1. Home
  2. Religion & Spirituality
  3. Latter-day Saints
LDS FAQs
Teachings on Prostitution
 Related Resources
• LDS Basics
• LDS Glossary
• LDS FAQs
 

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 sin—the 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



> Return to FAQ Index >

Explore Latter-day Saints
About.com Special Features

Ten common misconceptions about Islam debunked. More >

Use these prayers to inspire and inform your own conversations with God. More >

  1. Home
  2. Religion & Spirituality
  3. Latter-day Saints

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.