I lost count how many “talks” we’ve been given on pornography, but we just had one more. Obviously, the Bishop feels impressed we have a problem. We’re told the presenter was a doctor “with expertise in treatment of pornography addiction.” He showed up with his power point and we listened with our wives in the chapel.

After the doctor was finished I was more confused about pornography than before.

So here is my shot of simplifying pornography and the sexual response.

PLAN OF SALVATION
This is the simplest “Plan of Salvation” I could find. For a brief overview review this LDS.org document Plan of salvation Overview.

Boyd Packer summarizes the role of “Power of creation” also known as “Sexual Relations”– in the Plan of Salvation:

“There was provided in our bodies—and this is sacred—a power of creation, a light, so to speak, that has power to kindle other lights. It is a sacred and significant power. This power is good. You who are teenagers, like every other son and daughter of Adam and Eve, have this power within you. The power of creation, or may we say procreation, is not just an incidental part of the plan—it is essential to it. Without [the sexual response] the plan could not proceed. The misuse of [the sexual response] may disrupt the plan…As this power develops within you it will prompt you in the search for a companion and empower you to love and to hold [her]..”(The Sacred Power of Procreation, Lesson 24 Aaronic Priesthood Manual)

Okay, I think I got it-
1) There is a Plan of Salvation.
2) As part of that plan “…God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World.)
3) Sexual relations are essential to that plan.
4) Satan’s goal is to disrupt the use of sexual relations.

Therefore,

Sexual relations is one of the few “things” the righteous will take with them. – into the Celestial Kingdom . Joseph Smith taught that by means of the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, righteous partners can continue to increase and have children in the celestial glory. (D&C 131: 1-4)

So, when Satan influences you or I to misuse “sexual relations” here on earth, it will eliminate our ability to appropriately use “sexual relations” in the Celestial Kingdom.

THERE IS ONLY ONE “SEXUAL RESPONSE”
That sexual response (on earth) consists of a series of hormones and neurotransmitters. See: God’s Love Chemicals.

There is not a unique or special hormone or neurotransmitter triggered only by viewing pornography. The same hormones and neurotransmitters which are trigger by viewing porn,  are triggered by your sexual relations with your spouse.

The sexual response can be re-taught to be triggered by anything… believe me in years of working with deviant sexual responses I’ve seen the sexual response be triggered by unbelievable gross, pathetic, evil etc etc. stimuli. – So disgusting I wouldn’t even write it.

SATAN’S GOAL IS TO DISRUPT
GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION
by hijacking the “sexual response” to occur outside of “the bounds” God has set.
One way Satan disrupts the Plan of Salvation is by having a person learn to trigger their sexual response to something/somebody other than their lawfully wedded spouse eg. same-gender partner, children etc. etc. To learn more about Satan’s tactics see: Satan Exposed.

The same “sexual response” that “Porn experts” and “Brethren” talk about that
binds (enslaves, addicts you) to pornography (or any other perversion)

TREATMENT SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY
The GOAL of sex-specific treatment is NOT to Stop someone’s sexual response! That would have eternal implications. Treatment success for pornography addiction occurs when the sexual arousal and interest is returned to your lawfully wedded spouse-“within the bounds the Lord has set.”

There you go… that’s as simple as I can make it.

CHALLENGE

Anything that entices a person to express the emotions and drives related to sexual response outside the marriage covenant is an attempt of Satan perverting the sacred physical endowment of sexual relations.

Identify and talk to your partner about four things Satan uses to disrupt sexual relations  in The Plan of Salvation.

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