I know the evils of pornography and I know how it can affect a person’s life. I know that pornography can go as far as to ruin a person’s life. I know that pornography is a tool placed in our lives by the adversary to destroy the family unit because he knows how important that is. Pornography can be an addictive substance, and just like any addiction it is hard to break the habit. I know that if we get caught up in pornography that it is a really rough road, but I know that it is possible. Through the Lord, all things are possible.
“Unfortunately, we live in a world that is awash in all kinds of moral pollution, including drugs, violence, filthy language, pornography in literature; and videotapes, films, and television shows that promote illicit sex and promiscuity as being normal. A national debate is raging to make elective abortion acceptable.
With challenges like these, you need to remember that you do not face them alone. There are people who love you and want you to be happy. We want the very best for you. Most especially, your Father in Heaven loves you and wants you to have joy and happiness. He has made marvelous promises to His faithful children who love Him, who are baptized, and who keep His commandments.” Elder M. Russell Ballard, Keeping Covenants, April 1993 General Conference
“Are you battling a demon of addiction—tobacco or drugs or gambling, or the pernicious contemporary plague of pornography? Is your marriage in trouble or your child in danger? Are you confused with gender identity or searching for self-esteem? Do you—or someone you love—face disease or depression or death? Whatever other steps you may need to take to resolve these concerns, come first to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Trust in heaven’s promises. In that regard Alma’s testimony is my testimony: “I do know,” he says, “that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Broken Things to Mend, April 2006 General Conference
“There is virtually no place on earth that cannot be impacted by salacious, immoral, and titillating images. This is one reason why pornography has become such a plague in our day.” Elder Quentin L. Cook, Can Ye Feel So Now? October 2012 General Conference
“You cannot afford in any degree to become involved with pornography, whatever its form. You simply cannot afford to become involved in immoral practices--or to let down the bars of sexual restraint. The emotions that stir within you which make boys attractive to girls and girls attractive to boys are part of a divine plan, but they must be restrained, subdued, and kept under control, or they will destroy you and make you unworthy of many of the great blessings which the Lord has in store for you.” President Gordon B. Hinckley, A Chosen Generation, May 1992 Ensign
“Suppose a storm is raging and the winds howl and the snow swirls about you. You find yourself unable to stop it. But you can dress properly and seek shelter, and the storm will have no effect upon you.
“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. . . .
“Now . . . the time has come for any one of us who is so involved [in pornography] to pull himself [or herself] out of the mire, to stand above this evil thing, to ‘look to God and live’ (Alma 37:47). We do not have to view salacious magazines. We do not have to read books laden with smut. We do not have to watch television that is beneath wholesome standards. We do not have to rent movies that depict that which is filthy. We do not have to sit at the computer and play with pornographic material found on the Internet.
“I repeat, we can do better than this. We must do better than this.” President Gordon B. Hinckley, A Tragic Evil among Us, November 2004 Ensign
“Pornography, the carrier, is big business. It is evil. It is contagious. It is addicting.” President Thomas S. Monson, Pornography—the Deadly Carrier, October 1979 General Conference
“The constant, consuming march of the pornography beetle blights neighborhoods just as it contaminates human lives. It has just about destroyed some areas. It moves relentlessly closer to your city, your neighborhood, and your family. Pornography is now more available than ever. At the click of a button, evil can be viewed in our homes on televisions and computer screens, in our hotels and movie theaters, or even in our places of employment, where access to the Internet is often provided.” President Thomas S. Monson, Pornography—the Deadly Carrier, October 1979 General Conference
“We have the capacity and the responsibility to stand as a bulwark between all we hold dear and the fatal contamination of the pornography beetle. May I suggest three specific steps in our battle plan:
First, a return to righteousness. An understanding of who we are and what God expects us to become will prompt us to pray—as individuals and as families. Such a return reveals the constant truth: “Wickedness never was happiness.” Let not the evil one dissuade. We can yet be guided by that still, small voice—unerring in its direction and all-powerful in its influence.
Second, a quest for the good life. I speak not of the fun life, the sophisticated life, the popular life. Rather, I urge each to seek eternal life—life everlasting with mother, father, brothers, sisters, husband, wife, sons, and daughters, forever and forever together.
Third, a pledge to wage and win the war against pernicious permissiveness. As we encounter that evil carrier, the pornography beetle, let our battle standard and that of our communities be taken from that famous ensign of early America, “Don’t tread on me.” President Thomas S. Monson, Pornography—the Deadly Carrier, October 1979 General Conference
“Those who seek out and use pornography forfeit the power of their priesthood. Patrons of pornography also lose the companionship of the Spirit.” Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Pornography, April 2005 General Conference
“Pornography is as addictive as cocaine or any illegal drug. Without a doubt, pornography is addictive and is poison.” Elder James E. Faust, The Enemy Within, October 2000 General Conference
“Curious exploration of pornography can become a controlling habit, leading to coarser material and to sexual transgression.” President Thomas S. Monson, That We May Touch Heaven, October 1990 General Conference
“In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting. We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. 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 (ironically being of the world while not being in the world).” Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Brethren, We Have Work to Do, October 2012 General Conference
“You adult men—fathers, single adults, leaders, home teachers—be worthy models and help the rising generation of boys become men. Teach them social and other skills: how to participate in a conversation, how to get acquainted and interact with others, how to relate to women and girls, how to serve, how to be active and enjoy recreation, how to pursue hobbies without becoming addicted, how to correct mistakes and make better choices.” Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Brethren, We Have Work to Do, October 2012 General Conference
“Unfortunately, we live in a world that is awash in all kinds of moral pollution, including drugs, violence, filthy language, pornography in literature; and videotapes, films, and television shows that promote illicit sex and promiscuity as being normal. A national debate is raging to make elective abortion acceptable.
