IQB: Spencer W. Kimball on pornography

I was tooling around on Facebook this afternoon and found a quote that jumped out at me(most likely because of the wildly, ridiculous picture attached). I had to go to LDS.org and search out the actual Conference talk it referenced. I was so grateful that I did! The talk was from President Spencer W. Kimball.

The talk titled "God Will Not Be Mocked", given in General Conference, October 1974, is a superb outline of the moral and social expectations of a Latter-Day Saint. I found much of it that I wanted to highlight, and I probably will go back to it for other IQB topics, there are so many important ones. Since I don't like this particular topic (a requirement, not a choice) for this assignment, I was pleased to be reminded of President Kimball's extensive amount of warnings against it's practice and the dangers it presents in our society. The following quote is directed to parents and leaders:

"It is ridiculous to imply that pornography has no effect. There is a definite relationship to crime. Murder, robbery, rape, prostitution, and commercialized vice are fed on this immorality. Sex statistics seem to reflect a relationship between crime and pornography." (Spencer W. Kimball, God Will Not Be Mocked, General Conference October 1974)

I realize that this is a rather satirical graphic for such a serious subject matter. However, when I saw it, I was shocked and reminded that the degenerate effects of pornography really are extreme. I do not like to think about pornography or it's disgusting infiltration of our society. I also know that I HAVE to be aware of its prevalence and help my family develop skills to guard against it's poison. In the last few years, I have had a mantra that I repeat whenever I need to explain the "why's" of various media restrictions to my children. "There are just some things you can't unlearn or unsee." I am grateful for our Prophets and Apostle's, both past and present, who have given me the tools to help my children grow strong, healthy, and stalwart in the Gospel.

Another excerpt from President Kimball's talk:

 "We hope that our parents and leaders will not tolerate pornography...

We pray with our Lord that we may be kept from being in the world. It is sad that decent people are thrown into a filthy area of mental and spiritual pollution. We call upon all of our people to do all in their power to offset this ugly revolution....

It is utterly without redeeming social value. We urge our families to protect their children in every way possible." (Spencer W. Kimball, God Will Not Be Mocked, General Conference October 1974)