Overcoming Pornography
Pornography addiction is one of the greatest plagues of this generation of future missionaries. For any young person who has fallen prey to this evil device, overcoming pornography is something they will have to do prior to becoming worthy to serve a mission. In the text below and video above are some quotes from recent general conference addresses from our living prophets on how to avoid and overcome pornography:
Pres. Thomas S. Monson: Pornography will destroy your spirit. Be strong. Be clean
“Extremely alarming are the reports of the number of individuals who are utilizing the Internet for evil and degrading purposes, the viewing of pornography being the most prevalent of these purposes. 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. I add—particularly to the young people—that this includes pornographic images transmitted via cell phones.
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.” (Until We Meet Again, President Thomas S. Monson, April 2009 General Conference)
Pres. Gordon B, Hinckley: Priesthood holders must rise above pornography
“With this priesthood comes a great obligation to be worthy of it. We cannot indulge in unclean thoughts. We must not partake of pornography. We must never be guilty of abuse of any kind. We must rise up above such things. “Rise up, O men of God!” and put these things behind you, and the Lord will be your guide and stay…The computer is a wonderful instrument when it is properly used. But when it is used to deal with pornography or so-called chat rooms or for any other purpose that leads to evil practices or evil thoughts, then there must be self-discipline enough to turn it off.” (Rise Up, O Men of God, President Gordon B, Hinckley, Oct. 2006 General Conference)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Are you free from lustful desires?
“The Savior was critical of some of the early Saints for their “lustful … desires” (D&C 101:6; see also D&C 88:121). These were people who lived in a non-television, non-film, non-Internet, non-iPod world. In a world now awash in sexualized images and music, are we free from lustful desires and their attendant evils? Far from pushing the limits of modest dress or indulging in the vicarious immorality of pornography, we are to hunger and thirst after righteousness. To come to Zion, it is not enough for you or me to be somewhat less wicked than others. We are to become not only good but holy men and women. Recalling Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s phrase, let us once and for all establish our residence in Zion and give up the summer cottage in Babylon (see Neal A. Maxwell, A Wonderful Flood of Light [1990], 47).” (Come to Zion, by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Oct. 2008 General Conference)
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: The most deadly of the seven deadly sins—Lust
“Remember that those young wives said their husbands’ infidelity began with an attraction to pornography, but immoral activity is not just a man’s problem, and husbands aren’t the only ones offending. The compromise available at the click of a mouse—including what can happen in a chat room’s virtual encounter—is no respecter of persons, male or female, young or old, married or single. And just to make sure that temptation is ever more accessible, the adversary is busy extending his coverage, as they say in the industry, to cell phones, video games, and MP3 players.
If we stop chopping at the branches of this problem and strike more directly at the root of the tree, not surprisingly we find lust lurking furtively there. Lust is an unsavory word, and it is certainly an unsavory topic for me to address, but there is good reason why in some traditions it is known as the most deadly of the seven deadly sins.
Why is lust such a deadly sin? Well, in addition to the completely Spirit-destroying impact it has upon our souls, I think it is a sin because it defiles the highest and holiest relationship God gives us in mortality—the love that a man and a woman have for each other and the desire that couple has to bring children into a family intended to be forever. Someone said once that true love must include the idea of permanence. True love endures. But lust changes as quickly as it can turn a pornographic page or glance at yet another potential object for gratification walking by, male or female. True love we are absolutely giddy about—as I am about Sister Holland; we shout it from the housetops. But lust is characterized by shame and stealth and is almost pathologically clandestine—the later and darker the hour the better, with a double-bolted door just in case. Love makes us instinctively reach out to God and other people. Lust, on the other hand, is anything but godly and celebrates self-indulgence. Love comes with open hands and open heart; lust comes with only an open appetite.” (Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2010 General Conference)
Elder Dallin H. Oaks: Pornography threatens our spirituality, and our families. But there is a way out.
“We were concerned to see the inroads pornography had made in the United States while we were away. For many years our Church leaders have warned against the dangers of images and words intended to arouse sexual desires. Now the corrupting influence of pornography, produced and disseminated for commercial gain, is sweeping over our society like an avalanche of evil.
At our last conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley devoted an entire talk to this subject, warning in the plainest terms that “this is a very serious problem even among us” (“A Tragic Evil among Us,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2004, 61). Most of the bishops we meet in stake conferences now report major concerns with this problem.
My fellow holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and also our young men, I wish to speak to you today about pornography. I know that many of you are exposed to this and that many of you are being stained by it…
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…
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. As conscience is desensitized, patrons of pornography are led to act out what they have witnessed, regardless of its effects on their life and the lives of others.
Pornography is also addictive. It impairs decision-making capacities and it “hooks” its users, drawing them back obsessively for more and more. 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)…
My brethren who are caught in this addiction or troubled by this temptation, there is a way.
First, acknowledge the evil. Don’t defend it or try to justify yourself. For at least a quarter century our leaders have pleaded with men, and also with women and children, to avoid this evil. Our current Church magazines are full of warnings, information, and helps on this subject—with more than a score of articles published or to be published this year and last year alone.
Second, seek the help of the Lord and His servants. Hear and heed President Hinckley’s words: “Plead with the Lord out of the depths of your soul that He will remove from you the addiction which enslaves you. And may you have the courage to seek the loving guidance of your bishop and, if necessary, the counsel of caring professionals” (Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2004, 62).
Third, do all that you can to avoid pornography. If you ever find yourself in its presence—which can happen to anyone in the world in which we live—follow the example of Joseph of Egypt. When temptation caught him in her grip, he left temptation and “got him out” (Gen. 39:12)…
Finally, do not patronize pornography. Do not use your purchasing power to support moral degradation. 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.
