|
Here's
a collection of official teachings from the LDS Church from
now and during the last thirty years. They include teachings
from all parts of the church - general conference, current
lesson manuals, church magazines, official pamphlets, popular
books and even Family Home Evening guides.
Read
for yourself.
Notice
how often they refer to Alma 39:5 and re-testify that sexual
"impurity" is next to murder.
"Why
is this matter of sexual relationships so severe that fire
is almost always the metaphor, with passion pictured vividly
in flames? What is there in all of this that prompts
Alma to warn his son Corianton that sexual transgression
is 'an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable
above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood
or denying the Holy Ghost'? (Alma 39:5)."
-Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, "Personal Purity," New Era,
Feb. 2000, page 4
“Touch
Not Their Unclean Things. Too many Latter-day Saints
today somehow believe they can stand with one hand touching
the walls of the temple while the other hand fondles the
unclean things of the world. We can’t do that. As Alma said,
“Touch not their unclean things” (Alma 5:57). I plead with
you, put both hands on the temple. Put your arms around
the temple, and hang on for dear life to your family dream.
If you don’t, the tigers will come at night and
tear your dreams apart."
"....show
your profound respect for that love—and for the doctrines
about eternal love and family life—by bridling your passions.
Don’t be deceived by the false idea that anything short
of the sex act itself is okay. That is a lie, not only because
one step overpoweringly leads to another, but because
even touching another person’s body with sexual intent is
part of the intimacy that is kept holy by the sanctuary
of chastity. Please also beware of unnatural
sexual acts that are just as immoral, if not worse, than
traditional fornication or adultery."
- Elder Bruce C. Hafen, “Your Longing for Family Joy,”
Ensign, Oct. 2003, page 28
"We
desire with holy zeal to emphasize the enormity of sexual
sins. We hold that sexual sin is second only to the shedding
of innocent blood in the category of personal crimes.
Though often regarded as insignificant by those not knowing
the will of God, they are, in his eyes an abomination, and
if we are to remain his favored people they must be shunned
as the gates of hell. The evil results of these sins are
so patent in vice, crime, misery and disease that it would
appear that all, young and old, must perceive and sense
them. They are destroying the world. If we are to be preserved
we must abhor them, shun them, not practice the least of
them, for they weaken and enervate, they kill man spiritually,
they make him unfit for the company of the righteous and
the presence of God.
- Prophet Joseph F. Smith, Teachings of Presidents of
the Church: Joseph F. Smith, 18: Chastity and Purity, From
the Life of Joseph F. Smith Lesson Manual, page 155, Published
and taught during 2000-2001 Church-wide Priesthood and Relief
Society classes
"If
we pollute our fountains of life, there will be penalties
'exquisite' and 'hard to bear' (see D&C 19:15), more than
all of the physical pleasure ever could be worth. Alma told
his son Corianton, 'Know ye not, my son, that these things
are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable
above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood
or denying the Holy Ghost?' (Alma 39:5.) The code for
moral law is found in the scriptures, stated as simply as,
'Wickedness never was happiness.' (Alma 41:10.) The
scriptures speak in general terms, leaving us free to apply
the principles of the gospel to meet the infinite variety
of life. But when they say 'thou shalt not,' we had better
pay attention.
-Boyd K. Packer, "Our Moral Environment," Ensign, May
1992, page 66
"God
has placed foremost in the category of serious crimes against
which we are warned... first, murder, and second only
to that, sexual impurity. The Church counsels you to
be modest in your dress and manner and to forbid the evil
thoughts that would prompt your lips to obscenity and your
conduct to be base and unseemly. One day [we] will have
to meet our Maker and as Moroni put it - and this is pretty
strong language - he said, 'Do you think that you could
be happy in the presence of the Holy One of Israel with
a sense of guilt of your own uncleanness?' He said, 'You
would be happier to live with the damned souls in hell than
in the presence of the Holy One of Israel with your uncleanness
and your filthiness still upon you.'"
-Prophet Harold B. Lee, The Teachings of Harold B. Lee,
p. 213-14, 2002-2003 lesson manual for all Church-wide
Priesthood and Relief Society classes
"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 know 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' (Moro. 9:9). You may discover to your horror
that what you should have saved you have spent, and that
only God’s grace (the Church) can recover the virtue you
so casually gave away. On your wedding day the very
best gift you can give your eternal companion is your very
best self - clean and pure and worthy of such purity in
return."
-Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, "Personal Purity," New Era,
Feb. 2000, page 4
"You
will recall Alma’s teaching his son Corianton that unchastity
is the most serious offense there is in the sight of God,
except for murder or denying the Holy Ghost. (See Alma 39:5.)
President Clark, in a conference address in October 1938,
said: 'Chastity is fundamental to our life and to our civilization.
If the race becomes unchaste, it will perish. Immorality
has been basic to the destruction of mighty nations of the
past; it will bring to dust the mighty nations of the present.
