Lesson for September 20, 2015 Today our lesson was given by Megan Miller about President Benson’s chapter 17, “Keeping the Law of Chastity.” On page 220 in section 2, President Benson said, “In the category of crime, only murder and denying the Holy Ghost are greater than breaking the law of chastity.” In the world, we agree that murder is bad, but most people don’t see that breaking the law of chastity is bad. Our body is a temple and we should not violate the temple that actually belongs to God. The family is the essential unit of the gospel and God’s plan. Murder is taking someone’s life, and breaking the law of chastity is creating a life and both are God’s prerogative to give and take life. These are powers that will eventually be ours and if we can’t use them appropriately, we won’t be able to progress in the next life. Having that relationship with another person, it is meant to be a permanent thing and continue into the eternities. A study of people engaged in intimacy before marriage and commitment found that it leads to a separation in that relationship. President Benson said that it may be fun and exciting, but there is a day of reckoning and it will lead to sadness. Having sexual relationships early in their lives, girls tend to be focused on their bodies. President Benson said people cannot do wrong and feel right, but may make people depressed and unworthy. How do we fall into sexual sin? In section three, it says many engage in sexual sin through a misguided effort to find basic human needs. People who are unhappy sometimes go looking rather than trying to strengthen their own marriages. Physical intimacy does not equate with love, although it does have a unifying function in marriage. Being unfaithful stems from proximity and being attracted to someone else. You need to lock up your heart. Attraction may happen, but you don’t have to do anything about it. Bad friends can influence us to do bad things. We need to be honest and up front with our children. We should fill up our lives with wholesome activities. You avoid anything that could be in any way improper, including pornography. We should view the lds.org video on how to avoid pornography. Elder Holland said, “The only real control is self-control.” Teach your kids to have self-control and avoid all bad things. Talk about pornography with your spouse. It’s not something private, but it is something we should all be careful and open about. Relationships are about trust. Even reading material is influential. A good motto is to say, Just don’t do it now. Pornography completely drives the Spirit away to the point you can’t reason with people. Talk to your children and say, “You’re not a bad person. Just turn it off and come talk to me and I will help you.” A picture book called “Good picture. Bad Pictures.” Tells children about using a thinking brain, instead of a feeling brain and how it becomes addictive. It helps facilitate conversation with parents and children. Sometimes people feel too ashamed to look for help, but the Atonement is real and Christ suffered for us. D&C 58 says that the Lord will remember our sins no more. Jacob 2:28 says “I, the Lord, delight in chastity. Physical intimacy is a good thing and part of God’s plan if used correctly. Children must be inspired by precepts and example.