Pornography

1.     Immoral thoughts, words, and deeds always are immoral, even in cyberspace… We are all accountable to God, and ultimately we will be judged of Him according to our deeds and the desires of our hearts. - David A. Bednar, Things as They Really Are, CES Fireside, May 3, 2009 BYU-Idaho

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. 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. - Dallin H. Oaks, Pornography. Ensign, May 2005

3.     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. It can heal over the scars of past mistakes. - Boyd K. Packer, Cleansing The Inner Vessel, October 2010 Conference

4.     Like thieves in the night, unwelcome thought can and do seek entrance to our minds. But we don’t have to throw open the door, serve them tea and crumpets, and tell them where the silverware is kept! Throw the rascals out! Replace lewd thoughts with hopeful messages an joyful memories; picture the faces of those who love you and would be shattered if you let them down. - Jeffery R. Holland, Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul, Conference April 2009

5.     Permissiveness, immorality, pornography, drugs, the power of peer pressure- all these and more- cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings, and shattered dreams. - Thoma S. Monson, Believe, Obey , and Endure, Conference October 2013

6.     “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. Whether it be through the printed page, movies, television, obscene lyrics, vulgarities on the telephone, or flickering personal computer screen, pornography is overpoweringly addictive and severely damaging. - Richard G. Scott, To Acquire Spiritual Guidance, April 2009

7.     “Stay completely away from pornography. Do not allow yourself to view it, ever. It has been proven to be an addiction which is more than difficult to overcome.” -~ Thomas S. Monson, Priesthood Power, Conference April 2011

8.     “We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home. We cannot afford to have those who exercise the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God, waste their strength in pornography or spend their lives in cyberspace.” - D. Todd Christofferson Conference October 2012

9.     “Be Cautious. These same technologies can allow evil influences to cross the threshold of your homes. These dangerous traps are only a mouse click away. Pornography, violence, intolerance, and ungodliness destroy families, marriages, and individual lives. These dangers are distributed through many media, including magazines, books, television, movies, and music, as well as the internet.” - Deiter F. Utchdorf, A Matter of a Few Degrees, April 2008

10.  “(Pornography) is utterly without redeeming social value. We urge our families to protect their children in every way possible. We live in a permissive world, but we must make certain we do not become a part of that permissive world, that degenerate world.” - Spencer W. Kimball, God Will Not Be Mocked, Conference October 1974

There is nothing more destructive than pornography. As the apostles and prophets have explained that as we indulge into pornography we experience a spiritual death. Pornography doesn’t only destroy us, but it can destroy and hurt our families as well. We begin to look at it only a few times, and then a few times becomes multiple times, and then it finally becomes an addiction that we cannot refrain from. Once pornography has us in its grips we start to view our spouses differently. This addiction can lead to other things such as infidelity to our spouse. I know that as we stay away from pornography we will be able to be free from addiction.