What is Stripling Steps?
Stripling Steps is a raw, Christ-centered recovery community for those seeking freedom from pornography, sex, and love addiction.
We are not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but many of us come from LDS backgrounds. This space welcomes both active and non-active Latter-day Saints, as well as non-members who resonate with gospel values, deep accountability, and spiritual truth.
This is not about whitewashing pain with platitudes or trying harder through willpower.
This is about recovery—real, sacred, gritty healing.
Here, we don’t sugar-coat. We don’t hide. We face the fire. Together.
At the heart of Stripling Steps is the spirit of the Mormon pioneers—
Faith. Courage. Relentless perseverance.
We walk this road with honesty, anonymity, and the quiet conviction that God has not given up on us. And we won’t give up on each other.
Is this a safe place to talk about pornography and sex addiction?
Yes. That’s precisely why this space exists.
We know what it’s like to carry shame. To feel like you’re the only one. To fear being exposed, judged, or misunderstood.
At Stripling Steps, we don’t minimize the pain, but we also don’t drown in it.
We create sacred space for honesty, healing, and truth-telling—without shame, without shock, and judgment.
We honor anonymity, confidentiality, and Christlike compassion.
Whether you're new to this journey or years in, your story belongs here, not to be fixed, but to be heard.
You don’t need to clean yourself up to show up.
You need to come.
I’ve tried to quit before. What makes this different?
Most of us have tried—again and again.
We’ve promised God, made covenants, deleted apps, blocked websites, even cried on the bathroom floor—and still ended up back in the same spiral.
What makes Stripling Steps different is that it’s not just about stopping the behavior.
It’s about rebuilding the man (or woman).
We walk through the 12 Steps, anchored in Christ-centered truth, not willpower.
We address the roots—trauma, secrecy, shame, loneliness, spiritual disconnection—and we walk it out together, not in isolation.
We also apply the latest research in neuroscience, addiction psychology, and trauma recovery.
We’re not guessing—we’re using tools backed by science and bathed in grace.
These aren’t just coping skills. They’re life-saving tools, offered by a God who wants us whole, not just sober.
There’s no magic here.
Just radical honesty, proven methods, and the belief that with God and community, true recovery is possible.
You’ve failed alone.
Maybe it’s time to heal with us.
Will my name or story be shared outside the meeting?
No. What’s shared in the meeting stays in the meeting.
We follow a strict 12-Step tradition around anonymity and confidentiality.
We don’t record meetings. We don’t take notes. We don’t share names or stories outside the room—not with leaders, not with spouses, not with anyone.
We’re here to protect each other, not expose each other.
This is a sacred space, not a spotlight.
What if I see someone I know in the group?
It happens. And when it does, it’s rarely awkward—it’s mutually disarming.
Seeing someone you know doesn’t mean shame—it means you’re both in the same fight.
You’re not here to judge each other. You’re here to walk each other home.
The host will change names to only first names, camera on or off is optional
Most of us feared this, too.
But when it happened, we found relief, not regret—because we realized:
“If they are here… maybe I’m not as alone as I thought.”
This is a community of courage, not comparison.
And once you're in, you’ll see—we don’t look down on anyone.
We look each other in the eye and say:
"Me too. Let’s go."
What should I do about my Church calling? Should I talk to my bishop?
This is between you, the Lord, and your conscience—but here’s what we’ve learned:
If you're actively struggling with compulsive sexual behavior or betrayal (porn, masturbation, infidelity, etc.), it's wise to prayerfully consider pausing or stepping back from your calling—not out of shame, but out of integrity.
That doesn’t mean you’re unworthy of service. It means you’re being courageous enough to get well, and sometimes that means making space to heal.
And remember—anonymity is sacred in recovery.
You’re not required to disclose your struggle to every leader.
Pray about it. Let the Spirit guide you.
Because while openness can be a step toward healing, premature exposure can deepen shame if the space isn't safe.
And shame?
That’s the Adversary’s favorite weapon.
He wants you isolated, silent, and afraid.
But God wants you free.
Your healing is between you and the Lord first. Then, in time, as trust builds and clarity comes, you’ll know who to invite in.
The Church also offers excellent therapeutic resources through LDS Family Services. But even the best therapists—therapists—the ones worth their salt—will tell you:
You need community. You need structure. You need a 12-Step program.
Therapy helps process your past.
The Steps help change your future.
That said, you are not obligated to disclose your every struggle to every leader.
This is your journey. You get to move forward with honesty and wisdom—not fear or panic.
Our advice?
Talk to God first
Then talk to a sponsor or someone in the group
Then talk to your bishop, if and when it feels spiritually right
Healing isn’t about being released from a calling.
It’s about being restored to yourself.
Should I tell my spouse or someone about my issue?
That depends—but don’t decide alone and don’t rush disclosure to relieve your guilt.
If you're married or in a serious relationship, complete healing will eventually require honesty and openness.
However, honesty without preparation can cause more harm than good.
This isn’t about hiding.
It’s about timing, support, and spiritual discernment.
Many of us first disclosed compulsively—blurting everything out in a flood of shame, expecting instant forgiveness or relief.
But true disclosure should be guided, gentle, and done in partnership with a sponsor, therapist, or recovery group.
Don't confess to clear your conscience.
Share when you're ready to hold space for the pain your behavior may cause.
Also, if you’re not in a relationship, it’s still important to tell someone—a sponsor, a brother in the program, a trusted guide. Secrecy is what keeps us sick.
We heal when our secrets lose their power.
We heal when we bring them into the light—with grace, wisdom, and support.
I’m the spouse or partner of someone struggling—what about my healing?
First, we see you.
Your pain is real. Your betrayal is real. And your healing matters just as much as theirs.
Pornography and sex addiction aren’t just personal sins—they’re relational wounds.
They shatter trust, identity, and spiritual safety. It’s not “just porn”—it’s a violation of intimacy that leaves deep scars.
You may feel crazy.
You may feel numb, angry, ashamed, or confused.
This is called betrayal trauma—and it’s not your fault.
You didn’t cause this, and you can’t control or cure it.
Stripling Steps is primarily a fellowship for the struggler, but we honor and support the healing of partners.
We encourage spouses to seek their own recovery path through:
S-Anon or Betrayal Trauma support groups
Qualified, betrayal-trauma-informed therapists
Books like Your Sexually Addicted Spouse or The Body Keeps the Score
Here’s the hard truth:
In our addiction, we often hurt the ones we love the most.
It’s a brutal, painful contradiction—but one that must be owned.
And any partner working the steps of recovery will be required—in time—to face that truth, make amends, and rebuild what’s been damaged.
That redemption comes slowly.
And it comes at a cost.
But we believe it's possible. We’ve seen it happen.
You deserve truth. You deserve boundaries. And you deserve a space to heal—not because you’re broken, but because you’ve been wounded.
And if you’re here just trying to understand what your partner is walking through, we honor your courage. You’re not alone anymore.