You young people, may I directly entreat you to be chaste.
Please believe me when I say that chastity is worth more
than life itself. This is the doctrine my parents taught
me; it is truth. It is better to die chaste than to live
unchaste. The salvation of your very souls is concerned
in this.' (In Conference Report, Oct. 1938, pp. 137-38).
Now, my dear friends, we know there is nothing new in what
we have said. These things are time-tested; they are true.
To this we testify"
-First Presidency Message "We Believe in Being Chaste,"
Ensign, Sept. 1981, page 3
"One
of the most solemn statements about being chaste is that
of Alma to his son Corianton: 'Know ye not, my son,' he
said, 'that these things are an abomination in the sight
of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all the sins save
it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy
Ghost?' (Alma 39:5). Very few of us will ever be guilty
of murder or of the sin against the Holy Ghost. But the
law of chastity is frequently broken and yet it stands next
to these other sins in seriousness in the eyes of the Lord.
-Prophet Ezra Taft Benson, "The Law of Chastity," Ensign,
Oct. 1988, page 36
"Among
the most common sexual sins our young people commit are
necking and petting. Not only do these improper relations
often lead to fornication, [unwed] pregnancy, and abortions
- all ugly sins - but in and of themselves they are pernicious
evils, and it is often difficult for youth to distinguish
where one ends and another begins. They awaken lust and
stir evil thoughts and sex desires. They are but parts of
the whole family of related sins and indiscretions. Almost
like twins, 'petting' and fornication are alike."
-Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness,
page 65 - popular book for Bishops to use when counseling
members
"On
the very brink of sorrow and disgrace are they who are guilty
of immodesty, necking, petting, or other secret and unwholesome
practices. Neither person is at his best when he is petting.
Each discovers in the other and reveals in himself traits
of which he should be ashamed. He is voluntarily permitting
himself to be led down the path of misery and shame. Some
pride themselves on never going further than petting. They
do not realize how disastrously far they have already gone."
-Apostle Hugh B. Brown, The Abundant Life, page 64
"Petting
is indecent and sinful, and the person who attempts
to pet with you is himself both indecent and sinful and
is likewise lustful... Is that what you want? Will you
not remember that in the category of crime, God says sex
sin is next to murder?"
-Apostle Mark E. Petersen, General Conference, 3 October
1956
Alma
told his wayward son Corianton, who had gone after the Lamanite
harlot Isabel: 'Know ye not, my son, that these things are
an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable
above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood
or denying the Holy Ghost?' (Alma 39:5.) Sometimes we give
as reasons for the law of chastity the risk of pregnancy
or abortion, the possibility of an unwanted or embarrassing
marriage, or the chance of a terrible venereal disease.
As serious as these things are, I’m not sure they are the
fundamental reason for the Lord’s having placed this commandment
ahead of armed robbery, fraud, and kidnapping in the seriousness
of sins. Think of it - unchastity is second only to murder.
Perhaps there is a common element in those two things -
chastity and murder.
-Elder Bruce C. Hafen, 'The Gospel and Romantic Love,'
Tambuli, June 1983, page 23
"The
prophet Alma grieved because one of his sons had broken
the law of chastity. Alma said to his son Corianton, 'Know
ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in
the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins
save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the
Holy Ghost?' (Alma 39:5). Unchastity is next to murder
in seriousness."
- Gospel Principles Manual, Unit Eight: FAMILY SALVATION,
39: THE LAW OF CHASTITY, page 247, Manual used today
in church-wide Gospel Doctrine classes
"Relate
the story of Corianton, one of Alma’s sons, in Alma 39:3-4.
Discuss how he sinned by forsaking his ministry and going
after Isabel. Point out that he broke God’s law of chastity.
Read together what Alma said to Corianton in Alma 39:5.
Discuss why sexual transgression is such a serious sin."
-Current Family Home Evening Resource Book, LESSON IDEAS,
CHASTITY, page 177
"Why
can’t someone go into a missionary training center or into
the mission field, repent of sins, and fix the problems
there? Perhaps the best answer to that question is 'Because
the Lord says you can’t.' The First Presidency has given
clear direction that this will not be the case. What
does it mean to be totally clean? It means that you would
never be involved in the serious transgression... or any
other sexual activities, or even transgressions of perhaps
a lesser degree, but still of great seriousness, such as
petting, (masturbation) or pornography of any kind. It means
we must shun immodesty, flee from bad thoughts, and avoid
even the appearance of sin."
"Several
weeks into his mission, in total agony for his sins, (a
missionary) confessed them to his mission president. What
a sad experience! He felt greatly relieved that he’d finally
confessed, but with all his heart wished he had done so
earlier. With great sadness for all, the young man was sent
home. One can only imagine the pain, humiliation, and
regret. How his parents and family wept! How the heavens
must have wept!"
