Masturbation makes you gay, leaked Mormon guide claims

A leaked Mormon guidebook claims that masturbation can cause homosexuality.

Originally published in 1981 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the guide was shared this week by MormonLeaks, a group dedicated to more transparency within the Latter-Day Saints church, Newsweek reports.

It claims homosexuality is a “learned behaviour” caused by dominant mothers and absent fathers and warns against young people masturbating.

The guide says: “Early masturbation experiences introduce the individual to sexual thoughts which may become habit-forming and reinforcing to homosexual interests.

“Self-masturbation is almost universal among those who engage in homosexual behaviour, and is a very difficult habit for most to overcome.”

The book believes homosexuality is a “grave concern” because it may involve violent or criminal behaviour and warns against people who don’t renounce their sexual orientation.

“Persons who have engaged in homosexual activities and who have not totally repented and forsaken these evil practices will not be admitted to study at or be employed by any church university, college, school or program.”

Speaking to Newsweek, Ryan McKnight, the founder of MormonLeaks, said the Mormon church has since become more tolerant of homosexuality.

He said: “That being said, if you were to track the rhetoric coming from the top leadership you will see somewhat of a shift in their views on the subject.”

“Many members of the Mormon church still believe many of the concepts and ideas put forth int he 1981 manual. Most of the shift has come in the form of simply not talking about the issue as much.”