I previously provided a list of LDS resources to help individuals overcome problems with pornography.

As a bishop, I have worked with many individuals who have struggled for years to find a way out of their pornography addictions. In spite of strong desires to overcome it, and good amounts of prayer and scripture reading, many of them struggle to overcome their habits and addictions.

I have recently found three very helpful resources:

One is an audio CD titled Overcoming Pornography: Plain and Simple. It is a recording by Dr. Jeffery W. Robinson of a workshop he gave at an Evergreen International Conference. It provides some very practical strategies for getting out of a pornography addiction.

The Church also sponsors pornography addiction recovery support groups. They are an LDS adaptation of traditional 12-step programs that have been used for years. LDS Family Services runs these groups to assist individuals who desire freedom from addiction and a better life through gospel fellowship. The 60-90-minute meetings are free and confidential. Experienced group leaders create a safe environment where participants can encourage one another and implement gospel principles in their efforts to recover and heal.

I also recently reviewed a program called Candeo, a confidential, online program to help individuals overcome pornography addictions. I was quite impressed. The program teaches how and why people get involved with pornography, and then become addicted to it. They explain why it is such a difficult thing to recover from once people get “hard-wired” to respond to life’s stresses by turning to pornography. They then help the individual to understand the destructive cycles, and reframe their attitudes through ways of facing the problem, replacing it with something better, and connecting with friends who can help. They teach you that consistent simple choices will set you free. They help you develop sacred views of sexuality and learn to have healthy outlets. The program has a structured way to help you debunk previous myths with statements of truth and document what you really want out of life and use that as your goal.

The program provides a successful recovery model developed by clinical therapists for more than a decade. The program costs $197 for 2 months and gives you access to a library of practical, interactive lessons and recovery tools, motivational support from a professional Candeo Coach, and access to a recovery support center. Candeo offers a free mini-course that explains some of the core principles taught in the program, including real training segments from it.

Here’s an updated list of resources:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has pamphlets and online helps to overcome pornography. See combatingpornography.lds.org for a temporary page of helps. A major Web site will launch within a few months at this same Web address. Also see the entry “Internet” in the Gospel Topics section of the Gospel Library for a list of good articles and references to filters. The Church also sponsors pornography addiction recovery meetings.

Candeo (see http://candeocan.com/) is a confidential, online program to help individuals overcome pornography addictions, using sound approaches to learning and behavior modification. Their Web-based education and support program provides a highly-successful recovery model developed and used by clinical therapists for more than a decade. They offer a free mini-course that explains some of the core principles taught in the Candeo program, including some of the training segments from the program.

Utah Coalition Against Pornography (see http://www.utahcoalition.org/) is a multi-faith community effort. Their Web site has information about education, statistics, and links to helpful sites. They also provide an annual conference and helpful materials. On Saturday, April 25, 2009, they will have a half-day conference on Protecting Children & Families from Pornography in Salt Lake City.

Citizens Against Pornography (see http://citizensap.org/) is an organization of LDS people who focus on [1] raising awareness about the harms of pornography, [2] protecting standards of decency in our communities and [3] fortifying homes and families against the destructive and pervasive influence of pornography. They promote legislation to require Web site ratings, recommend filtering technologies to assist parents, and have developing a DVD and printed material to assist parents and others. Their Web site provides help for individuals, parents, and spouses.

Communities for Decency (see http://www.communitiesfordecency.org/) is a grass-roots statewide women’s organization. Their Web site contains online articles and references to other resources. They also engage in political action.

CP-80 Internet Channel Initiative (see http://www.cp80.org/) promotes the use of Internet channels (ports) to categorize and organize content on the Internet, creating separate channels for general-public content and mature content, such as pornography. The Web site provides information about the impact of pornography and free courses on the problems and solutions.

Cyber Secrets: The Problem of Pornography (see http://www.byub.org/secrets) is a series of presentations given at a special conference sponsored by Women’s Services and Resources, a department of Student Life at Brigham Young University. The Web site offers the presentations in streaming audio or in print.

Lighted Candle Society (see http://www.lightedcandle.org/) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of moral values. Their Web site contains information about the evils and extent of pornography. They also offer a DVD and other materials.

Mental Health Resource Foundation (see http://www.ldsmentalhealth.org/) is a volunteer organization committed to carrying a message of hope to those who may be suffering from mental illness and social/emotional concerns and those who love them. Their Web site has information on pornography and links to other resources and organizations.

National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families (see http://www.nationalcoalition.org/) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending biblical truth about sexuality. Their Web site has information about avoiding pornography and protecting children from it, as well as links to other organizations.

Strengthen the Family (see http://www.strengthenthefamily.net/) is a non-profit organization that seeks to strengthen families and protect communities by helping them establish child-appropriate public display standards. The Web site has articles on the dangers of pornography and Internet safety ( including practical advice for parents) and articles on sexual addiction. Listen to a talk given at BYU education week in 2001 (see http://www.byub.org/findatalk and search for speaker “JoAnn Hamilton”).

Evergreen International (see http://www.evergreeninternational.org/, is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping LDS individuals overcome same-sex attraction and associated issues, such as pornography. They provide help to individuals, families, professional counselors, and Church leaders. Their large Web site has a few dozen pages on avoiding and overcoming pornography.

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