From Original Sin to Masturbation

As to the whole question of Adam, original sin, etc., my understanding is that He or at least Eve figured out that they needed to leave the Lord’s presence (the garden) to be tested. Suffering from the natural consequences of our mistakes (sins) is part of the test. But the Lord provided a Savior to pay the price for and overcome sin in a different garden, Gethsemane, as well as on the cross, where He also overcame death, paving the way for our return to Heaven, according to our voluntary obedience to eternal law. How is it done? I don’t know. How (and why) did my son grow inside his mother from the union of a couple of our cells? Don’t know that either. It just is. And when, in our ignorance, we undertake to whine about our interpretation of our Superiors’ actions, it comes off very childishly, indeed.  It's akin to some guy working at the 7 eleven counter trying to armchair quarterback what the CEO of a major corporation should do.
   

One thing we must learn in this life is to subdue our passions.  A man may choose to masturbate.  A former president and prophet of my church, Spencer W. Kimball, in his book, “The Miracle of Forgiveness” said it is wrong to masturbate. Let’s look at that logically. I would never argue that a man is not free to masturbate, but is it truly “selfish,” as defined by Rand, to do so? I don’t think so. I believe, as the prophet suggested, that it leads a man to slavery to that particular passion. And it could lead him to even more destructive behavior. Clearly, such a man is not a “man of the mind.” And every moment spent uselessly is wasted productive time.

I believe that the scripture about it being impossible to “serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24) has application here. This passion could grow to crowd out all other desires and then service to God can’t take place. And remember that you can’t serve God (or anyone) without serving yourself; or perhaps better put, you can’t serve yourself; you can’t be selfish -again, as Rand defines it -without serving God. Even if what you’ve done is somehow good only for you, you unwittingly serve His purpose, that is, your happiness. Your highest and best desires for yourself are the same as His desires for you. The childish man sees the “commandment” not to masturbate as harsh, limiting, etc., just as the child can’t understand why his dad won’t let him play video games 24/7. Bounds must be set to benefit the child, just as the Lord has set bounds for sex. Again, the following of commandments is not a “suspension of judgment,” it’s only an exercise in humility where we put off reinventing the wheel, at least until we give what is suggested a try.