DiscussMormonism.com

Nothing else seems to get your attention, brethren.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm3YFFjj5y8

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PP,

Somehow I get the idea that it all boils down to a simple commandment from the Church priesthood leaders-- that we are not to masturbate.

I am going to do it anyways, and often.

Paul O

Hasa Diga Eebowai wrote:For those who claim the Church is relaxing the stance on masturbation in interviews this video alone sends a number of messages which point in the opposite direction.

I agree. I felt like the tone of the video was similar to the 'miracle of forgiveness' style of teaching. To me the video seemed terribly manipulative. I didn't like the overall message which seemed to be, repent because we need you to serve a mission.
I don't think it's realistic to expect change from an organization that is lead by men who are called to positions until they die.

If there is a single LDS standard that, in my opinion, rises to the status of inexcusable, tragic stupidity, it is the prohibition on masturbation. Teenage boys, not to mention young women, who also engage in the practice, masturbate as part of their normal sexual-biological development. There is almost no scriptural support for a prohibition on masturbation, and, unlike the Word of Wisdom, which has a sensible prohibition on tobacco, an anti-masturbation commandment has no real health benefit. In fact, for adult males, not masturbating might increase the risk of prostate cancer.

I get commandments against viewing pornography. What I don't understand is the needless and damaging shaming that is inflicted on young people who, when they masturbate, are doing exactly what evolution or God arranged for the human body to do.

It is absurd to the point of being criminal, in my view.

The unjustified masturbation ban is deeply pressed into the minds and hearts of the Mormon people but the video clearly suggests that the boy was having sexual relations with his girlfriend and secretly viewing pornography. I have mixed feelings about the way the church approaches pornography. We're generally better off without it but it's often not a big deal so the fear mongering is often over the top, like screaming at a kid over spilled milk.

Holland doesn't know what he's talking about. I whacked it regularly on my mission. I was a legend. I was one of the highest baptizing missionaries in my mission. I never confessed this "sin" when asked in ppi's with the MP. So, I guess that makes me liar and a masturbator, but proves Holland's premise wrong.

I wish so much that I could go back in time and visit myself. I could have made religion enjoyable.

Racer wrote:Holland doesn't know what he's talking about. I whacked it regularly on my mission. I was a legend. I was one of the highest baptizing missionaries in my mission. I never confessed this "sin" when asked in ppi's with the MP. So, I guess that makes me liar and a masturbator, but proves Holland's premise wrong.

Inversely one of the unfortunate consequences of this teaching is that the missionaries who are not successful blame themselves for it. They think their shortcomings in obedience or worthiness are responsible for their lack of success, but in almost every case it's just because they don't happen to posses the talents that make for an effective missionary.