SALT LAKE CITY — The real, raw, gritty examples of the challenges and triumphs of drug, alcohol, sex and food addicts are the core of a new video series from the LDS Church.
The dozen videos in the series "12 Steps to Change" are part of a broader awareness campaign about the 12-step Addiction Recovery Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The church released a trailer about the videos on Friday. Beginning Tuesday, the start of National Recovery Month, the Mormon Channel will build a social media promotion around one video each day to encourage awareness.
The videos are available online now at MormonChannel.org and the Mormon Channel's YouTube page. Each video is the story of an actual addict shown sharing the stories of the journeys to recovery in his or her own voice. Actors dramatize parts of the stories.
"You can judge them," says the text in the trailer for the series. "You can ignore them. Or you can listen to them. Twelve stories. 'Twelve Steps to Change.'"
The Mormon Channel created the series in conjunction with LDS Family Services.
“We understand there are tough challenges that families face when dealing with addiction, and we wanted to make sure we shared real stories of hope and recovery," Mormon Channel director Todd Daley said in a news release. "Change is possible. These stories will inspire you no matter your circumstance.”
Daley said the goal is to spark conversation about a difficult subject. The awareness campaign is using the hashtag #12StepsToChange.
Some people began to respond to the series on Twitter on Friday.
"The @mormonchannel found 12 people brave enough to talk about their struggles with addiction," Charlie Allen wrote.
For additional resources, visit addictionrecovery.lds.org.
Email: twalch@deseretnews.com