From the First Presidency, 5 January 1982.
Sent to all Stake, Mission, and District Presidents, all Bishops, and all
Branch Presidents.
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"When interviewing married persons, the one doing the interviewing should
scrupulously avoid indelicate inquiries which may be offensive to the
sensibilities of those being interviewed. Married persons should understand
that if in their marital relations they are guilty of unnatural, impure, or
unholy practices, they should not enter the temple unless and until they repent
and discontinue any such practices. Husbands and wives who are aware of these
requirements can determine by themselves their standing before the Lord. All of
this should be conveyed without having priesthood leaders focus upon intimate
matters which are a part of husband and wife relationships. Skillful
interviewing and counseling can occur without discussion of clinical details by
placing firm responsibility on individual members of the Church to put their
lives in order before exercising the privilege of entering a house of the Lord.
The First Presidency has interpreted oral sex as constituting an unnatural,
impure, or unholy practice. If a person is engaged in a practice which troubles
him enough to ask about it, he should discontinue it."
/s/Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, Marion G. Romney and Gordon B. Hinckley