U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy said he is a “recovering addict to pornography” at a Utah College Republicans event Friday at the University of Utah, where the Utah congressman and other Republicans joined YouTuber Nick Shirley for an event.

“I want you to know life is hard, and when I was in my early teens, that was the first time that I took access to pornography,” Kennedy told the crowd of a couple hundred students and community members. “Back in those days, it wasn’t in my pocket on [my] cellphone, it was in magazines. And I know, I can guarantee you, somewhere in this room, somebody has — at least one person has — challenges with that.”

Kennedy brought up the topic after speaking about the national debt and his history as a family doctor. He joined a number of other elected officials at the event, including Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee and U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens, among others.

“For years, I knew that that was wrong. And I knew that every time I consumed some version of pornography that that was the wrong path, but it’s really hard to resist,” the congressman said. “I was addicted, and I know what addiction is like.”

Kennedy said he was “struggling” in his later teens and early twenties, but that he was able to work through it while on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The church teaches “that using pornography is sinful behavior” and is the result of “moral weakness” and other influences.

Kennedy said he “did a better job” through his twenties and thirties, and he is now “a thirty-year recovering addict from pornography.”

Kennedy said he brought up the topic because he wanted young people to know they, too, could overcome the same struggle. When he was younger, Kennedy told the crowd, he didn’t get good advice on handling his pornography use.

“You will not be able to execute on the task that you have for the future if you, today, don’t work on those things,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy, who is running for reelection this year, then moved on from the topic. He told the crowd about how he prepared for speeches while he was in the Utah Legislature. “I want to say to you, the future is yours. If you’re willing to take it.”

“I want you to know you do have a great future. This is the United States of America, and as a poor kid coming from a divorced family where I struggled with my own version of addiction … You have an amazing future ready to unfold in this United States of America.”

Kennedy was one of a series of speakers — nearly all of them running for office — who gave short speeches Friday night at the university.

Other speakers, including Utah House Reps. Matt MacPherson and Trevor Lee, who addressed their concerns about state judges they consider activists and the growth of the state’s college Republican program in recent years.

Shirley — a Utah native who recently rose to national prominence because of his YouTube videos and has been lauded by Republicans across the country — spoke last and entered the auditorium to a standing ovation.

“A lot of times people are like, ‘Oh, you’re far right.’ No. We’re just right. This is the truth,” he said, prompting more loud applause from the crowd.

His goals, he said, are “simple”: no illegal immigration or undocumented voters and no men participating in women’s sports.

Shirley encouraged young conservatives to “have those conversations” with friends, colleagues, family and professors.

“Don’t be afraid of any backlash,” he said. “Know you’re standing on good ground, and they’re standing on ground that’s a little wobbly.”