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Abstract

In this article, we examine how leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS or LDS Church) encouraged their followers to oppose pornography. Based on archival materials from the LDS Church, we examine how LDS leaders, responding to the expansion of pornography over the last 40 years, fostered anti-porn advocacy among their followers by (1) creating anti-porn media offerings, (2) celebrating anti-porn activism, and (3) negotiating pornography laws. In conclusion, we draw out implications for understanding how religious leaders influence public debates about sexual controversies, and the reciprocal relationship between religious and sexual politics.

Keywords

Activism advocacy anti-porn LDS Mormon porn pornography sexual controversies

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‘Don’t push your immorals on me’: Encouraging anti-porn advocacy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

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