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