|
Probably the
most destructive talk given by a General Authority in
the last thirty years was Apostle Boyd K. Packer's talk
on Masturbation back in 1976.
 Read
Packer's whole discourse here:
http://www.lds-mormon.com/only.shtml
This
talk quickly became famous because the church made it
into a pamphlet called "For Young Men Only"
that is given to all twelve-year-old boys in the church.
Packer
is not a medical doctor, nor did he claim to have consulted
with medical doctors before he declared:
"I
wish to explain something that will help you understand
your young manhood and help you develop self-control.
When this power begins to form, it might be likened to
having a little factory in your body, one designed to
produce the product that can generate life."
"This
little factory moves quietly into operation as a normal
and expected pattern of growth and begins to produce the
lifegiving substance. It will do so perhaps as long as
you live. It works very slowly. That is the way it should
be. For the most part, unless you tamper with
it, you will hardly be aware that it is working at all."
That
is absolutely false. Puberty is a normal, natural process
that everyone experiences and notices. Packer suggests
here that there may be something wrong with you if you
notice your "little factory" working. What testosterone-filled
teen doesn't notice his "factory working?"
"As
you move closer to manhood, this little factory will sometimes
produce an oversupply of this substance. The Lord has
provided a way for that to be released. It will happen
without any help or without any resistance from you. Perhaps,
one night you will have a dream. In the course of it the
release valve that controls the factory will open and
release all that is excess."
"The
factory and automatic release work on their own schedule.
The Lord intended it to be that way. It is to regulate
itself. This will not happen very often.
You may go a longer period of time, and there will be
no need for this to occur. When it does, you should not
feel guilty. It is the nature of young manhood and is
part of becoming a man."
For
the Lord's apostle, how does he quantify "not very
often?"
"There
is; however, something you should not do. Sometimes a
young man does not understand. Perhaps he is encouraged
by unwise or unworthy companions to tamper with that factory.
He might fondle himself and open that release
valve. This you shouldn't do, for if you do that, the
little factory will speed up. You will then be
tempted again and again to release it. You can quickly
be subjected to a habit, one that is not worthy, one that
will leave you feeling depressed and feeling guilty. Resist
that temptation. Do not be guilty of tampering
or playing with this sacred power of creation. Keep it
in reserve for the time when it can be righteously employed."
This
whole analogy is lame. But it becomes dangerous when Packer
teaches that releasing sperm will increase production.
Ask your doctor and he/she will confirm that this is absolutely
false! Whether you masturbate or not, the production of
sperm is not increased. But believing this lie can set
you up for all kinds of shame, frustration and self-hate.
It can make you think you are somehow to blame for "over
production" of sperm which you can't seem to control.
It can also lead to painful and unnecessary medical conditions,
as your doctor can explain.
"There
are ways to conquer such a habit. First of all, you
must leave that factory alone long enough for it to slow
down. Resisting is not easy. It will take weeks, even
months. But you can get the little factory slowed back
to where it should be."
This
is another lie. The "little factory" is not
regulated by masturbation but by normal biological rhythms.
Whether you stop masturbating or not, the production of
sperm will continue unabated. The male reproductive system
is not a supply vs. demand factory!
"Resist
those temptations. Do not tamper with your body. If you
have already, cease to do it --now. Put it away and overcome
it. The signal of worthy manhood is self-control."
Notice
the manipulation and guilt for normal body processes.
Medical
professionals will tell you that masturbation is a normal
and healthy part of male self-control, not a sign of weakness.
Unfortunately,
because this talk became a standard pamphlet given to
all twelve-year-old boys, the "little factory"
metaphor has become unquestioned truth in the church,
despite the physical and emotional harm it causes so many
people.
Read
one LDS Physician's reaction to the Church's unhealthy
stand against masturbation here.
| 
