Struggling with the Law of Chastity

[tryingtobe]

hey all.. i never really wanted to use this board but whatever.. im a male, a member of the church and almost 20 and am struggling with something i really hate.. i suppose in the past i developed a bad habit that i engaged in, in the middle of night. i have no desire for it to be apart of my life anymore and i havnt disired for it to be apart of my life for quite awhile now..

i suppose im struggling with blaming my self.. the problem now is that i wake up in the middle of hte night and my brain doesnt understand whats going on.. or doesnt care.. and i enagage in sinful activity.. sometimes i realize what im doing and im just like.. "what am i doing..?" sometimes i even wake up go about the day and then suddenly remember i had done something in the night.. so essentially.. i have created a bad habit which to me.. seems ALMOST but not entirely involentery and its killing me.. im preparing to enter the temple before the end of this month and im meet with my bishop but i just need to figure out how to stop myself from engaging in this stupid sin which i choose to be confused by even though.. i simply need to change my thoughts and feelings about everything so that i can simply sleep through the entire night.. sometimes yeah i know what im doing and just disregard all my actual feelings.. which is something we all do when we choose to be deceived by the adversary.. i dont care that these feelings may be natural.. thats the very point of the scripture Mosiah 3: 19 (the natural man is an enemy to God)..

any idea on how to overcome this stupid habit.. i feel like i have no control over it..

thanks guys.

[GoodK]

Quick question - What makes you think what you are doing is a sin? Are you relying on church doctrine or are you just going off of what you've been told by parents/church members?

I hate to see people guilt tripping themselves as bad as you seem to be for no good reason.

Best,

GoodK

[tryingtobe]

thanks for the concern, but ive actually been meeting with my bishop about this for awhile and i have been blessed with a pretty good understanding of the law of chastity to know i am not keeping it.. i have faith that i can conquer it and i know i will, im just ready to rid my life of it now..

[Hemidakota]

Originally Posted by tryingtobe

hey all.. i never really wanted to use this board but whatever.. im a male, a member of the church and almost 20 and am struggling with something i really hate.. i suppose in the past i developed a bad habit that i engaged in, in the middle of night. i have no desire for it to be apart of my life anymore and i havnt disired for it to be apart of my life for quite awhile now..

i suppose im struggling with blaming my self.. the problem now is that i wake up in the middle of hte night and my brain doesnt understand whats going on.. or doesnt care.. and i enagage in sinful activity.. sometimes i realize what im doing and im just like.. "what am i doing..?" sometimes i even wake up go about the day and then suddenly remember i had done something in the night.. so essentially.. i have created a bad habit which to me.. seems ALMOST but not entirely involentery and its killing me.. im preparing to enter the temple before the end of this month and im meet with my bishop but i just need to figure out how to stop myself from engaging in this stupid sin which i choose to be confused by even though.. i simply need to change my thoughts and feelings about everything so that i can simply sleep through the entire night.. sometimes yeah i know what im doing and just disregard all my actual feelings.. which is something we all do when we choose to be deceived by the adversary.. i dont care that these feelings may be natural.. thats the very point of the scripture Mosiah 3: 19 (the natural man is an enemy to God)..

any idea on how to overcome this stupid habit.. i feel like i have no control over it..

thanks guys.

Unless you are 'straight up' in saying what it is, no one here can answer your question. However, I am suspecting by your writing and today's youth culprit for males, you do not need to post it here. Now, there is a way to control any habitual habit that a local Bishop will help you.

Again, I would seek the local Bishop for an interview and please be straight up with him. Bless you for seeking help.....

[Hemidakota]

Oh...It starts with THOUGHTS and when you allow it to FOSTER or allow it to be entertained, will eventually lead to ACTION.

When those thoughts first enter the brain, tell yourself I WILL KEEP ALL OF GOD'S COMMANDMENTS. Or do as President Boyd K. Packard. sing a LDS hymn in replacing that thought.

[Gwen]

you might find some helpful advice in other topics if you look around. i'm guessing this might be a good one to start with. http://www.lds.net/forums/advice-boa...icted-sin.html you aren't the first to struggle and won't be the last.

[tryingtobe]

yeah i know this guys.. but thanks. and i did say i was meeting i with my bishop already..

[GoodK]

Originally Posted by tryingtobe

thanks for the concern, but ive actually been meeting with my bishop about this for awhile and i have been blessed with a pretty good understanding of the law of chastity to know i am not keeping it.. i have faith that i can conquer it and i know i will, im just ready to rid my life of it now..

My understanding is that there is no doctrine to support the claim that self-gratification is against the law of chastity. I was hoping to be corrected, but I guess what your bishop says trumps official doctrine.

I just don't find much sense in racking your brain over something that is natural and apparently healthy:

"Men who frequently [do what you are talking about] appear to have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer, Australian researchers have reported.

Researchers from the Cancer Council of Victoria found that men who [did what you are talking about] more than five times each week were a third less likely to develop the cancer.

The study surveyed 1,000 men who developed prostate cancer and 1,250 men who did not, between the ages of 20 and 50, it is reported by PlanetOut.

Researchers told the BBC last week that the prostate produces one of the fluids involved in ejaculation and that frequent [doing what you are talking about] appears to flush out carcinogens.

Sexual intercourse may not have the same effect because it increases the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, which could raise the risk of cancer, it is reported."

FOXNews.com - Study: Frequent Masturbation May Prevent Prostate Cancer - Health News | Current Health News | Medical News

Best,

GoodK

[Hemidakota]

Goodk, are you a member of the church [LDS]?

[GoodK]

Originally Posted by Hemidakota

Goodk, are you a member of the church [LDS]?

I get nervous when people ask me that. It reminds me of CARM.

Yes. my ward clerk could advise you that I am a member.