Stories: How I Quit Smoking
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| "THE MARLBORO MAN"
Yep, folks, that was the brand I smoked, because I saw
those Marlboro advertisements, and ain't it every young
red-blooded all-American boy's dream and ambition to
grow up and become a genuine real-life cowboy out in
the wide-open wild, wild West?
When the missionaries were teaching me the Restored
Gospel, I well remember that dreadful day they asked me
to hand over my last pack of cigarettes.
I think they prepared me in advance by giving me a few
days warning, so I had some time to think it over.
It was tough wrestling with the withdrawal symptoms.
If I remember correctly (it was over thirty years ago), I
think I went through some really bodacious sweating,
and my skin seemed rather yellow.
As I gradually and initially overcame the smoking urge, I
observed another totally unexpected fringe benefit.
One day, I happened to glance at my hands and I
discovered that I had fingernails!
I had, without realizing it, ceased biting and chewing my
fingernails.
All of my entire life, up until that point in time, I had lived
with an uncontrollable nervous habit of constantly
chewing my fingernails.
But I was so caught up in the struggle to resist smoking,
that I had completely forgotten to chew my nails.
As a new convert, I was kept busy attending Church
functions, and my only associates were other active LDS
young single adults.
Back in those days, LDS young single adults were called
"M-men", if they were male, and "Gleaners", if they were
female.
After a couple of months of Church activity, I hitch-hiked
to Spokane, Washington, where I got a job working on
the Sundance Mountain - Trapper's Peak forest fires in
Northern Idaho.
I was the only Latter-day Saint there, and everybody
around me smoked, so I began smoking again.
After the firefighting was done, I returned to Portland,
Oregon.
There, I once again surrounded myself with other active
Latter-day Saints, and immersed myself in Church
activity.
I immediately lost any desire for cigarettes.
In December, I was drafted into the United States Army
and began my Basic Combat Training at Fort Lewis,
Washington.
Because of the threat of a spinal meningitis epidemic,
recruits were strictly confined to their own squad and
platoon.
We could not, under any circumstances, leave our
company area, except in formation.
I could not attend LDS services.
I was the only Latter-day Saint in my platoon.
Everybody smoked, and I began smoking again.
I did once meet with an Army chaplain about my smoking
problem, but he was a Baptist, and saw nothing wrong
with me smoking, and in fact, suggested I look for
another religion.
After basic training, I was sent to Fort Gordon, Georgia
for Signal School, where I had the freedom to attend
LDS services at the Augusta Ward, and could associate
regularly and often with other Latter-day Saints.
I lost all desire to smoke.
After leaving Georgia, I traveled the globe on various
military assignments, including combat service in the
Republic of Viet Nam.
Often, I would be surrounded by smokers, and I would be
quite removed from supportive LDS influences.
But, by that point in time, I had developed a total lack of
desire for tobacco, and would never smoke again.
My point is this: I did not immediately overcome a habit
which had been acquired over a long period of time.
It took a couple of honest attempts, interrupted by
repeated failures, before I finally overcame my desire for
tobacco.
Further, I needed the constant association of my new
LDS brothers and sisters, together with frequent Church
activity.
When I was alone and surrounded by smokers, I would
revert to my old ways.
When I was with other active LDS Church members, I had
no desire to smoke.
I don't know if this will help you or not, but I feel there are
some worthwhile teaching principles embodied in my
own personal experience.
John R. Mallernee |
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