Please heed these warnings. Let us all improve our personal behavior and redouble our efforts to protect our loved ones and our environment from the onslaught of pornography that threatens our spirituality, our marriages, and our children.” (Pornography, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, April 2005 General Conference)
Additional Pornography Addiction Help
For more resources for overcoming pornography, please visit the site recently launched by the Church called, Overcoming Pornography. It has help for individuals, spouses, parents, youth, and leaders to prevent and overcome pornography.
This lesson is very good and I like to hear it over and over again .But please if you see this comment write immeadiately to me (kesefou@gmail.com).I want to hear everything about how to preach a gospel .I am the one who want to preach the gospel but there are things that are beyond my control.I am very shy to face the people even if i know them well.Also I cant face them always crying to stand on stage to share the gospel.I know that LDS is a true church .
Lots of love
from Kiribati country
Keeke Temoai
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I am SO grateful that there is a space on this website for overcoming pornography. I myself have had to get past this addiction, and one thing that pained me while in the process of overcoming it was how it was forever talked about in the church, but never really TALKED about.
At least from my point of view, anyway. It is so demonized (and rightly so) that I feel that whomever falls prey to it’s clutches is thrust into shame (don’t let the shame get to you!). And, because of all the shame and warnings around it, people are often afraid to discuss it, associate with it, or confront it. I’ve always felt that it was one of those things that people tell you to stay away from, but are too embarrassed to really talk about it. I may be wrong, I speak only from my life experiences.
How I wish that this were not so!! this (rather lengthy) post I’m writing is a post of encouragement and open-mindedness! I’m here to say that if you fear pornography, if you are embarrassed to discuss it with your loved ones or pupils or even yourself, or any such attitude, then you are only creating a breeding ground for it! Don’t allow that to happen, you and those you care for deserve the best!!!
If you have fallen prey to pornography, these are a few things that helped me:
1)The most important one: PRAY for the help to turn this weakness into a strength. Just IMAGINE how amazing of a person you’ll be once you get through this. freakin awesome okay.
2) ALSO, pray for forgiveness. And if you don’t feel regret and pain over your actions, then pray for those feeling so that you may repent.
3) TALK TO YOUR BISHOP. You have NO IDEA how much it will make you feel better. To this day, the feelings of acceptance and relief and love that I felt when I told my bishop are some of the strongest spiritual feelings I have ever felt.
4) Strengthen family relationships and friendships! You need their support during this trial, even if they don’t know that they are supporting you for pornography specifically. Being with people does wonders for your emotional health and outlook on your life and yourself.
5) GET OUTSIDE HELP. Whether this is from a counselor, the church’s addiction recovery program, or anything else, JUST DO IT. (I recommend this site: https://www.reddit.com/r/NoFap/
It has helped me a lot in realizing just how NOT alone I really am, and I have made a friendship that will hopefully last me into the eternities. Although, I would not rely solely on this site. Your bishop can help you.)
6) DO FUN STUFF!!! You body and mind are using porn to get a high, to feel good, to escape from stress and life circumstances — and it eventually turned into a habit. It IS NOT ENOUGH to just stop porn and masturbating. You need to replace that empty space with fun, enjoyable and wholesome things! you need to rewire your bodies circuits.
I don’t know if anyone will ever read this whole thing, but I hope it might help even one person. Don’t be afraid. It is possible! I can now say that I do not watch pornography. And I leave on my mission soon!!! Going through this trial was hard, and I will always bear the scars. And I am still tempted. But I use those temptations as my strengths, and I love the person that overcoming this has made me. If you are struggling with this, whether male or female, know that you are not a monster; know that you are loved; know that you have the potential to change; and know the things that are at stake if you don’t.
Stay strong, all — and peace out!
I completely agree with the other anonymous post here. I am also a recovered/recovering addict, and I thought I’d offer my two cents.
First, if you are getting ready for a mission, and you have this problem, stop. Get this taken care of before you go. In the time that I have been sober, I have grown closer to the spirit in ways I didn’t think were possible. This is essential to a missionary, and it won’t be possible if you are hiding this, or any other addiction.
Second, don’t rely only on your bishop. I love my bishop, who is an amazing and good man, but when he was the only help I was getting, I was not able to over come it, even after 3 years. I met with a professional counselor, and within a few months I had made significant progress. Your bishop has the keys of revelation, but you should also talk to someone who specializes in this stuff.
So there’s two cents. The other guy’s post is awesome. Yes it seems like this stuff is a taboo, I actually really wish we would tell deacons and bee hives some of the things that we tell recovering addicts. It may help to some degree.
I’m assuming from the website’s title that most of the people who read this will be future missionaries who are having a bit of this problem. To all of you, Satan will really work on you right now. He doesn’t want you to serve. But God does, and he will give you what you need as you get closer to him.
Well, that became a lot longer than I expected. Good luck to all of you as you get ready to go out!
Thanks you for this. i was supposed to go on a mission in october and i finally opened up and am getting the help i need. even if i have to push off my mission i am glad that i can become clean before going
please turn to the lord, speak with your bishop god is the only answer. I am praying for your forgiveness. talk to your wives about soaking practices I believe those will help as well.
which overwatch character Calvin? Based on your answer will determine if you are able to pursue a mission or not.
Calvin, your path to redemption and the light is long and possibly arduous. Repent with honesty and whole-hearted wholesomeness and pray until you hear an answer. I love you and support you through this trying time.