An Army of Saints and Soldiers
After the publication of my first article, This is me and what I do, I was given an opportunity to answer some questions posed by a writer for a local newspaper. An opportunity to share my voice and expand my reach. I wanted to share some of my responses to those questions and perhaps expound a little bit further on some.
Q. What sort of response are you hoping to get?
A. The response I hope for is more people taking a stand against the plague of pornography. As I stated in my introductory post in the blog, I love the imagery of fighting with the Lord on my side. You could say that I want to build an army of saints and soldiers. I hope to inspire many others to join in the fight.
I believe that when we struggle with some kind of addiction or weakness we become capable of greater conversion to the gospel and the commandments than we were before. It is a situation not unlike that of
Adam and eve. When we know and experience the bad, it helps us to more fully know and experience the good. We can become an army working together to make a difference in the world or at least with those individuals who we are able to influence.
Q. Do you have any suggestions for people who struggle with pornography?
A. For those who are struggling with pornography, know that there is always hope. The savior Jesus Christ will never abandon you. His love will always be available to those who turn to Him. I once was in a place where I did not believe I could ever go longer than a week without a relapse. Now I have had almost a year and a half of sobriety. I know change is possible because I have experienced a change. And I keep changing little by little. I know that repentance is there for everyone. I know that through the Atonement of Christ it is possible for our very nature to be changed. I know that faith replaces fear. I know that recovery is achievable. I know that we are all capable of returning to the presence of God with heads held high and confidence in who we are.
It can be so easy to become discouraged and loose hope when caught in the middle of an addiction to pornography. In today's world it is impossible not to be exposed to something that could trigger a relapse. Many of these things are seemingly harmless in the eyes of others. For a struggling person, however, a simple walk down the street could prove detrimental. This makes it difficult to stay positive about recovery, but positivity is an essential part of recovery. I don't mean we should be happy about our struggles, but rather that we should be pleased with the progress we are making. It is never healthy to feel shame for our addiction. This is easier said than done and I will likely devote an article to it later on. Always trust in the Lord. Allow His spirit and love to fill you with hope.
Q. How can a family member/friend help someone struggling with pornography?
A. To the family and friends of those who are struggling, I would suggest that possibly the most important thing you can do is love them. Try not to let their struggles distort your feelings about them. I know of the hurt and even betrayal that a loved one, especially a spouse, feels when the one they love has a relapse or confesses their shortcomings. It is not easy to forgive but that is the only way to move forward. Christ is also there to take away your burden. Faith and trust in the Lord is the key to getting through the trials we all face. Through it all, always let them know you love them.
It is very difficult for someone to know what to do to help a loved one who struggles with addiction. There is often a great deal of misunderstanding, and misconceptions that cause heartache for both parties. I have also had experiences where they are full of love and support and a desire to help in any way they can, though they are still hurt and disappointed. Like I said in the my response, love for the struggling person is the best course of action. Always show them love.
These are a few of the principles that I shard that I feel will help in creating an army of Saints and Soldiers. This is not an easy journey for anyone who embarks on it. Just as with any army there is intensive training and preparation that must take place. I cannot say that I have completed my training and, to be honest, I doubt I ever will in this life. There is always more to learn and more to experience. I desire to become the best I can be. As I continue my journey I know that if I stay true to my faith in Christ, I will become more than I ever thought I could be. I know that is true for us all.
A Saint and a Soldier