Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

By Annabella Hagen and Kelli Smith

When you desire to be a true follower of Jesus Christ and your OCD mind begins to raise doubts about your faith, it can be quite challenging. The intrusive thoughts and emotions you encounter may cause confusion about what is really happening. You might experience doubts such as: "Is my guilt a sign from the Holy Ghost?" "Is Jesus truly present? Am I going through a faith crisis?" "Have I sinned due to these thoughts?"

The Challenge

These troubling thoughts, among others, can be distressing, and it's natural to want to eliminate them. However, your efforts (e.g., avoidance and safety behaviors called compulsions) might only offer temporary relief. This fleeting comfort could push you to intensify your attempts to banish these negative thoughts, trapping you in a continuous cycle.

Doubts about your self-worth may arise if you struggle to dispel these unwanted thoughts. Feelings of guilt, shame, and hopelessness can emerge when your diligent efforts fail to yield the expected outcomes.

The Facts

  • In the U.S., an estimated 2.3% of people will experience OCD in their lifetimes. Of this percentage, as many as 33% will experience scrupulosity specifically. (GoodRx)
  • OCD is often misdiagnosed. In one study, family physicians misdiagnosed 50.5% of OCD cases. (NCBI)
  • 90% of OCD patients also suffer from a comorbid disorder. (depression and anxiety). When OCD goes untreated, it is often a contributing factor to the development of additional conditions). (ScienceDirect)
  • Men with OCD are more likely to also suffer from social phobia, tic disorders, alcohol use disorders, compulsive Internet use, and sexual disorders. (ScienceDirect)
  • Women with OCD are more likely to also suffer from specific phobias, anorexia or bulimia nervosa, trichotillomania, skin picking, and compulsive buying. (ScienceDirect)
  • OCD is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. (NCBI)
  • OCD is a neurological condition. It has nothing to do with your character or worth. It has to do with a neurological dysfunction in the brain structures and chemicals. Research shows that OCD is most likely a genetic predisposition.

OCD targets what matters most to the individual, and this is what makes OCD so painful. OCD is ego-dystonic as it is incongruent with who you are and the type of person you wish to become. Your genuine desire to be a true disciple is thwarted by the OCD.

How Scrupulosity OCD Affects Your Discipleship

Scrupulosity OCD can lead you to hyperfocus on specific religious practices, sometimes losing sight of their underlying purpose and values. This can lead to challenges when excessive worries (obsessions) and avoidant and/or safety behaviors (public and/or private compulsions) creep in, causing you to lose sight of what matters most to you. These distractions from the OCD mind can impact your connection with God and your relationships with loved ones.

In our Church, we uphold significant principles like temple worthiness, the word of wisdom, the law of tithing, the law of chastity, prayer, repentance, and obedience to God's law. We view these principles as manifestations of a compassionate God. Most of us strive to uphold these principles. When we realize we have gone against them, we approach our bishop, confess, repent, and then continue to live our lives, aiming to follow Jesus without questioning His unwavering love.

Alternatively, when OCD is present, your scrupulous mind may offer counterproductive guidance ("I must repent for these sexual thoughts! There must be something wrong with me if I can't make them disappear!"), insisting on precise obedience. It might suggest that your thoughts and emotions hold the same weight as actions and realities.

Your scrupulous mind might distort your religious beliefs, pushing you to go beyond what's necessary out of guilt. Your loved ones and religious leaders might misinterpret this behavior as deep devotion. It's important to open up about your doubts and feelings of inadequacy to a trusted loved one or your Bishop. They can provide support and guide you towards treatment to rediscover joy in your faith and life.

Religiosity vs. Scrupulosity

Here is a summary outlining the contrast between religiosity and scrupulosity. The key distinctions lie in rigidity, intense emotions like fear and doubt, and repetitive actions aimed at alleviating distress.

Religiosity

  • Demonstrating a genuine commitment to uphold one's faith principles, such as reverence, respect, connection, communication, belonging, and love.
  • Recognizing challenges and errors without unnecessary anxieties and repetitive actions.
  • Letting go of the need to strictly adhere to rules while embracing your faith with compassion.
  • Finding joy, peace, and adaptability despite imperfections and missteps.
  • Applying faith principles and participating in behaviors (with adaptability) that enhance vitality and nurture your connection with God.

