Hi I have recently cleared things up with the bishop about problems with masturbation and pornography. I was doing really well for over a month, and one night I got really weak and committed this sin again. I turn my mission papers in, in 3 months. Should I go talk to my bishop again or just repent to God. I know I can resist and overcome this, I just slipped and made a mistake. Thanka
4 Responses to “Hi I have recently cleared things up with the bishop about p…”
Carlos Cruz
2011-11-27 22:53:09
A statue of Jesus Christ at temple square in Salt Lake City.
Hi friend. First off, let me say that both your desire to repent and your desire to serve a mission are excellent. Both will bring many great spiritual blessings into your life. I'm certain your relationship with Christ will be strengthened as you strive to follow and serve Him.
It would be good to chat with your bishop about your recent struggles. He'll help you prepare yourself to serve your mission without reservations or a burden of guilt. That way you'll be able to help others follow Christ without having to wonder if your relationship with Him is in the right place.
Best of luck to you, brother. I'm certain God loves you and is happy with your spiritual progress.
Anonymous
2011-11-28 20:59:28
Hey, Anon. Please know you're not alone. I had a similar addiction before my mission, and I can't even count the number of times I met with the bishop before receiving my mission call. At the time we submitted my papers, I had been addiction-free for one monthwhich, as it turns out, wasn't enough. While I stayed clean leading up to my mission, I backslid several times while in the field. I was always quick to confess to my mission president, but in retrospect, I know that my missionand the people I servedsuffered greatly from my lack of righteousness.
Here's the best advice I can give you: there is absolutely no reason you need to turn in your mission papers in three months. If you're ready at that point, great. If not, PLEASE WAIT! One of my biggest heroes is a man who was brought up in the Church, but didn't serve a mission until age 21 because that's when he was ready. His mission was extremely successful, and both he and the people he taught and presided over have greatly benefitted thereby. Had he gone two years earlier, I'm sure his experience would have been extremely different.
If you're planning to turn in your papers in three months out of some perceived social obligation, don't. Get yourself under control and THEN go. You'll be forever grateful not only to your Savior, but also to yourself.
Blessings!
Anonymous
2011-12-15 15:17:40
Go back and talk with your bishop. You are going to need outside help in order to stop. Namely Jesus Christ and turning to your family and Bishop more. Perhaps even professional counseling and begining to attend a local LDS Addiciton Recovery program.
Bottom line is YOU NEED TO STOP, as mentioned before find OTHER ways to occupy your time and get out of yourself and seek to serve others.
Masturbation and Pornography are a very serious trap. You have been given the gift of agency and you need to plead with God to help you use your agency more wisely. Go to your BISHOP, as hiding it will only creats a deeper sense of shame.
Find and purchase then read the book, "He resoreth my soul" by Donald Hilton Jr MD and STOP ACTING OUT... In all seriousness you need to STOP.. This disease you are planting in your brain will destroy your life. Stop stop stop
No more excuses, no more rationilations, STOP. Seek your Bishop's help, and stop.
-From one who didn't stop at age 19 to serve, and fighting still at 34
Anonymous
2011-11-29 13:56:39
Hi Anonymous, I am glad to learn that you went through the repentance process. Just take it one step at a time until you kick this evil vice out for good. May I suggest being busy all the time, if you feel like you are about to give in, jump up and do something else like sing or dance or study the scriptures or... Whatever but by all means get busy. Also try to be in a place with people at all times or make sure that whenever you go to bed, you are dead tired that way you will just black out..
It would be good to chat with your bishop about your recent struggles. He'll help you prepare yourself to serve your mission without reservations or a burden of guilt. That way you'll be able to help others follow Christ without having to wonder if your relationship with Him is in the right place.
Best of luck to you, brother. I'm certain God loves you and is happy with your spiritual progress.
Here's the best advice I can give you: there is absolutely no reason you need to turn in your mission papers in three months. If you're ready at that point, great. If not, PLEASE WAIT! One of my biggest heroes is a man who was brought up in the Church, but didn't serve a mission until age 21 because that's when he was ready. His mission was extremely successful, and both he and the people he taught and presided over have greatly benefitted thereby. Had he gone two years earlier, I'm sure his experience would have been extremely different.
If you're planning to turn in your papers in three months out of some perceived social obligation, don't. Get yourself under control and THEN go. You'll be forever grateful not only to your Savior, but also to yourself.
Blessings!
Bottom line is YOU NEED TO STOP, as mentioned before find OTHER ways to occupy your time and get out of yourself and seek to serve others.
Masturbation and Pornography are a very serious trap. You have been given the gift of agency and you need to plead with God to help you use your agency more wisely. Go to your BISHOP, as hiding it will only creats a deeper sense of shame.
Find and purchase then read the book, "He resoreth my soul" by Donald Hilton Jr MD and STOP ACTING OUT... In all seriousness you need to STOP.. This disease you are planting in your brain will destroy your life. Stop stop stop
No more excuses, no more rationilations, STOP. Seek your Bishop's help, and stop.
-From one who didn't stop at age 19 to serve, and fighting still at 34