Sexual Purity - from "For the Strength of Youth"

“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”).
Physical intimacy between husband and wife is beau-
tiful and sacred. It is ordained of God for the creation of
children and for the expression of love between husband
and wife. God has commanded that sexual intimacy be
reserved for marriage.

When you obey God’s commandment to be sexually
pure, you prepare yourself to make and keep sacred
covenants in the temple. You prepare yourself to build
a strong marriage and to bring children into the world
as part of a loving family. You protect yourself from the
emotional damage that always comes from sharing
physical intimacies with someone outside of marriage.
Do not have any sexual relations before marriage,
and be completely faithful to your spouse after marriage.
Satan may tempt you to rationalize that sexual intimacy
before marriage is acceptable when two people are in love.
That is not true. In God’s sight, sexual sins are extremely
serious because they defile the power God has given us to
create life. The prophet Alma taught that sexual sins are
more serious than any other sins except murder or deny-
ing the Holy Ghost (see Alma 39:5).

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.

In cultures where dating or courting is acceptable,
always treat your date with respect, never as an object to
be usedfor your lustful desires. Stay in areas of safety
where you can easily control your physical feelings.
Do not participate in talk or activities that arouse sexual
feelings.

Homosexual activity is a serious sin. If you find your-
self struggling with same-gender attraction, seek counsel
from your parents and bishop. They will help you.
Victims of rape, incest, or other sexual abuse are not
guilty of sin. If you have been a victim of any of these
crimes, know that you are innocent and that God loves
you. Seek your bishop’s counsel immediately so he can
help guide you through the process of emotional healing.
If you are tempted to commit sexual transgressions,
seek help from your parents, your bishop, and friends
you cantrust. Pray to the Lord, who will help you resist
temptation and overcome inappropriate thoughts and
feelings.

If you have committed sexual transgressions, begin
the process of repentance now so you can find inner
peace and have the full companionship of the Spirit.
Seek the Lord’s forgiveness. Talk with your bishop. He
will help you obtain the forgiveness available to those
who truly repent.

Genesis 39:1–12; Doctrine and Covenants 38:42