I know that I've said that I'm going to do a post on this topic several times now...but I have just not been willing to pick up this heavy topic for fear of exploding my views out too angrily or harshly and taking up too much space. Pornography is something I feel strongly about and it has made a jump to the forefront of my mind for several reasons.
First off, the stuff pretty much everyone recognizes as porn...strip clubs, naked pictures, bad videos. Is it just me or has this become insanely easy to access and ridiculously accepted in main stream society?
A couple years ago I read an article about how a public college had an actual class on pornography. Not just a class talking about its affect on society, but one you actually had to see an X rated video as part of the curriculum, are you serious!?!
I currently work at a power plant. The guys I work with are rough and tumble, mainly retired navy personnel. Come to find out from everyday conversations, strip clubs are a mainstay of after work entertainment. What's even worse is that these are married men. Where's the respect? What in the world do their wives think of this?
After one of my rants one evening along the lines of the last few sentences Curt asked a female co-worker what she thought of strip clubs. She replied that she had been OK with her husband going to them all while they had been married (past tense), but then had actually gone in one with her current boyfriend and had abruptly about faced on her opinion. Curt asked why the change and her reply was that she had not realized that there was touching. My question is why would she have been OK with it either way?
College aged boys and beyond almost universally pull up inappropriate things on the internet and are expected to stay up to date on the latest issue of playboy; they would scoff at the statement that this should be abnormal.
OK, I have taken some deep breaths and I now think that I am prepared to say something in a non-emotionally charged state.
These things are wrong. Very wrong. First off, what does this behavior signify or perpetuate? For one, it distorts men's view of women until they become merely objects who exist for pure carnal pleasures sake. I think it interferes with appropriate male/female relationships on every level, from mere acquaintance to marriage partner or father. Second, I believe that viewing/participating in this kind of thing damages one's soul. It creates a rift between the person involved and any means of feeling genuine self respect.
OK, so that's my summary of how pornography affects society as a whole.
But I want to go further...I want to share my feelings on a higher law that God has set forth for true followers- a higher standard that I expect my husband, my brothers, and any member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to follow and be held to.
Pornography is defined as the following on the church website:
"Pornography is any material depicting or describing the human body or sexual conduct in a way that arouses sexual feelings. It is distributed through many media, including magazines, books, television, movies, music, and the Internet. It is as harmful to the spirit as tobacco, alcohol, and drugs are to the body. Using pornographic material in any way is a violation of a commandment of God: "Thou shalt not . . . commit adultery . . . nor do anything like unto it" (D&C 59:6). It can lead to other serious sins. Members of the Church should avoid pornography in any form and should oppose its production, distribution, and use."
Can a magazine cover with a woman in a swimsuit be pornographic? You'd better believe it.
Are you in danger if you take this matter lightly? You had probably also better believe that.
Can a widely seen/viewed/accepted movie be pornography? Think "Wedding Crashers", I am disgusted to say that I have seen that movie. I'm sure you can think of many more.
Are many of the "funny" movies that come out today crossing the line in lewd humor? Yes.
I have found a most excellent talk entitles "Sense of the Sacred" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson. It says a lot of how I feel, but is said in a much better way than I can muster with my present writing skills. Please read it, I think your life can be enriched by its message.
Here are some other talks that I have found to be very good on the topic of pornography:
Pornography, Elder Dallin H. Oaks
A Tragic Evil Among Us, President Gordon B. Hinkley
The Sanctity of Womanhood, Elder Richard G. Scott
True to the Faith, President Gordon B. Hinkley
Blessed Are All the Pure in Heart, Elder L. Whitney Clayton
More than making me angry, this tide of sin that is washing over this world makes me bone-tired sad. I hate to see the deterioration of the family. I know that this will lead to very serious consequences in all levels of society. I hope for something better. I will teach my sons and my daughters to be better.
First off, the stuff pretty much everyone recognizes as porn...strip clubs, naked pictures, bad videos. Is it just me or has this become insanely easy to access and ridiculously accepted in main stream society?
A couple years ago I read an article about how a public college had an actual class on pornography. Not just a class talking about its affect on society, but one you actually had to see an X rated video as part of the curriculum, are you serious!?!
I currently work at a power plant. The guys I work with are rough and tumble, mainly retired navy personnel. Come to find out from everyday conversations, strip clubs are a mainstay of after work entertainment. What's even worse is that these are married men. Where's the respect? What in the world do their wives think of this?
After one of my rants one evening along the lines of the last few sentences Curt asked a female co-worker what she thought of strip clubs. She replied that she had been OK with her husband going to them all while they had been married (past tense), but then had actually gone in one with her current boyfriend and had abruptly about faced on her opinion. Curt asked why the change and her reply was that she had not realized that there was touching. My question is why would she have been OK with it either way?
College aged boys and beyond almost universally pull up inappropriate things on the internet and are expected to stay up to date on the latest issue of playboy; they would scoff at the statement that this should be abnormal.
OK, I have taken some deep breaths and I now think that I am prepared to say something in a non-emotionally charged state.
These things are wrong. Very wrong. First off, what does this behavior signify or perpetuate? For one, it distorts men's view of women until they become merely objects who exist for pure carnal pleasures sake. I think it interferes with appropriate male/female relationships on every level, from mere acquaintance to marriage partner or father. Second, I believe that viewing/participating in this kind of thing damages one's soul. It creates a rift between the person involved and any means of feeling genuine self respect.
OK, so that's my summary of how pornography affects society as a whole.
But I want to go further...I want to share my feelings on a higher law that God has set forth for true followers- a higher standard that I expect my husband, my brothers, and any member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to follow and be held to.
Pornography is defined as the following on the church website:
"Pornography is any material depicting or describing the human body or sexual conduct in a way that arouses sexual feelings. It is distributed through many media, including magazines, books, television, movies, music, and the Internet. It is as harmful to the spirit as tobacco, alcohol, and drugs are to the body. Using pornographic material in any way is a violation of a commandment of God: "Thou shalt not . . . commit adultery . . . nor do anything like unto it" (D&C 59:6). It can lead to other serious sins. Members of the Church should avoid pornography in any form and should oppose its production, distribution, and use."
Can a magazine cover with a woman in a swimsuit be pornographic? You'd better believe it.
Are you in danger if you take this matter lightly? You had probably also better believe that.
Can a widely seen/viewed/accepted movie be pornography? Think "Wedding Crashers", I am disgusted to say that I have seen that movie. I'm sure you can think of many more.
Are many of the "funny" movies that come out today crossing the line in lewd humor? Yes.
I have found a most excellent talk entitles "Sense of the Sacred" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson. It says a lot of how I feel, but is said in a much better way than I can muster with my present writing skills. Please read it, I think your life can be enriched by its message.
Here are some other talks that I have found to be very good on the topic of pornography:
Pornography, Elder Dallin H. Oaks
A Tragic Evil Among Us, President Gordon B. Hinkley
The Sanctity of Womanhood, Elder Richard G. Scott
True to the Faith, President Gordon B. Hinkley
Blessed Are All the Pure in Heart, Elder L. Whitney Clayton
More than making me angry, this tide of sin that is washing over this world makes me bone-tired sad. I hate to see the deterioration of the family. I know that this will lead to very serious consequences in all levels of society. I hope for something better. I will teach my sons and my daughters to be better.
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