Mark E. Peterson's "Overcoming Masturbation" talk

[_Dr. Shades]

Hello folks,

I recently received the following e-mail:

-----[BEGIN QUOTE]-----

I have a question for you, Shades. Recently, in the comments at my blog, I made mention of Mark Petersen's "Overcoming Masturbation" talk. . . One of the commentators at my blog is being a bit [difficult] and insisting that the document must be a hoax because it's only posted at anti-Mormon web sites and the church has never verified its authenticity. The church has never denied it, either; he's trying to insist it's a hoax based on his own personal assessment of the document's content and insistence that it sounds nothing like Petersen's other talks.

You know a lot more people in the ex-Mormon community than I do. Does anybody know where this document came from or how it ever came to be attributed to Petersen in the first place? I'm inclined not to argue with him further since it's clear to me that unless I can produce a statement from church HQ saying, "Yes, Petersen wrote that talk," he isn't going to believe it, but I'm still curious myself.

-----[END QUOTE]-----

So, can anyone verify the authenticity of this pamphlet or talk, and otherwise answer this person's questions? Better yet, is anyone here an eyewitness to the original?

Many thanks,
Shades

[Guest]

I was a teenager went Packer gave his great speech at the Saturday night priesthood meeting.

I can't remember this one but will search.

Tom Leikus use to have a link on his website to the talk.

[Guest]

Here's a version of the "talk" if someone doesn't know what you're referring to.

I have to agree that the content and format are far different than what would be expected in a Church meeting. It would be very, very bad form to have 21 bullet points in a church talk. If it was developed by Elder Petersen, perhaps it was used in a missionary conference or other more casual training meeting where a handout could also be given.

But if it is a hoax, it's a good one because you can believe that Elder Petersen (or another conservative Church leader) would give that advice. There's no single red flag that throws the whole thing into question.

Here's a bit of trivia for you: I first heard about this talk when I was perusing a friend's "lad" magazine (i.e Maxim, FHM or something similar) in the late 90's. They had an "article" that consisted of pages of artistic photos of scantily clad women, with quotes from the talk (attributed to Elder Petersen) printed in small print alongside them.

[Guest]

here is a link:

http://LDS.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnex ... mit=Search


Here is another one and this says it was a letter.

http://www.mormoncurtain.com/topic_markepeterson.html

[_aussieguy55]

Does this attitude towards masturbation include its practice withing marriage? Either partner might not reach an orgasm during sex and need some help after. Do LDS see anything wrong with that?

[_harmony]

Does this attitude towards masturbation include its practice withing marriage? Either partner might not reach an orgasm during sex and need some help after. Do LDS see anything wrong with that?

Perhaps marriage is the only surefire cure for masturbation. Nobody cares about it, after that.

[_Gadianton]

The creator of exmormon.org believes it is a hoax. well, if that's the case, then using apologist logic it's still probably true because it's no more problematic than the Book of Abraham.

[_Pokatator]

Do you know how to cure a nymphomaniac?

Marry her.

Thus the need for masturbation in marriage.

[_Brackite]

Hello,

Here is a Link to the "Overcoming Masturbation" Pamphlet, From aa Pro-Mormon Web Site Page:

Overcoming Masturbation:
http://www.lightplanet.com/Mormons/dail ... ation.html

[_karl61]

some of my favorites:

"if you are tempted to masturbate, think of having to bathe in a tub of worms, and eat several of them as you do the act. It sounds goofy, but it actually works!"

"During your bathroom and shower activities leave the bathroom door or shower curtain partly open."