Coping with Broken Covenants--A Message of Love

Photo Credit: Utah Disaster Kleenup

As I sat in the General Relief Society broadcast for the LDS church Saturday night, I thought of all of you--particularly the wives of porn addicts. Linda S. Reeves shared a beautiful message about the power of the Atonement that pierced my heart, and as I listened, I knew I had to run home and post it! My favorite part was when she talked about the Provo tabernacle being gutted by a terrible fire. Many people wondered: 'Surely the Lord could have stopped the fire, or at least prevented so much damage. Why didn't he stop it?' But they didn't know what he had in mind. Just a few months later, President Monson announced to a dumbstruck congregation that the edifice would be transformed into a beautiful temple. The Lord had known from the beginning. He had allowed the interior to be completely destroyed, so that he could rebuild it inside, into something more glorious than anyone could have imagined. How many of us have felt that way in the midst of all of this muck? Destroyed. Gutted by fire. But can we really imagine what the Lord has in store?

Photo Credit: LDS Church Temples

I wish I had her words, rather than just my memory, but I don't even have enough patience to wait for the written transcript to come out! So, until then, here is a direct link to the video of her talk. (Actually, I'm really happy I have the footage. Her emotions were half the reason I was so touched. She knows. Look into her eyes.)

In one particular part of her address, she reached out to those who are suffering from the choices of others--because of family members who have broken covenants. She referenced a passage in the Book of Mormon in which Jacob gives a sermon about the law of chastity. Sister Reeves emphasized that this passage is meant specifically for our day, and told us that he is speaking as if the Savior were talking directly to us. This chapter (Jacob 2) is near and dear to my heart, and I have marked those verses and wet those pages with my tears many times in past years as I've struggled through the addictions of my own first husband. The words bring such understanding and compassion for the women and children:

"And also it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech concerning you, before your wives and your children, many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste before God ... to enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded ... [and who] have daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds. ... Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts ... For behold, I the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yay, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands." 

(Jacob 2: 7, 27-31) 

So many times I've read these verses and thought, 'He knows. At least Jacob knows how I feel. And the Lord does hear my cries.'

I encourage you to listen to the talk and to read the words in Jacob whenever you feel alone.

You are never alone.

Love,

~Angel

Back to School

A few of you have already heard the news, but ... I've been working on this one for months ... and it's really going to happen! A real event! A real venue! A chance to take a stand and make some serious noise about this cause!

We're going to Southern Virginia University, and we're taking White Ribbon Against Pornography (WRAP) Week with us!

I put in a proposal 3 months ago and after phone calls and emails and follow-ups and 'maaaybeees' and tracking this thing sloooowly up the chain of command, I finally jumped in the car and drove two hours down to pitch the idea at a 7 a.m. Executive Council meeting last week! Well, I must have made an impact, because ...

THEY SAID YES! :) :) :)

Stay tuned for updates.

Wahoooooo!

P.S. WRAP Week is Oct. 27-Nov. 3 this year. What are you doing to support the cause, eh? Maybe I'll post a few ideas to get your wheels turning. ;)


White Ribbons Against Pornography from Communications Bureau on Vimeo.

Remember SHAMED? They need help!

I've been working off and on with the director of this film, Jessica Mockett, for more than a year now, and I am psyched to see it swinging back into motion in such a huge way! SHAMED, now titled The Heart of the Matter: Finding Light in the Darkness of Pornography Addiction is a beautiful project geared toward educating the Christian community about porn addiction--something that's pretty hard to do. A lot of Christians just don't like to talk about it, right? But we can't keep pretending it's not a problem, even inside the Christian culture! 

For any of you who have seen clips, you know ... what she's done so far is amazing. It's obvious that Jessica is a true professional, that she is taking this seriously, and that she is extremely talented at what she does! Every time I've shared pieces of the film, I've seen tears fall, jaws drop, and souls stirred. When the entire movie is done (if she can get enough funding to finish it), it's going to be phenomenal.   

Here's your chance to give more than just a 'thumbs up.' Join the crusade! Give a lot or a little. Or at the very least, share the message! Anything you can do will help the cause.

Here's a note from Jessica:

While funding this project has been a challenge, we press forward because we know that the film will be significant in changing how Christians view the issues. I ask for your help once again so that this movie can be available to countless viewers: that hearts will be touched, that Christians will see more clearly how to recover from the scars of pornography, that it will draw them closer to God.

Here are a few quick updates on the progress of the project:

1)     We have brought in a new producing partner, Nathan Lee, a multi Emmy award-winning producer/director who understands intimately the issues our film addresses.

2)     For 18 months we pursued the project under the title Shamed. After much thought, we gave the film a new title that speaks more clearly to hope and healing. The film will now be known as The Heart of the Matter – finding light in the darkness of pornography addiction.

3)     We have a grant offer of $15K that will expire in early October if we cannot find the matching funds.

In order to receive our grant in time, we have gone back online to try to raise the needed $15K there.

Our latest Kickstarter fundraiser is shorter than anything we’ve done before: Only 18 days!

I am asking that you click on this link and visit our Kickstarter page. Watch our latest pitch video and trailer. Read about the project there. I hope that you catch our vision and join our effort.

We ask that you donate again or for the first time.

We ask that you share the link to Kickstarter on your personal or organizational social media platforms.

We ask that you email 5-10 people and encourage them to consider donating to the project.

If you have connections to like-minded organizations or churches please inform them about this project and ask them if they will support the efforts by donating or sharing with their networks/congregations.

Our campaign ends October 5^th at midnight EST. If you are interested – don’t hold off in participating. The more momentum we have in the beginning of the campaign the better chance we have of succeeding!

The Brass Serpent

As I was reading through some old magazines today, I came across an article on pornography addiction, and I read this beautiful exerpt:

The children of Israel did not have to focus on the serpents or the pain of their venomous bites or their fear of death in order to be healed. They simply had to look to the source of healing: their Savior, Jesus Christ. 

from "Overcoming Addiction through the Atonement," Benjamin R. Erwin, LDS Family Services, Ensign, September 2012

I've added this one--and a few others--to my growing list under my Talks & Articles tab. Feel free to swing by and take a look. :)

This is the whole point ...

I will spend the rest of my life dedicated to this cause. I can't help it. There's a fire in my blood to push forward, to find the women, to tear the blinders from people's eyes, to battle the plague. I won't be beaten. I will fight. And I know you are with me.