Editor’s note: Tiffani says she’s typically a shy person, not one to speak out, especially on charged social issues. But not long ago, she had an experience that spurred her to action — and to do a lot of reading and sharing on what is motivating her to take a stand for something. This is part of a post Tiffani wrote at her personal blog. With her permission, we’re publishing part of it here. You can read the full post at her blog, A Small Moment.

Note: Her post concerns pornography in public libraries, something that is concerning a lot of people around the United States. You can read her blog for more information about what citizens can consider doing in their areas. 

We all may feel moved to “stand for something” in different ways. We hope Tiffani’s story might invite you to consider what you might be able to do — even in simple ways — to take a stand for good and virtuous principles.

For more information and resources about helping your children avoid the pitfalls of pornography, see this post (Tiffani helped contribute information for the post, sharing some of her research about resources for parents on the topic of pornography prevention education.) You can also see our growing library of resources on our Pinterest board, Teaching children about [healthy] sexuality and pornography prevention: 

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Something happened to me a few weeks ago, that got me thinking about the words “Stand for Something.” I knew I had heard these words before…then today it dawned on me, those words were in a book I had read years ago called, “Stand For Something: 10 Neglected Virtuous That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes,”written by the prophet of my youth, President Gordon B. Hinckley former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a good and wise man of God, who inspired me to always honor virtue and to be honest and true to my family. He holds a special place in my heart. I shook his hand once at my Grandfather’s funeral and stood in front of him to sing with my family, my Grandfather’s favorite song, “I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go”.
Years later, President Hinckley called my mother personally on the phone. She had been worrying about my sister, who had been serving a mission for the church, in Aruba. My mother shares her experience and personal testimony on her blog, Living Waters.

To think a prophet of God would call my mother out of millions of people in the world, to talk about her daughter during a time when she needed comfort. Truly the Lord speaks through His prophets today. He knew of my mother’s concern and answered her prayers with a phone call.

He will always hold a special place in my heart. His teachings are pertinent and timely for me and I have drawn strength from them with my given situation which I will share with you in this post.

In the epilogue of President Hinckley’s book he said,

“What we desperately need today on all fronts–in our homes and communities, in schoolrooms and boardrooms, and certainly throughout society at large–are leaders, men and women who are willing to stand for something. We need people who are honest; who are willing to stand up for decency, truth, integrity, morality, and law and order; who respond to their consciences even when it is unpopular to do so–perhaps especially when it is unpopular to do so.

“It is important for leaders to learn to speak out in a way that is persuasive without being heavy-handed or offensive. I love Paul’s account before Agrippa of his experience on the way to Damascus. When he had fallen to the ground, the Lord instructed him: “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness….to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light” (Acts 26:16, 18).

“The problem with most of us is that we are afraid to stand up for what we believe, to be witnesses for what is true and right. We want to do the right thing, but we are troubled by fears. So we sit back, and the world drifts about us, and society increasingly adopts attitudes and standards of behavior that most of us do not approve of.” (p. 167 & 168)

After reading this today, I am reminded of a cross-stitched portrait of the Savior hanging on a wall in my living room. Next to it is my favorite scripture…

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed for the Lord God is with thee wither soever thou goest (Joshua 1:9).”

Now, I am not the type of person that will speak my mind. In fact, I think I am rather fearful and shy when it comes to sharing my thoughts and opinions on important social issues. I usually have a lot to say, but don’t always have the courage to say it, until after an issue is long gone. Well, something happened to me a few weeks ago that changed things, and I decided to trust in the Lord, to not be afraid, and muster up the courage and stand for something!

On July 2nd, I was a witness to an incident of indecency at my local library. A man looking at Pornography and acting inappropriate while doing so. I had 3 of my children looking for books in the library at that time, and luckily they didn’t see anything, but the fact remains that they easily could’ve.

I notified a librarian and all she could say was, “it’s not illegal to look at pornography.” I said, “I know, but my children are here.” All she did was pass the man a note telling him to use better judgment and of course he didn’t care.

I decided I wasn’t going to stay quiet about it, so I took action and reported my story to the news to warn parents that the library is not a safe place and for the library to know that I wasn’t going to bring my children there until they changed their Internet Use Policy.

The library policy states:

“For customers 17 and older, the District will provide a method to allow the library patron to disable the technology protection measures, without staff intervention, at the beginning of each Internet session.

