture and recovery literature echo the same truth: grace changes us at the core.

• Romans 5:1–2 — “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God… by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.”

• Mosiah 4:2–3 — Through faith in Christ, the people received forgiveness and peace of conscience.

• Bill W., Big Book p. 57 — “When we drew near to Him He disclosed Himself to us!”

Grace is more than forgiveness—it is transformation. It frees us from the need to rely on sheer willpower and brings lasting change.

• Elder Bruce C. Hafen — “Grace is not a supplement; it is the very power that enables both forgiveness and transformation.”

• Romans 6:14 — “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

• Mosiah 5:2 — “The Spirit of the Lord… has wrought a mighty change in us, that we have no more disposition to do evil.”

• Bill W., Big Book p. 75 — “We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe.”

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Nothing Can Separate Us

Addiction isolates. Grace reconnects. Paul’s words in Romans 8:38–39 assure us that nothing—“neither death, nor life”—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Grace bridges the impossible gap, reconciling us with God, with life, and with love.

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Closing Thought

Recovery is living proof of Romans 5:20:
“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

Grace is not abstract—it is real in recovery. Faith is not theory—it is daily trust that God will carry us through. Together, they form the path back to God, to freedom, and to life.

“Service: The Journey That Changes Us”

 

Dear Reader,

There are many times when we are called to do what feels impossible—or so we believe. Yet if we limit our options, we also limit our possibilities. Service, like life itself, is not fixed. It changes as we change, and each season of life reshapes the way we serve.

As Jesse Jackson once said:
“I am not a perfect servant. I am a public servant doing my best against the odds. As I develop and serve, be patient. God is not finished with me yet.”

That reminder encourages patience—with ourselves and others—as service takes on new forms. What matters most is the faith to keep moving in the right direction. Proverbs teaches: “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). The key is not perfection, but trust, step by step.

Stephen Covey adds another layer of hope:
“Every human has four endowments—self-awareness, conscience, independent will, and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom: the power to choose, to respond, to change.”

Faith, combined with these endowments, allows us to accept where we are while reshaping where we are going.

In my own experience, growth has come when I’ve faced my fears and resentments honestly. By naming my errors, finding paths of correction, and learning from them, I lessen their negative impact and create space for harmony and peace.

Bill Wilson put it this way:
“You can’t think your way into right action, but you can act your way into right thinking.”
Every time I exercise agency to change a repeated behavior, the result changes with it.

Let me share a simple example. Today, I came home to a kitchen floor covered with dog mess tracked inside. My first instinct could have been anger or resentment. But I reminded myself—this was not a personal attack, just a situation to face. I cleaned the floor, worked through my emotions, and then calmly spoke with my housemates. No shouting, no hard feelings, no apologies later. Service in that moment meant choosing peace over resentment.

If I am to live as a disciple of Christ, then I must learn from what Elder Robert D. Hales taught in General Conference (Oct. 2010):
“Agency is the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and to act for ourselves. Without agency we would be unable to learn or progress or follow the Savior.”

And so, while my acts of service may change with circumstances, the core remains: choosing Christ, choosing growth, and choosing to love.

I close with the words of Marcus Garvey:
“God and Nature first made us what we are, and then out of our own created genius we make ourselves what we want to be. Follow always that great law. Let the sky and God be our limit and Eternity our measurement.”

Love and a lesson learned, Amen.