ARP Step 7

Step 7: Humility

KEY PRINCIPLE: Humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove your shortcomings.

CHOOSING TO BE HUMBLE

“As I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?” (Alma 32:14).

    • Most of us came to recovery meetings in desperation, driven by the consequences of our addictions. We were compelled to be humble. The humility described in step 7, however, has a different cause. It is voluntary. It is the result of your own choice to humble yourself. How have your feelings of humility changed since you started recovery?


FILLED WITH JOY

“They had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.

“And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come” (Mosiah 4:2–3).

    • The people of King Benjamin offered the kind of prayer that we offer as we take step 7. They felt peace and joy when the Spirit of the Lord came upon them and gave them a remission of their sins. Reflect on experiences you have had with these feelings. Write about how it would be to have these feelings become your way of life.


BELIEVE IN GOD

“Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

“And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

“And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

“. . . If ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true” (Mosiah 4:9–12).

    • Prayerfully write a list of the things King Benjamin said we must do. How do these things relate to taking step 7?
    • What promises come from doing as King Benjamin instructed? (See the last verse.)
    • If you received these promises, what would change in your life?


OBEYING THE LAW AND THE COMMANDMENTS

“For this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments” (2 Nephi 25:25).

    • We are “made alive in Christ because of our faith” in Him. What does it mean that the law is dead to us? Why do we continue to keep the law or obey the commandments?
    • How do you feel today about keeping the law?
    • How is keeping the commandments an expression of your love for God?


THE LOVE OF GOD

“When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities” (Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Apr. 1988, 3; orEnsign, May 1988, 4).

    • Coming to know the mercy and goodness of God thus far, you have probably begun to feel the love of God—love for Him and love from Him. Reflect on and write about any increase of love you have felt while working through the steps.
    • How does step 7 qualify as the greatest act of your love so far?


TAKING UPON YOURSELF THE NAME OF CHRIST

“Whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ” (Mosiah 5:9).

    • Most of us think of taking Christ’s name upon us in context of baptism and the sacrament, and rightly so. Consider for a moment what it might mean to be called by the name of Christ and to have His reputation as your own.
    • What do you need to do to be found at the right hand of God? What do you covenant to do when you are baptized and when you partake of the sacrament?
    • Write about the feelings you experience when you think of His willingness to give you His name or reputation in exchange for all your shortcomings.


SURRENDERING YOUR WEAKNESSES

“A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation” (Joseph Smith, comp., Lectures on Faith [1985], 69).

    • Some people read these words and think “all things” refers to all possessions. How has surrendering all your weaknesses to the Lord increased your understanding of what it means to sacrifice all things?