Addiction Recovery Program Step 5

Step 5:  Confession

Key Principle:  Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs. 

Confession to God

How does confessing your sins to God help you make positive changes in your life?

Confessing my sins is actually one of the steps of the atonement.  Since I led such a wild life the majority of my past I need to confide with another person and also to God.  I have been confessing my sins to God for years and years but have struggled to try to ask for forgiveness from God and to also go through the entire process of repentance.  By asking God for forgiveness it allows me to recognize what I have done wrong and how to make it right and maintain the changes.  God can make one white like snow.  Confessing my sins for someone like me that has led a troubled life like mine, back to a childlike almost innocent state will leave me with the gift of wisdom. 

Confessing to others

Confess your faults to one another and pray for one other that ye may be healed.   James 5:16
You may fear that someone who really knew all of your weaknesses and failings would reject you.  But a priesthood leader or a trusted friend who understands the recovery process usually responds with understanding and compassion.  How could such a response help you heal? 

To have someone provide me that kind of support and understanding and care would be absolutely amazing.  It would allow me to confess things that I need to confess to a priesthood holder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  It would make me feel hopeful of God’s plan for me. 

Trying to look good to others

One major obsession of those who struggle with addiction is a great desire to look good to others.  How would this desire keep you from improving and bringing forth more fruit, good works?

Trying to look good and the fear of rejection and judgment is something very real to me.  In my past when I was 18, 19 I went to my bishop in Utah and tried to confess my sins.  But I felt I was just being judged with his checklist of things I had messed up with.  I now understand that sometimes we have lists to guide us.  Yet, this stuck with me for years and it still is a huge fear.  Allowing this fear to stop my growth is very scary because I only have one of two options:  turn to my Heavenly Father and grow in his light and love, or turn away, walk away and return to the empty life I lived before. 

How would your behavior change if you were only concerned about looking good to God?

Wow, if that was my only concern in life, life would be much simpler.  Yet I struggle with keeping that in my mind and heart and spirit day to day because I am just a woman.  The funny thing is I want to figure out how I can live a life like Jesus and also Mother Theresa, serving God and also serving others. 

Sincerity 

When you confess your sins you must also be sincere.  Consider how holding back part of your confession undermines the sincerity of your efforts.  What part of your inventory if any are you attempting to hide? 

I have been tempted to hide certain parts of my inventory.  They are embarrassing to tell anyone and enrooted so deep in my guilt and shame. 

What do you have to gain by continuing to hide this portion of your inventory?

I do not have to make amends. 

What do you have to lose?

Peace, freedom, and forgiveness.

Confessing sins as soon as you recognize them

What are the benefits of doing Step 5 as soon as possible after Step 4?

Doing Step 5 is very important after 4.  I think of someone that was burned severely.  Part of this recovery process is stripping the wounds of infection and dead skin.  The tools include knives, skin graters, and so on.  All burn victims say the treatment is horrible, excruciating pain.  Yet, to save their life from infection and death, this is the only way.  I consider the steps to be the same.  Step 4 is opening the wound, Step 5 is cleaning.  But with the assistance of loved and trusted people including bishops, priesthood holders, or a loved one, don’t delay the cleansing of the wound and soon the relief and peace will come. 

What might be the detrimental effects of procrastinating Step 5?

I have delayed Step 5 before.  I went back out almost immediately to my addiction because I opened a large painful wound without any relief.  My addiction was back but 10 times stronger.

Relieving stress and finding peace

In what ways can Step 4 and 5 relieve you of stress and bring you peace?

Steps 4 and 5 are digging the skeletons out of the closet and identifying the reason they are there, and giving them to someone else to help discard of them to free up space in life to live, laugh, love, and worship God.  It is the key to serenity and peace.

Forsaking sin

How do you demonstrate your desire to forsake your old ways by completing Step 5?

By confessing to another person it is demonstrating a willingness to do whatever it takes to change including forsaking old ways.  

To listen to an actual ARP 12 step meeting focused on Step Five: Confession
Please visit http://www.mormonchannel.org/addiction-recovery-program/confession-step-5

The Addiction Recovery Guide is available as a PDF (24 languages) or mp3.

More information is available on arp.lds.org.