When researching the word “adultery” in the scriptures a person will normally see that the word is associated with sex outside the union of marriage. Other scriptures that do not specifically refer to adultery against marriage, speak in a more general sense as to the nature of some people, as the reference, “adulterous people”, such as what is found in Jeremiah 9:2 and Mosiah 1:13. In reading these references, one wonders if God speaks of these people as all having sexual affairs. Since that does not show a sensible application of the word “adulterous”, then God must be applying that word to mean something else. So what does he mean?
We know that sexual adultery corrupts marriages and in turn, families. It is the affect of the act carried into a marriage or relationship that causes the corruption. As easily as the children suffer the sins of the parents without having committed the sin themselves, so shall the sin of adultery bear onto the members of the family in the same way.
What then can be the definition of adultery in order to understand its application in life and spirit?
What came to me was this,
Adultery – Anything that affects the joining to a covenant, to cause a splitting, separation, or violation of that covenant, is adultery.
There are two covenants in the scriptures. One is for a marriage between a man and woman, the second is the covenant we accept and enter into through the joining with the Lord through baptism by water. The Bible dictionary defines a covenant as follows,
BIBLE DICTIONARY
Covenant
Sometimes denotes an agreement between persons (1 Sam. 23: 18) or nations (1 Sam. 11: 1); more often between God and man; but in this latter case it is important to notice that the two parties to the agreement do not stand in the relation of independent and equal contractors. God in his good pleasure fixes the terms, which man accepts. The same word is sometimes rendered “testament.”
The gospel is so arranged that principles and ordinances are received by covenant placing the recipient under strong obligation and responsibility to honor the commitment. Thus the severe consequences to Ananias and Sapphira, who deliberately broke their covenant and lied unto God (Acts 5: 1–11).
Pondering this, I saw that adultery is the breaching of the covenant, which includes the agreement to be ‘chaste’ to your partner who is also in the covenant with you. In terms of marriage, the covenant requires that a man be chaste with his wife and the woman is chaste with her husband. This manner of chastity is being single to each other without taking in anyone else. Adultery then, is the violation of that chastity to your partner, the corruption of that singleness of heart to your partner, which is what an adulterous relationship causes. This is not just physical, as in sexual acts, but it is of the heart as well as warned by Jesus Christ that if we lust another in our hearts, we have committed adultery (Matthew 5:28 / 3 Nephi 12:28).
This seems simple enough, but what of the covenant with God? How does adultery apply to this agreement?
Applying the same principles within marriage, this says that a person who is under covenant with God must be chaste to God. A person must be “single to God in heart”, mind and soul. This is the first commandment (Mark 12:30). Adultery then, in this application, is the violation of that chastity to God, the breaking of the covenant band, the corruption of that singleness of heart, which is why Jesus warned that we cannot serve two masters. This adultery can be performed by sexual acts, because the covenant is specific about what God says about sexuality, but mostly this adultery is the acceptance and following of false doctrines, or even seeking wicked counsels, for such is a sin and all sin is against the covenant with God (Alma 41:9 / 1 Timothy 1:10 / Romans 14:23).
Take note of what I am saying. False doctrines, false beliefs, corrupt or wicked influences that corrupt the “singleness of heart” to God is adultery
Having progressed in this understanding of the application of adultery, then it means, “Anything that affects the joining to a covenant, to cause a splitting, separation, or violation of that covenant, is adultery“, which explains and shows the harm it does to a single heart to God.
A person who accepts false doctrines, false beliefs or creates on his or her accord, false doctrines or beliefs and follows them, is at great risk of committing adultery against God. Any false doctrine of belief that diminishes, adds corruption to or removes God’s word from their hearts is an adulterer. This gives concern for those in Christendom who keep making Bible versions or spouting false doctrines that never came from God, but came from men and all their private interpretations. (A false doctrine is a doctrine that was not given to mankind through his chosen prophet). Yet, those who are not baptized by God’s properly assigned authority through his waters of redemption, have no covenant with God and as such, sin only in those things which are held as overall sin by God.
