The Law of Chastity has become one of the most strictly enforced requirements for temple worthiness within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The modern interpretation heavily emphasizes abstinence from premarital sex, the rejection of polygamy, and intense scrutiny of personal relationships. However, early LDS doctrine demonstrated a far more flexible and nuanced approach to chastity than the rigid enforcement seen today.
Early LDS Views on Marriage and Sexual Morality
The earliest leaders of the Restoration, including Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, understood chastity in a manner that diverged significantly from modern LDS teachings.
Joseph Smith and Brigham Young both practiced and taught plural marriage, illustrating that their understanding of chastity did not equate to monogamous exclusivity (Bushman, Rough Stone Rolling, 2005). For these early leaders, chastity was about adherence to divine law as revealed through covenant relationships, rather than a singular standard of sexual purity.
Additionally, early LDS doctrine did not always categorize premarital sex as an irreversible spiritual failing. Rather, it was often considered a matter of personal repentance, allowing individuals to progress in their faith without institutional condemnation (Van Wagoner, Mormon Polygamy: A History, 1989). This contrasts starkly with the modern emphasis on strict chastity interviews as a prerequisite for temple attendance.
Historically, marriages were sealed based on covenant and faithfulness rather than rigid chastity interrogations. Early temple access was determined by commitment to the faith and willingness to enter sacred covenants, not by extensive questioning of personal moral failings.
The Shift Toward Strict Enforcement
The LDS Church’s approach to chastity evolved considerably in the mid-20th century, with a pronounced shift toward stringent sexual purity standards. This change was largely influenced by post-Victorian American morality and evangelical Protestant values rather than early Restoration teachings.
Whereas early Saints focused on covenantal obedience, modern policies have introduced a bureaucratic structure that enforces chastity as a prerequisite for full participation in temple ordinances. Interviews with bishops and stake presidents now involve deeply personal discussions about sexual conduct, creating an atmosphere of moral policing that did not exist in the early Church.
The Need for Reform
As the Church continues to grow and adapt, it must reevaluate the implementation of the Law of Chastity. A return to foundational Restoration principles would create a more Christ-centered and compassionate approach to temple worthiness.
Moral purity should be a personal journey, not a bureaucratic checklist. Spiritual growth and repentance should be between the individual and God rather than subjected to institutional gatekeeping.
Temple worthiness should be based on faith and covenant, not on invasive interviews about private relationships. The emphasis should be on covenant-keeping rather than human-imposed purity standards.
Sexual morality should be a matter of individual repentance, not public scrutiny. Bishops should serve as spiritual advisors rather than interrogators of personal behavior.
By embracing the principles of agency and personal accountability that were foundational to the Restoration, the Church can foster a more inclusive and grace-based path to temple worship. The Law of Chastity should remain a sacred commitment, but its enforcement must reflect the divine principles of repentance, mercy, and covenant rather than rigid institutional oversight.
Citations
Bushman, Richard Lyman. Rough Stone Rolling. New York: Vintage, 2005.
Van Wagoner, Richard S. Mormon Polygamy: A History. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1989.
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