Mahonri92 Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 I have a little problem with arousing my-self and well yeah....i repented but keep doing it but not as much and i'm nearly done with my paper work should i just read and pray more so it wont happen again? and im too embarrased to tell someone but GOD Please Help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahonri92 Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 · Hidden Hidden I have a little problem with arousing my-self and well yeah....i repented but keep doing it but not as much and i'm nearly done with my paper work should i just read and pray more so it wont happen again? and im too embarrased to tell someone but GOD Please Help. Link to comment
ryanh Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 i repented but keep doing itRepentence is not solely a checklist of remorse, praying, etc. Repentance is a process of change - of turning away, of change of behavior, and losing desire to sin. So, if you keep doing it, its probably not accurate to say you have "repented". You are in the process. What do you want more? To avoid embarrassment, or serve an effective mission? Don't go on your mission without discussing this with your Bishop first. I knew several elders in the MTC that hadn't fully discussed their issues with their Bishop prior to entering the MTC, and it really impacted their ability to be effective, let alone enjoy their mission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzy16 Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 You should confess sins involving masturbation with your bishop. You need to. When your telling the bishop it lets you repent fully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dravin Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 1) Your euphemism is very vague. While I can appreciate wanting to tone the language down your language can refer to anything from masturbation, entertaining inappropriate thoughts, or having thoughts pop into your head when a pretty girls walks by. 2) I'm really of the opinion that if you aren't sure then talk to your Bishop. Even if it isn't required (for instance having thoughts pop into your head that you don't entertain) he can settle your fears over if he needs to know or not, and can help you understand what needs to change (or if nothing needs to change), offer help and support, and the like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g8trjasonb Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 This is probably the #1 way that us men allow Satan to work his way into our lives. Its easy to dismiss it as a bad habit, which you clearly aren't doing since you recognize you need help. As someone who allowed pornography to creep into his life, I can tell you that you need to take care of this problem NOW. It is nothing but self-destructive. There's no other way to do it other than attack it head on with all your might. The obvious, and probably most beneficial, ways are to pray and read, just as you suggest. Having the Spirit in your daily life will dramatically lessen the urge, but it won't eliminate it. Whenever you feel the urge, immediately remove yourself from that environment and kneel down and pray and ask God to help you remove the temptation. If that doesn't seem to work, go for a run or go play some basketball. Any kind of physical exertion which will not only take your mind off of it but will help satisfy your body's "craving". And when all else fails, keep trying. If you give up, it will only grow and get worse. You're either getting better or getting worse. I would suggest speaking with the Bishop about it. Its embarrassing but its nothing he hasn't heard before. Telling someone will help you drastically because now you will feel accountable to someone other than yourself and the Lord. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madriglace Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 Get it cleared up with your Bishop before you go .... having that hanging over you when you are supposed to be focused on the work just brings you down. I know of 3 people who didn't come clean so to speak before they left, one came home a year early, 2 finished but were excommunicated when they came home. Do it right the first time. The papers may be in but they can be delayed until you are ready. A mission is not easy but done right it is so worth it. Goos luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prophetofdoom Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 This issue sure comes up on this board a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dravin Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 This issue sure comes up on this board a lot!It's probably a combination of it being relatively common (compared to something like a cocaine addiction) and being particularly embarrassing to discuss with people you know face to face.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEthePrimate Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 Oh for heaven's sake, is it really that important? Honestly, he'd probably be a perfectly good missionary. Just let him go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dravin Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 (edited) Oh for heaven's sake, is it really that important? Honestly, he'd probably be a perfectly good missionary. Just let him go!I don't think anyone here has the power to prevent him going. Edited March 6, 2011 by Dravin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slamjet Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 Oh for heaven's sake, is it really that important? Honestly, he'd probably be a perfectly good missionary. Just let him go!I don't recall anyone holding him back. I do recall everyone telling him to discuss this with his Bishop before hand. Besides, being a missionary is being a full time minister of the church. There is only one other group of people with this type of calling and that is the General Authorities. The GA's have been saying for a long while now that they need worthy members for missions. So to say anything other than "it's admirable that you see there may be an issue so go speak with your Bishop to clear it up" is a disservice to this young man who will have to deal with this issue on his mission. And if this is still an issue for him, he will not have the Spirit of Prophesy to help guide him to those who are searching for the Gospel. So, in short, no, he will not be a perfectly good missionary unless he deals with this before he is called. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEthePrimate Posted March 7, 2011 Report Share Posted March 7, 2011 And if this is still an issue for him, he will not have the Spirit of Prophesy to help guide him to those who are searching for the Gospel. So, in short, no, he will not be a perfectly good missionary unless he deals with this before he is called.I'm not convinced that this would necessarily, in and of itself, be an issue of worthiness or prevent him from having the spirit of prophecy. However, you are right that if he considers it to be an issue, then it might cause him problems. It's hard to confidently preach the Gospel (or do anything else, for that matter) if you're riddled with guilt and self-doubt.This may be considered heretical by some, but I question why we make such a big deal of this particular issue in the Church. Maybe if we didn't, we wouldn't have so many (IMO needlessly) guilt-ridden men. (shrug) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slamjet Posted March 7, 2011 Report Share Posted March 7, 2011 I'm not convinced that this would necessarily, in and of itself, be an issue of worthiness or prevent him from having the spirit of prophecy.If I may ask a question, and please don't take it as a question of condemnation or belittling, but I'm curious, have you served a mission? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prophetofdoom Posted March 7, 2011 Report Share Posted March 7, 2011 I think masturbation definitely effects worthiness. I would not go to the temple if I had a problem with it. It's not the most grave of sins, but, the guilt associated with it can reduce the confidence a person has.... not good to have as a missionary. As a Priesthood holder.. I don't want to be giving a blessing to someone on their death bed.. knowing I have a problem like that. Those are the situations you will be called into on your mission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl62 Posted March 7, 2011 Report Share Posted March 7, 2011 The hard part in all of this is IF his papers are delayed, then how would he go about explaining this to his parents/family members? YIKES! And also, whatever happened to "go, and sin no more?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanh Posted March 7, 2011 Report Share Posted March 7, 2011 I'm not convinced that this would necessarily, in and of itself, be an issue of worthiness or prevent him from having the spirit of prophecy. However, you are right that if he considers it to be an issue, then it might cause him problems. It's hard to confidently preach the Gospel (or do anything else, for that matter) if you're riddled with guilt and self-doubt.This may be considered heretical by some, but I question why we make such a big deal of this particular issue in the Church. Maybe if we didn't, we wouldn't have so many (IMO needlessly) guilt-ridden men. (shrug) I would presume that such an attitude of pride would block the presence of, and the sensitivity to, the Spirit faster than one's anxious concern to do what is right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretrunner Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 If he feels it is spiritually holding him back, then serving a mission will be more difficult with that hanging over his head. It's not so much about "go and sin no more" but the completion of the repentance process, including healing how he views himself. It's part of a growth process. The bishop can help provide some guidance and reassurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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