Introducing Our New Free Course: Is It OCD? Recognizing Scrupulosity in Latter-day Saints
If you've ever found yourself wondering…
What if I’m not a good person?
What if I’m not worthy?
What if my testimony isn't strong enough?
What if I am not feeling the Spirit as much as I should?
What if I’m a bad person because I’m having these thoughts?
...you're not alone.
For some faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, these questions don't come occasionally—they come constantly. They lead to rumination, endless reassurance-seeking, and an exhausting search for certainty that they are good enough, that they are doing enough, and that they have enough faith.
Many people assume these struggles are simply part of being deeply devoted.
But sometimes, they are something else entirely.
They may be scrupulosity, a form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that targets a person's relationship with God, their values, and their deepest desire to do what is right.
That's why we're excited to introduce our new free online course, Is It OCD? Recognizing Scrupulosity in Latter-day Saints.
This course was created to help individuals, families, Church leaders, and mental health professionals better understand scrupulosity through both an evidence-based and faith-informed lens.
Why We Created This Course
One of the most heartbreaking things we see at Mountain Home Center for Religious and Moral OCD is how many people spend years believing they have a spiritual problem when they're actually experiencing OCD.
Many clients tell us they have:
Met repeatedly with bishops about the same concern.
Prayed for hours each day trying to "feel right."
Wondered if they were worthy enough to serve a mission or attend the temple.
Feared they hadn't repented correctly.
Constantly questioned whether they were receiving revelation appropriately.
Felt trapped in a cycle of guilt and uncertainty they couldn't escape.
They often assume they simply need more faith.
Instead, what they're experiencing is a highly treatable mental health condition.
Our goal is to help people recognize the difference.
What You'll Learn
The course walks participants through five easy-to-follow modules that explain scrupulosity from the ground up.
Topics include:
What scrupulosity is and how it works
Why OCD targets the things we value most
How scrupulosity commonly presents in Latter-day Saints
The difference between healthy religious devotion and OCD
Common obsessions and compulsions experienced by Latter-day Saints
Evidence-based treatment options
Real-life case examples demonstrating treatment and recovery
Rather than simply defining OCD, the course helps participants understand why OCD feels so convincing and why reassurance rarely provides lasting relief.
It also introduces the leading evidence-based treatments for OCD:
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)—the gold-standard behavioral treatment that helps individuals face feared situations while resisting compulsive responses.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)—a newer evidence-based approach that teaches people to recognize when OCD has pulled them away from reality and into imagined "what if" scenarios.
If You're Wondering Whether You Have OCD
Many people who enroll in this course wonder if what they or a loved one are experience is normal.
The course helps answer that question by exploring common signs of scrupulosity and encouraging participants to consider:
How much these fears interfere with daily life.
Whether they find themselves performing repeated compulsions.
How their experiences compare to others with similar religious beliefs.
Whether their anxiety persists despite repeated reassurance.
You'll also learn about common obsessions experienced by Latter-day Saints, including fears about worthiness, testimony, chastity, sexual orientation, and finding the "right" spouse, as well as compulsions such as excessive confession, repeated prayer, reassurance-seeking, and mental reviewing.
Most importantly, you'll discover that having these experiences does not mean you're spiritually weak.
A Resource for Families
Scrupulosity affects more than the individual experiencing it.
Parents, spouses, siblings, and close friends often feel confused about how to help. They naturally want to reassure their loved one, answer questions, or calm fears.
Unfortunately, reassurance often becomes part of the OCD cycle.
This course helps families understand:
How to support a loved one without unintentionally reinforcing compulsions
What evidence-based recovery looks like
Understanding scrupulosity can transform frustration into compassion and help families become an important part of the recovery process.
A Resource for Bishops and Other Church Leaders
Because scrupulosity targets religious beliefs, bishops and other Church leaders are often the first people individuals seek out for help.
Many faithfully serve members who repeatedly ask:
"Should I confess this?"
"Am I worthy?"
"Do I need to repent again?"
"Did I receive that prompting correctly?"
Church leaders want to help—but most have never received training on scrupulosity.
This course provides an introduction to recognizing OCD within a Latter-day Saint context and explains why repeated reassurance often strengthens the disorder rather than resolving it. It also explores how ecclesiastical support and evidence-based mental health treatment can work together to help members experience lasting healing.
A Resource for Mental Health Professionals
Therapists who work with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints often recognize that religious symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from healthy expressions of faith.
This course introduces clinicians to common presentations of scrupulosity in Latter-day Saint populations while reviewing current evidence-based treatment approaches, including ERP and I-CBT. It also discusses important cultural considerations and includes real-world case examples that illustrate successful treatment.
Start the Course Today
Whether you're personally struggling with scrupulosity, supporting someone you love, serving in a Church calling, or working as a mental health professional, we hope this free course provides clarity, encouragement, and hope.
Recovery is possible, but understanding is the first step.
We invite you to enroll inIs It OCD? Recognizing Scrupulosity in Latter-day Saints and begin learning how evidence-based treatment can help people live according to their values—not according to OCD.
Start Working With An OCD Therapist in Provo, UT
At Mountain Home Center for Religious and Moral OCD, we're committed to helping individuals move beyond fear and uncertainty so they can experience greater peace in both their faith and their lives. If you've spent years wondering whether you have enough faith, whether you've repented correctly, or whether you are truly worthy — please know that you are not alone, and you are not spiritually failing. You can start receiving the support you deserve by following these simple steps:
Meet with a trained OCD therapist
Start finding lasting peace!
Other Services Offered with Mountain Home Center for Religious and Moral OCD
OCD treatment is not the only service that I offer to support clients. I’m happy to provide a variety of evidence-based therapy services to support Latter-day Saints and others seeking faith-compatible care work through scrupulosity, religious OCD-related concerns, anxiety disorders, and relationship challenges. I am happy to offer support with I-CBT, ERP for OCD, SPACE treatment, and I-CBT intensives. Feel free to visit my blog or FAQ page to learn more!
