Ethan’s Computer Secret

Ethan’s face got warm as he stared at the picture on the computer. He didn’t mean to see it. It had popped up randomly while he was doing homework. This is pornography, he thought. He should close the computer and go tell his parents.

“Ethan! Time for dinner,” Dad said from the kitchen. Ethan closed the computer. His heart raced.

He didn’t want to tell his parents. Not yet.

The next day, Ethan did his homework on the laptop again. He usually did homework in the living room. But Mom and Dad were busy. Nobody would notice if he took the laptop into his bedroom.

He closed the door and sat on his bed. The pictures he saw yesterday kept coming to his mind. They made him curious. He finished his homework quickly so he could find more.

His curiosity grew the more he looked. It also made him feel excited.

Footsteps sounded down the hall. Ethan quickly closed the laptop and pushed it under a blanket. A moment later, someone knocked on his door.

“Come in,” Ethan said.

Dad opened the door and peeked inside. “How’s your homework?”

Ethan nodded. “Good. I’m done.”

Can Dad tell I’m lying? he wondered.

But Dad didn’t say anything about it.

The next day after school, Ethan went to his room with his laptop and started looking online again.

“Ethan!” Mom called down the hall. “Time for dinner.”

Ethan looked at the time. It had been hours since he started looking at pornography on the computer!

At dinner, Ethan sat with his family but just stared down at the food on his plate. That night before bed, he didn’t even want to pray. He felt too guilty.

Ethan felt bad every time he looked at the pictures. He wanted to stop. But he didn’t know how.

One day after dinner, before he could go to his room, Dad stopped him. “Ethan, do you want some ice cream? Mom took your brother and sister to their soccer games.”

Ethan loved ice cream! He set down the laptop. “Sure.”

While they got out bowls and ice cream, Dad asked about school and friends. Ethan ate delicious mint chocolate ice cream and laughed when Dad told a story about his own friends.

Dad was almost finished with his ice cream when he asked, “Ethan, have you ever seen pornography?”

Ethan’s face got really hot. “I don’t know.”

“It’s OK to tell me if you have,” Dad said. “You don’t have to be embarrassed or ashamed. It’s normal to be curious about it. We can talk about it anytime.”

Dad didn’t sound mad. Ethan felt brave enough to talk to him. He knew the Holy Ghost was helping him.

“OK.” Ethan took a deep breath. “It was an accident at first. But I was curious and didn’t want to stop. Now it’s a bad habit. And I feel bad inside, like I don’t think I can pray.”

Dad put his spoon down and gave Ethan a hug. “I love you. Heavenly Father loves you too. He knows that sometimes we make wrong choices. That’s why He sent Jesus Christ to help us. And that’s why He sent me and Mom to help you too.”

Dad looked into Ethan’s eyes. “And He always wants you to pray. No matter what.”

Ethan felt hope in his heart. “Will you help me say a prayer now?”

“Of course.”

Ethan and Dad bowed their heads and folded their arms. “Dear Heavenly Father,” Ethan said. “Please forgive me for looking at pornography. Please give me strength to stop. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

When the prayer finished, Dad gave him another hug. “I’ll always be here for you, OK?”

Ethan smiled. “OK.” For the first time in days, he felt good inside. He knew that his parents, Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ would help him.