"For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light..."

Masturbation

masturbation boy Is masturbation bad? Everybody does it right? Well, not exactly. It may seem that way by looking around the internet for awhile. It is easy to find website after website that will tell you that masturbation is ok and that everyone does it. The truth is that not everyone does (and most of the websites that tell you otherwise are trying to make money off ads by getting you to click). You see, there are some real dangers to participating in the act of masturbation. The mormon church teaches that masturbation, or other types of self-stimulation is wrong. Here's why: While masturbation can seem harmless, it elicits sexual feelings that are intended only for marriage. This habit-forming activity quickly leads to other activities such as viewing pornography or participating in homosexual activities.

President Spencer W. Kimball taught the following:

"Masturbation, a rather common indiscretion, is not approved of the Lord nor of his church, regardless of what may have been said by others whose "norms" are lower. Latter-day Saints are urged to avoid this practice. Anyone fettered by this weakness should abandon the habit before he goes on a mission or receives the holy priesthood or goes in the temple for his blessings.

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. ...

While we should not regard this weakness as the heinous sin which some other sexual practices are, it is of itself bad enough to require sincere repentance."
(The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.282)

If you are struggling with an addiction to masturbation, there are some helpful tips for overcoming masturbation. If you are a member of the mormon church and are having difficulty stopping the practice of masturbation, you should discuss the matter with your Bishop who can counsel you on how to overcome your addiction.