-Elder Gene R. Cook, "Worthy to Serve," New Era, May
1994, page 4, widely distributed to new missionaries
entering the mission field
"And
Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I
can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from
the face of the earth." (Genesis 4:9-14.) That was true
of murder. It is also true of illicit sex, which, of course,
includes all petting, fornication, adultery, homosexual
acts, and all other perversions. The Lord may say to offenders,
as He did to Cain, "What hast thou done?" The children thus
conceived make damning charges against you; the companions
who have been frustrated and violated condemn you; the body
that has been defiled cries out against you; the spirit
which has been dwarfed convicts you. You will have difficulty
throughout the ages in totally forgiving yourself."
-Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, "Love Versus Lust", BYU
Speech January 5, 1965. Often-used quote still used today
in LDS seminary classes.
"I
do not find in the Bible the modern terms "petting" nor
"homosexuality," yet I found numerous scriptures which forbade
such acts under by whatever names they might be called.
I could not find the term "homosexuality," but I did find
numerous places where the Lord condemned such a practice
with such vigor that even the death penalty was assessed."
-Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, "Love Versus Lust", BYU
Speech January 5, 1965.
"The
early apostles and prophets mention sins which seemed completely
reprehensible to them. Some of them were adultery, being
without natural affection, lustfulness, infidelity, incontinence,
filthy communications, impurity, inordinate affection, inventors
of evil things. Today we call them necking, petting,
fornication, sex perversion and masturbation. Included are
every hidden and secret sin, and all unholy and impure thoughts
and practices. Next to the unpardonable sin (of murder)
come the diabolical crimes of sexual impurity which
raise their ugly heads in many different forms, including
aberrations of self-pollution (masturbation) and the abhorrent
and unnatural practices involving other people (petting,
fornication, homosexuality)."
- First Presidency Pamphlet, "To The Returning Missionary",
Page 11, still distributed today to most Returned-Missionaries.
"A
boy whom the apostle (Spencer W. Kimball) a week back had
turned down for a missionary recommend, wrote that he had
resisted petting with his girl, and was determined
to justify the apostle's confidence in him. And a young
girl wrote him thanks for his counsel the week before, continuing:
"I know with your (Spencer W. Kimball) blessing and your
prayers I will overcome my weaknesses. Pray for me, please.
It seems easier to have some help. I hope there are few
in this world like me. I often wondered why the Lord didn't
destroy me for all the things I've done."
- Biography of Spencer W. Kimball, Chapter 15.
"To
keep the Children of Israel from committing these sins,
the Lord proceeds to name them and to prescribe penalties
for their commission. I am going to name a few of them.
First is incest. I am not enlarging on it. In the law incest
included more than we now ascribe to it. It included marriage
between people within prohibited relationships. The penalty
for incest was death to both parties. Fornication-sometimes
adultery and fornication are used interchangeably. But for
most kinds of fornication, the penalty was death. For adultery,
it was death for both parties. For homosexuality, it was
death to the male and the prescription or penalty for the
female I do not know."
- Apostle J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Conference Address, April
8, 1957.
"Prophets
anciently and today condemn masturbation. It induces
feelings of guilt and shame. It is detrimental to spirituality.
It indicates slavery to the flesh, not that mastery of it
and the growth toward godhood which is the object of our
mortal life. Our modern prophet has indicated that no young
man should be called on a mission who is not free from this
practice. What is more, it too often leads to grievous
sin, even to that sin against nature, homosexuality.
For, done in private, it evolves often into mutual masturbation-practiced
with another person of the same sex and thence into total
homosexuality...."
- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, "The Miracle of Forgiveness,
Pages 77-79, 81-82.
"If
adultery or fornication justified the death penalty in the
old days, and still in Christ's day, is the sin any less
today because the laws of the land do not assess the death
penalty for it? Is the act less grievous? There must
be a washing, a purging, a changing of attitudes, a correcting
of appraisals, a strengthening toward self-mastery. There
must be many prayers, and volumes of tears. There must be
an inner conviction giving to the sin its full diabolical
weight. There must be increased devotion and much thought
and study. And this takes energy and time and often is accompanied
with sore embarrassment, heavy deprivations and deep trials,
even if indeed one is not excommunicated from the Church,
losing all spiritual blessings."
- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, "The Miracle of Forgiveness,
Page 155
"How
like the mistletoe is immorality. The killer plant starts
with a sticky sweet berry. Little indiscretions are the
berries -- indiscretions like sex thoughts sex discussions,
passionate kissing, pornography. The leaves and little
twigs are masturbation and necking and such, growing
with every exercise. The full-grown plant is petting
and sex looseness. It confounds, frustrates, and destroys
like the parasite if it is not cut out and destroyed, for,
in time it robs the tree, bleeds its life, and leaves it
barren and dry; and, strangely enough, the parasite dies
with its host."
- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, General Conference Address,
April 1, 1967.
For
more discussion on Mormon sexuality, see this on-line article:
Sexuality
Within The Contemporary Mormon Experience
(external link) |
