BYU Holds Antiporn Events

PROVO, Utah — Former California Lt. Gov. John Harmer addressed students at Brigham Young University last week at one of a series of antiporn events at the University. The events are sponsored by Students That Oppose Pornography, a BYU student organization, as part of Utah's White Ribbon Against Pornography month.

"The blight of pornography is Satan's last great hope to prevent the church from fulfilling its mission of preparing the earth for the savior's return," Harmer said.

Hamer's presentation, called "Porn Uncovered," took place Feb. 28. Harmer is chairman of the Lighted Candle Society, which wants to prosecute the adult industry in the same way prosecutors attacked the tobacco industry. In his speech, Harmer claimed the brain releases chemicals when it is exposed to pornography, and men confuse this chemical reaction with sexual intimacy.

According to its website, the Lighted Candle Society "is committed to financing scientific research that will enable us to obtain the clear verifiable evidence that pornography leads to critical mind altering changes destructive to mental and emotional health. The ultimate benefit of this research will be to save the millions of individuals who because of the addictive venom of pornography would otherwise experience the destruction of their hope for happiness and fulfillment in life."

The other event is an extended workshop, titled "Out of Site, Out of Mind: A Journey Back from Pornography's Power," presented with Women's Services and Resources at the University. The workshop, scheduled to extend through four days in a four-week period, is "designed to open and improve the conversation about pornography with those we date, presented by two men who have overcome their own addiction to pornography."

Topics planned for discussion in the four days include why individuals get involved with pornography, how it affects behaviors and relationships, common myths about pornography, specific questions for women to ask their significant others, symptoms of pornography and behaviors to look for, and technological ways to protect families against pornography.

"We would hope that here in Utah we would not be following the trend of the nation," Thomas Alvord, president of BYU's Students That Oppose Pornography club said. "However, we may be setting the trend. Utah ranks No.1 nationwide in Google searches for pornography."

The recent survey that indicated that 49 percent of college women found adult material "acceptable" was conducted by researchers at BYU.