PROVO – Pornography is rampant, and Utah County is not exempt.

In an area that touts the most dense population of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, even children are being exposed and addicted to pornography’s grasp.

“It’s our modern-day plague within the church,” said Ben Erwin, program director of LDS Family Services.

On Nov. 5, the LDS Church introduced four Family Home Evening lessons centered on helping parents stop the problem of pornography before it gets started or escalates to where it becomes a problem. Erwin is a contributor to those lessons.

The new lessons follow an August release of an LDS Church video, “Overcoming Pornography Addiction.” The church has also made significant changes to its resources for spouses and family members.

“The Church has published a series of family home evening lessons designed to help parents discuss pornography with their children and to equip children with skills to respond appropriately to pornographic content they likely will be exposed to,” a church press release said. “The lessons include basic doctrines and principles about the sacredness of the body, sexual intimacy, following the Spirit, 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.”

While family home evening lessons in past years have dealt with issues such as death and divorce, the church is considering adding lessons on topics that may seem indelicate to many but when taught by the spirit are important for a changing time and generation.

Pornography is one of those topics.

“The solution has to begin with the family,” Erwin said.  “It’s a no-brainer. I hope these lessons empower parents to have discussions. The long-term solution is in the home.”

The first lesson, “My Body is From God,” discusses the divine nature of our bodies. While LDS children learn aspects of this beginning in their earliest years in the church nursery and the church’s Primary program, Erwin said there needs to be a continued discussion.

Lessons are filled with references, scriptures and ideas for children and teens. The first lesson provides a definition of pornography.

“Pornography is any material that depicts or describes the human body or sexual conduct in a way that arouses or is intended to arouse sexual feelings inappropriately,” says the lesson. “It is distributed through many media, including magazines, books, television, movies, music, and the Internet.

“We must prepare ourselves so that when we do encounter such materials, we can respond in ways that will preserve our spiritual well-being and ensure protection for further involvement.”

“Somewhere, sometime in Primary we stop talking about the body,” Erwin said. “We need to continue the discussion on the plague of pornography. Unfortunately, it’s not if, but when, children will be exposed.”

Erwin said children need to be informed correctly so it won’t be a taboo subject. He said parents need a different strategy to help children today. The influence of modern technology has changed the paradigm.

“We actually will be adding a fifth lesson,” Erwin said.

He added LDS Family Services is looking at adding more material that might deal with physiological changes to the brain that happen with addiction. He said it is also important to talk about those aspects of porn addiction, particularly with teens.

Erwin noted it is a heavy subject for gentle ears, and stressed lessons should focus on the light and truth, not darkness.

“We can have an appropriated conversation focusing on principles,” Erwin said. “The principles will guide parents.”

While the doctrinal foundation will be taught during family home evening, church leaders are hoping parents and children can return to these materials frequently in personal study and one-on-one interactions to help youth deal with the pervasive effects of pornography.

“The lessons are not intended to be taught in a particular order,” said the press release. “Nor is it expected that all of the content will be shared in a single family home evening lesson.

“Rather, parents can counsel together and with the Lord on which principles and activities will be most beneficial to their family.”

The following lessons can be accessed on the overcomingpornography.org website:

   • My Body Is from God

   • The Spirit Can Help Me Choose Good Media

   • What Should I Do If I See Pornography?

   • The Savior Desires to Forgive and Heal the Wounds of Pornography