Sexual Intimacy

                Parents can strengthen their family, community, and nation by teaching this family home evening about sexual intimacy being sacred and beautiful.  The link contains four additional family home evening lessons to aid parents in teaching the proper use of this important power.  

                The use of pornography is rampant in the world today; it is gaining ground for numerous reasons.  One of those reasons is because the rising generation does not realize the real dangers in it.  Another reason is that many “parents avoid addressing the topic of sexual relations and sexuality with their children. Some parents incorrectly assume that talking about sex will encourage their children to act out sexually or that their children are too young to have questions.  Many did not talk openly about these topics with their own parents and feel uncomfortable talking about them in their families.  They may also feel ill-qualified to teach about something they are currently struggling with.  Whatever your hesitations or fears, it is vital that you discuss sexual intimacy with your children on an ongoing basis.  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…..

                “Heavenly Father created the plan of salvation so that we can experience life, return to His presence, and have joy.  Central to this plan are the spiritual, emotional, and physical unity developed in marriage and family life.   He gave us the capacity for physical intimacy so that we could strengthen and grow our eternal families.  He intends for sex to be a beautiful, powerful, and joyful part of our lives – not something evil or corrupt.  Sex enables a husband and a wife to have children, express love, and strengthen their spiritual, emotional, and physical bonds.  Sexual intimacy is an important part of marriage, and when it is used in the way that God has commanded, it brings great blessings and joy.  While many in the world portray sex as casual or crude, the gospel teaches that sexuality is a powerful gift from Heavenly Father and that it should be used within the bounds He has set, with wisdom and reverence.”

                One of the very best ways we can combat pornography is to teach the rising generation how to use sexual intimacy appropriately and positively.  This teaching is best done in the home by two loving parents who model sexual intimacy appropriately and teach by word and example the proper use of it.  The ultimate way to overcome pornography is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

                Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints taught:  “Human intimacy is reserved for a married couple because it is the ultimate symbol of total union, a totality and a union ordained and defined by God.”

                Parents can use the information in these lessons to open a discussion about the proper use of sexual intimacy with their child or children; by doing so they can strengthen their family members to reject the temptations of pornography and prepare themselves for marriage and righteousness.  When the rising generation understands the proper use of this God-given power, they are strengthened against the evils of our day and can strengthen others in the community and nation.