How can I resist pornography?

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

“Pornography, with its sleazy filth, sweeps over the earth like a horrible, engulfing tide. It is poison. Do not watch it or read it. It will destroy you if you do. It will take from you your self-respect. It will rob you of a sense of the beauties of life. It will tear you down and pull you into a slough of evil thoughts and possibly of evil actions. Stay away from it. Shun it as you would a foul disease, for it is just as deadly” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Some Thoughts on Temples, Retention of Converts, and Missionary Service,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 51). As we “put on the whole armour of God” (see Ephesians 6:11–17) and rely on the strength of the Lord, we can protect ourselves against the adversary’s attacks on virtue and keep our thoughts and actions pure.

Resources to Help You Prepare

These resources are to help you prepare for the “Learn together” section of the meeting.

Genesis 39:7–21; Romans 12:21; 2 Timothy 2:22; Alma 39:9; Moroni 10:30; Doctrine and Covenants 27:15–18; 121:45–46 (We must immediately turn away from the temptation to lust and instead fill our minds with clean thoughts)
Isaiah 1:18; Helaman 12:23; Doctrine and Covenants 58:42–43 (We can be forgiven if we repent)
Matthew 5:27–28; Romans 6:12; Alma 39:9; Doctrine and Covenants 42:23 (Lusting after a woman is a sin with serious consequences)
1 Nephi 17:3; Mosiah 24:14; Alma 26:12 (God will strengthen us in our efforts to keep the commandments)
Linda S. Reeves, “Protection from Pornography—a Christ-Focused Home,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 15–17
Quentin L. Cook, “Can Ye Feel So Now?” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 6–9
Jeffrey R. Holland, “Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 44–46; see also the video “Watch Your Step”

2:35
Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts (booklet, 2006)
“Pornography,” True to the Faith (2004), 117–18
“Entertainment and Media,” For the Strength of Youth (2011), 11–13
“To Look Upon” (video)

2:3
“Pornography Addiction: Is There Hope?” (video)

3:46

Questions to Ponder before You Teach

What wholesome and uplifting things have you filled your life with to help resist pornography? How has resisting pornography blessed you as a priesthood holder? as a husband? as a father?

In what ways are your young men exposed to pornography? How can it affect their priesthood power? What wholesome and uplifting influences could you suggest to help them resist pornography?

What can the young men do to prepare to learn? For example, they could read a talk, watch a video, or study a scripture related to this doctrine.

Meeting Outline

1. Counsel Together and Share Experiences

Led by a member of the quorum presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes

Lead a discussion about items such as the following:

Our quorum: Who is missing today? What visits do we need to make? Who should we invite to an upcoming activity? Who needs our help and prayers?
Our duties: What assignments do we need to make? What assignments have we fulfilled? How have we invited others to come unto Christ, and how can we invite others now?
Our lives: Remind the quorum of the discussion from the last meeting. What experiences have we had with applying what we learned? What experiences have we had in the past few weeks that strengthened our testimonies of the gospel?

If possible, discuss these items beforehand in a quorum presidency meeting.

2. Learn Together

Led by a leader or teacher or a member of the quorum; approximately 25–35 minutes

After studying the above resources and following the inspiration of the Spirit, you may select one or more of the activities below to help quorum members understand the doctrine.

Show the video “To Look Upon,” and have the young men tell you to pause the video each time David could have made a different choice. What happened to King David after this experience? (see 2 Samuel 11–12). How did it affect his family? Why is looking at pornography so dangerous? Have the young men read Genesis 39:7–21 and look for how Joseph responded in a similar situation. Briefly compare the results of King David’s actions and Joseph’s. Why is viewing pornography a sin against God? What safeguards have the young men used or heard of others using to help avoid pornography? What wholesome activities or thoughts could they use to replace inappropriate thoughts?

2:3
Ask the young men why they think pornography is harmful to the soul. As a quorum, read the section titled “Pornography” in True to the Faith. At the end of each paragraph, take time to discuss the importance of what has been read. (For example, you could discuss with the young men the different places or situations in which they might encounter pornography. What could they do to safeguard against pornography? Invite them to plan what they will do when they find it accidentally.) After the third paragraph, discuss the power of the Atonement and how the bishop or branch president participates in the repentance process. Invite the young men to see the bishop if they have become involved in viewing pornography.
Invite the young men to imagine they are having a talk with their future 12-year-old son about why pornography is so destructive and how to avoid it. Assign half of the quorum to search Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk “Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul” and the other half to search Sister Linda S. Reeves’s talk “Protection from Pornography—a Christ-Focused Home,” looking for information or statements that could help them with this discussion. (They could also watch one of the videos in this outline.) Invite them to share what they find. How do their choices regarding pornography now affect their future happiness when they become husbands and fathers?
Invite the young men to imagine they had the opportunity to tell a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles about the challenges youth today face regarding pornography. What might they say to him? Give each young man a copy of the six paragraphs from Elder Quentin L. Cook’s talk “Can Ye Feel So Now?” beginning with the phrase “Sexual immorality and impure thoughts.” Ask half of the quorum to look for and share what Elder Cook learned from a 15-year-old young man, and ask the other half to look for and share the counsel Elder Cook gives. What can the young men do to help make their homes “places of refuge” from pornography?
Invite the young men to imagine that they have a friend who is struggling with pornography. What would they say to help him? Ask each young man to read “Entertainment and Media” in For the Strength of Youth or parts of the section titled “Finding Strength to Abandon Sin” from the booklet Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts. What would the young men share from these readings with their friend? What other scriptures could help someone struggling with pornography? (See, for example, the scriptures suggested in this outline.)

3. Plan to Act

Led by a member of the quorum presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes

Ask the young men to discuss any feelings or impressions they had during the meeting. What was meaningful to them? Is there something they can do personally or as a quorum to apply what they have learned?
Give the young men a few minutes to record what they will do in the coming weeks to act on their impressions. Invite them to share their ideas.
Remind the young men that they will have the opportunity to share their experiences at the beginning of the next meeting.

Related Youth Activities

Plan a Mutual activity that will help the young men apply what they learned in this lesson.