Struggling with the Law of Chastity

[Flyonthewall]

Aphrodite, nobody will ever want cancer, but if you have never been a slave of a behavior, that causes such feelings of self loathing, guilt, and unworthiness, then you may not understand why the statement is made.
You may have seen the cancer side of things, I have too. It is tragic and devastating.
Mastrabation has the same effect on the spirit, especially when one recognizes that it is wrong and wants to be rid of it.
One of the differences is, when someone has cancer, everybody gathers to support the individual and family. When one masturbates, they are just a "pervert" to be avoided if anyone found out.(this is the perception of the individual in most cases)

[Aphrodite]

When one masturbates, they are just a "pervert" to be avoided if anyone found out.(this is the perception of the individual in most cases)

MOST people? Where do you live? I have never heard it perceived that way. I have always been taught it is natural, and part of growing up. I read that post by the OP to my husband, and he twisted his face in confusion and incredulity and said, 'I cant understand why people make such a big deal of this. My mission president told us all he knew we were all up to it, but to keep focused on the job' In other words, it doesnt matter as long as it doesnt get out of control. Which can be said for anything, its not good to overtly hung up on things anyway.

My husband also said he remembers reading a talk somewhere by Boyd K Packer who said it was a natural part of growing up. So there you go.

And did I remember rightly reading in this thread someone who was MARRIED and thinking they were 'SINNING'??! Surely even people who believe its a 'sin' recognise its ok in marriage?!

[MorningStar]

I recall Boyd K. Packer giving a talk counseling against it and saying that nocturnal emissions was natural and OK. As for the cancer comment, I think that's just a strong way of saying that it doesn't excuse the behavior. I knew a girl who smoked and claimed it lowered your risk of heart disease according to a study. And as for masturbation preventing someone from acting on their fantasies with another person, I think it does just the opposite - it tempts them more and more to do those things. It's better to change the direction your mind is going and think of something more wholesome rather than indulge in it.

[Fiannan]

Is the reference here to cancer dealing with the studies that show that males who climax 5 times per week significantly cut their risk of prostate cancer? It's try you know...maybe some may think it is unfair but it's like women who don't have children die of breast and uterine cancer at higher rates than those who have kids -- especially if they have kids before 30. Nature is cruel I guess -- and doesn't always conform to what we may perceive as right and wrong on the surface.

[skalenfehl]

Sometimes I wonder if we truly consider the full depth of the meaning when we read the words, "Law of Chastity", particularly the word law. There are laws of the land, natural laws and God's laws. Chastity is very important to the Lord so much that He gave us a law to govern it.

If we step off a cliff, we fall because of the law of gravity. If we run a red light, we are breaking the law of the land and are subject to a citation. If we break one of God's laws, He withdraws His Spirit from us and we subject ourselves to His judgment. Isn't it important enough to fully understand the Law of Chastity and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend?

[Flyonthewall]

Originally Posted by Aphrodite

MOST people? Where do you live? I have never heard it perceived that way. I have always been taught it is natural, and part of growing up. I read that post by the OP to my husband, and he twisted his face in confusion and incredulity and said, 'I cant understand why people make such a big deal of this. My mission president told us all he knew we were all up to it, but to keep focused on the job' In other words, it doesnt matter as long as it doesnt get out of control. Which can be said for anything, its not good to overtly hung up on things anyway.

My husband also said he remembers reading a talk somewhere by Boyd K Packer who said it was a natural part of growing up. So there you go.

And did I remember rightly reading in this thread someone who was MARRIED and thinking they were 'SINNING'??! Surely even people who believe its a 'sin' recognise its ok in marriage?!

I know that it is taught to be "natural", and that "95% of men admit to doing it and the other 5% are lying". But that does not change the perception of the individual.
Fornication and Adultery are "natural" too, but they are definately not okay to do as long as it doesn't get out of control.
Every single church leader that I know of, does not teach that this activity is okay if done in moderation. Every source within the church that I have heard, including Boyd K. Packer, teaches that it is not something to be done, and it's practice is to be abandoned.

I know that there are different outlooks on this in different communities, or even families, and what might be thought of as "no big deal" to one person, can be considered an overwheling burden to another.
I just wanted to shed some light on why someone would make the claim that they would rather have prostate cancer than continue masturbating.

A marriage license is not a license to do anything, "because now I'm married". Looking at pornagraphy is wrong, even if the couple does it together. I won't go into this any further since it is not the topic of the thread, and it would only get more explicit from here.

[skalenfehl]

I feel it is time to close this thread. The purpose of this thread has gone off track again and I feel the OP has come away with what he needed to glean from it.