Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please CLICK HERE
The following is excerpted from ChurchofJesusChrist.org. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
When I was younger, I remember writing things down that described my perfect husband: “tall, dark, and handsome,” “loves kids,” and “great sense of humor.” As a member of the Church, I certainly didn’t expect “pornography addict” to be included on my list when I did find my dream husband.
I fell for Neil hard and fast. He was one of the kindest men I had ever been around. He was loving and easygoing, never said anything bad about anyone, and was just extremely likable. Tall, dark, and handsome didn’t hurt either! I felt like I could completely be myself around him. Neil made me feel like I was home. I was pretty sure I wanted to be with him forever just a couple months into dating him.
Neil, on the other hand, had been in many relationships and had a pattern of dumping girlfriends around the three-month mark. True to pattern, he broke up with me too, just before Christmas. I was devastated.
“I Have a Problem with Pornography”
You know that feeling when you break up with someone you really love and you can’t eat or sleep or even think? That was me. I kept wondering what in the world had gone wrong, since everything with us seemed to be going so right. I finally called Neil to ask for some sort of explanation. And to my total surprise, he said, “Let’s go on a drive.”
I’ll never forget on that cold December night, as snowflakes fell softly onto the car windshield, Neil uttering the words, “I have a problem with pornography.”
To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
lizOctober 17, 2019
I think we are too quick to use the word addiction in regards to pornography. I am not trying to diminish the author's experience. I am glad that he found help and recovery with his addiction. However, would we call someone who has a drink with dinner or a few days a weeks an alcoholic? Probably not. To church members, because our standards our high, one drink(even if it is few and far between) is wrong, just as looking at porn one time(maybe one time today and one time next week) is wrong. To me, this does not necessarily equate addiction. I think by saying someone who has a pornography habit has an addiction can lead down a rabbit hole of shame and crippling fear which can actually lead to an increase in the behavior.. It is something that needs to stop to remain worthy, just like drinking alcohol and other things, but let's ease up on calling anyone who looks at porn an addict.