All Hands On Deck
Resources for teaching children about sexuality
Questions may be posted anonymously at the bottom of this page. The questions will be answered on this blog. Check the blog often for further resources and ideas, and to see questions and answers from other stake members.
From the LDS Distribution Center (may be ordered online)
· A Parent’s Guidebook—parenting children by age group
· For the Strength of Youth
· Family Guidebook—Basic reference book about families
· God Loveth His Children (pamphlet)—counsel for individuals who experience same gender attraction
· The Proclamation on the Family
· Addiction Recovery Program: A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing
· 3 Simple Ways to become a happier family—ideas for improving family communications, taking time for the family, and teaching values in the home
Online Resources
LDS.org resources
Balancing Truth and Tolerance--Dallin H. Oaks
Combating Pornography Homepage
Power to Overcome Pornography
Combating Pornography Homepage
Power to Overcome Pornography
Suggested reading
Parenting the Strong-Willed Child: Fortifying Our Youth and Healing Our Prodigals by Kevin Hinckley
5 Spiritual Solutions for Everyday Parenting Challenges by Richard and Linda Eyre
10 Secrets Wise Parents Know: Tried and True Things You Can Do to Raise Faithful, Confident, Responsible Children by Brent L. Top
How to Talk to Your Child About Sex by Richard and Linda Eyre
Unsteady: What Every Parent Must Know about Teenage Romance by Jeanette Goates Smith
The Trap: A Story to Help Teach Children Modesty and Protect Them from Pornography
by Karmel H. Newell, Dan Burr (for children)
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish
Growing Up: Gospel Answers about Maturation and Sex
by Brad Wilcox (for parents of children ages 10-15)
Where Do Babies Come From? (for primary age children) by Brad Wilcox, Brian Call
The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make: A Guide for Teens by Sean Covey
Parenting the Strong-Willed Child: Fortifying Our Youth and Healing Our Prodigals by Kevin Hinckley
5 Spiritual Solutions for Everyday Parenting Challenges by Richard and Linda Eyre
10 Secrets Wise Parents Know: Tried and True Things You Can Do to Raise Faithful, Confident, Responsible Children by Brent L. Top
How to Talk to Your Child About Sex by Richard and Linda Eyre
Unsteady: What Every Parent Must Know about Teenage Romance by Jeanette Goates Smith
The Trap: A Story to Help Teach Children Modesty and Protect Them from Pornography
by Karmel H. Newell, Dan Burr (for children)
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish
Growing Up: Gospel Answers about Maturation and Sex
by Brad Wilcox (for parents of children ages 10-15)
Where Do Babies Come From? (for primary age children) by Brad Wilcox, Brian Call
The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make: A Guide for Teens by Sean Covey
Gig Harbor Stake Support Groups that offer education, support, and healing
The Family Support Group is for those who are trying to cope with the emotional pain of a loved one in addiction. They can find healing through the atonement of Jesus Christ by applying the 12 step program in their own life. Family Support Group Members focus on their own spiritual well-being and release the burdens of their loved one’s addiction by actively giving them over to the Savior.
The Communication Class teaches family members how to discuss sensitive topics such as addictions, parenting, intimacy, etc. It is specifically designed for people who have co-dependence or addictions within their family, both primary or extended. This class is for you if there is any of the following in your family: anger, rage, a lack of trust and respect, one partner won’t talk, one partner won’t stop talking, pornography, alcohol, drugs, etc. We use the 12-Step program, the Atonement, and Emotional Intelligence skills as our study guide.
The Addiction Recovery Program which follows the 12 Step Program outlined in the Church’s ARP Manual. For information about any of these groups and classes, please contact Rich and Cheri Himmer at cherihimmer@gmail.com or richard@pyrblu.com or 253-265-3435.
Selected Studies and articles available online
Health effects of media on children and adolescents
The harms of pornography exposure among children and young people
Hollywood sex scenes' influence on adolescents
Study about how some young girls see themselves as sex objects
Test comment to demonstrate anonymity.
ReplyDeleteIf my daughter views pornography once a week or a couple times a month is she addicted to pornography? I guess my question is what is addiction? The church seems to be saying that pornography addiction is a real problem but what about just looking at pornography?
ReplyDeleteAnswered by Richard Himmer, ARP Group Facilitator:
ReplyDeleteDear Parent,
Thank you for asking a very important question that applies to more than just your daughter. Let’s clarify the definition of addiction and perhaps this will add greater understanding to the second part of your question.
Addiction is a way to meet ones needs and wants in a misapplied or dysfunctional way. It is any activity that you cannot control and that gets worse over time. It is the use of a substance or behavior for the purpose of removing pain or gaining pleasure. An addiction is a repeated behavior despite adverse consequences.
Not everybody who views pornography is addicted. For example, thousands of people receive prescription medicine everyday for post surgery or to alleviate the pain of an illness or malady. A very low percentage of them become addicted to prescription drugs.
Given your daughter’s weekly or bi-weekly choice to view pornography, if she were taking drugs, smoking, drinking coffee, or sleeping with her boyfriend, would you consider it a problem or an addiction?
Is she acting out as a way to meet her needs or wants? Is being curious weekly a passing intrigue or is it something far more powerful?
Since men and women view pornography for different reasons and one in three women now view Internet pornography, she is following a growing trend in society that has moved away from romance novels and chat rooms to a more sinister form of temporary satisfaction.
If she self-reports viewing pornography a couple of times a month that usually means weekly. If she reports a weekly viewing, that usually means daily. Given the above-stated definition, you have the God-given right of discernment for your daughter. Her future happiness and capacity for emotional intimacy in marriage is weighing in the balance.
May the Lord bless you as a parent!