<P> The church teaches that gender is inherently linked to sex, but the church has no official policy on the status of intersex persons . Transgender persons are accepted in the church and may be baptized, but may not receive the priesthood or enter the temple if they are considering or have undergone elective gender reassignment surgery . </P> <P> The church teaches what it calls the law of chastity, a moral code that its members must follow to be in good standing with the church . At its core, the law of chastity prohibits sexual relations between individuals who are not married, adultery, and sexual relations between gay and lesbian partners whether married or not . The law also prohibits other sexual behavior, such as bestiality and masturbation, as well as mental behavior such as lust, sexual fantasy, and viewing of pornography . The church's teachings are ambiguous about the scope of allowable sexual behavior between legally married couples . Sex in marriage is seen as a means for expressing and building joy, unity, love, and oneness, as well as for producing children . </P> <P> The church encourages members to enter into a celestial marriage, performed as a church ordinance in an LDS temple . This is the only form of marriage recognized by the church as a sacrament and "the only due and proper way of joining husband and wife". For purposes of the law of chastity, however, the church presently recognizes civil unions that are considered "legal and lawful" by the government where the legal agreement takes place . In the church's view, exceptions to the acceptance of civil unions include same - sex marriage, polygamous marriage, common law marriage, and other types of non-ceremonial marriages in non-common law countries . In countries where the celestial marriage ordinance is not recognized by the government, it must be preceded by a civil marriage . </P> <P> The law of chastity has also been interpreted to include standards of modesty in dress and action . Sexual activity outside of marriage may result in church discipline, including excommunication, in which a member loses his or her church membership and privileges but may continue to attend meetings . In most instances, the church strongly discourages surgical sterilization as an elective form of birth control among married couples . </P>

Which statement describes the hebrews and their beliefs