Monday Mormon Myths and Truths #14

The question I got this week was about the LDS view on abortion:

The LDS position on abortion is very clear: "Members of the church must not submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for an abortion.  The position stems from our belief in the sanctity of life and from our belief that God is the Father of our spirits and that HE has spirit children who desire to come to earth and receive a physical body, be born, and progress through life on earth.
There are, however, some exceptional circumstances that may justify an abortion from an LDS view, including,"when pregnancy is the result of incest or rape, when the life or health of the mother is judged by competent medical authority to have severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth"
When a child is conceived outside of marriage, the Church policy for what to do, is to do what is best for the child.  The mother and father together should decide what is the best option, if it is a strong relationship the mother and father should marry and work toward establishing an eternal family relationship, their goal should include having that child sealed to them in a Holy Temple to be a family for time and all eternity.  If a successful marriage is unlikely or not an option, they should consider placing the baby up for adoption.

Next question:  How does your church feel about pornography. since it is such a big part of society now?

This is such an obvious answer to me, but I will still give you the word on the "Mormon Street" is Pornography is considered an influence as destructive to the soul as the black plague was to the body.
It is degrading to the human body and undermines the purposes of physical intimacy.  It is also most often degrading to women by objectifying them and demeaning their divine character.
Mormon leadership has spoken out on pornography in its worldwide general conferences more than 140 times since 1986. So obviously it is a worldly problem, and sometimes can be an easy door opener for Satan to do his magic, especially on the youth.  The reason why Mormons take this issue so seriously is because we take the word of God seriously: "Whosoever looketh on a women to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28) If someone views immoral images, it can create immoral thoughts, which leads to immoral desires, actions, passions and character.

IMMORAL IMAGE +IMMORAL THOUGHTS+IMMORAL DESIRES OR PASSIONS= IMMORAL ACTIONS

Additionally, pornography can be addicting and can take control of a person's life.  Mormons believe in avoiding all behaviors that can lead to addiction and diminish a person's ability to control their desires and behavior
I personally have seen pornography get into the minds of youth and destroy their ability to think of anything else but getting to a computer so they can view the filth that surrounds our country and many others. When I was a young girl there was no such thing as a computer and if someone had told me back then we would be able to call someone on a cell phone I would of told them they were crazy, we had one phone in the house on the kitchen wall, if you wanted to have a semi private conversation you had to stretch the cord around the corner, and maybe, just maybe it would reach a room where you could shut the door to talk to your friends without anyone listening.  In the world today our children, our husbands and friends have access to the internet 24/7 they can if they choose, access the pornography sites as they wish as much as they want.  I being LDS or not do not want that influence in my life.