"Marriage was intended by God 'to mean the complete merger of a man and a woman—their hearts, hopes, lives, love, family, future, everything … to be ‘one flesh’ in their life together.' We cannot achieve the kind of life our Heavenly Father enjoys by ourselves or without a complete commitment to fidelity within a marriage to our husband or wife according to God’s plan" (Elder Dale G. Renlund and Sister Ruth Lybbert Renlund, "The Divine Purposes of Sexual Intimacy," Liahona, August 2020). 

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The Law of Chastity is a merciful gift from our Heavenly Father, our Great Creator, who wants us to eventually inherit His power and glory, and live the type of glorious eternal life that He lives. We need chastity! How would we ever learn to appropriately use His creative power​s without this law that helps us learn to bridle our passions and keep them within the bounds the Lord has set?

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The Law of Chastity marks the boundaries to the fullest, most joyful, most glorious expression of God's creative power. This is one reason a key part of the endowment ordinance is when you covenant to obey the Law of Chastity. Making and keeping our covenant to obey this heavenly law, in the words of Elder David A. Bednar, “will determine in large measure our happiness in mortality and our destiny in eternity” (“We Believe in Being Chaste,” Liahona, May 2013, 42).

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How can we live the Law of Chastity?

Study:

3 Nephi 12:27-30

Doctrine and Covenants 42:22-23

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Ponder:

• In what ways can I become more faithful in the way I live God's Law of Chastity?

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At first glance, we might get caught up in only the literal understanding of chastity--the need to be sexually pure. But just as everything in the temple is symbolic, this seemingly earthly principle is also a spiritual one. In terms of marriage, chastity (both before and during marriage) is a statement between a man and a woman that says, "You have all of me. I am not giving myself even in part to anyone else. I am all in when it comes to our marriage commitment and relationship." With that kind of commitment, one not only doesn't have to worry about a marriage partner's physical fidelity, but it also shows an emotional and spiritual commitment as well. Taken to a higher or more spiritually mature level, the Law of Chastity can bind a couple together as one so effectively that they literally complete each other. (You'll have the opportunity to learn more about this in the study guide for the covenant of eternal marriage.)

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Additional Blessings of Chastity

 

Study:

Doctrine and Covenants 121:45-46

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Living a virtuous life by obeying God's Law of Chastity brings His approval and personal spiritual power. Your confidence will grow as you keep this law as a disciple of Jesus Christ. When you are married, this law will bring greater love, trust, and unity to your marriage. Obeying this law will make it possible for you to progress eternally and become more like your heavenly parents.

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A Prophet's Promise

"Thinking celestial will also help you obey the law of chastity. Few things will complicate your life more quickly than violating this divine law. For those who have made covenants with God, immorality is one of the quickest ways to lose your testimony.

 

"Many of the adversary's most relentless temptations involve violations of moral purity. The power to creat life is the one privilege of godhood that Heavenly Father allows His mortal children to exercise. Thus, God set clear guidelines for the use of this living, divine power. Physical intimacy is only for a man and a woman who are married to each other.

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"Much of the world does not believe this, but public opinion is not the arbiter of truth. The Lord has declared that no unchaste person will attain the celestial kingdom. So when you make decisions regarding morality, please think celestial. And if you have been unchaste, I plead with you to repent. Come unto Christ and receive His promise of complete forgiveness as you fully repent of your sins" (Russell M. Nelson, "Think Celestial," general conference October 2023).