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Chastity Is about More than Sexual Purity

By Anthony Sweat

Professor of Church History and Doctrine, Brigham Young University

Here are some reasons for chastity that are related to the spiritual purpose of life.

I once asked a class of Latter-day Saint teenagers why they should obey the law of chastity, which prophets define as:

• “Abstinence from sexual relations outside of a legal marriage between a man and a woman.

• “Fidelity within marriage.”

One student said it was to avoid diseases. Another said it was to not get pregnant outside of marriage. I said those were wise, logical answers. “But suppose you couldn’t get pregnant or contract a disease,” I responded. “Why should you still be chaste?” Suddenly, silence filled the air. The class offered no reasons beyond what they had learned in health classes—no spiritual reasons.

I want to give a few reasons for sexual purity that are related to the spiritual purpose of life, which is to become more like God.

God’s Character

Eternal life is living a life like God does, and God’s creative life centers on His family. As our Heavenly Father, He is consistent in His character and doesn’t vary in His purpose. God uses His power righteously, selflessly, lovingly, and with temperance, or righteous self-control.

These divine characteristics are part of what enables God to create and maintain an eternal family and to have us as His children completely trust Him. Imagine for a moment if God were out of control, inconsistent in His character, erratic in His behavior, and wouldn’t control His power but instead used it selfishly and without restraint. Could you imagine trying to have faith in an immoral God?

Why Chastity?

You may wonder, “What does this have to do with the law of chastity?” Everything! This is because the law of Chastity Is about More than Sexual Purity. The law of chastity is about earning trust; it is about righteous use of power; it is about selfless loyalty; it is about creation; it is about covenant family.

Although the innate human desire to create children, form families, and be intimate with a spouse is heaven-sent, that divine desire becomes tainted when it is unrestrained, prideful, domineering, manipulative, rude, or selfish.

The power to create life is one of the greatest powers God has given his children on earth. Chaste people know how to care for that immense power and use it appropriately.

Although some in modern societies don’t like it when lines are drawn around human sexuality, they forget that power without bounds is the foundation of both corruption and chaos. Remember, even God has boundaries He won’t cross or He “would cease to be God” (Alma 42:22, 25).

As we learn to properly control power and abide within covenant boundaries, we learn the characteristics that help us to become more like God.

So, besides unwanted pregnancies and diseases, why should we keep the law of chastity? We need eyes to see that the covenant of chastity is not just about the dos and don’ts of sexual relations—it is about learning to develop a character that can be trusted, exercises restraint, respects boundaries, won’t selfishly abuse power, and can create and maintain a covenant family, just like God. It is about loving as He loves, creating as He creates, and feeling the joy He feels.

Notes

1. General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 38.6.5, Gospel Library.

2. See “Plan of Salvation,” Topics and Questions, Gospel Library; see also General Handbook, 1.1 and 1.3.2.

3. See Moses 1:39; see also “Eternal Life,” Topics and Questions, Gospel Library.

4. See Malachi 3:6; Alma 7:20; Mormon 9:10.

5. See Doctrine and Covenants 121:36.

6. See 2 Nephi 26:24; John 15:13.

7. See Isaiah 63:7; John 3:16; 1 John 3:1; Doctrine and Covenants 138:3.

8. “Temperance is a divine attribute” (Kent D. Watson, Oct. 2009 general conference [Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 38]).

9. See Deuteronomy 32:4; Revelation 15:3; 2 Nephi 9:17; Doctrine and Covenants 109:77; “Trust in God,” Topical Guide, Gospel Library.

10. Prophets use terms like beautiful and sacred and ordained of God when describing faithful marital sexual intimacy (see General Handbook, 2.1.2).

11. See Dallin H. Oaks, Oct. 1993 general conference (Ensign, Nov. 1993, 74); David A. Bednar, Apr. 2013 general conference (Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 42).