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He
Did Deliver Me from Bondage
An Introduction
by
Darla Isackson
Beginning
this month, He Did Deliver
Me from Bondage will be serialized on Meridian. I can
think of no better time to read this book. The Church’s study course
for 2004 is the Book of Mormon; I consider He Did Deliver
Me from Bondage the most spiritually in-depth study of the
Book of Mormon I’ve ever read. This book stands second only to the
scriptures in my personal life because it is not just a “study guide,”
but a guide to application of the principles of the gospel in dealing
with any challenge.
The
question of how to take the Spirit as my guide moment by moment
puzzled and troubled me for years. I read stacks of books, prayed
many prayers, and cried many tears trying to make it real in my
life. I yearned to know how to translate all my sincere service
and activity in the Church into a sense of sureness and oneness
with the Lord. Although I often felt the Spirit, I was more
often troubled and distressed. I was missing much of the joy.
As
my children grew up, I grieved that I had not known how to adequately
teach them HOW to repent and come to Christ because I didn’t know
how to do it myself. Then, in the late 90s, I was led to read He
Did Deliver Me from Bondage, a book which opened the door to
spiritual progress. First I read it cover to cover, and my spirit
resonated with the message. Here was freedom from false traditions
and myths! Here were gospel truths of the Book of Mormon, simplified,
organized, and taught with the Spirit in page after page of sweet,
humble testimony of the saving power of Christ. I was deeply touched
and fed by powerful insights into the application of gospel
principles. I took the author’s words to heart:
“This
isn’t a book you just read or a series of lectures you just listen
to. This is a course, a journey, a program. . . . You must be willing
to “experiment” upon these words, to act upon these correct
principles. This is a spiritual program of action.”
I
went back and began to follow the suggested Book of Mormon study
assignments. Almost immediately, I realized I was being tutored
on how to come to Christ, how to repent, how
to implement the shining beautiful principles of the gospel, and
finally, how to take the Spirit as my Guide more consistently,
not just now and then.
What
Does It Contain, and Who Is It For?
What
is contained within the pages of He Did Deliver Me from Bondage?
Each chapter takes one of the Twelve Steps that originated with
Alcoholics Anonymous and “likens” it unto us as Latter-days Saints.
Colleen verifies the inspiration of these twelve principles with
specific Book of Mormon scriptures and words of the prophets. She
shows how these twelve principles unlock the power we have been
promised in the Book of Mormon to get us closer to God than any
other book ever written.
With
the discussion of each principle, He Did Deliver Me provides
spiritually provocative assignments, study of related scriptures,
and thought-provoking questions. Each chapter, assignment, and study
question shimmers with the Spirit. I came to realize, as I studied
and implemented these twelve principles in my life, that they must
truly be among those gospel principles the Prophet Joseph was referring
to when he said, “I teach them correct principles and they govern
themselves.” The principles have application to every problem in
life. Why? Because the answer to every problem lies in implementing
scriptural guidance according to the Spirit--and He Did Deliver
Me from Bondage explains how to do that.
Who
is this book for? Though it is presented as a help for those struggling
with addictive or compulsive behaviors, it is in all truth for anyone
who needs the Lord’s help. No one is excepted from that definition.
Whether we have ever dealt with addiction in our own lives or our
loved ones’ lives, sooner or later, we all face problems we can’t
solve or challenges we can’t do anything about--try as we
might. Yet they stubbornly block a path we must walk, a bridge we
must cross and cannot avoid. The unavoidable, insurmountable
crisis may be brought on by health or relationship problems, natural
disasters, foolish choices--or by the sinful use of our own or a
loved ones’ agency.
We
do all we can do--we seek relief, assistance, or healing everywhere–to
no avail. We find nothing can stop the situation from being real,
nothing can remove us from the terrible sadness we feel. Only when
we have come to this place devoid of earthly hope, are we
likely to be humble enough to open our hearts to the Lord’s answers
for us. Let me summarize Colleen’s story, and how she got to that
place in her life.
A
Glimpse into the Life of the Author
Colleen
Harrison suffered extreme abuse as a child in an alcoholic home.
However, as a teenager she found the Church, embraced the gospel
with all her heart, and was determined to “live happily ever after.”
She married another convert with a similarly dysfunctional background
and became an “over-achiever” in every area she considered righteous.
She
embraced motherhood and homemaking, reveled in her roles, and studied
every book she could find on those subjects. (Colleen became the
mother of twelve children and is now also the step-mother of five
more!) She revered the prophets and apostles, held at least three
positions in every ward she lived in, insisted on having--and usually
led--family prayer and FHE. But listen to her words: “Despite all
this external religious activity, [Pay attention to that
word “external”] I was being pushed to the verge of insanity by
several hidden realities and one not so hidden (my overeating and
overweight). I struggled with intense bouts of fear, confusion,
and anger, which in turn seemed to fuel unwise (mostly private)
choices in how I ate, how I handled finances, and how I interacted
with my husband and children. Depression stalked me every moment
I wasn’t overeating, overspending, overreacting, oversleeping, overworking,
overdoing. I felt lonely, lost, empty, disconnected, sick with
regret for a lifetime of sins (even the ones from my equally confused
youth, which I had ‘cleared up’ with the bishop years ago).
