Heart t’ Heart is a twelve step support group patterned after the twelve step groups which originated with Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935. We are a fellowship of Latter-day Saint women and men who have come to recognize that there are behaviors in our lives, or the lives of loved ones, that fall under this definition of addiction:

A behavior can be considered as an addiction or compulsion when the person doing the behavior desires desperately to stop but has found no permanent way to do so.

Heart t’ Heart began in the hearts of several LDS members who were attending existing twelve step programs such as AA, OA and CodA. While they were experiencing success in these programs, they longed to speak in LDS terms of their experience, strength and hope. (In other twelve step groups all references to specific religious beliefs or practices are discouraged in order to respect each other’s spiritual beliefs.)

Other existing LDS support groups for overcoming drug and alcohol addiction felt they needed to keep their focus primarily on these issues. Latter-day Saints who struggle with compulsions such as overeating, anorexia and bulimia, workaholism, perfectionism, sexual addiction, and codependency needed a place to address these issues in an LDS setting. Heart t’ Heart has provided the answer.

The original Twelve Step program as established by Alcoholics Anonymous was and still is a very God-centered program. Though it is "generic" and not affiliated with any religion, it does encourage reliance on God and deep personal examination and honesty in order to overcome addictive behaviors. Heart t’ Heart continues these same values and principles, translating them into LDS terminology and concepts, basing each step squarely on the scriptures.

While not affiliated directly with the LDS church, Heart t’ Heart upholds and supports all of its doctrines and teachings. We encourage full participation in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where many of our needs are met.

In Heart t’ Heart we come together to practice sharing honestly our experience, strength, and hope. The principles of the gospel are broken down into the smaller steps of a twelve step program. We are dedicated to helping LDS people overcome the effects of compulsive and addictive behaviors by applying a practical, proven approach to living the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Heart t’ Heart is not a substitute for professional counseling. Heart t’ Heart neither encourages nor discourages people to seek professional counseling. We do not have intensely trained facilitators or leaders in our meetings. Groups meet to study scriptures and approved twelve step materials. Our emphasis in Heart t’ Heart is on supporting our members in the kind of recovery that can be realized from focusing on the spiritual dimension of life.

Whether or not we are including professional counseling in our efforts to recover, we have found increased success by including the scripture-based concepts of Heart t’ Heart in the "package."

Heart t’ Heart is strictly a volunteer effort. There are no dues or fees in official twelve step programs. Our seventh tradition states that we are self-supporting through voluntary contributions from members only. These donations can be whatever the individual feels he or she can afford. The only requirement for membership in Heart t’ Heart is a desire to practice a God-centered solution to our problems.

Money received from donations is returned to the effort to carry this message of recovery to others.

We invite and encourage you to pray about these ideas in your own life. We who have come to know and rely on the nearness and availability of the Father’s counsel through His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 32:3) and the Holy Spirit (Moroni 10:5) know that you will receive divine guidance through your prayerful thoughts and impressions.

Thank you for your interest in Heart t’ Heart. No matter what your future decision, we are grateful to have had this chance to briefly share with you our testimony that there is recovery through the principles of the restored gospel and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. May your journey of recovery (towards your celestial home) be ever more successful as you learn and grow from the lessons of life.