It is the same standard Moses, Jesus, Paul and the Book of Mormon taught. Here is what it includes and why Latter-day Saints treat it as sacred.
The law of chastity means no sexual relations outside a legal marriage between a man and a woman, and complete fidelity within marriage. The Church adds that the chaste “strive to have sexually appropriate thoughts, words, and actions” (Topics and Questions, “Chastity”). It is taught in all four standard works: “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14), “your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 6:19), “I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women” (Jacob 2:28), and “cleave unto her and none else” (D&C 42:22).
The short answerThe Church’s own definition
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints defines it simply: “Chastity means not having any sexual relations outside of a legal marriage between a man and a woman. Those who are chaste also strive to have sexually appropriate thoughts, words, and actions. Living this law includes being completely loyal to your spouse within marriage, both physically and emotionally” (Topics and Questions, “Chastity”).
The Family Proclamation states the same law: “God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” 1995). The Pearl of Great Price lists it among our basic beliefs: “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous” (Article of Faith 13). Latter-day Saints covenant to keep this law in the temple, and keeping it is required to enter the temple.
The BibleFrom Sinai to Paul
“Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). Joseph refused Potiphar’s wife: “how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). Jesus raised the bar to the heart: “whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:27–28).
Paul: “Flee fornication. … know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:18–20), and “this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
The Book of Mormon“I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women”
Jacob rebuked the Nephite men in the Lord’s name: “For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me” (Jacob 2:28). Alma told his son Corianton that sexual sin is “most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost” (Alma 39:5), and counseled Shiblon to “bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love” (Alma 38:12). The risen Christ repeated the Sermon on the Mount’s standard to the Nephites (3 Nephi 12:27–30).
The Doctrine and CovenantsFidelity and clean thoughts
“Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else. And he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit” (D&C 42:22–24). And the promise: “let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God … The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion” (D&C 121:45–46).
Why the standard is so highThe power to create life is godly
The Church teaches that intimacy between husband and wife “can be joyful, beautiful, and sacred. It is a gift from God for the creation of children and for the expression of love within marriage,” and that “those who ignore the law of chastity misuse the sacred power God has given to create life” (Topics and Questions, “Chastity”).
That power is sacred because it is a divine power. Our Heavenly Parents are a glorified Father and Mother, and exaltation is to become what They are. The Lord promises sealed couples “a continuation of the seeds forever and ever. Then shall they be gods” (D&C 132:19–20). The ability to create bodies for God’s children here is a foretaste of eternal increase. Guarding it now is preparation to be trusted with it forever. See What Is Eternal Marriage? and Do Latter-day Saints Believe in Heavenly Mother?.
Repentance, help and protectionMercy is real
“God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13). For those who fall, “he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42–43). The Church is explicit on one more point: “Victims of sexual abuse are not responsible for what happened to them. Those who have been sexually abused have not sinned or broken the law of chastity, and they do not need to repent of that abuse” (Topics and Questions, “Chastity”). See Who Can Enter a Latter-day Saint Temple?.
Check the premiseThe presuppositions baked into the question
Before this question can be answered fairly, the person asking has to justify a few assumptions packed inside it:
- That the law is only about avoiding intercourse before marriage. It includes thoughts, words and actions, and complete fidelity within marriage (Matthew 5:28; D&C 42:22–23).
- That it is a Latter-day Saint invention. It is the law of Sinai, of Jesus and Paul, and of the Book of Mormon (Exodus 20:14; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20; Jacob 2:28).
- That it treats the body as shameful. The Church calls intimacy in marriage “joyful, beautiful, and sacred,” a gift from God.
- That breaking it puts someone beyond hope. “He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven” (D&C 58:42).
FAQQuick answers
What is the law of chastity?
No sexual relations outside a legal marriage between a man and a woman, plus complete fidelity to your spouse within marriage (Topics and Questions, “Chastity”).
Does the law of chastity cover thoughts?
Yes. Those who are chaste “strive to have sexually appropriate thoughts, words, and actions”; see Matthew 5:28 and D&C 121:45.
Is the law of chastity required for the temple?
Yes. Keeping it is required to enter the temple, and members covenant there to live it.
Can someone repent after breaking the law of chastity?
Yes. “He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42).
Have victims of abuse broken the law of chastity?
No. The Church teaches that victims “have not sinned or broken the law of chastity, and they do not need to repent of that abuse.”
What does the Bible say about our bodies?
“Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
What did Joseph in Egypt say when he was tempted?
“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). Then he fled.
What does the Book of Mormon say about chastity?
“For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women” (Jacob 2:28), and Alma counseled his son to “bridle all your passions” (Alma 38:12).
SummaryKey takeaways
- Intimacy only within a legal marriage between a man and a woman.
- Complete fidelity in marriage, in body and heart.
- Taught in all four standard works.
- The power to create life is sacred because it is divine (D&C 132:19–20).
- Repentance is real; abuse victims have not sinned.
Read 1 Corinthians 6 and Jacob 2. For quick, sourced answers, open Galatians18, and follow me on X at @TraviXai.
Sources
- King James Bible (churchofjesuschrist.org): Genesis 39:9 · Exodus 20:14 · Matthew 5:27–28 · 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 · 1 Corinthians 10:13 · 1 Thessalonians 4:3
- Book of Mormon: Jacob 2:28 · Alma 38:12 · Alma 39:5 · 3 Nephi 12:27–30
- Doctrine and Covenants: D&C 42:22–24 · D&C 58:42–43 · D&C 121:45–46 · D&C 132:19–20
- Pearl of Great Price: Article of Faith 13 (“We believe in being honest, true, chaste …”)
- Topics and Questions, “Chastity” (2025) · “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (1995)
- Featured image and in-article graphic: original graphics by thebookofmormon.ai (painterly backgrounds; no photographs or likenesses of real people).
