An updated website from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers a more helpful and hopeful approach for Latter-day Saints seeking protection, help and healing from pornography use. The web address has also changed. Addressingpornography.lds.org has replaced overcomingpornography.org.
“We are mortals; we all make mistakes. But God wants us to become more like His Beloved Son,” President Russell M. Nelson says in a video on the website. “[We can] literally become more like Him with every passing day. … We want to choose to be on the Lord’s side. We want to have Him as our God and let Him know that we are His people.”
In addition to President Nelson’s comments, the website features new video commentary from President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency and five members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, including quorum President M. Russell Ballard, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder David A. Bednar, Elder D. Todd Christofferson and Elder Ronald A. Rasband. Several current and former general Church officers and local Church leaders also share their insights.
Helpful videos and resources on the website feature real people telling their stories and qualified therapists and experts giving explanations.
Visitors to the site will find answers to specific questions about how to protect against, respond to and heal from pornography, whether they are:
- Parents who wish to help their children prepare for inadvertent exposure to pornography, handle early experiences with pornography or recover from compulsive use. Parents can find answers to questions such as “How do I respond when I discover my child has viewed pornography?” and “How can I help my child progress spiritually after pornography use?”
“We are encouraging parents to take a new, importantly different approach to protecting and preparing, responding with love and supporting their child’s healing, depending upon their child’s specific needs,” said Lee Gibbons, a senior product manager in the Church’s Priesthood and Family Department.
- Individuals who have developed pornography habits they want to overcome. Resources answer questions like “Why do I feel so bad about myself?” “Why does this keep happening?” and “Where can I turn for help?”
- Spouses of pornography users who have just found out about their spouse’s addiction or are trying to move forward and heal. Questions they can find answers to include “How can I best help my spouse?” and “Will the pain and suffering ever end?”
“The goal is to help affected spouses to focus on finding healing for themselves as they learn to understand and work through the unique issues they face,” said Gibbons.
- Leaders who need guidance and support to better minister to individuals, spouses, parents and youth impacted by pornography who are in their care. Additional videos can be found on the Counseling Resources page.
Also included in a Resources section are lessons designed to help parents discuss pornography with their children and equip children with skills to respond appropriately to pornographic content when they encounter it. The lessons include basic doctrines and principles, all age-appropriate, about the sacredness of the body, sexual intimacy, following the Holy Spirit’s guidance, choosing good media, appropriate action steps for when a child sees pornography and repentance. They also include age-specific activities parents can select based on the needs of their family. The lessons are designed for a family home evening setting, but the references and activities can be used in a variety of situations.
Five key principles emphasized throughout the experience center on the Savior’s Atonement, love and power. “As we act in accordance with the teachings of Christ, the power of the Spirit comes into our lives to do and become what we could never otherwise do or become. There is hope, through the Savior, for us to be clean and to again have a brightness of hope,” the site states.
“There really is no single secret to success for what is a unique healing experience for each person, except to trust in the Lord and follow the five Atonement-based principles,” said Gibbons.
The website includes a link to attend or call in to support meetings through the Church’s Addiction Recovery Program, as well additional Church and outside resources. Additional languages and content specifically for youth will come throughout 2019 and 2020.