Depression

[Betsy]

I do not think President Benson was referring to clinical depression (or MDD) here. Plus, in 1974 there was not as much known about depression and suicide as is known now. It's best to follow our modern day prophet's council in this regard. (See elder Holland's quote below) We now know that depression is a part of the mortal experience, like any other illness. It does not always necessarily come from Satan.

Let us please be very careful about how we talk with others about depression from a gospel perspective. It does more damage than help to tell someone that their illness comes from their own sin/temptations from the devil.

Let me leave the extraordinary illnesses I have mentioned to concentrate on MDD—“major depressive disorder”—or, more commonly, “depression.” When I speak of this, I am not speaking of bad hair days, tax deadlines, or other discouraging moments we all have. Everyone is going to be anxious or downhearted on occasion. The Book of Mormon says Ammon and his brethren were depressed at a very difficult time, and so can the rest of us be. But today I am speaking of something more serious, of an affliction so severe that it significantly restricts a person’s ability to function fully, a crater in the mind so deep that no one can responsibly suggest it would surely go away if those victims would just square their shoulders and think more positively—though I am a vigorous advocate of square shoulders and positive thinking!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/ ... l?lang=eng

[Ian]

we know that “the spirit and the body are the soul of man.” most depression is caused by some combination of spiritual and physical disorder. all of the prophets have emphasized the need for spiritual strength and healing, while acknowledging the importance of physical health.

president benson’s talk (do not despair) is very helpful. elder holland’s talk (like a broken vessel) is also very helpful.

elder holland taught us how to respond when confronted with depression.

first, and “above all,” we must never lose faith in Heavenly Father. never doubt God’s love, and never harden your heart.

then, elder holland taught, “faithfully pursue the time-tested devotional practices that bring the Spirit of the Lord into your life.” this is essential for spiritual strength and healing. president benson outlined a number of these devotional practices (listed previously).

then, elder holland taught, “seek the counsel of those who hold keys for your spiritual well-being.” our spiritual well-being is of utmost importance. we should seek the bishop’s help, even if professional help will also be needed.

then, elder holland taught, “ask for and cherish priesthood blessings.” this was taught by president benson, as well.

then, elder holland taught, “take the sacrament every week.” the primary reason for taking the sacrament is to heal and strengthen our spirits.

then, elder holland taught, “hold fast to the perfecting promises of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” we must always view depression from a “gospel perspective” because the Savior has power to heal us spiritually and physically.

then, elder holland taught us to prevent illness whenever possible. sometimes we need to “slow down, rest up, replenish, and refill.” we would do well to follow president benson’s counsel in this regard. president benson counseled us to make time for reading, music, etc.

finally, elder holland taught, if the depression persists, then we should also seek professional help. this needs to be done “prayerfully and responsibly.” the challenge is to find professionals who are competent, and faithful. some professionals can help, and others can do more harm than good.

[Ian]

sister carole stephens talked about mental illness at the general women's session. she described the "journey toward healing":

be comforted and sustained by the Master Healer
receive the light of hope through Jesus Christ and His Atonement
have a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ
be refreshed daily by the Savior’s living water
exercise unshakable faith in the Master Healer
help others along the way
rely on the memory of God's tender mercies

I often meet Latter-day Saint women who are desperate for help, yet they do not turn to the One who can provide everlasting help. Too often they seek for understanding by searching “the great and spacious building.”

Carole M. Stephens, The Master Healer, October 2016 General Conference

[Betsy]

I'm pretty sure that when sister Stephens said "searching the great and spacious buildings" she did not mean searching for a mental health professional.

[Ian]

sister stephens said: "turn to the One who can provide everlasting help."

[Steve]

Many people ask psychiatrists to go down into the depths of their lives and dig out some of the disturbing mental and emotional problems that have already incarnated themselves. One of the greatest of all success techniques was given by God when he devised an important holiness process called repentance. We can turn off the powerful habit that we sometimes have of loading our subconscious minds with sin. By a genuine repentance, we can get down into the depths of our own minds, and with a good scrubbing brush of faith we can clean out that foreign matter that causes us so many difficulties. And after a good housecleaning, we can more easily integrate our conscious with our subconscious minds. Once the evil is eradicated, we can get a kind of togetherness that thereafter can make us respond favorably to reason, faith, and good judgment. To be properly integrated, we need to make sure that the ocean currents of our lives are going in the same direction as our faith, our righteousness, and our ambition. Then our body lethargy and our spiritual sloth will not be able to hold us in any evil practices when our minds tell us to do right. When our faith and our character is urging us to be law-abiding, God-fearing men and women, we will not have any perverted appetites or distorted emotions clamoring for unholiness and rebellion against good. ...

The most widespread disease in the world is an inferiority complex. But inferiority is not an accidental illness; it has to be deserved. This is the condition that we bring upon ourselves when we allow our weaknesses to overcome our strengths. Our spirits can easily break down when they are overloaded with guilt, sin, and failure. This can be prevented when we strongly intervene in our own behalf. Antagonistic forces soon start internal conflicts which cause nervous breakdowns and fill our bodies with psychosomatic disease.

There is a physician in Birmingham, Alabama who goes around writing prescriptions for people to be filled—not at drugstores but at bookstores. He believes that the best medicine to make us whole, wholesome, healthy, and holy comes from those good ideas and strong ambitions that we put into our minds and blood streams. Someone has said that we never get stomach ulcers because of what we eat; we get stomach ulcers because of what is eating us. And when our lives are being eaten up by evil influences, we become divided, frustrated, discouraged, demoralized, unwholesome, unhealthy, and unholy. To be too badly eaten by sin can also cause moral disintegration, leading to spiritual death. ...

