One of my favorite apostles was Elder Richard G. Scott. In my youth, his words guided me through many challenges with
morality. As a missionary in Washington
D.C., I had the opportunity to
thank him for that. I’d like to dedicate this article to him.
While studying for my next test in my marriage and family
textbook, I received some new insights on masturbation. I felt it might be
helpful to share what I found.
Definitions mean a lot to me as an adult, because as a youth
in the church, we were fed a lot of terminology. Words such as ‘wholesome’, ‘worthy’,
‘morality’, ‘impure’, ‘unholy’, ‘unnatural’, ‘masturbation’, etc… were thrown
around as though we (the youth) would just know what they meant.
From an LDS cultural perspective, it was pretty unclear to
me what exactly constituted masturbation and why we needed to avoid it outside
of marriage. It was treated as such a taboo topic that discussing it aloud was inappropriate. In
my household, the topic was something to be breathed in hushed tones and behind
closed doors. Mostly due to my parents lack of knowledge in how to discuss talk about sacred things.
Masturbation was stressed on us to avoid, but never discussed if it
was ever appropriate in marriage. Even though in marriage, it can play an
acceptable role in a husband and wife’s sacred intimate relationship.
What also mystified me were those people, both in and out of
the Church, that felt a need to justify masturbation as a ‘natural’ and
harmless practice. This grew more puzzling after I had a chance to read and
learn from marriage counselors and therapists about the harmful long-term
mental, emotional, spiritual, and relationship effects created by solo
masturbation and autoeroticism exercised by the unmarried.
See my article "Solo Masturbation, A Sexual Relationship?"
In this discussion, to hopefully shed some light on where
some of these cultural perspectives come from, I’d like to share with you some
of the definitions I found and allow you to decide which definition will best
help you in your marriage and your parental tasks of teaching your children
about the law of chastity. (for more on this, see my article
"The Seven Kinds of Masturbation")
In 1987, Dr. Israel Meizner made the claim in the American
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology that he observed fetus’ masturbating with
ultrasound. After closer examination, I learned that he observed a fetus
gripping its penis or randomly touching the vulva.
I thought about that and questioned “How can you justify that
as “masturbation” and then also use this to justify children, teens and singles masturbating?”
Relying on science as the source of “truth”, many others – including
members of the Church – have found themselves frustrated by this, especially
when it came time to address it with their children.
While I was studying this week, I came across a passage in
my textbook that helped me realize the answer may lie in our definitions.
I have a strong testimony that God the Father and His son
Jesus Christ are the only source of truth. A truth with a solid and eternal
foundation that I know I can rely on. Whatever I study in college, I
purposefully run through the filter and scrutinizing lens of the gospel.
What I discovered is that what was currently taught as
scientific truth only remains truth until another degree seeker disproves it or
alters the definition. For this reason, if it conflicts with the teachings of
the gospel, it’s sifted as chaff and the remaining kernels of knowledge that
build and edify eternal families remain.
One justification for masturbation not being a sin is that
the word ‘masturbation’ is not found in the Bible. That is true. The word "Masturbation"
is not found in the Bible or any of our standard works.
The closest we come is the suggestion of it in the word
“lasciviousness” and ‘licentiousness’. Both pertain to the pre-occupation with
sex and immoral sexual behavior. Our understanding of masturbation comes from
modern-day revelation and teachings, which other churches or secular teachers do not have.
So a common justification for masturbation being a “sin” is
the story of Onan . With closer examination of the account, it’s discovered
that the sin of Onan had nothing to do with masturbation (as we define
it) but rather with breaking his marital covenants and obligations by denying
children to his wife and deceased brother.
So when it came to masturbation, this is what I did find.
The term masturbation originated in the nineteenth century.
It’s believed to have come from the Latin word masturbari, as a conjugation of
the word
manus, meaning
hand, and the word
stuprare,
meaning to
defile. The word ‘masturbate’ therefore means to “defile the
hand” as its first definition.
