# What Are the Rules of Mormonism? > The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches salvation through the Atonement by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. Chastity, the Word of Wisdom, and missionary conduct are quoted from the church’s own pages. - Canonical: https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/rules-of-mormonism - Religions: Latter-day Saints - Denominations: none - Beliefs: none - Tags: latter-day-saints, chastity, word-of-wisdom, missionaries - Updated: 2026-10-12 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all mankind may be saved through the Atonement of Christ, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. The Articles of Faith name the first of those ordinances as faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Chastity, in the church’s Gospel Topics page, means no sexual relations outside a legal marriage between a man and a woman. “Mormon” is the common nickname. The rules below are the church’s own sentences, not a list invented from rumor. ## Key Points - [Articles of Faith 1:3](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng&id=p3) [(1)](#ref-1) says that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. - [Articles of Faith 1:4](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng&id=p4) [(1)](#ref-1) lists faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. - [Gospel Topics, Chastity](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/chastity?lang=eng) [(2)](#ref-2) says chastity means not having any sexual relations outside of a legal marriage between a man and a woman, and that same-sex marriage and any sexual relations between those of the same sex are against God’s commandments. - [Gospel Topics, Same-Sex Attraction](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/same-sex-attraction?lang=eng) [(3)](#ref-3) says identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, or experiencing same-sex attraction, is not a sin and does not prohibit participating in the church. - [Missionary Standards, section 3](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-standards-for-disciples-of-jesus-christ/03-missionary-conduct?lang=eng) [(4)](#ref-4) tells missionaries to limit physical contact with someone of the opposite gender to a handshake, and not to hold or hug children. - Tea and coffee are the Word of Wisdom question. [Why Can’t Mormons Drink Coffee?](/latter-day-saints/why-cant-mormons-drink-coffee) quotes Doctrine and Covenants 89 and the church’s statements. This page does not repeat them. ## The Laws and Ordinances The short list members memorize is the Articles of Faith. Verse 3 ties salvation to obedience. Verse 4 names four principles and ordinances: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. That is the church’s own order for a living person entering the faith. Baptism of a living person is not the same ordinance as baptism for someone who has died. [What Is Baptism for the Dead?](/latter-day-saints/baptism-for-the-dead) quotes the church’s temple practice and 1 Corinthians 15:29. [What Do Mormons Believe?](/latter-day-saints/what-do-mormons-believe) is the wider account of the Godhead, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon. Nicene Christians confess one God, one being, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is God. [John 1:1](/bible/john/1/1) [(6)](#ref-6) says the Word was God. Latter-day Saints teach the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost as three beings united in purpose. The rules on this page sit inside that teaching. They do not replace it. ## The Law of Chastity Gospel Topics states the law in one sentence: > Chastity means not having any sexual relations outside of a legal marriage between a man and a woman. The same page says those who are chaste also strive to have sexually appropriate thoughts, words, and actions, and that living the law includes being completely loyal to one’s spouse within marriage. It says same-sex marriage, and any sexual relations between those of the same sex, are against God’s commandments. It says victims of sexual abuse are not responsible for what happened to them and have not broken the law of chastity. The page does not mention condoms, tampons, or deodorant. [Why Can’t Mormons Drink Coffee?](/latter-day-saints/why-cant-mormons-drink-coffee) already notes that the Word of Wisdom statements do not mention deodorant. This page does not invent a rule the chastity topic does not print. Kissing and hugging are also absent from that chastity page. The missionary handbook is narrower, and it applies to missionaries, not to every member. It says missionaries should avoid arousing sexual feelings and inappropriate touching, and it points them to For the Strength of Youth (2022), “Your body is sacred.” For ordinary contact it says: limit physical contact with someone of the opposite gender to a handshake. It says do not flirt. It does not publish a separate sentence that adult members may not hug. ## What Missionaries Are Not Allowed to Do [Section 3 of the missionary standards](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-standards-for-disciples-of-jesus-christ/03-missionary-conduct?lang=eng) [(4)](#ref-4) is the church’s conduct list for full-time missionaries. It tells them to stay with their companion. With an adult of the opposite gender, another adult of the missionary’s own gender must be present when they visit, teach, travel, or eat, unless the mission president approves an exception. With children, they are never to be alone with anyone younger than 18. The section says: do not tickle children, change diapers, hold or hug children, or allow children to sit on their lap. They politely decline to babysit. The unauthorized activities include contact sports, swimming, mountain and rock climbing, riding motorcycles and horses, riding in private boats or airplanes, handling firearms, and using fireworks or explosives. The media rules say to avoid television, movies, video games, and unauthorized videos. Communication with family is on preparation day. The section says family and friends generally should not visit during the mission unless the mission president approves a short exception. Those lines are missionary rules. They are not printed on the chastity page as rules for every member