beguiling voices of those who would persuade us,
we capitulate. We compromise. We acquiesce. We
give in, and we are ashamed of ourselves. As men
of the priesthood we must cultivate the strength to
follow our convictions” (in Conference Report, Oct.
1992, 72–73; or Ensign,Nov. 1992, 51–52).
President Thomas S. Monson
“Whatever you read, listen to, or watch makes an
impression on you.
“Pornography is especially dangerous and addictive.
Curious exploration of pornography can become a
controlling habit, leading to coarser material and to
sexual transgression.
“Don’t be afraid to walk out of a movie, turn off a
television set, or change a radio station if what’s
being presented does not meet your Heavenly Father’s
standards. In short, if you have any question about
whether a particular movie, book, or other form of
entertainment is appropriate, don’t see it, don’t
read it, don’t participate” (in Conference Report,
Oct. 1990, 60; or Ensign,Nov. 1990, 46).
President James E. Faust
“Surfing the Internet may draw us into that which,
if pursued, can destroy our marriages, our homes,
and even our lives” (in Conference Report, Apr.
1999, 20; or Ensign,May 1999, 17).
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
“The Lord knew that in the last days Satan would
try to destroy the family unit. He knew that by
court edict, pornography would be allowed to
prosper” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 23).
Elder Thomas S. Monson
“The beetle of pornography is doing his deadly
task—undercutting our will, destroying our immunity,
and stifling that upward reach within each of us”
(in Conference Report, Oct. 1979, 96; or Ensign,
Nov. 1979, 66).
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
“A diet of violence or pornography dulls the senses,
and future exposures need to be rougher and more
extreme. Soon the person is desensitized and is
unable to react in a sensitive, caring, responsible
manner, especially to those in his own home and
family. Good people can become infested with this
material and it can have terrifying, destructive
consequences” (in Conference Report, Oct.
1977, 108; or Ensign,Nov. 1977, 71).Elder Neal A. Maxwell
“A little pornography may not only lead to child
and spouse abuse, but it slowly sucks out the
marrow of self-esteem” (in Conference Report, Oct.
1992, 91; or Ensign,Nov. 1992, 67).Elder M. Russell Ballard
“We must not take lightly the confession of a recently
executed killer on the impact pornography and
violence in media had on his life. The Apostle Paul
warned that men can become ‘past feeling...
[giving] themselves over unto lasciviousness, to
work all uncleanness with greediness’ (Ephesians
4:19). In Proverbs we read, ‘As [a man] thinketh
..., so is he’ (23:7). A mind exposed to violence
and immorality cannot escape the negative impact
of such exposure” (in Conference Report, Apr.
1989, 99; or Ensign,May 1989, 79).Movies and Videos
President Ezra Taft Benson
“We counsel you, young men, not to pollute your
minds with such degrading matter, for the mind
through which this filth passes is never the same
afterward. Don’t see R-rated movies or vulgar videos
or participate in any entertainment that is immoral,
suggestive, or pornographic. Don’t listen to music
that is degrading” (in Conference Report, Apr.
1986, 58; or Ensign,May 1986, 45).Elder Joe J. Christensen
“The Savior is counting on you to avoid the
immoral trash that surrounds you in the media.
“Satan has made great inroads into the lives of
some Latter-day Saints through the evil in the
media. I am confident that the great majority of
you have not been guilty of serious sexual sin, but
many are placing themselves in a path that could
lead to it. A bishop reported that he had observed
that the spiritual level of the young priesthood
bearers in his ward was declining. Through his
personal interviews with them, he discovered that
many of them were watching R-rated movies. When
he asked them where they went to see such trash,
they said, ‘We don’t go anywhere. We watch them266 PORNOGRAPHY