To assure that customers of all ages are able to access Internet sites that have been mistakenly blocked, the District will provide a method by which they can request that such sites be unblocked and library staff will unblock such sites in a timely manner.”

I had never read this policy before. It was apparent to me that the library I have been taking my children to for 8 years now, was allowing anyone to look at Pornography, out in the open, freely visible to all who passed by, including children. I know the librarian was just doing her job and I am sure it must be a difficult one she faces often. I am not attacking her here, I am merely trying to share my viewpoint on the issue and make people aware that libraries all over this nation and most likely the world, are dealing with similar situations and the innocent children and teens that frequent these places are the ones who will suffer the most. If we don’t do something about it, the problem will grow and eventually the libraries will no longer be family friendly.

See articles on this website Safe Library Project scroll down, there are several libraries experiencing similar issues, and some children and teens have suffered damaging consequences. You’ll be shocked at what is happening!

I know certain special interest groups would disagree with what I am saying, because they believe it is their right to look at anything they want, whenever and wherever. According to the first amendment they do have that freedom, but I don’t believe that a library, especially one that our tax dollars fund, and one that is heavily involved in children and teen activities should allow its patrons to view pornography. It’s matter of decency and public safety. There are just some things that shouldn’t be allowed in a public place, for instance smoking is not allowed in most public places, because it’s a health hazard. Likewise, pornography is hazardous to our health, in fact like smoking, over time it’s self-destructive.

Yet, the special interest groups, such as the ALA and ACLU say otherwise, and are fighting for their 1st amendment rights to freely view whatever they want in a public place no matter if innocent children are exposed. Their argument, “Well, don’t look, sweetie. It’s none of your business. Avert your eyes.” (A Library That Would Rather Block Than Offend, New York Times, 1997)

Well, it is my business when my children are present and when their lives may possibly be endangered by the viewer or the very act of viewing it themselves. …

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint published a proclamation in 1995 called “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” I have this proclamation on a wall in my living room. I read it today and something stood out to me. The last paragraph states:

“We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”

This proclamation is not written to just members of the LDS church, but a call to people everywhere in the world to protect the family….

Channing Pollock an American playwright, critic and writer of film scenarios once said,

“A world in which everyone believed in the purity of women and the nobility of men, and acted accordingly, would be a very different world, but a grand place to live in.” (“The World’s Slow Stain, ” Reader’s Digest, June 1960, 77)

If this were the case, we would live in a world of freedom, peace, fidelity, loyalty, trust, and pure love. It seems like a dream to me, but it isn’t if each of us individually makes it a reality. In order for a moral reformation to take place in our world, we all need to strive to seek a life of virtue. Upholding virtue must be a priority in our homes and families for this dream to be obtainable.

The Apostle Paul teaches us about virtue in Philippians 4:8,

“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Change can happen in each of us; it has in the past and will continue to do so in the future. As long as there are good, righteous, virtuous people who are willing to seek for the good in others and help them see that good, change can take place within hearts and goodness will prevail as a rippling effect from one generation to the next.

In President Hinckley’s book he spoke of what we can do to carry on the good within us,“Each of us represents the latest chapter in a long life of generations. Including in those generations are forebears, many who made terrible sacrifices for that which we have today. They have left us good names that have been safeguarded through the generations. The names we carry are treasured possessions to be kept unsullied, to be passed to the next generation without stain or embarrassment. We stand up with loyalty to those who have gone before us.

“We cannot be indifferent to the great cause of truth and right. We cannot afford to stand on the sidelines and watch the play between forces of good and evil. Wrote John the Revelator: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).

“John’s imagery is vivid. It points to our critical duty to stand strong, even to become leaders in speaking up on behalf of those causes that make our civilization shine. Each of us can be a leader within our sphere of influence. The adversary of all truth would put into our hearts a reluctance to make an effort; we must cast that fear aside and be valiant in the cause of truth, fairness, and right…

“No nation can rise above the strength of its homes or the virtue of its people. The time has come for good people everywhere to demonstrate that they stand for something–something that is virtuous and clean and worthwhile. To that end, may we move forward with faith in the Almighty, and with a determination to live virtuous lives and return to our society the elements of goodness on which it was founded?” (Epilogue p.171, 172, & 178)