[i]
While I was studying my textbook, I came across this
definition:
“Sexual self-pleasuring that involves some form of direct
physical stimulation. It may or may not result in orgasm. Masturbation
typically includes rubbing, stroking, fondling, squeezing, or otherwise
stimulating the genitals. It can also be self-stimulation of other body parts,
such as the breasts, the inner thighs, or the anus.”
[ii]
I finally understood where Dr. Meizner (mentioned above)
obtained his broadened justification for calling his fetus observations ‘masturbation’,
because of this definition.
I found this ironic since both the Merriam Webster and Oxford dictionaries do not
give this definition.
They define masturbation as:
“
Erotic
stimulation especially of one's own genital organs commonly resulting in orgasm
and achieved by manual or other bodily contact exclusive of sexual intercourse,
by instrumental manipulation, occasionally by sexual fantasies, or by various
combinations of these agencies”[iii]
And
“Stimulate
one’s own genitals for sexual pleasure.” From
the Oxford
dictionary.[iv]
This led me to wonder what definition
I could find at the Church website. This is the definition I found:
“…When the fluid and sperm
fill the tubules and testes, they are automatically released or ejaculated.
This usually happens during sleep and is called nocturnal emissions or “wet
dreams.” Sexual dreams are not always present, but they can trigger a nocturnal
emission or ejaculation. In either case this is not
masturbation…
…masturbation is considered by many in the world to be the
harmless expression of an instinctive sex drive…the prophets have condemned it
as a sin throughout the ages and that they can choose not to do it.
Throughout childhood, boys and girls have touched their
own genitals frequently to wash and to dress. This is a behavior that usually
has the same meaning as keeping one’s feet warm in the winter, enjoying a swim
on a hot day, or scratching an itch.
We ought to be friendly to our bodies and appreciate the
body’s marvelous range of senses. This innocent touching is not the kind of
behavior warned against by prophets through the ages.
The sin of masturbation occurs when a person
stimulates his
or her own sex organs for the purpose of sexual arousal. It is a perversion of
the body’s passions. When we pervert these passions and intentionally use them
for selfish, immoral purposes, we become carnal.”
[v] (emphasis added)
This definition is much narrower than Dr. Meizner’s or the
definition found in my textbook. This makes a "spirit of the law" allowance for washing, stroking, touching, gripping, or scratching our
genitals (whether single or married) as not masturbation.
I also understand that when the Church leaders refer to self-stimulation for the purpose of arousing sexual feelings,
they are speaking in the context of those who are unmarried. They have not
referred to masturbation as being a sin when engaged in as part of the sacred
sexual relationship between a husband and wife.
President Kimball, in his book The Miracle of Forgiveness,
said this about masturbation:
“Most youth come into contact early with masturbation. Many
would-be authorities declare that it is natural and acceptable, and frequently
young men I interview cite these advocates to justify their practice of it.
To this we must respond that he world’s norms in many area –
drinking, smoking, and sex experience generally to mention only a few – depart
increasingly from God’s law. The Church has a different, higher norm.
Thus prophets anciently and today condemn masturbation. It
induces feelings of guilt and shame. It is detrimental to spirituality. It
indicates slavery to the flesh, not that mastery of it and the growth toward
godhood which is the object of our mortal life.
Our modern prophet has indicated that no young man should be
called on a mission who is not free from this practice…”
[vi]
Boyd K. Packer, in his last talk in 2015, stated, “The only
legitimate, authorized expression of the powers of procreation is between
husband and wife, a man and a woman, who have been legally and lawfully
married. Anything other than this violates the commandments of God. Do not
yield to the awful temptations of the adversary, for every debt of
transgression must be paid “till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing” (
Matthew 5:26).” [vii]
I hope you will find the opportunity to discuss this issue as
husband and wife. Hopefully it will help to put each other’s minds at ease
about our bodies, and how to discuss this issue with your children when the
opportunity arises.
[ii]
Benokraitis, Nijoke V., Marriages and Families, Pearson Education Inc., 2005,
182
[v]
LDS.ORG., A Parent’s Guide, 1985, 34-43 (emphasis added)
[vi]
Kimball, Spencer W., The Miracle of Forgiveness, Bookcraft,1969, 77
