As teens you are constantly bombarded by the influences of the media. Whether it’s what’s seen in movies and television, in magazines and books, or what you listen to on the radio there are constant chirping voices encouraging you to step away from the values and morals you’ve been taught.
I’ve noticed a trend in recent years when it comes to television shows that gear their messages towards teens. Whenever these shows are advertised we hear words like, “The newest craze in America,” or “The hottest new show.” We are made to think these shows are what all teens must be watching. These shows must be the ones that represent what the youth of today are really all about, right? How sad it is that most of these shows glorify teenage sex without the consequences, drinking under the legal age limit and making it look fun, peddling the idea that smoking a little pot isn’t going to hurt you. And after a while, you begin to believe it.
In the booklet For the Strength of Youth put out by the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed Mormon Church), teens are strongly advised to be careful about the entertainment they choose.
“Whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you. Therefore, choose only entertainment and media that uplift you. Good entertainment will help you to have good thoughts and make righteous choices. It will allow you to enjoy yourself without losing the Spirit of the Lord” (For the Strength of Youth, p.17).
Unfortunately finding good things to watch on television or in movies isn’t too easy. Still, we have a choice with everything we are confronted with. Especially you who are teenagers must be vigilant in keeping yourself away from evil influences.
“Satan uses such entertainment to deceive you by making what is wrong and evil look normal and exciting. It can mislead you into thinking that everyone is doing things that are wrong” (For the Strength of Youth, p.17).
Doesn’t that sound familiar? A friend of mine who has a teenage son was watching a movie with him one night. She was disturbed by the way girls in the movie dressed, and braved a question to her son.
“Do the girls at your school ever dress like that?”
He immediately shook his head. “No, Mom, they don’t. In fact they’d be sent home if they tried going to school dressed like that.”
Due to his openness she tried one more question.
“Would you date someone who dressed like that?”
Again he immediately shook his head. “No way. It’d make me way too uncomfortable.”
This mother realized precisely what leaders of the Latter-day Saint Church have been trying to impart for years: just because you see it in the media doesn’t make it fact.
Pornography is another tool of Satan’s to influence you to make wrong choices. It is especially addictive.
“What may begin as a curious indulgence can become a destructive habit that takes control of your life. It can lead you to sexual transgression and even criminal behavior. Pornography is a poison that weakens your self-control, changes the way you see others, causes you to lose the guidance of the Spirit, and can even affect your ability to have a normal relationship with your future spouse” (For the Strength of Youth, p.19).
I have seen the effects of pornography in the life of a very good friend. Her husband was first introduced to it by his father at the age of eleven. It took hold of him quickly, skewing his perception of women and relationships, and almost destroyed their marriage. It took a few years but he has since gone through the repentance process and is now free of the addiction. That’s not to say it may not happen again, but my friend is now attentive to anything that may come into their home. If you find yourself confronted with even the slightest temptation to expose yourself to pornography, run away as fast as you can.
Another glamorized behavior is that of violence. I can remember when all it took was one or two hits and a guy was knocked out cold. Now you watch a fight scene and hit, after hit, after hit, after vicious hit is inflicted. We have become too desensitized when it comes to violence, and the more we savor it the less we will find ourselves in the company of the Spirit. Violence contradicts every message the Savior has given about love for one another.
Joseph Smith, a latter-day prophet who lived several years ago, once put together a set of articles regarding the faith of our Church. In the last one, number 13, we are given wonderfully simple counsel as to what we should look for in our entertainment:
“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (Articles of Faith 1:13).
I can testify that the things we watch, see, and hear will have a strong influence over us. We must be so careful in the things we choose to expose ourselves to. Look for movies, shows, concerts, music, internet sites, magazines and books that are virtuous, lovely, of good report, and praiseworthy. It is in these uplifting areas we will find ourselves the happiest and most at peace.
