Law of chastity

The law of chastity is a moral code defined by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. According to the church, chastity means abstainance from sexual relations before marriage, and complete fidelity to one's husband or wife during marriage. As part of the law of chastity, the church teaches its members not only to abstain from adultery and fornication, but also to refain from masturbation and to avoid sexually inappropriate thoughts. The law of chastity is taught to church members of all ages, being introduced simply to young children, and especially emphasized to adolescents. When a church member's worthiness is assessed by eclesiastical leaders, the fifth of fifteen questions asked during the LDS temple recommend interview is phrased simply and directly: "Do you live the law of chastity?"

Youth teaching

The youth are taught that “Before marriage, do not do anything to arouse the powerful emotions that must be expressed only in marriage. Do not participate in passionate kissing, lie on top of another person, or touch the private, sacred parts of another person’s body, with or without clothing. Do not allow anyone to do that with you. Do not arouse those emotions in your own body.” Youth are taught during Sunday School that sexual relations are sacred, and they should avoid “fondling of bodies, one’s own or that of others…”

Chastity is more important than anything else

The LDS Church believes that, “Physical intimacy between husband and wife is beautiful and sacred.“ Members are taught when they “keep the law of chastity, their love, trust, and commitment increase.” The Law of Chastity warns members against pornography. Members are taught, “We must not view, read, or listen to anything that depicts or describes the human body or sexual conduct in a way that can arouse sexual feelings. Pornographic materials are addictive and destructive.” The Church teaches that, “Like other violations of the law of chastity, homosexual activity is a serious sin.”

The LDS Church leadership place great importance on chastity. President Spencer W. Kimball, in his book Miracle of Forgiveness, quoted Prophet Heber J. Grant as saying,

...There is no true Latter-day Saint who would not rather bury a son or daughter than to have him or her lose his or her chastity--realizing that chastity is of more value than anything else in all the world.

However, the Church states that not every statement by a LDS Church leader should be regarded as church doctrine. "A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church."

Former Church President and Prophet Ezra Taft Benson 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 Jacob 2:28). 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.” (Moroni 9:9)

Law of chastity in the Endowment ceremony

The Law of Chastity is one of the covenants Temple-worthy endowed members of the LDS Church promise to keep during the Endowment ceremony. Participants are bound by oath to obey this law, which is "there must be no sexual intimacy, except between a man and a woman who have been legally and lawfully married."

The Endowment ceremony specifies that sexual relations are only permitted with a legal spouse, and the church has made it clear in many publications and in recent news releases that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God...". It does not condone sexual relations within a legally-sanctioned same-sex marriage or sex within polygamous marriages.

Impact on marriage

The proscription against all kinds of sexual relations outside of marriage may have a positive impact on the divorce rate within the LDS Church.

"A 1993 study published in Demography [magazine] showed that Mormons marrying within their church are least likely of all Americans to become divorced. Only 13 percent of LDS couples have divorced after five years of marriage, compared with 20 percent for religiously homogamist unions among Catholics and Protestants and 27 percent among Jews. However, when a Mormon marries outside his or her denomination, the divorce rate soars to 40 percent—second only to mixed-faith marriages involving a Jewish spouse (42 percent)."

Law includes broader transgressions

Activities considered a violation of the Law of Chastity include not only adultery and fornication, but rape, incest, homosexual behaviour, and sexual abuse. Sexual touching and cybersex are also considered violations when done with someone other than a legally and lawfully wedded spouse. Victims of sexual assault, including rape, incest, or other sexual abuse are not guilty of sin.

Committing to obey the Law of Chastity is a requirement of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In addition, members are taught to dress modestly and to control their thoughts and to stay away from pornography.

Importantly, Mormons believe that sexuality between man and woman lawfully married is divinely appointed and has two purposes: to "multiply and replenish the Earth" (Bible, Genesis 1:28) as commanded by God to Adam and Eve, and to strengthen the bond between man and woman that they might "become one flesh" (Bible, Mark 10:8), something many Christian sects believe to be a metaphor for a strong, healthy, happy physical, and mental union. This is also seen as meaning sexual relations are not only for procreation but also seen as an expression of love between husband and wife throughout their lives.

According to the church, even though the violation of the Law of Chastity is considered a grievous sin before God, one who has violated the Law of Chastity, through proper repentance, can still be eligible to gain eternal salvation.

Criticism

The ACLU are concerned by the LDS stance against homosexuality and their open advocacy of Proposition 8 in California. This quote from the ACLU also criticizes the Knights of Columbus for the same actions:

Perhaps the Mormons and the Knights would understand why Proposition 8 was deeply wrong by considering another initiative. If an initiative were proposed to give the expansive protection the California Constitution gives freedom of religion — greater than the federal constitution—to all faiths except Mormonism and Catholicism, would the Mormons and the Knights see this as just a fair part of ordinary political discourse? This is nothing more than what Proposition 8 did.

Most of the Law of Chastity is for the protection of marriage, along with the LDS official stance on law such as Proposition 8. However, many Protestant religions are harshly critical of the LDS concept of marriage because "The difference, of course," according to Nichol's book Prostitution, Polygamy and Power, "lay in the Latter Day Saint's concept of "eternal" or "celestial marriage" witch in the 19th century meant plural marriage."

Homosexuality and masturbation

Spencer W. Kimball, the 12th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, linked homosexuality and masturbation heavily implying that masturbation causes homosexuality witch goes against all medical and psychological evidence. Kimball did not believe that an individual could be homosexual, asserting that only a person's actions were homosexual. Kimball advocated the practice of homosexual men within the church forcing themselves to marry women.

Kimball publicly acknowledged: “Some say marriage has failed” as a cure for homosexuality. However, he encouraged every homosexual oriented Mormon man to “force himself to return to normal pursuits and interests and actions and friendships with the opposite sex.” Kimball did not comment about the effect on a Mormon woman’s self-esteem to be a therapeutic sex object in a marriage her husband had “force[d] himself” to enter as a religious obligation.

See also

• Chastity
• Sexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Homosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Beliefs and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints