Live the Law of Chastity

The law of chastity is the Lord’s law of personal purity. This commandment states that there must be no sexual intimacy, except between a man and a woman who have been legally and lawfully married. God knows that by following this law, we will have greater happiness and blessings and find deeper marital love in our families.

Simon's Conversion Story (1:04)

The power of procreation is a beautiful and sacred? part of God’s plan for His children. They are an expression of love within marriage and allow husband and wife to participate in the creation of life. God has commanded that the sacred power and privilege of sexual relations be exercised only between a man and woman who are legally married. This commandment? is referred to as the law of chastity?, and keeping it brings peace, self-respect, and strength from self-control.

God delights in chastity and hates sexual sin. Chastity includes strict abstinence from sexual relations before marriage and complete fidelity and loyalty to one’s spouse after marriage. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony and to be reared by a father and mother who honor marital vows. As you obey the law of chastity, you will enjoy more fully the influence of the Holy Ghost? in your life. Those who break this law are subject to a lasting sense of shame and guilt that burdens their lives, however, through sincere repentance? and application of the Atonement,? they can find forgiveness which brings a peace of conscience and a fulness of Joy (Mosiah 4:3).

Chastity requires faithfulness in thought and action. You are to keep your thoughts clean and be modest in your dress, speech, and actions ( Matthew 5:27–28) . You must avoid pornography in any form and treat the God-given procreative power and your body as sacred gifts.

You are not to participate in abortions or homosexual or lesbian relations. Men and women who are living together but are not married may not be baptized without first getting married or separated. Those who are married to more than one person at a time may not be baptized.

God wants you to follow His plan of reserving intimacy for marriage to help you and your family find happiness, deepen marital love, and protect your family (“ The Family: A Proclamation to the World”) .