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Q. For research I am doing, I would appreciate a little guidance on the teachings of your church regarding prostitution. All the religions take a dim view of it, but some teach that it is bad but should be tolerated as a necessary evil. They follow Augustine in that view. Others allow prostitution no space whatever. And so, what do the Mormons say, and where are the quotes and the sources where they say it?
A.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is most definitely
against prostitution of any kind. It is considered sexual transgression
for which there is no tolerance. Why any God-fearing religion would consider
it a "necessary evil" extends beyond the scope of my imagination. Regardless,
I've managed to locate a few references specific to the topic.
First, you should understand that prostitution is rarely addressed specifically by our leaders
as it falls within the greater realm of sexual immorality. The following
quote illustrates this point:
The Lord has drawn no essential distinctions between fornication
and adultery and harlotry or prostitution. Each has fallen under His solemn
and awful condemnation.
Latter-day Prophets and the D&C Vol.
2, p. 16 - 17
Hence, in searching I've done my best to locate the references I
felt would be the most pertinent to your research. Please review the following
and let me know if you require further assistance.
Quotes on Prostitution
We raise our voices against prostitution, and against all forms
of immorality. We are not here to practice immorality of any kind. Above
all things, sexual immorality is most heinous in the sight of God.
Therefore,
we raise our voices against sexual immorality, and against all manner of
obscenity.
The Lord has warned his children that in the last days Satan shall have
power over his own dominion. (See D&C 1:35.) These conditions exist
today, as is evidenced by the increased numbers of killings, by lawlessness,
and by moral transgressions. All standards that were so sacred in the past
are crumbling under the pressure of the ungodliness of agnostic, atheistic,
subversive, and radical groups. Evil designing people get financial gain
from trafficking in drugs, alcohol, prostitution, pornography, and dishonest
schemes regardless of the destruction to the moral, ethical, and spiritual
values of life.
When we leave the light of each commandment, our perception of the real
problem is blurred and our prescriptions are bound to be flawed. In no
instance is the blurring more evident than with regard to the seventh commandment.
For instance, there is grave concern, and with justified cause, about the
abuse of prostitutes and the terrible problems of child prostitution and
child pornography. One scarcely hears, however, any mention of keeping
the seventh commandment in order to solve these dreadful problems
though it is the ultimate solution. The immediate retort is that since
there are so many who do not hold with divine prescriptions or who are
too weak to comply, other remedies are needed. Religious restraints are
viewed as impractical! The keeping of the seventh commandment, however,
would at once erase all the problems associated with prostitution, child
prostitution, and pornography. Yet, the more distance societies place between
themselves and the keeping of the seventh commandment, the larger and less
manageable these problems become.
Notwithstanding My Weakness, p. 95 - 96
The First Presidency declared: "The doctrine of this Church is that
sexual sinthe illicit sexual relations of men and women stands, in its
enormity, next to murder.
"The Lord has drawn no essential distinctions between fornication,
adultery, and harlotry or prostitution. Each has fallen under His solemn
and awful condemnation. Those who would excuse sexual sin by saying that
it 'is but a sinless gratification of a normal desire, like appeasing hunger
and thirst,' speak filthiness with their lips. Their counsel leads to destruction;
their wisdom comes from the Father of Lies"
Conference Report, Oct. 1942, 11
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