How To Resist The Temptation Of Pornography

“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

Pornography or more commonly known as porn is a tool which Satan uses to destroy our spirits, make us see people as objects,  and ruins our relationships with people. Porn isn’t something that is going to benefit you in any way. Satan’s main goal with Pornography is to make others  become addicted to it so they will no longer have the ability to choose if they view it. The main goal of Satan in general is to take away our agency and to make us miserably. People become addicted to pornography because viewing it releases an extreme amount of dopamine into your body. After a while of viewing pornography, this release becomes natural to the user and it isn’t pleasurable anymore. When this happens they start to look for more extreme porn or they need to look at it more. If people addicted to it try to stop, they will experience withdrawal symptoms just like drugs. 

Pornography also makes you enjoy things in life less because of all the dopamine released from the porn. Usually people addicted will experience anxiety and depression. Pornography also makes you view others differently. You start to see others as objects you can use for sexual pleasure. You also start to treat others less like another human. Overtime this can possibly lead to the viewer raping others. It can also make you become more abusive and aggressive towards others. 

Many people and doctors say that viewing pornography is healthy and if you don’t view it, you are missing out on health benefits. This is false and lies the Devil tells. These people may be deceived and they are telling you false information or, they may be trying to help Satan take away your ability to choose and feel happiness. 

“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

Now that we understand why pornography is bad, we now need to talk about how to overcome the temptation of it. You can fast and pray for help to resist the temptation. Fasting and prying will give you strength to help you overcome this temptation. No matter how hard the temptation is, don’t view it. You don’t want to experience any of the negative side effects. It would also be wise to download an app on your phone and install a software on your computer that blocks pornography. Another thing you can do is to distract yourself whenever you have the feeling to view it. Find something that you enjoy doing and do it instead of viewing pornography. There are plenty of things to do besides looking at porn. 

If for whatever reason the temptation becomes too strong to handle, immediately drop to your knees and start praying for the feeling to go away until it does. When it does, start to make a meeting with your bishop to receive help. If  the feeling is so strong that you have to look at it, you need help from others. You and only you can control yourself. At first it may be that hardest thing to do but you can do it. You are responsible for every choice you make no matter what. 

“I counsel all of you brethren to avoid every kind of addiction. At this time Satan and his followers are enslaving some of our choicest young people through addiction to alcohol, all kinds of drugs, pornography, tobacco, gambling, and other compulsive disorders. Some people seem to be born with a weakness for these substances so that only a single experimentation will result in uncontrollable addiction. Some addictions are actually mind-altering and create a craving that overpowers reason and judgment. These addictions destroy the lives not only of those who do not resist them but also their parents, spouses, and children. As the prophet Jeremiah lamented, “The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates.”

“The Lord in His wisdom has warned us that substances that are not good for us should be totally avoided. We have been warned not to take the first drink, smoke the first cigarette, or try the first drug. Curiosity and peer pressure are selfish reasons to dabble with addictive substances. We should stop and consider the full consequences, not just to ourselves and our futures, but also to our loved ones. These consequences are physical, but they also risk the loss of the Spirit and cause us to fall prey to Satan.”

-James E. Faust |  “A Royal Priesthood,” LDS General Conference (April 2006)

While doing research for this topic, I have found some amazing websites that might be helpful to those that are struggling with Pornography. 

Websites :

https://www.sarabrewer.com/workwithme

http://www.lifechangingservices.org/?fbclid=IwAR2lA0hXD19UAiN2q2aKNd2ysARhCEaCKhN0F8EYZ81qDf_sdS1_qF_AZag

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/help-for-me?lang=eng

https://rowboatandmarbles.org/lds-overcome-pornography-addiction-possible