Harms of Pornography, and Overcoming them

A friend asked if I would include this as a post in my blog as it is a problem he is most passionate about.  I asked him if I could just as easily include ANY addiction, be it eating disorders, drugs, alcohol, etc.  He said absolutely.  So, that said, it covers a large spectrum of people and may be of interest to you or a loved one who is in addictive bondage.  Check it out.  (I just may have to change my bog name, if I do much of this.)

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The truth about pornography is that the neurochemical release porn viewing triggers in the brain is so intense, it can quickly create a literal “chemical dependency.” As a result, many neuroscientists refer to pornography as the most powerful drug in history.
Estimates indicate the number of people in the U.S. struggling with a “chemical addiction” like porn addiction could be as high as 60 million or more. Add struggling individuals worldwide to this total and the numbers are staggering!
If you’re straining under the negative effects of porn addiction, you’ve likely tried to stop countless times, only to fall right back into the habit. It’s not because you are weak, flawed or a lost cause. Everything you need to change is already built into the very structure of your brain—the same type of brain process that got you into this mess, can help get you out.

After many years of conducting therapy in their clinics, many therapists were frustrated by the fact that until they are “caught” or hit rock-bottom, most people will not seek help for pornography addiction or sexual addiction. They also noticed that even those who did come forward, struggled to maintain their initial recovery success for any significant period of time. To address these deeply concerning issues, Candéo was designed to offer a safe, professional and anonymous gateway to getting the change process started and then maintaining progress towards long-term, lasting change.

Imagine what it would be like to begin the process of changing your unwanted behaviors right here, right now—online. Imagine it would cost you less than $50 a month, for 24/7 access to an online recovery community, a live personal coach, and brain-science-based change techniques. Finally, imagine that the program is available anywhere in the world and that it targets difficult-to-change sexual behaviors like—pornography addiction, constant casual sexual encounters, compulsive masturbation, strained intimate relationships, and other out-of-control, unwanted sexual behaviors.

Pioneers in psychology, neuroscience and web technology have joined forces to create a behavioral change tool called Candéo (pronounced Can-day-oh). Candéo is an online behavioral change technology designed to deliver cutting-edge strategies for changing unwanted behaviors—all in the privacy and comfort of the individual’s own home.

How is it done? An engaging and interactive online platform provides individuals with the constant activation and reinforcement the brain needs to break old patterns and replace them with new modes of behavior. This process is carefully structured and designed to work hand-in-hand with traditional counseling and group meetings, or as a stand-alone program. 

For details on how the Candéo program can work for you or for someone you love in overcoming unwanted sexual behaviors, visit http://candeohealthysexuality.com/sex-addiction.

Open not my mouth

Mosiah 14 - Isaiah speaking messianically.  I had a hard weekend and got my nose bent out of shape a little.  I really need to be more like my Savior and "open not my mouth" (v7).  It improves nothing otherwise and only makes me feel bad for not being stronger.

Did it really "please" the Lord that Christ suffered so? (v10)  I don't believe that was the pleasure but rather he found pleasure in his obedience to do what he said he would do.  As Heavenly Father's children, we too can bring him pleasure by keeping his commandments - even when it is hard.

Always

2-13-11 Last night we went to our adult session of stake conference. It was a unique Question and Answer format of a General Authority, Lowell M. Snow of the Seventy. Tigan from our ward asked a question that he “chewed” on for quite some time. She asked “How can I know the difference between my own thoughts and desires and the Spirit?” He said this is the one question that always comes up at this format and it's not a simple answer. When he was done, I don't know that I could have repeated his answer either. However, I “chewed” on it for a while as well.

One thing he said was that we are entitled to the Spirit “always”. (See sacrament prayers, Moroni 4 & 5)

As I was thinking on this, my thoughts went to our conversations with Angela yesterday as we were waiting on the bread to rise. I asked what it is she really does – a dangerous question for a high school grad to ask an almost college professor on a topic you know nothing about. She is doing physical chemistry research and speaks her language of her profession like a native tongue. I understood almost nothing of what she spoke. However, this morning as I was pondering, I remembered what she said about lining laser beams up so they are on the same frequency. Essentially Elder Snow said the same thing. Our will needs to be lined up with the Lord's will; then our thoughts will be His thoughts. This is not a quick process, just like Angela said she turns the lasers on first thing in the morning and it takes up to two hours for them to be warm enough to manipulate.