With challenges like these, you need to remember that you do not face them alone. There are people who love you and want you to be happy. We want the very best for you. Most especially, your Father in Heaven loves you and wants you to have joy and happiness. He has made marvelous promises to His faithful children who love Him, who are baptized, and who keep His commandments.” Elder M. Russell Ballard, Keeping Covenants, April 1993 General Conference
“Are you battling a demon of addiction—tobacco or drugs or gambling, or the pernicious contemporary plague of pornography? Is your marriage in trouble or your child in danger? Are you confused with gender identity or searching for self-esteem? Do you—or someone you love—face disease or depression or death? Whatever other steps you may need to take to resolve these concerns, come first to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Trust in heaven’s promises. In that regard Alma’s testimony is my testimony: “I do know,” he says, “that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Broken Things to Mend, April 2006 General Conference
“There is virtually no place on earth that cannot be impacted by salacious, immoral, and titillating images. This is one reason why pornography has become such a plague in our day.” Elder Quentin L. Cook, Can Ye Feel So Now? October 2012 General Conference
“You cannot afford in any degree to become involved with pornography, whatever its form. You simply cannot afford to become involved in immoral practices--or to let down the bars of sexual restraint. The emotions that stir within you which make boys attractive to girls and girls attractive to boys are part of a divine plan, but they must be restrained, subdued, and kept under control, or they will destroy you and make you unworthy of many of the great blessings which the Lord has in store for you.” President Gordon B. Hinckley, A Chosen Generation, May 1992 Ensign
“Suppose a storm is raging and the winds howl and the snow swirls about you. You find yourself unable to stop it. But you can dress properly and seek shelter, and the storm will have no effect upon you.
“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. . . .
“Now . . . the time has come for any one of us who is so involved [in pornography] to pull himself [or herself] out of the mire, to stand above this evil thing, to ‘look to God and live’ (Alma 37:47). We do not have to view salacious magazines. We do not have to read books laden with smut. We do not have to watch television that is beneath wholesome standards. We do not have to rent movies that depict that which is filthy. We do not have to sit at the computer and play with pornographic material found on the Internet.
“I repeat, we can do better than this. We must do better than this.” President Gordon B. Hinckley, A Tragic Evil among Us, November 2004 Ensign
“Pornography, the carrier, is big business. It is evil. It is contagious. It is addicting.” President Thomas S. Monson, Pornography—the Deadly Carrier, October 1979 General Conference
“The constant, consuming march of the pornography beetle blights neighborhoods just as it contaminates human lives. It has just about destroyed some areas. It moves relentlessly closer to your city, your neighborhood, and your family. Pornography is now more available than ever. At the click of a button, evil can be viewed in our homes on televisions and computer screens, in our hotels and movie theaters, or even in our places of employment, where access to the Internet is often provided.” President Thomas S. Monson, Pornography—the Deadly Carrier, October 1979 General Conference
“We have the capacity and the responsibility to stand as a bulwark between all we hold dear and the fatal contamination of the pornography beetle. May I suggest three specific steps in our battle plan:
First, a return to righteousness. An understanding of who we are and what God expects us to become will prompt us to pray—as individuals and as families. Such a return reveals the constant truth: “Wickedness never was happiness.” Let not the evil one dissuade. We can yet be guided by that still, small voice—unerring in its direction and all-powerful in its influence.
Second, a quest for the good life. I speak not of the fun life, the sophisticated life, the popular life. Rather, I urge each to seek eternal life—life everlasting with mother, father, brothers, sisters, husband, wife, sons, and daughters, forever and forever together.
Third, a pledge to wage and win the war against pernicious permissiveness. As we encounter that evil carrier, the pornography beetle, let our battle standard and that of our communities be taken from that famous ensign of early America, “Don’t tread on me.” President Thomas S. Monson, Pornography—the Deadly Carrier, October 1979 General Conference
“Those who seek out and use pornography forfeit the power of their priesthood. Patrons of pornography also lose the companionship of the Spirit.” Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Pornography, April 2005 General Conference
“Pornography is as addictive as cocaine or any illegal drug. Without a doubt, pornography is addictive and is poison.” Elder James E. Faust, The Enemy Within, October 2000 General Conference
“Curious exploration of pornography can become a controlling habit, leading to coarser material and to sexual transgression.” President Thomas S. Monson, That We May Touch Heaven, October 1990 General Conference
“In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting. We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. 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 (ironically being of the world while not being in the world).” Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Brethren, We Have Work to Do, October 2012 General Conference
“You adult men—fathers, single adults, leaders, home teachers—be worthy models and help the rising generation of boys become men. Teach them social and other skills: how to participate in a conversation, how to get acquainted and interact with others, how to relate to women and girls, how to serve, how to be active and enjoy recreation, how to pursue hobbies without becoming addicted, how to correct mistakes and make better choices.” Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Brethren, We Have Work to Do, October 2012 General Conference