Porn-Proofing our Children

One part of our role as a woman is unarguable- that is the nurturing and teaching of our children.  Yet the teaching of this particular subject is one of the most difficult and uncomfortable things we are asked to do. And yet so important that we teach- avoiding Pornography. I want to protect my children's innocence, but in this wicked world that we live in, we need to talk to our children very early in order to "innoculate our children against the epidemic of pornography". I don't want to rehash all the statistics that are out there, but they are now saying children as young as 7 are being exposed and becoming addicted to hard-core porn, before most parents even consider discussing the dangers. Ignorance is risk!

We need to prepare them for the confusing and probably conflicting feelings they will have when (not if) they are first exposed to porn. They need to know how their brain works, what to do, and decide for themselves what they will do when they are accidentally exposed. Porn is more addictive than most drugs, and usually only takes that second look before their brain rewires itself to seek out more.

I feel very lucky to have stumbled upon this fantastic book- "Good Pictures, Bad Pictures"! It is a picture book, designed to read along with your 7 to 12-year-old child. It uses the comfortable setting of a mother and son enjoying a family photo album and models a conversation that teaches a simple definition of pornography (even for kids who have not yet learned the detail of sex). Chapter by chapter, kids learn about addiction and their "two brains" and how one of them can be tricked by viewing pornography, while the other can take control and prevent addiction.

I am passionate about this topic right now, as I know this is Satan's most powerful tool in destroying children and families. However, I have not done the best job at talking openly with my children on this topic, and it needs to be done! My husband and I read it with our 9-year-old and 12-year-old and thought it was perfect in teaching them what they needed to protect themselves and also helped us open the communication with them. It really helps open up a great conversation that I don't feel super comfortable starting on my own.

If you are my neighbor, I'd be happy to loan you my copy of the book. You can also buy it on Amazon for $12.49 or check it out from your local library.

I also recommend these other 2 books along similar lines. The Brad Wilcox book is great for a child who has recently had the "big talk" or gone to a maturation program and helps fill in the gaps, using a religious perspective, that may have been left. The Eyres' book covers how to talk to your kids of any age about these difficult topics. I especially love how they always emphasize that sex is a wonderful and positive thing, where I feel like our generation was taught that sex is evil and dirty and should not be discussed.

Please share your thoughts and ideas along this topic. I know we need all the help we can get in fighting Satan and this powerful weapon he is using against our children!

Other General Conference Gems

I have enjoyed reading others thoughts and aha moments from Conference. My favorite is this awesome sister who shares her experience of getting back on and "Staying in the Old Ship Zion". It seems like I hear of so many who are getting off the Ship, it's wonderful to hear about a family who made such an effort to get back on the ship! Her story illustrates the power of a woman, wife, and mother for good. Thanks for sharing your experience!

What General Conference taught about our role

We have an entire session of Conference especially geared toward women, as do the men have a session especially for them. I just want to touch briefly on what I learned from that session before talking about the little gems for us in the General Sessions.

I feel like the theme of the Women's meeting was about Temple preparation and making and keeping our covenants joyfully. Some of my favorite thoughts were:


* We need to prepare our homes to be a place where the Spirit can dwell.
* Where much is required, much more will be given.
* We need more faith and light from Women! We need to vibrant and enthusiastic beacons of the gospel.
* Memorizing the Living Christ can help us keep our Sacramental covenant to remember Him.
* The best way to strengthen our home is to keep our covenants.
* Fear, sin, and doubt are like umbrellas keeping us from receiving the rain of blessings from God.
* God acknowledges and cherishes your small successes.


In the Saturday morning session, I loved Elder Wong's talk where he told a modern day twist on the story of the man with palsy being brought to Jesus. There were 4 people given the assignment to help this man, one of them being a Relief Society sister. Elder Wong said that her role would have included 1) reminding the others to be careful, 2) giving them words of encouragement, and 3) giving comfort to the sick man. He also spoke about all four must work carefully together in harmony and do well in their coordination to help the man reach Jesus. This was such a wonderful allegory in helping us understand our role as women in the gospel!

I was comforted to hear the part about reminding the men to be careful. I have always been a worrier, probably much too overprotective and practical, so I'm glad to know that is really actually part of my role! It is okay for me to worry a little and remind the people in my life to be careful and help to prepare them for the dangers they might encounter. I of course need to make sure my worry does not become fear, because fear is the opposite of faith, but am comforted to know that part of my nature is part of my role as a woman disciple of Christ.

Giving words of encouragement and words of comfort are also already a innate part of our woman's nature. We just need to cultivate those talents and use them in bringing ourselves, our families and others to Christ. Those jobs were just as important in bringing the man with palsy to Christ as the job to physically carry him up to the roof, just different. Elder Wong emphasized that it took the cooperation of all 4 of those assigned working in harmony with each other to accomplish their assignment.

Elder Eyring's story about the woman whose husband was called as a temple sealer was also a powerful example of an LDS woman. She felt inadequate to be his temple companion because her worldly knowledge was lacking as she could not read and write. He emphasized to her that she had things revealed to her beyond all earthly education, she had confirmed to her mind and heart through revelation from God, and she knew without having to be told by any living witness that her husband was called of God through a prophet to do the Lord's work in the Temple. This is the kind of knowledge we should strive for, rather than the worldly knowledge she was worried about not having.

Sister Carol McConkie's talk (among several others) about following the prophet showed a beautiful, strong example of how we do not follow blindly and are not asked to blindly follow our leaders. We CHOOSE to follow our prophet. We are encouraged to ask for ourselves, just as Joseph Smith did. She said we have a choice of what we now do with the words of God delivered through his prophets. "The words taught from these pulpits are words of comfort, love, strength, and good cheer. . . that will embrace us all." I am so grateful for all of their words. The Spirit bore witness to me of their truthfulness many times, and several things I need to work on were brought to my attention. I felt embraced by these words of comfort, love, strength, and good cheer!