Bi-Weekly Masturbation Thread, here

The catch-all forum for general topics and debates. Minimal moderation. Rated PG to PG-13.
_Corpsegrinder
_Emeritus
Posts: 615
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:33 pm

Bi-Weekly Masturbation Thread, here

Post by _Corpsegrinder »

Did Joseph Smith invent the masturbation interview?

Did Joseph Smith interview fourteen-year-old Helen Marr Kimball about her masturbatory habits…before he married her?

Apparently not, according to the article in the link that follows:
http://www.mormonstudies.net/pdf/Mormon ... bation.pdf

According to HISTORICAL DEVELOPENT OF NEW MASTURBATION ATTITUDES IN Mormon CULTURE: SILENCE, SECULAR CONFORMITY, COUNTERREVOLUTION, AND EMERGING REFORM, Mormons ignored the topic of masturbation until long after Joseph’s death. Early Mormons took no official position on what contemporary society described as “self-abuse”. To Joseph Smith, masturbation wasn’t a problem--if the utter absence of any discussion on the topic is any indication. Indeed, official Mormondon continued to ignore the topic until 1870 when it was briefly addressed in the Salt Lake City School of the Prophets, but only in connection with the ongoing controversy of polygamy. (“Plaural marriage,” said Apostle Lorenzo Snow, “would tend to diminish this evil of self-pollution.”) Apart from this brief, tangential discussion of “self-pollution” the First Presidency maintained its official silence on the subject until the 1950’s.

That was when everything changed. (Hint: it has to do with the Kook Faction’s rise to prominence among the Brethren in the 1950's.)

This article is probably old news to most of those who post here, but I came across it only recently and found it very interesting. Equally interesting (at least to me) is that fact that I am somewhat acquainted with two of the specialists quoted therein--William Gardiner and Carlfred Broderick. Specifically, the article identifies Carlfred Broderick, a family therapist (and occasional guest of Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show), as a member of the Church’s anti-masturbation clique who perpetuated and reinforced its harmful views on human sexuality.

This, in all fairness, is not necessarily true.

Dr. Broderick served as a bishop in my ward in Cerritos California where he frequently addressed the topic of sexuality in Mormonism. As bishop, he also conducted personal worthiness interviews with young men and woman, wherein he made it clear that masturbation per se, was not a sin. Rather, it was masturbation to excess that he considered inappropriate and potentially harmful.

Dr. Broderick does not exemplify the Church’s damaging attitudes regarding human sexuality. This, in my opinion, is the only flaw in an otherwise enlightening article.
_Buffalo
_Emeritus
Posts: 12064
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:33 pm

Re: Bi-Weekly Masturbation Thread, here

Post by _Buffalo »

Yes, the complete silence of LDS scripture on masturbation is quite interesting, considering the church's obsession with it now. Same goes for homosexuality.
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.

B.R. McConkie, © Intellectual Reserve wrote:There are those who say that revealed religion and organic evolution can be harmonized. This is both false and devilish.
_Rambo
_Emeritus
Posts: 1933
Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2010 6:43 am

Re: Bi-Weekly Masturbation Thread, here

Post by _Rambo »

Only bi-weekly! That's not too often.
_bcspace
_Emeritus
Posts: 18534
Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:48 pm

Re: Bi-Weekly Masturbation Thread, here

Post by _bcspace »

Dr. Broderick served as a bishop in my ward in Cerritos California


I didn't serve in that ward but somewhere in that stake. But I did have several dinner appointments with him with other missionaries. They had a big round table in their dinning room just like the one my parents had. Nice family. I think by then he had authored some books or papers. Lots of good baptisms in Cerritos!

We lived just across the highway from the neighborhood where Aeroméxico Flight 498 crashed. We watched it tumbling down like a leaf after hitting the Piper just as we were coming out of Church that day.
Machina Sublime
Satan's Plan Deconstructed.
Your Best Resource On Joseph Smith's Polygamy.
Conservatism is the Gospel of Christ and the Plan of Salvation in Action.
The Degeneracy Of Progressivism.
_bcspace
_Emeritus
Posts: 18534
Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:48 pm

Re: Bi-Weekly Masturbation Thread, here

Post by _bcspace »

considering the church's obsession with it now.


What obsession? I've never been asked about it in an interview, even as a teen or just before, during, or after my mission. I've never asked about it in an interview and no one's ever brought it up in an interview. I've done many many interviews.

