Mormon Purity Culture and the Battle Against Adult Entertainment

Let’s dive into Mormon purity culture—a topic so dense and awkward it feels like trying to explain internet memes to your grandma. Imagine a guy on a college campus wearing a bright red “P*rn Kills Love” shirt. If your immediate thought is “Wow, that guy needs a hug and some therapy,” congratulations—you’ve captured the essence of this exploration.

Let’s delve into Mormonism’s unique (and uniquely uncomfortable) relationship with sexuality, chastity, and the all-consuming obsession with p*rnography. 

The Mormon Paradox: Chastity Meets the Internet Age

The Mormon Church’s stance on sexuality is as strict as it is ironic. This is the same religion founded by a man with over 30 secret wives. Yet today, its members are told that “your virtue is worth more than your life.” Literal quotes from church leaders suggest it’s better to die than lose your virginity—a message as uplifting as a funeral dirge.

For women, especially, modesty rules dictate that showing a shoulder is akin to handing Satan the keys to your soul. Shoulders, or as ex-Mormons jokingly call them, “p*rn shoulders,” have been demonized to the point that wearing a tank top feels like rebellion.

Many young Mormons enter marriage with little to no sexual education or experience, leading to sexual incompatibility, dissatisfaction, and resentment. These are real consequences of purity culture that don’t often get addressed within the Church. 

P*rn Panic: A Moral Crisis or a Misguided Witch Hunt?

In 2016, Utah declared p*rnography a public health crisis, the first state to make such a bold proclamation.  The state legislature claimed that p*rn had “detrimental” effects on brain function, contributed to “emotional and medical illnesses,” and even fueled “deviant sexual arousal.” It’s an attempt to codify a particular view of sexuality and morality into law, disguised as a health concern.

From youth programs to marriage prep classes, the anti-p*rn rhetoric runs deep. Leaders equate viewing p*rn with moral bankruptcy, eternal damnation, and even compare it to the atrocities of the Nazis. (Yes, that actually happened.)

Adding to the absurdity is the advice for dating within the church. Don’t just ask, “Do you watch p*rn?” No, no, no. Instead, grill your partner with, “When was the last time you watched p*rn?” because apparently, every man is lying to you. These approaches sow distrust from the get-go, creating relationships founded on suspicion rather than communication.

The Real Impact: Repression, Shame, and Tank Tops

For many who grew up in the church, the purity narrative created more confusion and harm than it ever prevented. Girls were told they were responsible for boys’ thoughts, modesty being their divine duty. Boys, on the other hand, were taught to feel overwhelming shame about natural desires. This dynamic fosters what can only be described as a culture of repression. The result? Adults with little understanding of healthy sexuality, navigating relationships burdened by guilt and fear.

Take my own journey: it took over a year after leaving Mormonism for me to wear a tank top in public without feeling like I’d committed a felony. And that was a modest tank top—not exactly a plunge into scandalous territory. It took me even longer to wear a spaghetti strap tank top. The ingrained shame is real.

What About the Kids?

The obsession with policing morality extends disturbingly to children. From as young as 12, kids sit through bishop interviews where they’re grilled on chastity. Alone. With a middle-aged man. These interviews often include questions so invasive they border on inappropriate, leaving many to wonder why this practice isn’t universally condemned.

Then there’s the anti-p*rn propaganda aimed at children. Some church-produced videos feature kids explaining why p*rn is bad—content that is both cringe-inducing and deeply concerning. Imagine asking a 12-year-old to explain the moral failings of p*rnography. If that doesn’t scream “misguided priorities,” what does?

The Conclusion: Toward a Healthier Narrative

Leaving the church allowed me to reflect critically on these teachings and their consequences. What I realized is this: the problem isn’t that the Mormon Church condemns behaviors like p*rn or risky sexual encounters. It’s that their approach is rooted in fear, shame, and absolutism, rather than education and nuance.

Sexuality is complex. P*rnography, like alcohol, is a gray area. Yes, there are legitimate concerns—exploitation, consent issues, and unrealistic depictions of intimacy. But equating all p*rnography with deviance and sin oversimplifies a much broader conversation.

Instead of demonizing, let’s educate. Teach young people to understand their bodies, navigate relationships, and make informed decisions. Normalize conversations about consent, boundaries, and respect. And for heaven’s sake, let’s stop making shoulders a moral battleground.

Because at the end of the day, the ultimate goal should be empowerment, not repression. Humans deserve to explore their own paths, free from guilt, shame, and dogma. And maybe, just maybe, we can start by retiring those “P*rn Kills Love” shirts once and for all. Trust me, love is stronger than a YouTube search history.