A Pornographic Plague

It's difficult to get accurate statistics on pornography usage, but from what we can gather, the percentage of LDS men who visit a pornographic website in any given month may be as high as 70%. Whatever the exact figure, we do know it is staggeringly, unacceptably high. Many Latter-Day Saints have heard President Boyd K. Packer's comparison of pornography to a spiritual plague. But I don't think many have stopped to consider the implications of how widespread this metaphor implies that pornography usage is, even among those active in the faith.

As a result, we treat addiction to pornography as problem only faceless, maladjusted, sinful strangers have. But if pornography is really as widespread as a plague, can we really believe that we don't know anyone currently addicted? Consider your group of friends and church acquaintances: if the statistics above are accurate, at least half of the men in that group likely struggle with pornography.

They won't tell you this. An individual addicted to pornography hides his addiction in the deepest, darkest parts of his soul. But if he is to recover from their struggles, this addict absolutely must seek out support from those he trusts. If he believes he is secretly part of that group of sinful strangers, and would be judged and shunned as such by any he approaches, he will remain trapped in his sin, bondage, and misery. Perhaps never before has it been more important that we learn to hate the sin, but love the sinner.

There is a danger to recognizing how wide pornography has spread. Satan is a master at convincing us it's okay to do something because “everyone is doing it.” But the sober truth is that nearly everyone will be impacted by pornography at some point, whether directly or indirectly. Therefore, as a culture, we desperately need more training and education on pornography addiction, so those ensnared can know where and how to turn for help, and those those they turn to can know how to support them.

A note to the far-too-many of you reading this who are struggling with pornography: If you haven't already, find someone to help you. You simply cannot beat this on your own. Start with your Bishop, and work from there. It may be the hardest thing you have ever done, but it is worth it to escape the misery of addiction. Educate yourself, find help and support, and rely on the Savior to do what you cannot, and you can be free from this trap.