The Law of Chastity: What It Is and What It Isn’t

The law of chastity precisely defined. The definition may surprise you.

Seeing Apostasy from Within

“…we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people…” 1 Nephi 17:22
After nearly a decade of wandering in the [...]

D&C 87, expounded

This is my understanding of this section.
The section heading
Revelation and prophecy on war, given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, December 25, 1832. HC 1: 301–302. This section was received at a time when the brethren were reflecting and reasoning upon African slavery on the American continent and the slavery of the children of men throughout [...]

Does legalized, same-sex “marriage” break the law of chastity?

As I was doing research tonight for an article on the law of chastity, I came across something interesting that has to do with same-sex “marriage.”  Having been through the temple, I knew that the law of chastity is defined for us there, so I went to ldsendowment.org to get the exact text of the [...]

The many definitions of adultery

Note: This post deals with physical adultery in marriage and not with spiritual adultery (committing adultery in thought or committing adultery against God by going after idols, etc.)

The Bible’s Definition of Adultery

Adultery = “Unlawful breach of a marriage covenant; consisting of a man (married or unmarried) having sexual intercourse with a woman who is either [...]

The Golden Question

801 words
© Anthony E. Larson, 2006
 The Golden Question
To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
Auguries of Innocence, William Blake
 
True insight comes of pursuing a question or an idea beyond the first impression or answer. It requires earnest [...]

New Heavens, New Earth: Suddenly or Slowly?

1,315 words
© Anthony E. Larson, 2002 
New Heavens, New Earth: Suddenly or Slowly?
The heavens and the earth are repeatedly referenced in the scriptures as the objects of remarkable, sweeping changes in the past and in the future.
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into [...]

The Forgotten Commandment: Watch the Heavens!

4,742 words
© Anthony E. Larson, 2007
The Forgotten Commandment: Watch the Heavens!
Part I – The Commandment
Section 84 of the Doctrine & Covenants is a pivotal revelation for Latter-day Saints, or should be.
The preamble to this section says, “The Prophet designates it a revelation on priesthood.” In it, the Lord explains some of the roles of priesthood [...]

The Keys to Prophecy XI: Prophecy and the Restored Gospel

781 words
© Anthony E. Larson, 2005
The Keys to Prophecy XI:
Prophecy and the Restored Gospel
This series has identified several keys to prophecy in the restored gospel.
When we let our scriptures speak for themselves, without imposing our own ‘modern,’ ‘scientific’ preconceptions upon them, an entirely different picture of the past emerges than the one we’ve been taught.
It [...]

The Keys to Prophecy X: What Joseph Taught

784 words
© Anthony E. Larson, 2005
 The Keys to Prophecy X:
What Joseph Taught
Certainly, some will say that discussions of ancient myths, gods, goddesses and pagan beliefs have little to do with the restored gospel.  To others, perhaps all this analysis of prophetic symbols, planets, stars, beasts and dragons seems a bit removed from core gospel principles.
Most [...]