In the eighth video of "12 Steps to Change," a 12-video series produced by the Mormon Channel and LDS Family Services, a man named Larry shares his struggle with a drug addiction and the important role forgiveness played in his recovery.
Larry is one of 12 individuals featured in the series who discuss their addictions and the hope they found through the LDS Addiction Recovery Program.
In the video, Larry explains that after a difficult childhood and a falling-out with his father, he turned to drugs, including cocaine and crystal meth. When Larry learned to embrace the eighth step of the recovery program, forgiveness, he was able to mend his relationship with his father and relinquish the anger he felt toward others who had hurt him.
"My heart just opened up with love and compassion for them — and forgiveness — in a way that I had never comprehended or understood before," Larry said in the video. "It felt like this poison was draining from my body, from my mind and heart. And it was so incredible. It felt liberating."
The Mormon Channel promoted the video Tuesday and will promote another video from the series each day during the first two weeks in September, which is National Recovery Month. Each video focuses on one step of the LDS Addiction Recovery Program.
Alex is an intern with Deseret Digital Media.
Email: ajohnson@deseretdigital.com
Twitter: @axelrad_