Mental Health and the Gospel, Part II--Answering the Unasked Questions

As the time has passed, my posts have turned more into "monthly" conceptualizations; nevertheless, it is still a treat to share when I get the chance. Today I'm happy to share the second half of my conceptualization of the connection between mental health and the Gospel. We'll start today with a scripture chain, and use logic and the Spirit to deduce their in importance in this specific context.

FREE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH

Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
--2 Nephi 2: 27

We know that all good things come from God, and that which is from God entices us to do good continually (see Moroni 7: 12-13). Assuming that "liberty and eternal life" are both good things, captivity must not be good, and therefore of the adversary. This coincides with the second portion of the above scripture that states that captivity and death are wrought upon us by the power of the adversary, and that these two things make us miserable.


TO WHOM ARE WE BOUND?

And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder,
and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.
-- 2 Nephi 26: 22

Efforts are constantly being made for our attention. There are two polarizing influences, both promising greater things upon our yielding to them. If we believe that good and evil, God and the devil are opposites, then we must also believe that the mechanisms by which they work are opposite. This must mean that if the devil works by "flaxen cords" then God must work subtly as well. Using the flaxen cords metaphor, we see that as the devil slowly influences us that we are less and less able to act for ourselves because we are "bound," the cords becoming stronger and stronger as they multiply. This acting for ourselves is also referred to as agency, and we loose agency as we choose the adversary, offering ourselves as captives.

THE "SO WHAT?" FACTOR

But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord,
even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.
--Mosiah 4:30

So what should we do about this knowledge? If we follow the admonition of King Benjamin, then we ought to "watch" ourselves, and our thoughts, and our words and deeds. This can be extremely difficult if we are bound by strong cords, and often is only made possible through the help of trained professionals. This scripture is justification that therapy is a tool of the Atonement, as far as it helps individuals to self-monitor with the end of unhooking individuals from those strong cords, giving them the agency to exercise moral agency.

THE UNASKED QUESTIONS

With that established, let's think about some questions that often go unanswered, often because it's not acceptable to ask them:

Q: Is it a sin to see a therapist?

A: In most cases, certainly not. A good therapist meets clients at their own beliefs, not trying to change religious belief systems. In fact, a good therapist will help the individual fulfill King Benjamin's admonition without even knowing it.

Q: When is it times to start seeing a therapist on top of meeting with the bishop?

A: This is something that should be felt out between every bishop and member, as the bishop acts as a common judge in Israel, helping the member access the gift of the Holy Ghost more effectively. Both parties involved should treat the situation with humility: the member should be humble enough to heed the counsel of the bishop to potentially seek professional help as revelation from God, and the bishop should express humility in recognizing that certain issues cannot handled by only his ecclesiastical counseling. Other questions to consider when deciding on adjunct therapy are 1) How long-standing is the issue at hand, 2) How much impairment does the issue cause and 3) How much and it what ways does the issue effect other people. As a clarification, impairment refers to the inability to make proper relationships and perform normal life activities like hold a job, support a family, or balance a budget.

Q: How can mental illness NOT be the fault of the individual suffering from it?

A: There are many instances in which the sins and misgivings of others (sometimes even generations prior) affect the lives of their posterity, which puts the child on an unequal playing field before even given the chance to account for him or herself. Examples of this include fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), some traumatic brain injuries, and notably borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Because we often do not know the extent to which individuals have suffered, it is important to treat mental illness with sensitivity, not first assuming that it was the fault of the individual suffering.

Q: How do I best help my friend or loved one with mental illness?

A: Before we go about helping others, it is important to follow the Spirit and ask for the Spirit as we decide to reach out. We are promised help as we serve others, and our efforts will be galvanized as we 'counsel with the Lord in all our doings.' (see Alma 37: 37) Here are some additional suggestions:

We should follow the counsel of the Savior to 'judge not, lest [we] be judged, (see Matthew 7:1)' for we are all broken in some ways.

We should strive to "look on the heart (Samuel 16:7)", and include for "outward appearance" such things as behaviors, words and deeds, as well as flawed perceptions of the character of that individual.

As everyone has the light of Christ or better, we should remember that there is core deep within everyone that is of God, and we should strive to locate and accentuate that godliness on others.

We should also seek the help of others in our helping efforts, lest we become burnt out, or lest we deprive others of the opportunity to serve.

But above all, we should lend a listening ear, willing to "mourn with those who mourn, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort. (Mosiah 18:9)"


It is my testimony that the Lord has placed us hear on this earth with talents that are meant to continually bless the lives of others, including our own. Let us be humble enough to seek proper help as the need arises, and let us be humble enough to follow the Spirit as we seek to be that blessing in the lives of others.

Have a great week!