Then, by accepting evil, wickedness or corruption into one’s life, brings into a relationship with God, one under covenant with him, the committing of adultery, which is against God and his gospel. For a person who is not under covenant with God, but believes in Jesus Christ and attends a Christian church, commits adultery by nature because of accepting false, corrupt or evil beliefs and doctrines. Adultery against a covenant does not exist for other Christians, but the nature of adultery is still committed, which means to do adulterous-like things. In this, the adulterous acts are against the doctrines and word of God, the creating, accepting, living, preaching and acting on false doctrines and beliefs.
This adultery is such because the false, evil or corrupt beliefs or doctrine that corrupt the principles and word of God, which in turn defiles a person, causing sin to remain in them. With this, these type of persons carry these adulterous seeds into relationships with others. This general application addresses everyone outside God’s covenant, even Satan and his evil spirits.
Let me move this a little further.
God sets out in his scriptures, principles of life, of relationships and of personal values and morals. A person, whether in the covenant or not, who abides in these things, wholeheartedly, is generally speaking, a good person. When such a person has relationships and exercises these things into his or her life and into relationships, will find the rewards are happiness and joy. The moment a person draws into themselves corrupt, evil or wicked things from other sources or people, that in turn, taints or corrupts their involvement in relationships, they have committed a form of adultery. This is true since the basis of adultery is to taint and corrupt. Thus, if a person in a committed relationship accepts influences or opinions from outside their relationship that has the affect of tainting, diminishing, negatively altering, corrupting, or harming the relationship and the other in that relationship, has committed a serious faux-paus, a breaking of the covenant band, which is adultery, because the outside influence has “adulterated” (corrupted) his or her relationship with someone.
The word “committed” takes form- from the word “covenant”, an agreement that bears a commitment to the other person, be it to a spouse or God. As the Bible dictionary indicated, covenant is an agreement between persons. Therefore, this agreement must be respected and the partner respected as well. To allow oneself to accept outside influences, becomes the same as seeking opinions from outside people who have no rightful interest in that relationship. This act is risking adultery against the partner of that agreement (committed relationship). The moment that outside opinions fuel, encourage, promote, act contrary to, or cause a person to withdraw or think less of that committed relationship, they have committed a form of adultery which harms their partner in the relationship. People who do not respect the responsibilities of a relationship and encourage someone to break the band, is a procurer of adultery.
This adultery, applied in this general way, corrupts any relationship a person has, be it one of friendship, business, family (between family members), dating, engaged couples, etc. If you want to understand it better, consider the act of adultery this way,
The corruption of divine principles in life and of relationships.
Apply this now to a relationship with God. Place God as that other partner in that relationship. A person who accepted outside influences or opinions that has altered, harmed, corrupted, diminished that persons state of heart and mind to that relationship has committed adultery against God and that relationship. The same applies to doing the same against God’s Church, because his Church is part of the covenant, or against the Gospel, because the gospel is part of God’s covenant, or against his chosen and rightful servants, doing against them is the same as adultery or as an adulterous act. The latter refers to those against God’s faithful who attempt to corrupt and interfere, they are “adulterous people” who try to adulterate God’s word, Church and his faithful.
When applying this knowledge into our lives, we must ensure that we abide by the principles of the gospel in all things we do. IN relationships, we must respect that relationship and maintain our responsibility to it, which means to never seek or accept opinions that serve to diminish, harm, undermine, attack that relationship or those opinions or influences that cause you to reject, ignore or violate your responsibilities to that relationship. This is why opinions from co-workers or even friends can harm your committed relationship, especially when they do not respect your relationship and your responsibilities in it, having a contrary interest to it. In short, a person who accepts those influences or opinions unto themselves that adulterates their life has committed a form of adultery against all that is good, proper and right. This is why God warns us to forsake the world (not to be of the world) and to live his principles, commandments and truth (Alma 5:57 / D&C 53:2 / Romans 12:2 / James 4:4 ).
Development of a relationship depends solely on the interaction between two people who are committed to that relationship. The development of a relationship is therefore at risk of becoming adulterated by inappropriate opinions or influences outside that relationship. This applies to both your personal relationships and one with God.
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