The way to happiness is to do as the scripture says and serve God in all holiness. That means that our service should be wholehearted and complete. It should be whole and wholesome. Our lives should be fully righteous, fully committed, and holy. In one of his most important of the divine commissions, God said: "Thou mayest choose for thyself." (Moses 3:17) And that means that we may choose what happens in the depths of our lives as well as on the surface.

(Elder Sterling W. Sill, Making the Most of Yourself, pp. 121-124)

Our world is presently conducting a rebellion against God and righteousness and, as a consequence, we are filling our mental institutions and our hospitals with people who have nervous breakdowns and mental illness while our penitentiaries and our reform schools are being filled with those who are adjudged unfit to live in a free society. All of these are very miserable people.

(Elder Sterling W. Sill, Making the Most of Yourself, p. 270)

Hell itself is a divine institution. It was established by God for the benefit of those who are unable to get rid of their sins by themselves. Apparently there is a cleansing power in suffering that sometimes can be obtained in no other way. ... There are actually two ways to cleanse our lives of guilt. One is by repentance; the other is by suffering. If we don't accept the one, and if we are to be saved at all, then we must accept the other.

(Elder Sterling W. Sill, Making the Most of Yourself, p. 272)

[Ian]

thanks for sharing, that must be a great book. elder sill's explanation of repentance bring to mind an article published a few days ago by the young men general presidency. the question: what is the most important thing to do to prepare a young man to serve a mission? the answer: "teach him how to repent." they caution us not to look at repentance "in a negative way." repentance is "a blessing and privilege and a positive lifelong experience." no wonder that repentance is number one in president benson's list of ways to defeat depression.

[Steve]

It does seem like too many of us associate repentance with the malady instead of the healing. We associate the immunization with the needle rather than the useful immune response, or the dentist with the drill rather than the clean teeth. We cannot talk enough of repentance and the One who makes it possible. Thanks, Ian.

I think if we touch on treating depression, our primary focus should always be on the primary treatment. I'm not opposed to revealing different options that may or may not offer additional help. However, it would probably be irresponsible to spend too much time on peripheral considerations without discussing the most vital response at length. Far too many people reject the sweet opportunity to "look and live" because they do not believe it will heal them (Alma 33:19-20).

[Ian]

yes, it seems that repentance has been mischaracterized in this discussion. repentance is not "trying hard" to "heal yourself." repentance is turning to God, so that God can heal us. just a few weeks ago, elder renlund described repentance as a "joyful choice". one of the inherent results of repentance is joy.

[Steve]

And that is the miracle of it. True repentance always works. It is a sure thing. If we repent, God will heal us (3 Nephi 10:6, Matthew 11:28). It's sweet to read how urgently He desires to do this thing for us. His primary concern is for the "heavy laden."

Elder Evan A. Schmutz spoke on this subject as well.

Many of us have pleaded with God to remove the cause of our suffering, and when the relief we seek has not come, we have been tempted to think He is not listening. I testify that, even in those moments, He hears our prayers, has a reason for allowing our afflictions to continue, and will help us bear them. ...

If I may speak to you individually—“all ye that labour and are heavy laden”—may I suggest that your personal struggles—your individual sorrows, pains, tribulations, and infirmities of every kind—are all known to our Father in Heaven and to His Son. Take courage! Have faith! And believe in the promises of God!

The purpose and mission of Jesus Christ included that He would “take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people,” “take upon him their infirmities,” and “succor his people according to their infirmities.”

To fully receive these gifts our Savior has so freely offered, we all must learn that suffering in and of itself does not teach or grant to us anything of lasting value unless we deliberately become involved in the process of learning from our afflictions through the exercise of faith. ...

We can take strength in knowing that all the hard experiences in this life are temporary; even the darkest nights turn into dawn for the faithful.

When all is finished and we have endured all things with faith in Jesus Christ, we have the promise that “God shall wipe away all [the] tears from [our] eyes.”

(Elder Evan A. Schmutz, God Shall Wipe Away All Tears, October 2016 General Conference) ↗

I know this is true. Repentance brings joy. It may not take away all suffering in mortality, but it is the single best prescription for every ill. If ever I address the treatment of an expressed symptom through any other method, surely I must first point the patient to the "merits of him who is mighty to save" (2 Nephi 31:19).

[Ian]

these principles were taught by president nelson as well: "if we look to the world and follow its formulas for happiness, we will never know joy."

[Steve]

Most of us experience periods in our lives where the tranquil waters of life are appreciated. At other times, we encounter white-water rapids that are metaphorically comparable to those found in the 14-mile stretch through Cataract Canyon—challenges that may include physical and mental health issues, the death of a loved one, dashed dreams and hopes, and—for some—even a crisis of faith when faced with life’s problems, questions, and doubts.

The Lord in His goodness has provided help, including a boat, essential supplies such as life jackets, and experienced river guides who give guidance and safety instructions to help us make our way down the river of life to our final destination.

(Elder M. Russell Ballard, Stay in the Boat and Hold On!, October 2014 General Conference) ↗

"boat" = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
"life jackets" = scriptures, teachings of the apostles and prophets
"river guides" = apostles and prophets and inspired local priesthood and auxiliary leaders

[Betsy]

Hey anyone who reads this forum! (which is nobody) please understand that if you have depression, you have not committed a sin! If you have repented and the depression persists, please see a doctor.

Okay back to your regularly scheduled over-simplified generalizations about mental illness.

[Steve]

Betsy: ...if you have depression, you have not committed a sin!

Is there anyone with (or without) depression that has not committed a sin? Over-simplified generalizations indeed...

[Betsy]

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