There is so much information on the Internet about sexuality
that it can be hard to know where to start, and who to trust. There are even those
claiming to teach sexuality from an LDS perspective, but are they really? It
can be difficult to know what sites are credible.
These suggestions (mostly) come from the National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2011).[i]
1. Who
runs the site? Any good
website related to sexuality should make it easy for you to learn who is responsible
for the site and its information.
2. Who
pays for the site? The source of the site’s funding should be clear.
The funding source can affect what content is presented, how the content is
presented, and what the site owners want to accomplish on the site.
3. What
is the purpose of the site? An “About This Site” link appears on many
sites; if it’s there, use it. The purpose of the site should be clearly stated
and help you evaluated the trustworthiness of the information.
4. Where
does the information come from? If the person or organization in charge
of the site did not create the information, the original source should be
clearly labeled. This identification allows others to easily find original
sources of information.
Never
trust an article that doesn’t cite its sources. This is especially true if
the author claims to have a degree. The degree doesn’t excuse them from stating
their sources; it makes the responsibility to cite their sources greater.
5.
What is the basis of the information? The
site should describe the evidence on which the material is based. Facts and
figures from valid research should have references. Also, opinions or advice
should be clearly set apart from information that is based on research results.
6.
How is the information selected? Is
there an editorial board? Do people with excellent professional and scientific
qualifications review the material before it is posted?
7.
How current is the information?
Websites should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, and the most recent
update or review date should be clearly posted. Even if the information is
still accurate, you want to know whether the site owners have reviewed it
recently to ensure that it is still valid.
8.
How does the site choose links to other
sites? What is the policy of the website owner about how links to other
sites are established? What are the criteria for the sites that are linked to
the website?
9.
What information about you does the site
collect, and why? Any credible website should tell you exactly what it
will and will not do with personal data gathered about you. Many commercial
sites sell data about their users to other companies. Don’t sign up for
anything you don’t fully understand.
10. How
does the site manage interactions with visitors? There should be a way
for you to contact the site owners with problems, feedback, and questions.
Information about the terms for using any site services should be readily
available as well.
11. (Bonus)
Is their information and advice in harmony with the gospel? I’m adding
this suggestion because of concerns I’ve had and concerns that have been
expressed to me. Be wary of anyone who claims to be an LDS sex educator,
including me. Putting “LDS” in front of your title carries the added responsibility
of not only teaching about sexuality from an LDS perspective, but also that
those teachings should be in harmony with the gospel and doctrine of the Church.
I am wary of anyone who openly refutes the
teachings of General Authorities and/or attacks their character, words or
actions. I am also wary about anyone who condones ideas that are in direct conflict
with the law of chastity and the guidelines in the For The Strength of Youth.
Some examples of this that I’ve seen are teachings
that modesty should never be expected from teenagers, that parents should
condone their youth masturbating[ii],
the idea that profane erotica is a healthy and acceptable for married LDS
couples to engage in, or that we should expect the General Authorities’
teachings will eventually catch up to modern scientific discoveries and current
social trends.
Such teachings are not in harmony with the
gospel, and the Spirit can help us to know that, if we will listen.[iii]
If we feel confused or conflicted when listening to or reading someone’s
information, you may want to find another source.
[i] Greenbert,
Jerrold S.; Bruess, Clint E.; Oswalt, Sara B., Exploring the Dimensions of
Human Seuxality 5 Ed., Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2014, 39 -40
[ii] Kimball,
Spencer W., President Kimball Speaks Out on Morality, Ensign, Nov. 1980, https://www.lds.org/ensign/1980/11/president-kimball-speaks-out-on-morality?lang=eng
“The early apostles and prophets mention numerous sins that were reprehensible
to them. Many of them were sexual sins—adultery, being without natural
affection, lustfulness, infidelity, incontinence, filthy communications,
impurity, inordinate affection, fornication. They included all sexual relations
outside marriage—petting, sex perversion, masturbation,
and preoccupation with sex in one’s thoughts and talking.”
[iii] Moroni
10: 3-5
