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Within the Mormon religion church authorities council parents that they should teach their children about sexual health at home before they are taught about it at school. The reasoning is that children need to feel like they can talk to their parents about sex and ask questions. It is also important to Mormons to talk about sex from a spiritual standpoint so that children don’t just learn about sex from movies and friends.
The website lds.org has a page called How to Teach Children about Sexual Intimacy. This page helps teach parents how to talk to their kids in a positive way about sex and teach about the church’s doctrines. “Whatever your hesitations or fears, it is vital that you discuss sexual intimacy with your children on an ongoing basis,” the lesson states. “Children and teenagers are regularly bombarded with damaging ideas about sex, and you have the opportunity to help them create a positive, gospel-driven understanding of sexual intimacy.” “Parents who proactively prepare their children have this conversation in appropriate ways starting very young,” said Brother Gibbons. Rather than allowing the media to teach children what is appropriate, parents can start teaching about bodies being blessings from Heavenly Father. From there, parents can teach in more detail according to the direction of the Spirit and their family’s needs. Rather than waiting for children to learn at school or other outside influences, parents can broach the topic at home, in a positive atmosphere. “There are things you can do that are age appropriate along the way so children are inoculated and prepared rather than just reacting to things they see in the media or hear from friends,” said Brother Gibbons. “When you proactively prepare them, you set the stage for them to be able to handle those instances when they inevitably encounter it.”
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What do members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) think about sexual health that may differ from other people?
We Mormons believe that sexual health means remaining abstinent until you are married, and being monogamous once you are married. In the Mormon handbook “True to the Faith a Gospel Reference,” We are counseled on how to achieve this goal. “Decide now to be chaste. You need to make this decision only once. Make the decision now, before the temptation comes, and let your decision be so firm and with such deep commitment that it can never be shaken. Determine now that you will never do anything outside of marriage to arouse the powerful emotions that must be expressed only in marriage. Do not arouse those emotions in another person’s body or your own body. Determine now that you will be completely true to your spouse.” “If you are single and dating, always treat your date with respect. Never treat him or her as an object to be used for lustful desires. Carefully plan positive and constructive activities so that you and your date are not left alone without anything to do. Stay in areas of safety where you can easily control yourself.” As members of the Mormon faith we are counseled not to go to dances until we are 14 and to not date anyone until we are 16. Even after we are 16 we are taught to go on dates with many different people and not date one person exclusively. “If you are married, be faithful to your spouse in your thoughts, words, and actions. Never flirt with anyone of the opposite sex. Ask yourself if your spouse would be pleased if he or she knew of your words or actions. When you stay away from such circumstances, temptation gets no chance to develop.” Mormons practice abstinence before marriage not only to prevent STDs and pregnancy but because we believe it is a commandment and that keeping that commandment will also keep us safe from the emotional and social difficulties that come with premarital sex. In contrast to these gospel based directions, teens are often told that they should have sex when they feel like they are ready as long as they protect themselves from STDs and pregnancy. The Planned Parenthood website states, “Am I ready at a glance:
Also, it states: I think I’m ready to have sex. What do I do now? Make sure: 1. Both of you want to have sex without pressure from each other or anyone else. 2. You’re being honest about your feelings. Your partner should be honest, too. 3. You and your partner will do what you need to do, like using condoms, dams, and getting tested, to prevent STDs. 4. If you have vaginal sex, use birth control and condoms to protect against pregnancy. (You should also use condoms to protect against STDs.) 5. Both of you feel comfortable saying “stop” and “no” in any situation. - See more at: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/teens/sex/am-i-ready#sthash.vn9pX29A.dpuf What is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) standards in regard to sex?
In a pamphlet written by church leaders, teenagers are taught what standards they are expected to live by and taught the reasoning behind these standards. The following is a quote from the pamphlet “ For the Strength of Youth.” The complete text can be found here. “Physical intimacy between husband and wife is beautiful and sacred. It is ordained of God for the creation of children and for the expression of love between husband and wife. God has commanded that sexual intimacy be reserved for marriage. When you are sexually pure, you prepare yourself to make and keep sacred covenants in the temple. You prepare yourself to build a strong marriage and to bring children into the world as part of an eternal and loving family. You protect yourself from the spiritual and emotional damage that come from sharing sexual intimacy outside of marriage. You also protect yourself from harmful diseases. Remaining sexually pure helps you to be confident and truly happy and improves your ability to make good decisions now and in the future.” These standards are supported by information found on sex-ed sites such as KidsHealth.org, which states, “Not having sex may seem easy because it's not doing anything. But peer pressure and things you see on TV and in the movies can make the decision to practice abstinence more difficult. If it seems like everybody else is having sex, some people may feel they have to do it, too, just to be accepted. Don't let kidding or pressure from friends, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, or even the media push you into something that's not right for you. The truth is that most teens are not having sex. A couple can still have a relationship without having sex. If you've made a decision not to have sex, it's an important personal choice and the people who care about you should respect that.” https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth/sexual-purity?lang=eng Author: Grade 8 Scott |
Student AuthorBlog posts here have been written by students in MS or HS on topics that interest them and with a purpose to educate their peers. Archives
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