Dallin H. Oaks
"Profane and vulgar expressions are public evidence of a speaker's ignorance, inadequacy, or immaturity.
"A speaker who profanes must be ignorant or indifferent to God's stern command that his name must be treated with reverence and not used in vain.
"A speaker who mouths profanity or vulgarity to punctuate or emphasize speech confesses inadequacy in his or her own language skills. Properly used, modern languages require no such artificial boosters.
"A speaker who employs profanity or vulgarity to catch someone's attention with shock effect engages in a babyish device that is inexcusable as juvenile or adult behavior. Such language is morally bankrupt. It also progressively self-defeating, since shock diminishes with familiarity and the user can only maintain its effect by escalating its excess.
"Members of the Church, young or old, should never allow profane or vulgar words to pass their lips. The language we use projects the images of our hearts, and our hearts should be pure. As the Savior taught:
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things (Matthew 12:34-35.)
"The Book of Mormon teaches us that when we are brought before the judgment bar of God 'our words will condemn us ... and our thoughts will also condemn us.' (Alma 12:14.) Let us recognize profanity and vulgarity for what they are. They are sins that separate us from God and cripple our spiritual defenses by causing the Holy Ghost to withdraw from us." ("Reverent and Clean," Ensign, May 1986, 51-52)
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