Many Hearts Died, Pierced Through With Deep Wounds

I must speak boldly.
Hard words are all I have because I'm angry.
There will be nothing lighthearted in this post. So if you need a lift today don't look for it here.
Please understand.

I'm angry because of a conversation I had with a woman about pornography. She actually laughed and made light of this horrendous problem with the offhand remark, "Boys will be boys."

Well, what are boys supposed to be anyway?

For one thing I believe that boys and men are supposed to be protectors and defenders of all that have been entrusted to them.

I remember seeing an old western movie once. In it there was a scene about a never to be broken Indian creed. A strong young brave explains to an outsider, "No warrior ever eats until he is certain that the pots of all the widows and orphans are full of meat."
I think of ranchers and farmers coming home after a day that began before dawn, tired and hungry. But they would never dream of food and rest for themselves until the animals in their care were safe and fed.
My mind goes to that legendary shout of a crew on a sinking ship, "Man the lifeboats! Women and children first!"

I believe that men, who are often physically stronger, are supposed to use that strength to protect what Heavenly Father has entrusted to them.
And men are supposed to teach their sons that the role of protector is one of the hallmarks of true manhood.

As a high school teacher I saw so many of my students, full of promise and possibility, fall prey to the countless lies Satan tells about pornography. One lie is that porn is victimless.
One boy actually said to me one day, "Aw, Mz Dub, lighten up. Nobody gets hurt."

Let me assure you, young man, everybody involved gets hurt.

Here's just a few TRUE things about porn.

Many of the women in this awful business were sexually abused as young girls. This was usually done by men who were supposed to defend and protect them from harm. Sometimes even by those who should have given their lives for them if necessary.
They suffered almost indescribable pain in body and spirit. Their childhood was stolen. What should have been a time of joy and growth became a hell of fear and betrayal.
Often these men, the ones who were supposed to protect them, were involved with pornography.

When these girls became young women they sometimes tried to deal with their pain by using drugs and alcohol. I saw some of them. This often led to more sexual abuse at the hands of their peers. Then they possibly had to deal with the health issues that come with this life.  Herpes, genital warts, and syphillus, are still around today. And seeking treatment for these is something a 15 year old girl finds humiliating I can assure you.
And then there's unplanned pregnancy. And abortion.

"Aw, Mz Dub, nobody gets hurt," my young friend said.

Sure.  Look into the eyes and broken heart of a 14 year old who's had an abortion and tell me nobody's hurt.

The porn industry recruits from broken young women like this. They're an easy target because they feel worthless. They believe themselves to be objects,  "things,"  barely human, put on earth only to be used by selfish men.
Those same men who were put on earth to act as their protectors.

And make no mistake about it.

Anyone who consumes pornography in any of it's slick, disguised ugliness is one of those young girls' abusers.
He is there, standing by, watching, while a life is destroyed.
He makes no move to protect or defend.
He makes no move to act like a man.

If you or someone you love is involved in pornography, please know there is hope. It can stop. There is forgiveness.
Christ paid the price.

But you must want to change. You must want to be free.

I leave you with this thought from one of the apostles of the Lord.

Russell Ballard said in a recent conference.

"I testify to you, that your body, mind, and spirit can be transformed, cleansed, and made whole, and you will be freed."

Also from the scriptures.
Isaiah 1:18
Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord.  Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool.

I would like to recommend the Addiction Recovery website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints.

Truth is found there. It tells of the forgiveness made possible by Christ's Atonement.
Help is found there. Step by step, one day at a time help.
Please seek it if you or someone you care about suffers because of this terrible plague.