at home. ## Can Latter-day Saints Be LGBTQ? [Gospel Topics, Same-Sex Attraction](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/same-sex-attraction?lang=eng) [(3)](#ref-3) says: > The Church distinguishes between same-sex attraction and homosexual behavior. People who experience same-sex attraction or identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual can make and keep covenants with God and fully and worthily participate in the Church. Identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or experiencing same-sex attraction is not a sin and does not prohibit one from participating in the Church, holding callings, or attending the temple. The chastity page, quoted above, says sexual relations and same-sex marriage are against the commandments. Attraction, on the church’s own distinction, is not the sin. Behavior is. [What Do Mormons Believe?](/latter-day-saints/what-do-mormons-believe) quotes the same pages beside the rest of the teaching. [Do Mormons Practice Polygamy?](/latter-day-saints/do-mormons-practice-polygamy) is the nineteenth-century practice and the rule now. ## The Word of Wisdom Health rules that people call Mormon rules are mostly the Word of Wisdom: tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, and the later statements on vaping and green tea. Those sentences are already on [Why Can’t Mormons Drink Coffee?](/latter-day-saints/why-cant-mormons-drink-coffee). This page does not copy Doctrine and Covenants 89 again. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can Mormons Kiss Before Marriage? The chastity topic forbids sexual relations outside a legal marriage of a man and a woman, and it says chaste people strive for sexually appropriate thoughts, words, and actions. It does not print the word kiss. Missionaries are told to limit physical contact with someone of the opposite gender to a handshake. That handbook line is for missionaries. ### Can Mormons Hug? The chastity topic does not forbid a hug. The missionary standards say missionaries do not hold or hug children, and they limit contact with an adult of the opposite gender to a handshake. A hug between members who are not missionaries is not given a sentence on these pages. ### Can You Use Condoms as a Mormon? Can Mormon Girls Use Tampons? The chastity topic and the missionary conduct section fetched here do not mention condoms or tampons. This page does not invent a prohibition they do not print. ## Passages Quoted on This Page ### Articles of Faith 1:3 English, churchofjesuschrist.org. [Open on churchofjesuschrist.org](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng&id=p3) > We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. ### Articles of Faith 1:4 English, churchofjesuschrist.org. [Open on churchofjesuschrist.org](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng&id=p4) > We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. ### John 1:1 King James Version. > In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ### Gospel Topics, Word of Wisdom English, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [Open on churchofjesuschrist.org](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/word-of-wisdom?lang=eng) > See Doctrine and Covenants 89:9; latter-day prophets have taught that the term “hot drinks,” as written in this verse, refers to tea and coffee. ## Sources Numbered to match the HTML References list. Item 1 is `#ref-1` under `#references`. Scripture links to the King James Version on this site. 1. [Articles of Faith, 1:3–4](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng&id=p3) (Pearl of Great Price. Verse 4, the first principles and ordinances, is on the same page.) 2. [Gospel Topics, Chastity](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/chastity?lang=eng) (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sexual relations only in a legal marriage of a man and a woman.) 3. [Gospel Topics, Same-Sex Attraction](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/same-sex-attraction?lang=eng) (The church distinguishes attraction from behavior.) 4. [Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ, 3. Missionary Conduct](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-standards-for-disciples-of-jesus-christ/03-missionary-conduct?lang=eng) (Handbook section on chastity, contact with adults and children, and activities missionaries do not do.) 5. [Gospel Topics, Word of Wisdom](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/word-of-wisdom?lang=eng) (Tea and coffee are on the coffee article. This page links there and does not repeat the verses.) 6. [Gospel of John, 1:1](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/1/1). King James Version ## See Also - [Why Can't Mormons Drink Coffee?](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/why-cant-mormons-drink-coffee) — Doctrine and Covenants 89 says hot drinks are not for the body. Latter-day prophets teach that this means tea and coffee. The church’s statements also name green tea and coffee-based products. - [Are Mormons Christians?](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/are-mormons-christians) — Latter-day Saints worship Jesus Christ and use his name. Their teaching of God, of Jesus, and of salvation is not the Nicene confession, so they are not a denomination inside Trinitarian Christianity. - [Do Mormons Believe in the Trinity?](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/the-godhead-in-latter-day-saint-teaching) — No. Latter-day Saints teach that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings, one in purpose. That is not the Nicene confession of one God in three persons. - [Do Mormons Believe They Will Become Gods?](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/do-mormons-believe-they-will-become-gods) — Gospel Principles says exaltation is the kind of life God lives. The King Follett sermon says God was once as we are now, and that the faithful must learn to be gods. Isaiah 43:10 says no God was formed after the LORD. - [Do Mormons Celebrate Christmas and Easter?](https://apologetics.wiki/latter-day-saints/do-mormons-celebrate-christmas-and-easter) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints keeps Christmas as the season of Christ’s birth and Easter as the celebration of his resurrection, with Easter Sunday services.