For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, pp. 19-20; Matthew 5: 27-28; Doctrine and Covenants 63: 16

 

How are your choices better because of what you learned from the prophet-king David's wrong choices?

"What is pornography? Why should I avoid it? Pornography is a representation, in pictures or words, that is designed to arouse sexual feelings. Pornography comes in many forms, including videos, pictures, books, and music. It can also be messages or images sent between friends. Pornography treats things that are sacred—our physical bodies and sexual feelings—with disrespect. You may come across pornography without meaning to. Whether you come across pornography intentionally or not, turn away immediately. You may also want to talk with a parent or other trusted adult. Intentionally viewing pornography is sinful and harms your ability to feel the Spirit. It weakens your self-control and distorts the way you see yourself and others. Jesus Christ has the power to help you resist pornography and repent. Turn toward Him; turn away from darkness. Your bishop can help you receive strength and forgiveness through the Savior." (For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, pp. 19-20)

"27 ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5: 27-28)

"16 And verily I say unto you, as I have said before, he that looketh on a woman to lust after her, or if any shall commit adultery in their hearts, they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear." (Doctrine and Covenants 63: 16)

And here's the end part of the commentary entitled: "I can avoid sexual sin." :

• "Read pages 19–20 of For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices. Then write your own explanation of what pornography is, why it is dangerous, and what you will do when you encounter it. (See also Matthew 5:27–28 and Doctrine and Covenants 63:16.)

• How would you explain to a friend why you choose to avoid pornography and live the law of chastity? What insights could you share from “Your Body Is Sacred” in For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices (pages 22–29)?

• Consider watching the video “To Look Upon” (Gospel Library). Pause the video each time that David could have made a different choice. How are David’s choices similar to choices you might face?

See also Bradley R. Wilcox, “Worthiness Is Not Flawlessness,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 61–67; “Pornography” in the “Life Help” collection of the Gospel Library."

We can always make up our minds to be strong against temptations by choosing not to look upon pornography long before the temptation arises. Then when the temptation comes it's so easy to not give in to it because we already set our intention.

Jacob 3: 10-12

Can we be selective with what to obey among all of God's commandments rather than choosing to obey all of them no matter what?

 "10 Wherefore, ye shall remember your ^achildren, how that ye have grieved their hearts because of the ^bexample that ye have set before them; and also, remember that ye may, because of your filthiness, bring your children unto destruction, and their sins be heaped upon your heads at the last day.

11 O my brethren, hearken unto my words; ^aarouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may ^bawake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of ^chell that ye may not become ^dangels to the devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone which is the second ^edeath.

12 And now I, Jacob, spake many more things unto the people of Nephi, ^awarning them against ^bfornication and ^clasciviousness, and every kind of sin, telling them the awful consequences of them." (Jacob 3: 10-12)

And here's the commentary (the same one yesterday plus the remaining paragraphs) entitled: "God delights in chastity":

"As you read Jacob 2:22–35; 3: 10–12, what do you find that helps you understand why chastity is so important to God? What are some of the negative consequences of immorality—in Jacob’s day and in ours? What are the blessings of living a chaste life?

Elder David A. Bednar taught that we live “in a world that increasingly mocks the sanctity of procreation” (“We Believe in Being Chaste,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 41–44). How do you help others understand why you obey the law of chastity? A good place to start is the explanation of God’s standards on sexual feelings and relations in “Your body is sacred” in For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices (pages 22–29). What else do you find in this resource that would help you explain why you live the law of chastity?

You could find additional answers in Elder Bednar’s message referenced above or in the video “I Choose to Be Pure” (Gospel Library)."

How is God’s standard of sexual purity different from other messages you might encounter? What are the blessings of living a chaste life?

See also Gospel Topics, “Virtue,” Gospel Library; “Same-Sex Attraction” in the “Life Help” Collection in the Gospel Library."

Click this link to watch the video: "I Choose to Be Pure": https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/come-follow-me-for-home-and-church-book-of-mormon-2024/14?lang=eng

Making the choice to live a chaste life brings so much peace, comfort, and joy just us making the choice to obey the rest of God's commandments because we know that God approves of our choice of thoughts, words, and actions when we live a chaste life. When we do our part, God blesses us more than when we choose not to do what we're supposed to. We're blessed with the guidance or the companionship of the Spirit when we choose to obey God's commandments. We're blessed with protection from danger. We're blessed with more opportunities to continue to learn and to grow to become our better version and reach our full potential as God's children. When I made the choice to live a more chaste life myself, I received all of these blessings. I'm so grateful that God was always guiding me even at those moments when I was choosing to give in to some temptations. And I realized that the peace, comfort, and joy of making the choice to live a more chaste life, one that God approves than what I was choosing to live myself, far outweighs the fleeting pleasure of giving in to some temptations. Truly there is opposition in all things. There is a choice to make between the two opposites. We are either enticed by the one or the other. After experiencing the consequences of making the wrong choice, we would want to always make the right choice. God wants us to experience this earthly life so we can exercise our freedom of choice. He is forcing no one to make the choice to go back to His presence. He is guiding us and yet, we are still making our own choices ourselves. This life is a test. Our choices determine where we are going after this life is over. Obedience to all of God's commandments, not just some of them, is our choice to make if we really want to be with God again. 

Jacob 2: 22-35

 

Have you ever flown a kite before? What happens when the string suddenly gets cut off? Keep that image in your mind for now.

22 And now I make an end of speaking unto you concerning this pride. And were it not that I must speak unto you concerning a grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly because of you.

23 But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing ^awhoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.

24 Behold, David and ^aSolomon truly had many ^bwives and concubines, which thing was ^cabominable before me, saith the Lord.

25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a ^arighteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.

26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.

27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any ^aman among you have save it be ^bone ^cwife; and concubines he shall have none;

28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the ^achastity of women. And ^bwhoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.

29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or ^acursed be the land for their sakes.

30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up ^aseed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.

31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and ^aabominations of their ^bhusbands.

32 And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts.

33 For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit ^awhoredoms, like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts.

34 And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these commandments were given to our ^afather, Lehi; wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation; for ye have done these things which ye ought not to have done.

35 Behold, ye have done ^agreater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the ^bstrictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds. (Jacob 2: 22-35)

And here's the commentary entitled: "God delights in chastity.":

"As you read Jacob 2:22–35; 3:10–12, what do you find that helps you understand why chastity is so important to God? What are some of the negative consequences of immorality—in Jacob’s day and in ours? What are the blessings of living a chaste life?"

The Lord gave us commandments because He wants us to have joy and peace in this earthly life and He wants us to reach our full potential being His children and inherit eternal life. We're like a kite flying in the sky. We can keep flying and fly higher and higher up to the highest peak as long as we stay connected with the one holding our string. If that string gets cut off, there's nowhere else for us to go but fall down. That string is the commandments God gave us to obey. When we keep those commandments, we continue to stay connected with God and enjoy His guidance and support so we're able to continue to learn and grow until we reach our full potential. As a kite, you and I would want to stay connected with the one holding our string. We can't continue flying higher on our own when our string breaks. Keeping the law of chastity and all God's laws is the string that connects us with God. We remain entitled to the companionship of His Spirit when we are striving to stay obedient.