The Fall of King David

Over the last few months I have felt the need to address a topic that is very contrevesial, yes, but extremely critical to understand. Until a conversation with my companion this morning I didn't know how to discuss it, because it can be sensitive. This topic is the destructive trap of pornography.

I want to take you back to the Bible. King David, in particular. He is the most incredible king Isreal ever has. He is righteous and stalwart. David see many miracles in his reign and defeats enemies no one before had been able to. But he has a weakness that leads to his downfall. His weakness is pornography.

Yes. King David's weakness was a weakness many people have now. Bold statement, but it is true. Let me expound more.

He sees Bathsheba bathing on a roof. She is doing nothing wrong. At all. In fact, she isn't even aware of what is going on. 2 Samuel 11:2-3 describes the scene.

"And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.  And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, 

Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

David makes a dyre mistake at this moment. He doesn't look away when he sees her on the roof, he keeps looking and "inquires after the woman." This is where his weakness comes into play. He doesn't look away like he knows he should. If David had seen it and looked away, then his reign would have continued in righteousness, but he didn't. 

Pornography is enticing and glamourous. It is evil. If anything is of the devil, pornography is. It tampers with the sacred powers of procreation and makes a mockery of the plan of salvation. It causes more guilt and shame than those that use it care to admit. Mentally, emotionally, and physically pornography is harmful whether the world will admit it or not. (For those of you who would like the facts on the matter, click here)

BUT there is a way that those feelings of guilt and shame can go away. Is it easy? No. Is it meant to be easy? No. If you think it is, than you will fail before you have even begun. It's hard, but is it worth it? YES. 

It is possible. Don't let Satan tell you otherwise

Through repentance and seeking guidance and help, you CAN overcome the harmful effects of pornography addiction. If you have found yourself in this trap, please seek help. If you don't know where to go, please visit LDS Addiction Recovery website. It will help you.

For those of you who do not have a problem with pornography, do not think you are immune. You need to learn from the example of David. he downfall was that he kept looking. Look away. When it comes on the computer, on TV, when you see a magazine in the store or on the street, look away. A simple act of looking away can prevent other problems from happening. Avoid pornography like the plague. Turn of computers, cellphones, TVs or anything that has those images come up. Turn it off, look away, pray, and fill your mind with virtuous thoughts, hymns, memorized scriptures.

There is a light in the darkenss.
Don't give up. Ever.

There is hope and there is a way to build guards against this adversary to the plan of God. There is a way out through the enabling and healing powers of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. There is light in the darkness of Pornography addiction. You just need to find it and let it in. Remember, you are a child of God and can overcome anything with Him on your side because His son, your brother, your Savior, Jesus Christ, has overcome them already for you. You CAN. 

I promise that as you seek help, you will find it. You will find peace and healing and through tthe enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, you will be able to overcome anything.

I love you all!
Love,

Sister Mackenzie Esmond