Law of chastity

The law of chastity is a moral code defined by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). According to the 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. As part of the law of chastity, the church teaches its members to abstain from adultery and fornication.

General standards
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."

Members of the LDS Church believe that sexuality between man and woman lawfully married is divinely appointed and has two purposes: to "multiply, and replenish the Earth" as commanded by God to Adam and Eve, and to strengthen the bond between man and woman so that they might "become one flesh". A church handbook states that "[p]hysical intimacy between husband and wife is intended to be beautiful and sacred. It is ordained of God for the creation of children and for the expression of love between husband and wife. Tenderness and respect—not selfishness—should guide their intimate relationship."

The church has made its views clear in many publications and in recent news releases that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God". While opposing homosexual behavior, 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.

Youth teaching
An LDS Church publication published particularly for young men and women states: "Sexual feelings are an important part of God’s plan to create happy marriages and eternal families. These feelings are not sinful—they are sacred. Because sexual feelings are so sacred and so powerful, God has given you His law of chastity to prepare you to use these feelings as He intends. The law of chastity states that God approves of sexual activity only between a man and a woman who are married.” Youth are also taught "Outside of marriage between a man and a woman, it is wrong to touch the private, sacred parts of another person’s body even if clothed. In your choices about what you do, look at, read, listen to, think about, post, or text, avoid anything that purposely arouses lustful emotions in others or yourself. This includes pornography in any form." Church leaders advise youth to seek help dealing with sexual feeling and promise the Law of Chastity "will bring greater love, trust, and unity to your marriage."

Repentance
The LDS Church has emphasized the importance of repenting for sexual transgression. The church teaches that "even when you try to do your best to make good choices, sometimes you will make mistakes. You’ll do things you wish you hadn’t. Everyone does. When that happens, it is easy to feel discouraged or wonder if you will ever be good enough. But there is good news—wonderful, hopeful news! Because God loves you, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who took upon Himself your sins so you can repent and keep progressing. Jesus Christ can strengthen you. He can help you change your desires, your thoughts, and your actions. When you are worried, afraid, or struggling in any way, He will comfort you. He will help you in all aspects of your life. Repentance isn’t punishment for sin; it is the way the Savior frees us from sin. To repent means to change—to turn away from sin and toward God. It means to improve and receive forgiveness. This kind of change is not a one-time event; it’s an ongoing process."

Importance
The LDS Church places great emphasis on the law of chastity. Commitment to live the law of chastity is required for baptism, and adherence is required to receive a temple recommend. The Book of Mormon teaches that sexual sins are "most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost". If a member breaks the Law of Chastity, they are expected to repent (see “Repentance” section above).

Church leaders have emphasized its importance. When discussing premarital sex in his book The Miracle of Forgiveness the apostle (and later church president) Spencer W. Kimball quoted church president David O. McKay in stating, "Your virtue is worth more than your life. Please, young folk, preserve your virtue even if you lose your lives." In the book Mormon Doctrine the apostle Bruce R. McConkie wrote in the section "Chastity" that it is better to be "dead clean, than alive unclean" and that many Mormon parents would rather their child "come back in a pine box with [their] virtue than return alive without it". Although Elder McConkie received pushback for this message from church leadership, the severity of premarital sexual relationships and adultery is stressed by the church.

Ezra Taft Benson, one of the church's presidents, wrote:

From the beginning of time, the Lord has set a clear and unmistakable standard of sexual purity. It always has been, it is now, and it always will be the same. That standard is the law of chastity. It is the same for all—for men and women, for old and young, for rich and poor. In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Jacob tells us that the Lord delights in the chastity of His children (see ). Do you hear that, my brothers and sisters? The Lord is not just pleased when we are chaste; He delights in chastity. Mormon taught the same thing to his son Moroni when he wrote that chastity and virtue are 'most dear and precious above all things.'

Serious violation of the law of chastity may result in a church membership council, including formal membership restrictions or withdrawal of membership especially when child sexual abuse is involved.

In endowment ceremony
The law of chastity is one of the covenants members of the LDS Church promise by oath to keep during the endowment ceremony of the temple.

Soaking
In 2021 reports of LDS church members "soaking" (where a penis penetrates a vagina but then remains still, thus not considered sex) as a workaround to the church's Law of Chastity made international news and received millions of views and social media tags. Other articles described a related act among LDS members of "jump humping" where two people soak while another jumps on the bed beside them. Soaking between two LDS characters was discussed on the 2013 Amazon comedy series Alpha House. The rumors of widespread sexual "workarounds" have been defunct as a myth. While "soaking" and other practices have happened, they are not very widespread despite some media coverage.

Includes broader transgressions
Activities considered a violation of the law of chastity include both adultery and fornication as well as broader behavior. While serving as church president, Kimball taught that the law of chastity encompasses "all sexual relations outside marriage—petting, sex perversion, masturbation, and preoccupation with sex in one's thoughts and talking. Included are every hidden and secret sin and all unholy and impure thoughts and practices."

Victims of rape, incest, or sexual abuse are not guilty of sin and are not considered to have broken the law of chastity. However, they often feel that they have lost their virtue, which intensifies the feelings of shame and guilt experienced by many victims of rape. In the Book of Mormon, it states, "For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and [they] depriv[ed] them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue". In a general conference address, Richard G. Scott explained, "The victim must do all in his or her power to stop the abuse. Most often, the victim is innocent because of being disabled by fear or the power or authority of the offender. At some point in time, however, the Lord may prompt a victim to recognize a degree of responsibility for abuse. Your priesthood leader will help assess your responsibility so that, if needed, it can be addressed."

In addition, members are taught to dress modestly, to control their thoughts, and to avoid pornography. Dressing immodestly is not a violation of the law of chastity, but "modesty promotes chastity". Members who are married are instructed to "be faithful to your spouse in thought, word, and action. Stay away from situations where temptation may develop."

According to the church, even though the violation of the law of chastity is considered a serious sin, one who has violated the law of chastity can repent and receive forgiveness from God.

Homosexuality


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, although, for this they are not allowed to express their sexuality through dating people of the same sex.

Masturbation
On many occasions church leaders have taught that members should not masturbate as part of obedience to the law of chastity. Salient examples of this include a church guide to stop masturbating produced in the 1970s. Another is the 1990 edition of the church's youth guidelines pamphlet which stated that the "Lord specifically forbids ... masturbation" with the next two editions alluding to it with statements forbidding anything that "arouses" any sexual feelings or emotions in one's "own body". Apostle Spencer W. Kimball, who later served as church president, warned of the "possible damages" and "dangers" of this "common indescretion" on various occasions calling it a "reprehensible sin" that grows "with every exercise".

The apostle Boyd K. Packer gave a 1976 general conference address "To Young Men Only" warning young men not to tamper with their bodies because masturbation may become a guilt-and depression-inducing habit that is not easy to resist. He gave vigorous exercise as a method to help control thoughts and break the habit of masturbation since it is a "transgression" that is "not pleasing to the Lord". The talk was printed as a pamphlet and widely distributed by the church from 1980 to 2016. Since 1985 the church has provided a manual for parents to use in discussing sexuality with their children. The manual includes statements that "prophets have condemned [masturbation] as a sin" and "perversion of the body's passions" that causes one to "become carnal". The most recent explicit mention of masturbation by top leaders in public discourse was by Tad R. Callister who stated in a 2013 speech at BYU-Idaho that God "condemns self-abuse" (a reference to masturbation).

Pornography
As part of teaching the law of chastity, LDS Church leaders have repeatedly condemned the use of sexually arousing literature and visual material for decades.