- ji on Masturbation Frequency Among Members: “REC911, In the two stories that were shared here, and to which I was responding, there was no pastoral reason to ask the question. To help curb prurient excursions by bishops and stake presidents, the brethren have specified the questions that are to be asked for temple recommends and prospective missionaries, with instructions not to deviate, and that question is not included. I wish bishops and stake presidents would follow instructions from the First Presidency.” Mar 22, 11:05
- on Masturbation Frequency Among Members: “ji, there is pastoral reasons to ask this question. As I stated in my experience, the stake required that missionaries had to be masturbation free before going on a mission. As the bishop, I couldn’t start the mission papers until this was achieved. I am not saying I agree with this policy, as I dont, but this is why bishops have been asking this question to YM for like 50+ years. Probably started when the factory pamphlet was given to every YM. Still not sure if this interview question was from HQ or culture. If all the bishops and SP were asked the same question when they were young, they may have assumed they have to ask when they became leaders. (spitballing here) There are lots of policies that local leaders are asked to do from HQ that are not in handbooks. (or at least there was in my day) Stephen C, The depression, IMO, comes from the guilt members deal with for doing this. YM felt they were not worthy to participate in the sacrament, (prep or take) temple, and missions because some bishops told them they weren’t. No parent feels bad that their son doesn’t get the eagle scout award anymore. If the church would allow masturbation, the guilt would go away for most. Like most of our LDS sins, we are trying to prevent more serious sins through complete abstinence of lessor sins. These lessor sins then become as serious as the sins we are trying to prevent. Booze is a good example of this as is lusting etc. The sin was drunkenness not drinking booze.” Mar 22, 09:32
- on Masturbation Frequency Among Members: “Mariner and Charles, I am so sorry that your bishops abused their office with you, and am yet glad you are still here. From what you wrote, there was no pastoral reason for your bishops to ask the question, and I can only think that they did it for their own prurient pleasure. Shame on them. Inasmuch as the church delights in truth, maybe your stories could be told somewhere in the press? Sunshine is a wonderful disinfectant, and might help to stop future abuse by other bishops.” Mar 21, 22:34
- on Masturbation Frequency Among Members: “rogerdhansen: “This is a personal matter and certainly not a religious one.” Most religious matters are personal ones. Ace: Hmm, again I think the results above show that the “everybody masturbates” narrative just isn’t correct. Carey: I don’t want to segue this into the interminable “is masturbation good” argument, but it’s also associated with depression and all sorts of sexual dysfunction. Causality is difficult, of course, since depressed people might self-medicate with masturbation, but again the idea that it’s some salubrious catharsis or sexual creatine is more conventional knowledge than established scientific fact.” Mar 21, 19:41
- on Masturbation Frequency Among Members: “While serving as a senior missionary in the last decade, my mission president told me he had an elder (didn’t betray confidence) who came to an interview with bags packed — sure he would be sent home for confessing. The president told him if he sent everyone home who masturbated, there would be no one left in the mission — including its mission leaders. After reading The Miracle of Forgiveness the ‘70s, my bishop told me there were two kinds of men in the world — “those who do it and those who lie, including the General Authorities. Just learn to bridle your passions.” Still love that man.” Mar 21, 19:15
- on Masturbation Frequency Among Members: “Here’s an interesting correlation: “There is a direct correlation between masturbation and orgasm, as masturbation is a common and effective method for achieving orgasm, with studies showing that specific masturbatory techniques and subjective, emotional, or affective experiences (like desire and pleasure) are significantly related to higher levels of orgasmic satisfaction. It is also a way for people to learn about their bodies and what they enjoy.”” Mar 21, 15:28
- on Masturbation Frequency Among Members: “I had a YSA bishop from 2008-2012 who would have this as a topic in his bishopric meetings. I was serving as the executive secretary. His concern was not enough members of the elders quorum were coming to him to confess masturbation issues. He said he told the stake president the percent of active elders who had confessed and he knew there were more out there who hadn’t come in to confess. He also told the stake president that he would call in each elder individually for a worthiness interview to ascertain those who hadn’t confessed. The stake president must not have objected as the bishop did follow through on his plan. At one point I approached the stake president about this bishop due to several other things he was doing which were highly improper. The stake president shut me down by saying he had made his decision on the bishop and it was final. I moved from the area (this bishop being one of the reasons, albeit minor) while numerous other members (both male and female) went inactive. From what I heard, attendance dropped to 20-30 members and the ward was eventually disbanded. It was a shame as I really enjoyed the people in the ward though the bishop did make attending a challenge.” Mar 21, 15:00
- on Masturbation Frequency Among Members: “This subject seems strangely irrelevant. This is a personal matter and certainly not a religious one. Most professionals disagree with Church leaders. The Church has a sad history when it comes to sexual issues: birth control, family size, sexual positions, rape, used chewing gum, interviews, etc. Leaders need to stay out of issues they don’t fully understand.” Mar 21, 11:58
- on Masturbation Frequency Among Members: “interesting article and comments. how priesthood leaders choose to counsel with members on this issue is up to them, but the issue of masturbation is something that the church has published specific guidance on in recent years. – the current church handbook uses the term ‘masturbation’ in section 32.6.4.1 – the church publication “Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ” (2019) uses the term ‘masturbation’ – the question of pornography use has been standardized in pre-mission interviews (2017) but does not specifically use the term ‘masturbation’. also, the church never taught specifically that masturbation caused homosexuality, but even as late as 1992 they did note and were concerned with the correlation between masturbation, pornography use and homosexuality. for more data see: https://mormonr.org/qnas/y4j20/masturbation” Mar 21, 07:15
- on Masturbation Frequency Among Members: “There are many other factors that make this a “gray area” in which bishops and stake presidents should be fearful of entering. Sexuality is influenced by genetics, age, abuse of various types, hormone levels, psychological and emotional factors of many types, etc. It is simply unreasonable and unwise to expect untrained clergy to navigate through this issue. Count me as one who would advocate against placing such a burden on both interviewers and interviewees. I know of several cases in which youth were harmed by aggressive tactics employed by bishops in my area at the express instruction of their stake presidents. Some of these kids will never come back.” Mar 21, 03:18