If that wasn't enough, the next article in my Ensign that I came to this morning was “Learning to Hear and Understand the Spirit”, by David M. McConkie. “This gift is the right, when we are worthy of it, to the constant companionship of the third member of the Godhead.” Elder Snow said the Holy Ghost is a God. I've never really thought that before, but it makes sense – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Why not?

Elder McConkie says there is no simple formula or technique, but “our Father expects ut to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and Jesus Christ.

And this is why I sit at 6:00 a.m. With my feet in epsom salt bath on a morning I might have slept longer. When I awoke at 5:00 with sore feet from my hike across campus in unfit shoes, the thought of “soak your feet in epsom salts” came – even though I've never done this before. I have faith that with a better choice of shoes, my feet will survive today's hike and I will enjoy another delightful spiritual feast.

What does it look like?

Mosiah 12 – If God is the same yesterday, today and forever, (2 Nephi 27:23 for one) then reading Mosiah 12 tells me I don’t want to make Him angry.  What had they done to make God angry?  Hardened their hearts against his words and repented not of evil doings. (v1)

What does it look like when God is angry? (v2)

•          Bondage
•          Smitten
•          Driven by men (freedoms lost)
•          Slain
•          Vultures devour flesh
•          Sore afflictions (v4)
•          Famine
•          Pestilence
•          Howl all day long
•          Burdens lashed upon backs
•          Hail
•          Destructive east wind
•          Insects destroy crops

We saw the destruction of an earthquake in Japan yesterday.  The Lord knows how to make these things happen.  At Abinadi’s point in time, the Lord required that they worship him (v34 to end).  That would seem like a good place to start.  Then, search the scriptures to see exactly what that looks like – and then do it!

My Marching Orders

Mosiah 11, but my thoughts as I read this chapter are on the destruction taking place in Japan with an 8.9 earthquake and tsunami moving across the outlying coasts.  Did the Lord not warn us of this kind of destruction?  I’m not certain how someone can prepare temporarily against something as huge as this, but one would definitely weather this storm better if his/her testimony was in place.  I’m sure the Lord can’t be pleased with the general direction the world has taken.  Is this just the beginning?  My patriarchal blessing tells me “[I] will see the hand of the Lord working His sovereign will among the nations of the earth.”  Then it goes on to tell me “stand in holy places” and those who do have “no cause to fear, for the Lord will be their strength and guide.”  And at such times as these, I consider this paragraph to be my marching orders.

Do I feel any real need to comment on Mosiah 11?  Other than I see a very real correlation between the changes King Noah made after his father died and he became ruler to what happened when Obama became president of the United States.  He (Noah) taxed heavily to support his grandiose ideas.  Do you see any similarities between King Noah’s buildings and all the stimulus money that has been pumped into our nation?  Oi!

Work, Work, Work

Mosiah 10 – As Zeniff relates his people’s history, he mentions that they worked and were an industrious people.  The women made fine linens and they were a prosperous and industrious people.  Is it any wonder that there is so much depression in the country today?  We have become a welfare nation with so many who expect the government to take care of them for one reason or another.  It would seem obvious to me that if you want to enjoy a prosperous and peaceful existence, work is a key factor.

Awaken and Remember

Happy Birthday, Shauna!  

Mosiah 9:17 grabbed me this morning.  Since my blog isn’t exactly well read, I’m going to write exactly where my mind went when I read this verse – “. . . for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers.”  

It is a huge concern when you have a child who is off track.  How difficult will it have to get before we see an awakening and a remembrance? I told my children of my own “deliverance” from bondage and know I would never have had the courage to break free had I not had the Lord’s help in many ways.  As parents, we pray daily – at least twice, that her heart will soften and that she will awaken and claim the blessings that are so freely offered through the atonement.  What more can a parent do?

As if in answer to that question, I read in Handbook 2 - 1.4.1 Strengthening the Home.  "Stand in holy places . .. " including our homes.  We have continuously prayed that we could make our home a place where we would all want to be.  I’m grateful the kids want to be here and pray that in the process of their processing they will “awaken” and remember why it is so and seek for that in their own lives.