Come to think of it, the only time I've ever been asked about it is on this board by self-obsessed antiMormons.
Machina Sublime
Satan's Plan Deconstructed.
Your Best Resource On Joseph Smith's Polygamy.
Conservatism is the Gospel of Christ and the Plan of Salvation in Action.
The Degeneracy Of Progressivism.
_Hades
_Emeritus
Posts: 859
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 5:27 am

Re: Bi-Weekly Masturbation Thread, here

Post by _Hades »

bcspace wrote:
considering the church's obsession with it now.


What obsession? I've never been asked about it in an interview, even as a teen or just before, during, or after my mission. I've never asked about it in an interview and no one's ever brought it up in an interview. I've done many many interviews.

Come to think of it, the only time I've ever been asked about it is on this board by self-obsessed antiMormons.

That's weird, I was asked about it as a teen, before, during, and after my mission. I don't think you've had the full experience of Mormonism. Do you feel cheated?
I'm the apostate your bishop warned you about.
_Buffalo
_Emeritus
Posts: 12064
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:33 pm

Re: Bi-Weekly Masturbation Thread, here

Post by _Buffalo »

More proof that Mormonism is bad for you:

Recent scientific studies point to the health risk of male prostate
cancer by those who attempt to be sexually abstinent or have low
ejaculation levels (Giles et al., 2003). Females who avoid masturbation
are at higher risk of sexual dysfunction and poor marital
adjustment. Many are pre-orgasmic, even in marriage. Masturbation
today is recognized as an important developmental step toward
healthy marital functioning and is often prescribed as part
of the treatment for some types of sexual dysfunction (Bockting
& Coleman, 2002; Christensen, 1995; Hurlbert & Whittaker,
1991; LoPiccolo & Lobitz, 1972). The radical reversal of attitude,
disproving the imaginary dangers of masturbation, which
took place in the medical and scientific community in the past
60 or 70 years has yet to be adopted as policy by some in positions
of religious authority, who continue to hold to former cultural beliefs
and traditions. Contemporary Mormon leaders are among those who
have been slow to respond to these modern medical developments.


Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.

B.R. McConkie, © Intellectual Reserve wrote:There are those who say that revealed religion and organic evolution can be harmonized. This is both false and devilish.
_Buffalo
_Emeritus
Posts: 12064
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:33 pm

Re: Bi-Weekly Masturbation Thread, here

Post by _Buffalo »

bcspace wrote:
considering the church's obsession with it now.


What obsession? I've never been asked about it in an interview, even as a teen or just before, during, or after my mission. I've never asked about it in an interview and no one's ever brought it up in an interview. I've done many many interviews.

Come to think of it, the only time I've ever been asked about it is on this board by self-obsessed antiMormons.


Mopologists often have sudden onsets of amnesia like this. It's amazing! It's like Reagan responding to questions about the Iran Contra affair. "I don't recall that senator."
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.

B.R. McConkie, © Intellectual Reserve wrote:There are those who say that revealed religion and organic evolution can be harmonized. This is both false and devilish.
_bcspace
_Emeritus
Posts: 18534
Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:48 pm

Re: Bi-Weekly Masturbation Thread, here

Post by _bcspace »

That's weird, I was asked about it as a teen, before, during, and after my mission. I don't think you've had the full experience of Mormonism.


I know other TBM males from varying areas of the country who've not ever been asked this question.

Do you feel cheated?


Not at all.
Machina Sublime
Satan's Plan Deconstructed.
Your Best Resource On Joseph Smith's Polygamy.
Conservatism is the Gospel of Christ and the Plan of Salvation in Action.
The Degeneracy Of Progressivism.
_Buffalo
_Emeritus
Posts: 12064
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:33 pm

Re: Bi-Weekly Masturbation Thread, here

Post by _Buffalo »

bcspace wrote:
I know other TBM males from varying areas of the country who've not ever been asked this question.


I'm sure many TBMs who've been asked the question their whole lives have Sudden Onset Masturbation Interview Amnesia Syndrome (SOMIAS) when discussing it with critics on the internet.
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.

B.R. McConkie, © Intellectual Reserve wrote:There are those who say that revealed religion and organic evolution can be harmonized. This is both false and devilish.
Post Reply