How can I resist pornography?

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It includes chastity. We live in a world in which virtue is belittled and attacked. We can guard our virtue by avoiding impure thoughts, language, and actions. Pornography is especially dangerous. 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 39:1–12; 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 39:3–9; Doctrine and Covenants 42:23 (Lusting 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”

• Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts (booklet, 2006)

• “Entertainment and Media” and “Sexual Purity,” For the Strength of Youth (2011), 11–13, 35–37

• “Chastity,” True to the Faith (2004), 29–33

• “Pornography,” True to the Faith (2004), 117–18

• “Chastity: What Are the Limits?” (video)

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

Questions to Ponder before You Teach

Consider how living a virtuous life brings peace to you. What effects does pornography have on the world and on families? How have you been a guardian of virtue?

How might young women’s language, actions, and appearance affect others? How might young women be exposed to pornography? What gospel principles and preventive measures can help them keep their thoughts and actions pure?

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

Teaching in the Savior’s Way

As you teach as the Savior taught, the young women will give place in their hearts for the seed of the gospel to be planted, to swell, and to grow. What can you do to help the young women use the scriptures to understand the power and beauty of living a virtuous life?

Video: “We Learn”

NOTE TO THE TEACHER: Many young women are being exposed to and affected by pornography either personally or through a family member or a friend. Do not discuss experiences or confessions about pornography in class. You may consider notifying parents that you will be teaching this lesson and inviting them to continue the discussion in their homes. If a young woman needs help, invite her to talk to her parents or the bishop or branch president.

Meeting Outline

1. Counsel Together and Share Experiences

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

Lead a discussion about items such as the following:

• Our class: 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 responsibilities: 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 class 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 class presidency meeting.

2. Learn Together

Led by a leader or teacher or a member of the class; 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 class members understand the doctrine.

• Divide the young women into small groups, and give each group one of the sets of scriptures suggested in this outline. Ask them to read their assigned scriptures and share with the rest of the class what they learn from these scriptures about remaining virtuous.

• Ask the young women why they think pornography is harmful to the soul. As a class, 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 women 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 women to see the bishop if they have become involved with pornography.

• Give each of the young women a copy of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk “Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul” or Sister Linda S. Reeves’s talk “Protection from Pornography—a Christ-Focused Home,” and have them imagine they are having a talk with their future 12-year-old daughter about why pornography is so destructive and how to avoid it. (They could also watch one of the videos in this outline.) Have them look for information that will help them with this discussion. Invite them to form pairs and share the answers they find. Invite them to write down what they will do to avoid pornography for the rest of their lives.

• Invite the young women 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 woman 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 class 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 women do to help make their homes “places of refuge” from pornography?

• Invite the young women to imagine that they have a friend who is struggling with pornography. What would they say to help him or her? Ask each young woman 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 women share from these readings with their friend? What other scriptures could help someone struggling with pornography? (For examples, see the scriptures suggested in this outline.)

3. Plan to Act

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

• Ask the young women 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 class to apply what they have learned?

• Give the young women 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 women that they will have the opportunity to share their experiences at the beginning of the next meeting.