Why Recovering Addicts Make Great Bishops | An Interview with Mike Houghtaling

Leading Saints Podcast

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in June 2021. Mike Houghtaling was raised in Bellevue, Washington, and Raleigh, North Carolina, and served in the Argentina Cordoba Mission. He and his family have lived in Georgia for over 30 years. Since entering recovery, he served as a bishop’s counselor, a high councilor, and at the time of this recording was serving as the bishop of the Fayetteville Georgia YSA Ward. He worked for the Federal Aviation Administration for 37 years, most of those as an air traffic controller, retiring in 2019. Mike and his wife Andrea have five children and seven grandchildren. Mike tries to work his recovery just one day at a time. Links ODAAT coins Warrior Heart retreat Heart of a Woman retreat Is Elders Quorum Working? Wild at Heart in Church Leadership | An Interview with Doug Nielsen Heart of a Woman in Relief Society Church resources Share your thoughts in the Leading Saints community Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Read the transcript of this podcast Highlights Mike candidly shares his decades-long struggle with pornography addiction and the profound impact it has had on his life and leadership. He describes how the addiction served as an escape from underlying emotional difficulties rooted in his childhood, highlighting that pornography is often a symptom of deeper unmet needs rather than the core issue. A pivotal turning point came when Mike hit rock bottom after his wife discovered his secret. This led him to the Addiction Recovery Program (ARP). He emphasizes that recovery is an ongoing lifestyle, not a quick fix, and involves addressing the underlying wounds that fuel addictive behaviors. After years of sobriety, Mike was called to serve in various leadership positions. Throughout these callings, he has been remarkably open about his past, aiming to build trust and demonstrate that God's love and healing are available to everyone. Mike offers valuable advice for leaders. His story is a powerful testament to the possibility of healing and the transformative potential of vulnerability and understanding in leadership. Highlights 00:04:52 - Description of Mike's YSA Ward 00:05:48 - Mike's Personal Story 00:07:38 - Spiritual Wounds from Imperfect Relationships 00:10:27 - Development of Shame and Addiction 00:12:23 - Early Bishop Interactions & Unhelpful Advice 00:16:16 - Analogy: Quitting Smoking vs. Pornography 00:18:18 - Realization: Pornography Isn't About Sex 00:19:15 - The Nature and Root Causes of Addiction 00:20:14 - Sobriety vs. Recovery 00:20:32 - Leadership Focus: Behavior vs. Underlying Wounds 00:22:33 - Rock Bottom 00:26:40 - Hope: Bishop Suggests ARP Program 00:29:03 - Deepening Involvement in 12-Step Recovery 00:32:36 - Recovery Strategy: Face It, Replace It, Connect 00:35:18 - Called as Bishopric Counselor 00:39:16 - Called as YSA Bishop 00:39:53 - Openness About Past with Leaders and Ward 00:42:53 - Purpose of Sharing Story: Connection, Not Attention 00:44:06 - Advice for New Bishops: Learn About Addiction (Attend ARP/AA) 00:53:58 - Advice for Friends/Family: Love, Grace, Connect 00:55:45 - Support for Spouses/Children of Addicts (The "True Victims") 00:56:06 - Leaders: Support Spouses 00:58:04 - Better Follower of Christ = Better Leader The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges,