UCAP Conference –
March 12, 2015
Keynote Speaker – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Pornography is easier to access and it is growing.
Pornography is rending the moral fiber of society – it is
rending the moral fiber of individuals.
Studies are helping to show damage – Barnum Group – Porn Phenomenon
3,000 people across the board
Earlier findings were
difficult because it was not easily researched.
Now, people are more comfortable talking about it because the social taboo is
less.
Most Americans believe it is harmful, however
89% teens are neutral about porn or seem it as good.
95% of young adults will have conversations about porn use.
Most Millennial believe that not recycling is a bigger
problem than porn use.
Young woman is more common – under 25 ½ have sought porn
occasionally
And 1/3 seek it monthly.
Pornography has gone almost completely digital. 71% of Adults 85% of teens and young adults
are online.
When not seeking pornography, the study shows that people
are exposed to unsolicited pornography once a week.
US Conference of
Catholic Bishops: Create in Me a
Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to
Pornography states that society must see pornography as an epidemic or
plague. If this were an infectious
disease like polio or avian flu society
would want it eradicated. It would be approached
like a war where they would bring in the best experts in that field to work on
eradicating it. We need to see
pornography the same way. We need to
sound the sirens.
In Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, He expanded the definition
of adultery to include looking at or lusting after another. This defiles the letter and the spirit of the
law. He also talks about not hiding your
light and that He is the light of the world.
There is NO light in pornography.
It is dark, dingy, dirty, secret, and hidden. The Savior must have seen this plague coming.
LDS leaders, Catholic Priests, Protestant ministers, Jewish
Rabbis and Muslim Mullahs all have spoken out against pornography. Pornography is the opposite of healthy
intimacy.
Human trafficking is violence against the soul. In LDS belief the soul is more than the
spirit. Because of the atoning sacrifice
of our Savior, we redemption of the Soul, which is the spirit and the
resurrected body. To trivialize and
demean the body is to trivialize and demean the soul. They are connected.
If we see our child
in danger – we would damn the torpedoes, storm the barricades or run into a
burning building to save that child.
When these images are viewed, it should be remembered that these
“actors” are someone’s son or daughter, brother or sister. Someone’s family treasure.
Pornography is an
addiction of the highest order. Not
everyone who views porn is addicted but casual viewing leads to compulsive viewing
which leads to entrapment. Viewing
rewires the neuro circuit of the brain like cocaine or alcohol. The view begins to crave more and more. The viewing time gets higher and more
extreme.
Porn is referred to as Triple A – Accessibility, Anonymity, and
Affordability. A person takes a risk to
view it and than brings embarrassment, guilt, even termination of family and/or
employment.
What is a little slower in coming is the recognition of
damage to the family and particularly to the spouse. We need to recognize the collateral damage
being done to families.
Elder Holland uses Hold FAST when he counsels people in this
matter. F is for Flee – leave the pull
of proximity. A is Ask for help,
especially from God. S is for Striving –
this will not be easily overcome but with persistent effort it can. T is for Triumph – victory is possible and we
must have hope.
We need to do all we can do as a coalition (UCAP).
Our Savior’s Atoning Sacrifice, that force – that pull is
eternal. We must seek it and allow it
into our lives. The Atonement is a certain reality.
The reality of Christ’s Redemptive Power is permanent,
peaceful and everlasting.
Before Christ went into the Garden of Gethsemane, he said
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.” (John 16:33)
The task at hand seems overwhelming and the odds are not so
good, but we must issue and then answer the call.
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