Pornography
I was surprised to read a conference talk by then Elder Thomas S. Monson from 1979 about pornography (Elder Thomas S. Monson, “Pornography - the Deadly Carrier,” General Conference, October 1979). Although I have no doubt it was a concern back then, pornography has become so rampant today that many justify its use and ignore the heartbreaking struggles with addiction many experience. I read the story of a woman whose husband confessed his pornography addiction on his death bed as he sought her forgiveness. While I have not had her experience, I felt her grief and burden as she relayed it was only then did she realize the source of their marital discord, which resulted in years of abuse. Although some may argue that pornography is harmless, her experience definitively declares otherwise. The abuse she suffered at her husband’s hands led her down a path to feelings of such worthlessness that she had considered suicide. Additionally, his addiction led to numerous extramarital affairs which put her at risk. Sadly, she had entered her marriage with a pure heart, but her husband’s initial trifling with pornography never allowed their marriage to realize its potential. Although this is a serious addiction, we are promised that it can be overcome if we rely on the Atonement and seek professional help. I hope and cheer for all those and their loved ones who struggle to overcome pornography.
1. Pornographic or erotic stories and pictures are worse than filthy or polluted food. . . 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. – Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Pornography,” General Conference, April 2005
2. Pornography impairs one’s ability to enjoy a normal emotional, romantic, and spiritual relationship with a person of the opposite sex. It erodes the moral barriers that stand against inappropriate, abnormal, or illegal behavior. - Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Pornography,” General Conference, April 2005
3. A man who had been addicted to pornography and to hard drugs wrote me this comparison: “In my eyes cocaine doesn’t hold a candle to this. I have done both. … Quitting even the hardest drugs was nothing compared to [trying to quit pornography]” (letter of Mar. 20, 2005). - Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Pornography,” General Conference, April 2005
4. Then suddenly, there appears before us in this generation a sinister and diabolical enemy--pornography. Like the bark beetle, it too is the carrier of a deadly disease. I shall name it “pernicious permissiveness.” – Elder Thomas S. Monson, “Pornography - the Deadly Carrier,” General Conference, October 1979
5. The beetle of pornography is doing his deadly task—undercutting our will, destroying our immunity, and stifling that upward reach within each of us. – Elder Thomas S. Monson, “Pornography - the Deadly Carrier,” General Conference, October 1979
6. 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. – Elder Boyd K. Packer (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/cleansing-the-inner-vessel?lang=eng)
7. Priesthood holders carry with them the antidote to remove the terrible images of pornography and to wash away guilt. The priesthood has the power to unlock the influence of our habits, even to unchain from addiction, however tight the grip. - Elder Boyd K. Packer (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/cleansing-the-inner-vessel?lang=eng)
8. Likewise, even though the Internet is saturated with sleazy material, you do not have to watch it. You can retreat to the shelter of the gospel and its teaching of cleanliness and virtue and purity of life. – President Gordon B. Hinckley (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/10/a-tragic-evil-among-us?lang=eng)
9. 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 (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/until-we-meet-again?lang=eng)
10. Satan has become a master at using the addictive power of pornography to limit individual capacity to be led by the Spirit. - Elder Richard G. Scott (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/to-acquire-spiritual-guidance?lang=eng)
11. I recently had an insightful conversation with a 15-year-old Aaronic Priesthood holder. . . He pointed out that for most principles the Church teaches, there is at least some recognition in society at large that violating these principles can have devastating effects on health and well-being. . . But he noted that there is no corresponding outcry or even a significant warning from society at large about pornography or immorality. – Elder Quentin L. Cook (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/can-ye-feel-so-now?lang=eng)
2. Pornography impairs one’s ability to enjoy a normal emotional, romantic, and spiritual relationship with a person of the opposite sex. It erodes the moral barriers that stand against inappropriate, abnormal, or illegal behavior. - Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Pornography,” General Conference, April 2005
3. A man who had been addicted to pornography and to hard drugs wrote me this comparison: “In my eyes cocaine doesn’t hold a candle to this. I have done both. … Quitting even the hardest drugs was nothing compared to [trying to quit pornography]” (letter of Mar. 20, 2005). - Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Pornography,” General Conference, April 2005
4. Then suddenly, there appears before us in this generation a sinister and diabolical enemy--pornography. Like the bark beetle, it too is the carrier of a deadly disease. I shall name it “pernicious permissiveness.” – Elder Thomas S. Monson, “Pornography - the Deadly Carrier,” General Conference, October 1979
5. The beetle of pornography is doing his deadly task—undercutting our will, destroying our immunity, and stifling that upward reach within each of us. – Elder Thomas S. Monson, “Pornography - the Deadly Carrier,” General Conference, October 1979
6. 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. – Elder Boyd K. Packer (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/cleansing-the-inner-vessel?lang=eng)
7. Priesthood holders carry with them the antidote to remove the terrible images of pornography and to wash away guilt. The priesthood has the power to unlock the influence of our habits, even to unchain from addiction, however tight the grip. - Elder Boyd K. Packer (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/cleansing-the-inner-vessel?lang=eng)
8. Likewise, even though the Internet is saturated with sleazy material, you do not have to watch it. You can retreat to the shelter of the gospel and its teaching of cleanliness and virtue and purity of life. – President Gordon B. Hinckley (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/10/a-tragic-evil-among-us?lang=eng)
9. 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 (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/until-we-meet-again?lang=eng)
10. Satan has become a master at using the addictive power of pornography to limit individual capacity to be led by the Spirit. - Elder Richard G. Scott (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/to-acquire-spiritual-guidance?lang=eng)
11. I recently had an insightful conversation with a 15-year-old Aaronic Priesthood holder. . . He pointed out that for most principles the Church teaches, there is at least some recognition in society at large that violating these principles can have devastating effects on health and well-being. . . But he noted that there is no corresponding outcry or even a significant warning from society at large about pornography or immorality. – Elder Quentin L. Cook (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/can-ye-feel-so-now?lang=eng)