More than 1,000 people gathered in downtown Salt Lake City for the 9th annual Conference on Protecting Children and Families From Pornography and Other Harmful Material.
"What can stop this horrible industry from going forth?" asked Pamela J. Atkinson, chairwoman of the Utah Coalition Against Pornography. "Obviously, education comes to mind."
The conference, which was sponsored by UCAP, included several sessions on topics including the sexual exploitation industry, how to create safety in a relationship when trust has been lost, teens and technology, and how to deal with adolescents' pornography use.
"Pornography is a growing scourge," said Utah Governor Gary Herbert, "but it is not just around the nation. We have every evil here in Utah that is found in any inner city in America."
Keynote speaker Patrick A. Trueman asked the capacity crowd in the Little America Hotel's Grand Ballroom to think about who "pornographers" are. "Today it might be the man right next door to you."
Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values, told audience members in his closing address that they can win the war against pornography. "It just takes all of us together, working together."
