Tragedy of Pornography

Pornography is such a scary thing.  It is one of the largest traps that the adversary has at trying to steer people away from Heavenly Father.  Satan’s goal is to destroy families.  Immorality and pornography are one of the things that cause families to be broken up and fall apart.  I know on a personal level how much damage pornography can do to a family.  I saw first hand how it affected my husband and his siblings in the months/years after his parents were divorced.  It has taken nearly 12 years for my husband to have regular contact with his father.  We need to avoid anything that is pornographic or immoral and choose the high road.  One wrong click can lead to a lifetime of sadness.

Photo Credit: www.ldsliving.com

Quote 1:  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, "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance", Ensign and Liahona, November 2009

Quote 2:  To indulge in pornography leads to difficulites, divorce, disease, and troubles of a dozen kinds.  There is no part of it that is innocent.  To collect it, view it, or carry it around in any form is akin to keeping a rattlesnake in your backpack.  It exposes you to the inevitable spiritual equivalent of the serpent's strike with its injection of deadly venom...

Boyd K. Packer, Liahona, August 2014

Quote 3:  I testify to you that your body, mind, and spirit can be transformed, cleansed, and made whole, and you will be freed.

M. Russel Ballard, "'O That Cunning Plan of the Evil One", General Conference, October 2010

Quote 3:  Because the Spirit whispers to us gently and delicately, it is easy to understand why we should shun inappropriate media, pornography, and harmful, addictive substances and behaviors. These tools of the adversary can impair and eventually destroy our capacity to recognize and respond to the subtle messages from God delivered by the power of His Spirit. Each of us should consider seriously and ponder prayerfully how we can reject the devil’s enticements and righteously “apply unto it,” even the spirit of revelation, in our personal lives and families."

Elder David A. Bednar, "The Spirit of Revelation", April 2011 General Conference

Quote 4:  When we see the pornography, the adulterous practices, homosexuality gone rampant, the looseness and permissiveness of an apparently increasing proportion of the people, we say the days of Satan have returned and history seems to repeat itself. Recently I came across a statement of the Presidency of the Church in another day, about six presidents ago, and I should like to have read many of the lines from that statement, for it brings to our mind that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the commandments that he gave to the early prophets in other millennia and to the prophets in the day of the Savior, and to prophets of this day, bring to our minds fully and conclusively that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When we see the depravity of numerous people of our own society in their determination to force upon people vulgar presentations, filthy communications, unnatural practices, we wonder, has Satan reached forth with his wicked, evil hand to pull into his forces the people of this earth? Do we not have enough good people left to stamp out the evil which threatens our world? Why do we continue to compromise with evil and why do we continue to tolerate sin?"

President Spencer W. Kimball, "Why Do We Continue to Tolerate Sin?", April 1975 General Conference

Quote 5:  "Whether you wear a green T-shirt or a blue one makes no difference in the long run. However, whether you decide to push a key on your computer which will take you to pornography can make all the difference in your life. You will have just taken a step off the straight, safe path. If a friend pressures you to drink alcohol or to try drugs and you succumb to the pressure, you are taking a detour from which you may not return. Brethren, whether we are 12-year-old deacons or mature high priests, we are susceptible. May we keep our eyes, our hearts, and our determination focused on that goal which is eternal and worth any price we will have to pay, regardless of the sacrifice we must make to reach it. No temptation, no pressure, no enticing can overcome us unless we allow such. If we make the wrong choice, we have no one to blame but ourselves. President Brigham Young once expressed this truth by relating it to himself. Said he: “If Brother Brigham shall take a wrong track, and be shut out of the Kingdom of heaven, no person will be to blame but Brother Brigham. I am the only being in heaven, earth, or hell, that can be blamed.” He continued: “This will equally apply to every Latter-day Saint. Salvation is an individual operation."

President Thomas S. Monson, "The Three Rs of Choice", October 2010 General Conference

Quote 6:  "On the other hand, however—and 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."

President Thomas S. Monson , "Until We Meet Again", April 2009 General Conference

Quote 7: Pornography is especially dangerous and addictive. Curious exploration of pornography can become a controlling habit, leading to coarser material and to sexual transgression. Avoid pornography at all costs.

President Thomas S. Monson, “Preparation Brings Blessings”, April 2010 General Conference

Quote 8: Participation in pornography in any of its lucid forms is a manifestation of unbridled selfishness.

Elder Richard G. Scott, “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance”, October 2009 

Quote 9: Strangely enough, it may be that the simplest and most powerful prevention and cure for pornography, or any unclean act, is to ignore and avoid it.

President Boyd K. Packer, “Cleansing the Inner Vessel”, October 2010

Quote 10: Pornography produces fantasies that destroy spirituality.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Pornography”, April 2005

Video on Pornography