Scrupulosity

  • Struggling to adhere strictly to faith and religious principles.
  • Engaging in repetitive actions due to fear, guilt, anxiety, shame, and uncertainty.
  • Battling fears and doubts such as feelings of unworthiness and anticipation of punishment.
  • Finding it challenging to integrate faith into daily life and handle uncertainty.
  • Difficulty letting go of past errors.
  • Failing to identify that unhelpful actions are linked to OCD, hindering the ability to break free from the OCD cycle.

The Difference Between the Spirit and OCD

Even though the distinction between the Spirit and OCD is outlined below, it's crucial to note that when you're trapped in the OCD cycle, it can be challenging to differentiate between the two. Therefore, it is recommended that you seek treatment to acquire skills in values-based exposures and practice psychological flexibility skills. Your relationship with God does not have to be hindered by the OCD!

The Spirit:
Reveals
Testifies
Comforts
Guides
Teaches
Sanctifies
Purifies
Inspires
Invigorates
Strengthens
Personal Peace
Instills Hope
Builds Trust
Requires Active Faith

OCD:
Avoidance
Compulsions
Obsessions
Incessant Doubt
Anxiety
Guilt
Shame
Insecurity
Blame
Despair
Excessive Fear
Deepens Hopelessness
Creates Mistrust
Demands Certainty

Common Triggers

The following triggers are common for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who experience scrupulosity:

  • Keeping the Word of Wisdom
  • Following the Law of Chastity
  • Following mission rules and guidelines with exactness
  • Answering temple recommend questions honestly
  • Devoting enough time and attention to spiritual practices such as reading scriptures, attending the temple, serving in the church, and attending the temple.
  • Uncertainty over forgiveness for past sins
  • Uncertainty over worthiness to attend the temple or participate in the ordinance of the sacrament

Barriers to Care

Many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who experience scrupulosity are hesitant to reach out for therapeutic assistance or encounter obstacles in accessing the support they need. Here are some typical barriers to care:

  • Fear of working with a therapist who is not LDS and may not fully understand the faith’s doctrine and culture
  • Misinformation around OCD and scrupulosity and appropriate treatment
  • Financial limitations
  • Ecclesiastical leaders who may not know how to connect members to a therapist experienced in treating OCD
  • Uncertainty toward how you may be perceived after disclosing your experience with scrupulosity, fear of being judged poorly
  • Anxiety over a therapist asking you to do something that goes against your faith

These quotes are great reminders of what matters most in our faith:

“Our only hope for true perfection is in receiving it as a gift from heaven—we can’t “earn” it. Thus, the grace of Christ offers us not only salvation from sorrow and sin and death but also salvation from our own persistent self-criticism.”
— Jeffrey R. Holland

“What our Heavenly Father offers us is Himself and His Son, a close and enduring relationship with Them through the grace and mediation of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.”
— D. Todd Christofferson

“Perfection is pending. It can come in full only after the Resurrection and only through the Lord.”
— Russel M. Nelson

“Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely. ... He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken.”
— Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Fully accepting our Savior's Atonement can increase our faith and give us courage to let go of constraining expectations that we are somehow required to be or make things perfect. Black-and-white thinking says everything is either absolutely perfect or hopelessly flawed. But we can gratefully accept, as God's sons and daughters, that we are His greatest handiwork, even though we are a work in progress."
— Gerrit W. Gong

"Begin where you are. Don't let your condition hinder you. Remember, pace or placement on the path are not as important as progress."
— President Emily Belle Freeman

Your scrupulous mind might lead you to believe that earning a place in heaven is crucial, but the teachings from our prophet, apostles, and leaders present a different viewpoint. As you progress on your journey, you can develop valuable skills to strengthen your faith and always remember God's boundless love.

Resources

Below are some extra resources that could assist you in overcoming scrupulosity and deepening your faith in a truly meaningful manner to discover joy amidst life's challenges.

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