Protecting our children from a modern day plague

Before you read any further, take a moment and look at the image that I chose to accompany this blog. These children look so sweet and innocent, yet they face a modern day plague -- pornography. According to the Internet Safety 101 website (Internet Safety 101), on average American children begin consuming hardcore pornography by the age of eleven. I don't know about you, but that scares me! The question is how can we keep our children safe?

Explains Apostle M. Russell Ballard:

“As our children grow, they need information taught by parents more directly and plainly about what is and is not appropriate. Parents need to teach children to avoid any pornographic photographs or stories. Children and youth need to know from parents that pornography of any kind is a tool of the devil; and if anyone flirts with it, it has the power to addict, dull, and even destroy the human spirit. They need to be taught not to use vulgar language and never to use the Lord’s name in vain. Crude jokes overheard should never be repeated. Teach family members not to listen to music that celebrates the sensual. Talk to them plainly about sex and the teaching of the gospel regarding chastity. Let this information come from parents in the home in an appropriate way. All family members need to know the rules and be fortified spiritually so they can keep them. And when mistakes are made, the wondrous Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ must be understood and accepted so that through the complete and sometimes difficult process of repentance, forgiveness and continued hope for the future can be obtained. We must never give up our individual and family quest for eternal life.”

The question is, how can we keep them safe? From an article on the Church's website, Combatting Pornography.org, LDS Family Services offers the following suggestions:

Limit the amount of time your children watch media - Parents and other responsible adults - such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles - need to set limits on the amount of time spent by children watching television, playing video games, or surfing the Internet each day. It is our responsibility to make certain that virtual reality doesn't become their literal reality.

Parents need to spend quality time with their children - Parents need to spend adequate quality time with their children. This insures that they (parents) remain the primary influence in their lives and they are being lead down the wrong path -- either by the media or as the result of peer pressure.

Utilize Internet parental filters - Most newer television sets come equipped with parental control that allow you to control what television shows / stations your children can have access to. Likewise, most Internet browser software also comes equipped with parental controls that allow you to prevent your children from "stumbling upon" sites they should not see.

Hold family councils - Utilize family councils to decide what your family's media standards are going to be.

Take time to watch appropriate media together - Parents - and other responsible adults - need to make time to watch appropriate media with their children. By doing this, we can teach them how to make decisions that will uplift and build rather than degrade and destroy. (See: Let our voices be heard, Ensign, November 2003, Pages 18-19)

Do not place television sets or computers in private areas - By placing television sets or computers is frequently used rooms of the home, we can combat the temptation that might otherwise take place if they were in a more private area such as a bedroom.

Make good media choices - As parents - and adults overall - we need to make good choices as far as the media that we watch, listen to, or view on the Internet. This sets a good example for our children and our family.

I say these things in Jesus Christ name, Amen!