Fidelity and Physical Intimacy is a topic that people with in the LDS community and outside tend to stay away from.  However, this is a very important topic for any marriage.

Elder Richard G. Scott said, “within the enduring covenant of marriage, the Lord permits husband and wife the expression of the sacred procreative powers in all their loveliness and beauty within the bounds He has set. One purpose of this private, sacred, intimate experience is to provide the physical bodies for the spirits Father in Heaven wants to experience mortality. Another reason for these powerful and beautiful feelings of love is to bind husband and wife together in loyalty, fidelity, considerations of each other, and common purpose.”

When you think of fidelity, what comes to mind?

I know that I would defined it as becoming in a emotional relationship with someone other than your partner. In “Fidelity in Marriage: It’s More Than you Think,” states: “Fidelity includes refraining from physical contact—but that is not all. Fidelity also means complete commitment, trust, and respect between husband and wife. Inappropriate interactions with another person can erode fidelity… Emotional infidelity, which occurs when emotions and thoughts are focused on someone other than a spouse, is an insidious threat that can weaken the trust between a couple and shatter peace of mind.”

When we choose to become closer to someone other than our spouse it is a form of cheating.  If you find yourself making excuses about any kind of relationships than you might want to rethink it.

I have a co-worker whose wife has asked him to stop hanging out with another woman even though it is work related and they are good friends. If your partner does not feel comfortable with who you are hanging out with than maybe you should tell the friend goodbye.

In the same talk it states: “Stop thinking in terms of emotional infidelity and instead use the phrase, “spiritual fidelity.” This phrase underscores the seriousness of the choices we make because it recognizes the eternal potential of our marital relationships as well as the importance of acting in accordance with the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Spiritual fidelity also causes us to consider the sacred covenants we have made in the temple and how the very nature of our thoughts and deeds can undermine those covenants. In other words, if a person is unfaithful spiritually he is not honoring his temple covenants even though he has not committed physical acts of intimacy.”  This talk is very good at making thinks very clear, everyone should read it.

In today’s world we are told it is ok to be physical with someone before we are married.  However, this can and could lead to things that someone might not be wanting. Plus, children might be born without having a mom and dad in the home. God said physical attraction is something that needs to be between a man and women in the bonds of marriage.

President Spencer W. Kimball said, “Sex is for procreation and expression of love. It is the destiny of men and women to join together to make eternal family units. In the context of lawful marriage, the intimacy of sexual relations is right and divinely approved. There is nothing unholy or degrading about sexuality in itself, for by that means men and women join in a process of creation and in an expression of love.”

Physical attraction is becoming up a little bit more in conversation in the LDS church. However, I still think it is not talked about enough.  I know as a youth I felt that physical attraction is a bad thing.  However, it is not that way if it is done in the correct time and with the correct person. It is important to make sure that we understand what physical attraction is and that it is a good thing for a marriage.