But this all assumes the only fantasies and lusts that are of concern are those which involve visual images of sex and nudity.
Why do we ignore other fantasies that are more destructive? Who makes these arbitrary decisions and why?
A few examples. In my early twenties, I was in the home of an LDS friend and went in the basement where they did laundry. Over the washing machine his mom had a photo of Robert Redford.
Later when I was engaged to my future wife, I noticed she had a poster of Tom Selleck hanging in her bedroom.
I remember these things because they left me confused. Didn't understand how an LDS wife, or someone supposedly committed to me, were able to post fantasy photos of other men.
Now I realize why. It is because we are taught that fantasy is fine if it does not involve sex or nudity.
And as I've posted before, in recent years, the only divorces I've seen among relatives involved fantasies and lusts for material things. Wives who were raised in money becoming dissatisfied with the levels of income provided by their husbands. One of them actually had a nice big home built by my cousin who has a construction business, trying to make her happy. But it still didn't meet her expectations.
Despite much questioning, I've been unable to get an answer as to why these wives can tear up families through divorce, taking kids away from their dads, with no shame or disciplinary action. I am given every excuse in the book, even by my brother, a Bishop, who saw his son's life torn apart. Apparently I am too sensitive or something. Or maybe families don't matter as much as I thought. Or perhaps because it is not sexual sin, we shouldn't care.
We can feed our lusts for material things with no limits. We are bombarded constantly with shows with the rich and famous and powerful. We see ads everywhere to buy more and more. Shows with fancy houses, making ours seem inadequate. And of course, millions scour Pinterest daily looking at things they don't have. Can one ever have too much stuff?
The leading cause of divorce is money issues. But who cares?
Then of course there is the lust for gossiping. Sharing the intimate details of one's marriage with others is somehow considered okay. My wife has told me more than I wanted to know about what her church friends have told her about their sex lives. As long as no images are viewed, no problem, right?
Then the lust for romance, fed but by novels and chick flicks. Makes one's marriage seem quite dull.
And we are bombarded with images of food, feeding our appetites, resulting in an obesity epidemic costing us lost lives and trillions of dollars.
Anyway, when Jesus was presented with an adulteress by the scribes and Pharisees, he seemed more concerned with their hyposcrisy than the sin of adultery. And that is the way I see it also. There is something evil about the way we emphasize one kind of sin and minimize the more serious ones that destroy families in greater numbers. Somehow by emphasizing the sins of others, we improve our own image or status, or are using it as a means of control and manipulation to our benefit. So while seeming to care about the sin or the sinner, we actually only care about ourselves.
John Chapter 8
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.