General Handbook Update: Pornography

The Church's Handbook of Instruction is now the "General Handbook" and was updated recently. The new version is pretty much the same as the 2015 Handbook 2 version, except this gives more resources and acknowledges "compulsion" vs "addiction". I wanted to take the opportunity to update this previous post and re-demonstrate a substitution I believe gives greater clarity. You be the judge:

Pornography (General Handbook version)

The Church condemns pornography in any form. Pornography use of any kind damages individual lives, families, and society. It also drives away the Spirit of the Lord. Church members should avoid all forms of pornographic material and oppose its production, dissemination, and use.

The Church provides the following resources to help people whose lives are affected by pornography:

• AddressingPornography.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

• AddictionRecovery.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

  • Helping Those Who Struggle with Pornography (booklet)

  • Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts (booklet)

  Stake presidents and bishops also provide support to family members as needed.

  Church leaders should realize that use of pornography can be a compulsion or an addiction. In addition to the inspired help of these leaders, some members may need professional counseling. Leaders may contact Family Services for assistance. See 38.6.2.2 for contact information for Family Services.

   Personal counseling and informal membership restrictions are usually sufficient when helping a person repent of using pornography (see 32.8). Membership councils are not usually held. However, a council may be necessary for intensive and compulsive use of pornography that has caused significant harm to a member’s marriage or family (see 38.6.5). A council is required if a member makes, shares, possesses, or repeatedly views pornographic images of children (see 38.6.6).

Profane Erotica (with my term substitution)

The Church condemns profane erotica in any form. Profane Erotica use of any kind damages individual lives, families, and society. It also drives away the Spirit of the Lord. Church members should avoid all forms of Profane Erotic material and oppose its production, dissemination, and use.

The Church provides the following resources to help people whose lives are affected by profane erotica:

• AddressingPornography.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

• AddictionRecovery.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

  • Helping Those Who Struggle with Pornography (booklet)

  • Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts (booklet)

  Stake presidents and bishops also provide support to family members as needed.

  Church leaders should realize that use of profane erotica can be a compulsion or an addiction. In addition to the inspired help of these leaders, some members may need professional counseling. Leaders may contact Family Services for assistance. See 38.6.2.2 for contact information for Family Services.

   Personal counseling and informal membership restrictions are usually sufficient when helping a person repent of using profane erotica (see 32.8). Membership councils are not usually held. However, a council may be necessary for intensive and compulsive use of profane erotica that has caused significant harm to a member’s marriage or family (see 38.6.5). A council is required if a member makes, shares, possesses, or repeatedly views profane erotic images of children (see 38.6.6).

For more information on why I prefer to use the term "profane erotica", go to this link: Latter-Day Saints Take Pleasure In Sacred Erotica