Profanity Affects Our Spirits

Profanity Makes it Hard for the Holy Ghost to Be with Us

Friend September 2022 “Weeds and the Bad Words” Jonas hears a bad word at school and he talks to his mom about it. She explains that the word was disrespectful and unkind, and that when we use words like that, it makes it hard for the Holy Ghost to be with us. And it’s kind of like weeds, you want to pull them out to keep the garden clean and let good plants grow.

Friend April 2017 “Brock and the Bad Word” Brock’s new friends all swear, and soon Brock becomes like them and stops feeling the Holy Ghost.

Overcoming Profanity

Friend April 2024 “A Better Habit” While playing four square, Jessica’s friends were using the Lord’s name like a swear word whenever they got out. Pretty soon Jessica was doing it too. Her friend Abby was shocked to hear Jessica doing it. Jessica felt terrible and talked to her mom about it. Her mom helped her repent, pray for help to stop using the words, and make a list of words she could use instead. At first it was hard, but soon she had stopped using the Lord’s name in vain, and it felt good.

Friend November 2020 “Hyrum Beats the Bad Words” Hyrum figures out a way to help him not think about the bad words that he hears.

Friend July 2015 “Not at Home, Not Anywhere” Carter and his friend had started swearing at school, and he had decided it wasn’t that big a deal to use bad words once in a while—as long as he didn’t say them at home or at church. But then swear words had popped out before he’d even thought about it at home with his friend, and his mom heard them.

Profanity Used by Others

Speak Up

Friend February 2019 “Show and Tell” One of my friends asked me to swear. I didn’t. Instead, I asked her not to swear around me. She said she would try, and then she asked the rest of the girls to do the same. Almost all of them agreed! I’m glad I could be a good example. Elora W., age 12, Vienna, Austria

Friend August 2019 “Speaking Up” Jonathon feels sad and uncomfortable when his Spanish teacher frequently uses Heavenly Father’s name as a swear word in class. Jonathon wants to talk to her about it but is afraid she will be mad. He prays for help to say the right thing and is able to do it in a kind and respectful way. His teacher promises to work on not saying it anymore.

Be a Friend

For the Strength of Youth April 2024 “Thanks for Looking Out” Sam gets upset and uses bad language when he loses a game. His friend helps remind him that isn’t who he is.

Leave

Friend March 2017 “Show and Tell” My friend and I started playing football with some kids we just met at the park. They started saying bad words, which made us feel uncomfortable. We decided to go home and felt much better. I know if you listen to the Holy Ghost, you will be blessed.

Get Help

Friend February 2020 “Brave on the Bus” Some kids were using bad language on the bus and it made Natalie and her friends feel uncomfortable. Natalie said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to please make them stop. The thought came to her to talk to the bus driver. She listened, and the bus driver helped fix the situation.

Friend March 2021 “Courage in Choir” While singing a new song in her school’s choir, Scarlett hears Heavenly Father’s name in vain being taken in vain in the song. She asked the teacher if she could say something different. The teacher changed the words for everyone.

I Should Not Take the Name of God in Vain.

Doctrine and Covenants 63:58–64

The children you teach may hear others using the name of God in irreverent and profane ways. How can you help them understand that the names of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ “must be spoken with care”? (Doctrine and Covenants 63:64).

• Read to the children from Doctrine and Covenants 63:58: “This is a day of warning.” Ask them to talk about warnings they hear from their parents, teachers, and Church leaders. Then help them find warnings from the Lord in verses 58–64. What are some appropriate ways to “use the name of the Lord”? (verse 62).
• Review together “Language” in For the Strength of Youth(pages 20–21). Ask the children to make small posters reminding them of something they learned about how to use the names of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
• Sing together a song about reverence, such as “Reverence Is Love” (Children’s Songbook, 31). How can we make sure that we are reverent when we speak about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 63”)

“Should I Keep Reading?” (October 2019 Liahona and Friend)
Brooklyn P., age 9, shares how she decided to stop reading a book after the author repeatedly used the Lord’s name in vain. 

“Take Not the Name of God in Vain” (November 2004 Friend)
President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) shares how his mother once washed his mouth out with soap to teach him not to take the Lord’s name in vain.