Pornography

 "Pornography is like a raging storm, destroying individuals and families, utterly ruining what was once wholesome and beautiful."

                                                                            ( Gordon B. Hinckley ) 

 " Participation in pornography in any of its lurid forms is a manifestation of unbridled selfishness. How can a man, particularly a priesthood bearer, not think of the emotional and spiritual damage caused to women, especially his wife, by such abhorrent activity?"

                                                                     ( Richard G. Scott ) 

 "My brothers and sisters, involvement in such will literally destroy the spirit. Be strong. Be clean. Avoid such degrading and destructive types of content at all costs—wherever they may be! I sound this warning to everyone, everywhere."

                                                                                 ( Thomas S. Monson ) 

 "In our day the dreadful influence of pornography is like unto a plague sweeping across the world, infecting one here and one there, relentlessly trying to invade every home, most frequently through the husband and father. The effect of this plague can be, unfortunately often is, spiritually fatal. Lucifer seeks to disrupt “the great plan of redemption,” ¹¹ “the great plan of happiness.” 

Pornography will always repel the Spirit of Christ and will interrupt the communications between our Heavenly Father and His children and disrupt the tender relationship between husband and wife."

                                                           ( President Boyd K. Packer ) 

 “Pornographic or erotic stories and pictures are worse than filthy or polluted food. The body has defenses to rid itself of unwholesome food. With a few fatal exceptions, bad food will only make you sick but do no permanent harm. In contrast, a person who feasts upon filthy stories or pornographic or erotic pictures and literature records them in this marvelous retrieval system we call a brain. The brain won’t vomit back filth. Once recorded, it will always remain subject to recall, flashing its perverted images across your mind and drawing you away from the wholesome things in life.”

                                                                          

                                                                                 ( Dallin H. Oaks ) 

 "(Pornography) And sin it is. It is devilish. It is totally inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel, with personal testimony of the things of God, and with the life of one who has been ordained to the holy priesthood."

                                                                                    ( Gordon B. Hinckley ) 

 "Satan has become a master at using the addictive power of pornography to limit individual capacity to be led by the Spirit. The onslaught of pornography in all of its vicious, corroding, destructive forms has caused great grief, suffering, heartache, and destroyed marriages. It is one of the most damning influences on earth."

                                                                             

                                                                        ( Richard G. Scott ) 

 "My beloved friends, under no circumstances allow yourselves to become trapped in the viewing of pornography, one of the most effective of Satan’s enticements. And if you have allowed yourself to become involved in this behavior, cease now. Seek the help you need to overcome and to change the direction of your life. Take the steps necessary to get back on the strait and narrow, and then stay there."

  

                                                                             ( President Thomas S. Monson ) 

" And young women, please understand that if you dress immodestly, you are magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you."

                                                                                       ( Elder Dallin H. Oaks ) 

 "Parents, be aware that the addiction of pornography can begin with youth at a very early age. Take preventative action to avoid that tragedy." 

                                                                              

                                                                                    ( Richard G. Scott ) 

Position: I am thankful for the support that the church provides to those whom become addicted to pornography. This is a sad and dangerous problem for so many of our day. I feel terrible when I see women at the mall or grocery store displaying themselves in provocative ways. It hurts me that they are hurting themselves and all of those around them. I hope that someday the truth about being immodest can be linked to the addiction to pornography because this desire could be enhanced by the appearance of those around us. I am positive that the Lord knows best how to help individuals with a pornographic addiction; although there are many therapists one could work with, and programs outside of the church; I believe that the help from the Lord's servants would be most effective. 

Application: I have zero problems with pornography. I do try to be extra careful about my children and the images they are exposed to on the computer advertisements. I have tried to inform individuals about church therapists for other reasons, and I do try to have healthy conversations about pornography addiction in our children and what we can do to ensure that this does not become a problem for them.