Chastity Laws: What's Allowed And What's Not?

The law of chastity is a code of morality and modesty in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church). It requires strict abstinence from sexual relations before marriage and complete fidelity to one's spouse after marriage. The law of chastity applies to both men and women and includes controlling one's thoughts, words, and actions. Breaking the law of chastity can have serious consequences, including church discipline and possible excommunication. While the specifics of what breaks the law of chastity can vary depending on cultural norms and personal interpretation, generally, premarital sex, homosexual sexual activity, pornography, masturbation, overtly sexual kissing, sexual dancing, and sexual touch outside of heterosexual marriage are considered violations.

Premarital sex

The LDS Church teaches that premarital sex is prohibited and that members should remain sexually pure until marriage. This means refraining from any sexual activity, including intercourse, before marriage. The law of chastity is seen as a commandment from God, who has set a clear standard of sexual purity that applies to all individuals, regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic status.

The LDS Church emphasizes the importance of controlling one's thoughts, words, and actions to uphold the law of chastity. This includes avoiding pornographic materials, sexual kissing, and erotic touching outside of marriage. Members are encouraged to make a firm decision to be chaste and to control their thoughts, as immoral behavior often begins with immoral thoughts.

The consequences of breaking the law of chastity are considered serious, and sexual sins are deemed to be among the most abominable offenses, second only to murder and denying the Holy Ghost. The LDS Church teaches that there is no lasting happiness in immorality and that obedience to the law of chastity will bring increased love, peace, trust, and joy.

To repair and repent for breaking the law of chastity, individuals are advised to flee from situations that may lead to sin, plead with the Lord for forgiveness and strength, seek help from priesthood leaders, fill their lives with righteous activities, and remember that true repentance can lead to a state of moral purity.

Homosexual activity

The LDS Church's stance on homosexuality has been a source of controversy and has led to disagreement and disaffection among members. The church previously taught that homosexuality was a curable condition and provided therapy and programs to change sexual attractions. While the church now opposes conversion therapy and does not have an official stance on the causes of homosexuality, it maintains that homosexual sexual activity is a sin.

Members of the church who experience homosexual attractions or self-identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual can remain in good standing if they abstain from homosexual sexual activity and relationships. However, to receive certain ordinances and enter temples, non-heterosexual adherents must commit to a celibate lifestyle. In the church's plan of salvation, non-celibate gay and lesbian individuals will not attain the highest tier of heaven unless they repent and enter a heterosexual marriage.

The LDS Church's teachings on sexuality and the law of chastity are deeply rooted in its doctrine. Adherence to the law of chastity is required for baptism and is part of the temple endowment ceremony covenants. Serious offenses against the law of chastity, including homosexual activity, may result in church discipline, including the possibility of excommunication. Penalties for same-sex sexual sins are typically stiffer than those for heterosexual sins.

Pornography

LDS leaders have repeatedly condemned the use of sexually arousing literature and visual material for decades. They have compared pornography to a plague or epidemic that is overpoweringly addictive like hard drugs such as cocaine. The church has also stated that viewing erotic material can become a habit that is "almost impossible to break" and can metaphorically "blast a crater" in the brain.

The Church Handbook states that the three bishopric members should ensure that members from ages 12 to 17 are interviewed twice a year, discussing the importance of obeying the commandments, particularly refraining from any kind of sexual activity and viewing, reading, or listening to pornographic material.

Sociological research into pornography and LDS individuals has included a BYU study that showed 100% of 192 male BYU students surveyed considered viewing pornography "unacceptable". However, 35% reported having used pornography in the past 12 months, with 9.2% viewing it at least once in the last month. No data was collected on female students. A nationwide study of paid porn subscriptions showed that the predominantly LDS state of Utah had the highest subscription rate of any state.

In 2016, Utah's LDS governor, Gary Herbert, officially declared pornography to be a public health crisis in the state. In 2017, a study by BYU found that seeing oneself as addicted to pornography generated far more anxiety and shame-related negative outcomes than any potential negative effects of consuming sexually explicit material.

The LDS Church hosts meetings and has a website to assist members who wish to curb their consumption of pornographic material, and has asked church members to attend an anti-pornography rally.

Masturbation

The LDS Church teaches that gender is defined in premortal life and that part of the purpose of mortal life is for men and women to be sealed together in heterosexual marriages. Thus, the church states that sexual relations within the framework of monogamous opposite-sex marriage are healthy, necessary, and approved by God.

The prohibition on masturbation in the LDS Church has been in place for over a century, and while the rhetoric has softened and become less direct in recent years, the practice is still considered a sin. During regular worthiness interviews, church members, including preteens and teenagers, are required to confess any sexual sins, including masturbation, to church leaders in order to be deemed worthy to participate in the weekly sacrament or temple ceremonies.

However, there are varying opinions on masturbation within the LDS community. Some members view it as a normal and healthy part of human sexuality, while others see it as a sinful and immoral act. Surveys of LDS students and married women from 1950 to 1995 indicate that a majority of Mormon Church members' attitudes and behaviors are at odds with the modern church policy of abstinence.

In summary, masturbation is considered a violation of the law of chastity in the LDS Church because it involves sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage, which is considered the only appropriate context for sexual expression according to church doctrine.

Sexual touch outside of heterosexual marriage

The law of chastity is a moral code defined by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The law of chastity requires strict abstinence from sexual relations before marriage and complete fidelity and loyalty to one's spouse after marriage. The law of chastity applies to both men and women.

The law of chastity requires that sexual relations be reserved for marriage between a man and a woman. According to the LDS Church, chastity means that "sexual relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife". Therefore, abstinence from sexual relations outside of marriage, and complete fidelity to one's spouse during marriage, are required.

The church teaches its members to abstain from adultery and fornication. Within the LDS Church, chastity means more than abstinence from sex. It means to be morally clean in "thoughts, words, and actions". It also means sexual relations are only permitted between a husband and wife. The church teaches its members that "no one, male or female, is to have sexual relations before marriage. After marriage, sexual relations are permitted only with our spouse."

LDS Church leaders have taught that outside of marriage, prolonged and "passionate kisses" are off limits. For example, church president Spencer W. Kimball, called the "soul kiss" an "abomination" that leads to necking, petting, and "illegitimate babies". He further stated that even when dating for a time, a kiss should be a "clean, decent, sexless one like the kiss between a mother and son". He also stated that kissing during casual dating is "asking for trouble" and that kisses should not be "handed out like pretzels". Apostle Richard G. Scott advised that physical expressions of romantic feelings between unmarried individuals should be kept to "those that are comfortable in the presence of your parents".

In addition to reserving sexual intimacy for marriage, the law of chastity is obeyed by controlling thoughts, words, and actions. Jesus Christ taught, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:27–28).

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