The following is a transcript of a live presentation given at the Cyber Secrets Conference on Pornography at Brigham Young University on February 7, 2001.

Cyber Secrets: The Problem of Pornography:
Pornography and the Evils Thereof
President Merrill J. Bateman
February 7, 2001

As I sat down by Lanae Valentine she leaned over and said, "This is a difficult topic." And I thought to myself, the artistry of this conference will be the extent to which we discuss the problem without illustrating it.

Why such a conference at Brigham Young University? I believe there are two reasons. As the world becomes more civilized in some ways, it becomes less civilized in others. In the words of Edward Gibbon, "Although the progress of civilization has undoubtedly contributed to assuage the fiercer passions of human nature, it seems to be less favorable to the virtue of chastity. The refinements of life seem to corrupt even as they polish the relationship between the sexes." William F. May has said, "What was once the sideline of a solitary deviate is becoming a national past time, fully institutionalized and circularized in the mass media." . So the first reason is that what was once done in a corner is now becoming much more prevalent in society, and because of that, innocent people are becoming more and more exposed.

The second reason, I believe, is that Satan is finding new ways to introduce salacious materials into the lives of innocent people. Not only films and television, but now the internet compete with magazines dedicated to such filth.

More than a decade ago Jeffery R. Holland, then President of the University, stated the following with respect to the BYU student body: "There isn't as worthy and faithful a group of university students anywhere else on the face of the earth." May I comment and add my view. Today's BYU student body is the most incredible, wonderful assemblage of young people ever in the history of the world. But like in Jacob's time, there are a few who have succumbed to grosser ways. There are a few who do not understand the consequences of dabbling with lascivious materials that destroy. And it is so easy to access the material in the privacy of one's room. That is not true if one's portal is Route-Y, but there are so many other providers which give unlimited access. Consequently, it is important that these matters be the subject of a conference at the university. It is important to send a signal to all that there is danger in the land.

One might define pornography as "all sexually oriented material which is intended primarily to arouse the reader, the viewer, or the listener." If you take that definition, it's interesting to note that it can come in many forms, including written materials, pictures, and the spoken word.

Jesus said something interesting that suggests pornography may come in another way, although it may be initiated by one of the above forms. He said, "Behold it is written by them of old time, that thou shalt not commit adultery; but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath committed adultery already in his heart. Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer none of these things to enter into your heart; for it is better that ye should deny yourselves of these things, than that ye should be cast into hell." Isn't it interesting that the Savior's definition of adultery suggests that pornographic pictures may form inside our mind and heart as well as outside. A woman may be innocent in dress and appearance, but if a person's thoughts are lustful, the pictures are within. Clearly external materials may have created the images in the first place.

For a few moments may I indicate what the prophet has said with regard to cautioning all of us. This came in the priesthood session of the October 2000 General Conference. He stated: "If young people want to get involved in pornography, they can do so very easily. They can pick up the phone and dial a number with which they are familiar. They can sit at a computer and revel in cyber-space filth. I fear this may be going on in some of your homes. It is vicious. It is lewd and filthy. It is enticing and habit forming. It will take a young man or woman down to destruction as surely as anything in this world. It is foul sleaze that makes its exploiters wealthy, its victims impoverished. I regret to say that many fathers themselves like to hear the siren song of those who pedal filth. Some of them also work the internet for that which is lewd and lascivious. If there be any man within the sound of my voice who is involved in this or is moving in this direction, I plead with you to get out of it. Get it out of your life. Get away from it. Stay away from it. Otherwise, it will become an obsession. It will destroy your home. It will destroy your marriage. It will take the good and beautiful out of your family relationships and replace these with ugliness and suspicion. To you young men and to the young women who are your associates, I plead with you not to befoul your mind with this ugly and vicious stuff. It is designed to titillate, to absorb you into its net. It will take the beautiful out of your life. It will lead you into the dark and ugly. Our youth find this tempting stuff all about them. They need the help of their parents in resisting it. They need a tremendous amount of self control."

Chester Tidman said: "All healthy men, ancient and modern, eastern and western, know there is a certain fury in sex that we cannot afford to inflame. And that a certain mystery and awe must ever surround it if we are to remain sane."

In a publication by "Enough Is Enough" is the following statement: "Pornography advertises a particular view of human sexuality as surely as the Marlboro man conveys a particular image of the cigarette brand. What brand of sexuality is pornography promoting? It's never more than the physical. It never conveys the communication aspects of love. It never conveys the expressions of affection or emotion except for fear and lust. It does not convey the consequences which are always minimized." Fidelity becomes abnormal, unnatural. Marriage is a hindrance or irrelevant. The truth of the matter is that pornography is fraudulent. It teaches a basic lie. Pornography advertises that all that matters is the physical and there are no consequences. It's always denigrating to the human being.

Isn't it interesting that this area is becoming so pronounced. It is totally antithetical to the plan that God designed, the eternal plan of happiness. That plan was to create an earth where you and I could come and obtain a physical body. The physical body is essential; it is necessary for us to achieve our destiny in the eternities. For the most part, the rest of religion does not understand that without the physical body, one cannot achieve one's destiny, one cannot have a fullness of joy, one cannot have eternal increase. That is our purpose in coming to this earth. Unfortunately, most of our youth even inside the church don't understand why the body is so essential. And Satan understands that if he can denigrate the body, if he can put thoughts and pictures in our minds that cause us not to understand the beauties of human interactions, the beauties of human relationships, he can destroy us. He then has defeated God's plan.

It is my hope that in this conference we will come to understand not only the importance of keeping pornography out of our lives, but also the importance of living the kind of life that has been prescribed for us by Deity. I leave my blessings on the conference and pray that it will be successful in terms of helping us better understand how we can help those who fall into these traps. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.