“My
skyrocketing weight with its potentially life-threatening complications
finally stopped my feverish effort to help myself with just
one more good deed or one more secret excess of food. I finally
gave up trying to pretend that I could ever work my way into
a sense of worthiness. I told the Lord, “I can’t go on like this.
I’m dying, not thriving.”
Book
of Mormon Keys
What
happened to Colleen that literally transformed her life? You will
read that story in the preface material as Meridian begins the serialization
of He Did Deliver Me from Bondage next week. But let me summarize
for now: Colleen learned that the concept of “addiction” applied
to more than just alcohol and drug abuse; she was able to recognize
her own addictions to food and perfectionism. She was introduced
to the spiritually-based recovery process outlined in the inspired
“Twelve Step Program” that originated with Alcoholics Anonymous.
She was led by the hand of the Lord to correlate those twelve principles
with the principles and doctrines of the Restored Gospel as found
specifically in the Book of Mormon.
Colleen
says, “I guess you could say that “recovery” is the key word in
the whole program. There is no greater “recovery” any of us will
ever experience than that of being recovered and restored to a living,
loving, walking, conversing relationship with our very real and
very available Savior. I learned that focusing on the spiritual
life so exquisitely demonstrated and taught in the Book of Mormon
was the missing link-- instead of the external busy-work
that had previously comprised my religious life.
In
Matthew 7:21-23 the Savior spoke of those who had done many good
works in His name but had never come to know Him. I realized I was
one of them. I had been too busy serving in the Lord’s kingdom,
to ever become friends with the King. These twelve principles, sought
for and found in abundance in the teachings of the Restored Gospel,
have prepared me and led me along a pathway to a sure witness of
the reality of Jesus Christ and our Father who sent Him to be my
Savior and closest Friend.”
Through
Colleen’s own struggles and difficult life experiences she was humbled
to the dust. Through seeking the Spirit consistently and through
being tutored by the Holy Ghost, she was blessed to record a clear,
understandable format of gospel application. He Did Deliver Me
from Bondage tells how to live and daily implement the
simple principles of faith, repentance, keeping baptismal covenants
and living by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
With
the urging of a group of fellow LDS members interested in the Twelve
Steps, Colleen began to abridge and condense hundreds of pages of
notes and reflections in her personal “scripture journals,” into
the book that you will now read on Meridian. It was 1991 when Colleen
first shared the finished manuscript in loose leaf form with close
friends. Within months others had rallied around her to help with
professionally editing and type-setting it. Then a miraculous offer
was made of funds to pay for the first bound printing. In the thirteen
years since then, the study guide, went through several printings
and one revision to update some of the prophetic quotes. Sales of
the book have grown each year, and now over 50,000 copies are in
the hands of grateful recipients. This inspired book has
been used as the official study guide for two extensive programs
designed especially for LDS people.
1. Heart t’ Heart, an addiction recovery program organized
and led by faithful Latter-day Saints. Heart t’ Heart is
a community resource for LDS people who deal with the effects of
addiction and/or abuse in their own lives or the lives of loved
ones.
2. For the last eight years He Did Deliver Me from Bondage has
been used as the study guide for the official LDS Family Services
Addiction Recovery Programs (A.R.P).
Many
Problems, One Solution
Spirituality
is the antidote for not only addiction, but for every malady or
challenge we face in these last days. Colleen has had people tell
her this book should be subtitled “A Survivor’s Manual for the Last
Days.” The miracle of He Did Deliver Me from Bondage continues
to spread as more and more Latter-day Saints, even those who are
not dealing with addictive behaviors, are finding the power in these
twelve principles to enhance and focus their spiritual lives.
We
invite you to join with those of us who continue to benefit from
these righteous principles. As we participate in the church-wide
program of scripture study during 2004, it will be a year for all
of us to spend more and more of our lives under the divine tutelage
of the Book of Mormon. I pray that the Holy Spirit cleanse our hearts
of pride and envy, and replace them with faith, hope, and charity.
May our lamps be full of oil!
Because
there are always new books enticing me, it is unusual for me to
return again and again to a book. However, I have now been through
He Did Deliver Me from Bondage many times. I return to it
whenever a seemingly unsolvable problem looms in my life. I find
that the principles highlighted in its pages apply to whatever
“new” problem I’m facing. The Spirit always speaks to me through
the amazing collection of scriptures and prophetic quotes found
there--probably because I am inevitably drawn into more intense
prayer and into the Book of Mormon in a very personal way.
I
bear my personal testimony that He Did Deliver Me from Bondage
has helped me to feel joy and anticipation, rather than dread when
I read the following words: “Yea, let the cry go forth among all
people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold
and lo, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves
for the great day of the Lord.” (D&C 133:10)
Colleen's
books can be found at most LDS bookstores and also ordered online
from www.rosehavenpublishing.com.
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Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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