C O M B A T I N G P O R N O G R A P H Y : Replacing Darkness with Light

Helping Those with Pornography Problems Through

Repentance and Forgiveness
In assisting members with pornography problems, bishops—and other priesthood leaders, as assigned by bishops—have a sacred
stewardship to help the member first understand the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ and then apply those doctrines. The
goal is for the member to develop “faith unto repentance.”1 Indeed, this is the only process through which the member can totally
be cleansed from sin and enjoy all of God’s blessings.

I. TEACH THE DOCTRINE

1 The Plan of Salvation

• God loves us. He wants us to return and live with Him forever.2

• God’s commandments and standards are intended to keep us safe and happy and to
bless us in this life and in the life to come.3

• One of the reasons we came to earth was to gain a physical body and be tested.4 As
part of our physical body, God gave us sacred powers of procreation.5 If we use these
powers in the way that God intended, they can bring us great joy and happiness.6 But if
we misuse them and break God’s laws, we will bring great unhappiness to ourselves and
to others.7

• One of the tests in this life is to prove to God and to ourselves that we will appropriately
use the powers of procreation.8 When we use self-control9 to safeguard them properly in
this life and do everything else God asks us to do, these sacred powers will be a lasting
blessing to us and to our posterity.

• Satan does everything he can to convince us to misuse the sacred powers of procreation—powers that he will never possess.10
Pornography is a tool11 that Satan uses to cheapen the sacred powers of procreation and to portray them as nothing more than
a lust to be satisfied.12 Pornography often leads to fornication or adultery or to other sexual sins that violate our sacred cov-
enants.13

2 The Atonement and Repentance

• We are in a fallen state, subject to sin and pain.14 There is no way, by ourselves, to reclaim our souls from this fallen state.15 Rath-
er, the only way we can be reclaimed is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.16 However, the great power of the Atonement
does not automatically apply to us; it comes into full force only if we repent.17 Repentance requires that we recognize our sin, fully
confess it, and forsake it.18 But this is not enough. If we are to fully avail ourselves of the miracle of forgiveness—and thereby fully
apply Christ’s Atonement in our lives—we must experience a “mighty change of heart.”19 This is rarely an event; most often it is a
process20 consisting of the following (sometimes repetitive) steps:

Believe: We must have faith and believe that we can truly change—that there is no hurdle too high or temptation too great for
us if we have the Lord’s help.21

Do: We must do the things that the Lord has asked of us.22 Normally, a testimony and added spiritual strength come only after
we do what God has asked us to do.23

Become: After we believe and do, the Lord is able to help us change our hearts.24 If we work long enough and hard enough, we
will have a mighty change of heart in which “we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.”25 Thereafter, we
are promised that our weak things can become strong.26
• Once we have done all we can, the grace of God—through Christ’s Atonement—makes up the difference and allows us to be to-
tally clean.27 Save for those very few who have committed unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost, there is no habit, addiction,
or transgression that is exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness.28

II. HELP THE MEMBER APPLY THESE GOSPEL DOCTRINES

1 The Plan of Salvation

The bishop should help the member understand that he or she cannot move forward without a full and complete confession. Some-
times, it will take several meetings with the member before he or she is prepared to be fully open and truthful about past conduct.

2 Accountability

As the bishop and the member meet together, the bishop can help the member understand the relationship between justice and
mercy and how they apply to his or her situation. Sensitivity, love, and warmth should be used to inspire and encourage; the bishop
should not shame or coerce the member. A disciplinary council should not be held to discipline or threaten members who are strug-
gling with pornography or self-abuse. As part of the member’s accountability, it is appropriate to consider such things as limiting
access to the temple or partaking of the sacrament. The bishop should carefully ponder whether the member will best be assisted
by withholding these and similar privileges for a time, or whether an increased pattern of participation in these activities will best
benefit the member. The bishop should help the member understand that he or she is a child of God and that viewing pornography
is not worthy of one of such divine heritage and value.

3 Regular Prayer and Scripture Study

Regular prayer and scripture study are essential if the member is to develop the necessary faith to experience a mighty change of
heart. Prayers must be specific, humbly asking for forgiveness and exercising faith in the Atonement.29 A member may also receive
great strength by studying instruction from general conference and articles in the Ensign addressing these topics.

4 Develop Faith

The member must believe that he or she can change. The bishop or assigned priesthood leaders should be positive with the mem-
ber, review the principles of faith, and teach the member that he or she needs only the smallest of desires to begin the process.30
The member needs to understand how this small seed of faith can be nurtured so that it can ultimately blossom into the faith
needed to sustain real change.

5 Do It!

The bishop or assigned priesthood leaders should challenge the member to apply his or her faith and to trust in Heavenly Father.
They should also testify to the member that God will help in this endeavor and that a mighty change of heart can indeed occur
over time. Helping the member set lofty but realistic goals will assist the member in exercising faith and doing whatever the Lord
requires.

6 A Process, Not an Event

The bishop or assigned priesthood leaders should help the member understand that normally all of this will take time—much like
the planting of the seed, the nourishment of the young roots, the tree becoming strong, and finally the bringing forth of fruit de-
scribed by Alma.31 It is not required (nor is it very realistic) that the member be perfect going forward or that he or she immediately
experience a mighty change of heart. Rather, the member must move forward with real intent to seek forgiveness, eliminate sinful
conduct, and make measured progress.
NOTES

1
See Alma 34:15–17.
2
See Moses 1:39.
3
See Mosiah 2:41.
4
Preach My Gospel (2004), 49.
5
See Boyd K. Packer, “Ye Are the Temple of God,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 72.
6
See “Ye Are the Temple of God,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 72.
7
See Preach My Gospel, 50; see also Jeffrey R. Holland, “Personal Purity,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 75.
8
See Boyd K. Packer, “Ye Are the Temple of God,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 72.
9
See James E. Faust, “Message to My Grandsons,” Ensign, May 2007, 54–56: “You will lose part of that which is sacred about
yourself if you go beyond the edge and abuse the great powers of procreation. How can any of us hope to play a great role in
time or eternity if we have no power of self-control?”
10
See Dallin H. Oaks, “The Great Plan of Happiness,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 72.
11
See Richard G. Scott, “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 6.
12
See Richard G. Scott, “The Sanctity of Womanhood,” New Era, Nov. 2008, 2.
13
See D&C 42:22–23.
14
See Alma 42:4–6.
15
See Alma 42:12–13.
16
See Alma 42:15.
17
See Alma 42:22–23.
18
See Mosiah 4:2; D&C 58:43.
19
See Mosiah 5:2; Alma 5:12–14.
20
See Ezra Taft Benson, “Born of God,” Ensign, July 1989, 2.
21
See 2 Peter 2:9.
22
See Mosiah 4:10.
23
See Ether 12:6.
24
See Alma 5:13.
25
See Mosiah 5:2.
26
See Ether 12:27.
27
See 2 Nephi 25:23.
28
See Boyd K. Packer, “The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 18.
29
See Mosiah 4:2–3.
30
See Alma 32:27–28.
31
See Alma 32:37.