Mormon Law Of Chastity: Breaking Vows And Consequences

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) has a strict code of morality and modesty called the law of chastity. It bars all premarital sex, homosexual sexual activity, the viewing of pornography, masturbation, overtly sexual kissing, sexual dancing, and sexual touch outside of a heterosexual marriage.

The law of chastity is a requirement for baptism and must be adhered to for members to receive a temple recommend.

Serious offences of the law of chastity may result in church discipline, including the possibility of excommunication.

Adultery

The Mormon Church takes a firm and unwavering stance on chastity, upholding the Ten Commandments, the Gospel of Christ, and continuous revelations. They believe that the ability to procreate is a gift from God and that Satan introduces ways to compromise and corrupt this gift. Thus, sexual relations are to be reserved exclusively for marriage, which is defined as a legal union between a male and a female.

The consequences of adultery are considered severe, as outlined in various scriptures and teachings. The apostle Paul warned that those who succumb to sexual sin would not "retain God in their knowledge" (Rom. 1:26-29). The Lord, in the Book of Mormon, affirmed His delight in the chastity of women, condemning infidelity as an offense against wives and children (Jacob 2:28; 31-35). Additionally, the prophet Abinadi indicted the priests of King Noah for harlotry and failing to uphold the Mosaic law prohibiting adultery (Mosiah 12:29; 13:22).

Church leaders have emphasized the importance of obedience to the Law of Chastity, with the First Presidency, in 1942, promising "the exaltations of eternities" to those who remain chaste. They have also stressed that sexual immorality can destroy individuals and nations. Adultery is considered a sin of great seriousness, and those who have full knowledge of the laws of God and break them are held accountable.

Forgiveness for adultery is possible through full repentance. However, because adultery violates baptismal and temple vows, penitent offenders must confess their sins to a bishop, branch president, or other Church leaders. A disciplinary council may be convened to guide the transgressor through repentance and protect the integrity of the Church. Recurrence of the transgression can lead to more serious consequences, as outlined in the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C 82:7; 42:26).

Overall, the Mormon Church views adultery as a grave violation of the Law of Chastity, with serious spiritual and earthly consequences. However, through sincere repentance and confession, forgiveness and peace can be attained.

Homosexuality

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) teaches 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 also teaches its members to abstain from adultery and fornication.

The LDS Church has stated in many publications and in recent news releases that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God". While opposing homosexual behaviour, the church advises its leaders and members to reach out with understanding and respect to individuals who are attracted to those of the same gender.

Sexual relations are deemed proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife. Any other sexual relations, including those between persons of the same gender, are considered sinful and undermining of the divinely created institution of the family. Premarital and extramarital sexual relations "threaten the integrity of the marital bond and violate God's plan for bringing premortal spirits to earth," and thus are condemned. The church accordingly affirms defining marriage as the legal and lawful union between a man and a woman.

The LDS Church teaches that same-sex sexual and romantic feelings are not a choice or sin and that members should be supported in identifying with terms like gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Members whose sexual orientation is not strictly heterosexual can participate in temple ordinances and remain in good standing if they refrain from same-sex sexual activity and dating.

Pornography

LDS Leaders teach that pornography is addictive and can be extremely harmful to individuals and their relationships. They have compared it to a plague or epidemic and have stated that it can become a habit that is "almost impossible to break". The Church provides resources to help members who wish to curb their consumption of pornographic material, including meetings and a dedicated website.

LDS Leaders have also stated that women who dress immodestly become pornography to men around them. This rhetoric has softened over time, but the Church continues to emphasize the importance of modesty in dress, grooming, and appearance.

The Church Handbook states that members from ages 12 to 17 should be interviewed twice a year to discuss the importance of obeying the commandments, including refraining from viewing, reading, or listening to pornographic material. Disciplinary action is not typically called for members who are struggling with pornography but may be considered for more serious violations.

Sociological research has found that members of the LDS Church generally have negative views of pornography. One study showed that 100% of a sample of male BYU students considered viewing pornography "unacceptable", yet 35% reported having used pornography in the past 12 months. Another study found that the predominantly LDS state of Utah had the highest subscription rate for paid porn subscriptions in the United States.

Abortion

If a child is conceived out of wedlock, the parents are encouraged to marry, or, if this is unlikely, to place the child for adoption through LDS Family Services.

Masturbation

The first recorded public mention of masturbation by a general church leader to a broad audience was in 1952 by apostle J. Reuben Clark, and recent notable mentions include in 2016, 2019, and 2021. Although rhetoric has softened and become less direct, the prohibition on masturbation remains in place, but its enforcement and the opinions of local leadership vary. During regular worthiness interviews, church members—including preteens and teenagers—are required to confess any sexual sins like masturbation to church leaders in order to be deemed worthy to participate in the weekly sacrament or in temple ceremonies like baptisms for the dead. They are sometimes asked explicitly about masturbation.

The church's website contains numerous mentions of masturbation in a negative light. In their overview on the topic, Mark Mallan and Vern Bullough describe Mormon community attitudes and teachings on masturbation as having gone through four major stages while various official church publications and new opinions of leaders have emerged throughout the church's history:

• Silence, from 1830 to the first public statements
• Secular Conformity, characterized by following popular medical opinion ranging from viewing masturbation as unhealthy to harmless
• Counterrevolution, opposing modern medical views and scientific data
• Emerging Reform, indicated by Mormon literature suggesting that masturbation may be normal and not immoral

The church teaches that masturbation and pornography use are sins, but they are not serious enough to trigger a membership council. However, certain cases of pornography use may result in disciplinary actions. The law of chastity prohibits all sexual relations outside marriage.

The 1990 edition of the church's youth guidelines pamphlet stated that the "Lord specifically forbids [...] masturbation", with the next two editions into 2022 alluding to it with statements forbidding anything that "arouses" any sexual feelings or emotions in one's "own body".

Church leaders have stated 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".

Church leaders have also condemned erotic touching outside of heterosexual marriage using terms like "necking" for general kissing and stroking of areas outside of the breasts, buttocks, or groin region, and "petting" for fondling another in private areas whether under or over clothing.

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