You've probably seen the TikToks. Or maybe you stumbled onto a Reddit thread where people were debating the logistics of "the jump-hump." It sounds like an urban legend, honestly. The idea that students at Brigham Young University (BYU) found a loophole in the Law of Chastity by performing non-moveable intercourse is the kind of thing that goes viral because it’s just weird enough to be true. But when you ask what does soaking mean in the Mormon religion, you're stepping into a messy intersection of strict religious doctrine, internet folklore, and the very real pressures of being a young adult in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).
Let's be clear: the Church doesn't have an official stance on soaking because, technically, it doesn't exist in their handbook. You won't find it in the General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Instead, you’ll find a very clear mandate on the Law of Chastity. It prohibits any sexual relations before marriage. To a devout member, the definition of "sexual relations" is pretty broad. It’s not just about the final act; it’s about the spirit of the law.
Yet, the rumors persist.
The Mechanics of the Loophole
Soaking, by definition, is the act of a couple inserting the male organ into the female organ but remaining perfectly still. No thrusting. No movement. Just... sitting there. The logic—if you can call it that—is that without the "action" of sex, it isn't technically "having sex." It’s a loophole. It’s a way to feel that physical connection without technically breaking a commandment that could get you expelled from BYU or barred from the Temple.
Then there is the "Jump-Humping."
This is where it gets truly wild. Because human nature is what it is, staying still is difficult. The legend goes that a third party—a roommate or a very dedicated friend—jumps on the bed to create the motion that the couple isn't allowed to initiate themselves. It sounds like a scene from a raunchy comedy. But for those who believe this happens, it’s a symptom of a high-pressure environment where sexual repression meets creative desperation.
Is This Actually Real?
Ask any BYU alum and you’ll get one of two reactions: a massive eye-roll or a "I knew a guy who knew a guy."
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Statistically, it’s hard to track. No one is filling out a census form admitting to jump-humping. Dr. Bonnie Young, a researcher who has studied the intersection of Mormon culture and sexuality, often points out that while these stories are pervasive, they are likely more cultural folklore than a widespread practice. It’s a "shaggy dog story" for the digital age. It’s much more likely that the vast majority of LDS youth are either following the rules or, if they decide to break them, they just... have sex.
The internet loves a spectacle. Sites like Ex-Mormon Reddit are filled with anecdotes, but anecdotal evidence is a slippery slope. You have to wonder if the meme-ification of soaking has actually created the practice itself. Did kids start doing it because they heard it was a thing? Or was it always a whispered secret in the dorms of Provo?
The Heavy Weight of the Law of Chastity
To understand why anyone would even consider soaking, you have to understand the stakes. In the LDS faith, the Law of Chastity isn't just a "good idea." It is a fundamental pillar of the faith. Members believe that the power to create life is sacred. Misusing that power is considered a serious sin, often ranked just below murder in terms of spiritual gravity in older Mormon texts (though modern rhetoric has softened this slightly to focus more on repentance).
At BYU, students sign an Honor Code. Breaking it doesn't just mean a talk with a Bishop; it can mean losing your education, your housing, and your social standing.
The pressure is immense.
Imagine being 20 years old, fueled by hormones, and told that a mistake could derail your entire future. That pressure creates a "borderline" culture. People look for the line. They want to know exactly how far they can go without crossing it. This leads to "Nesting," "Front-Hugging," and, yes, the concept of soaking. It’s a psychological survival mechanism for people who want to be "good" but are struggling with being human.
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Cultural Fascination vs. Religious Reality
The fascination with soaking says more about the outside world's view of Mormonism than it does about the religion itself. People love to gawk at "the others." We see a group with strict rules and we immediately want to find the hypocrisy. We want to see how they cheat the system.
It’s the same reason people are obsessed with Amish "Rumspringa" or Orthodox Jewish "shabbos goys."
But for a practicing member of the Church, soaking isn't a funny meme. It’s a mockery of something they hold dear. Most LDS members find the concept offensive or absurd. They would argue that if you are soaking, you’ve already broken the spirit of the law. The "intent" is what matters in Mormon theology. If your intent is sexual gratification, the lack of movement doesn't save your soul.
The Role of Shame and Education
One of the real issues here is the lack of comprehensive sexual education in highly religious environments. When sex is only discussed in terms of "don't," young people lack the vocabulary to understand their own bodies.
- They feel a natural drive.
- They are told that drive is dangerous.
- They try to find a "safe" way to express it.
- They end up in bizarre situations like soaking.
Religious scholars like Jana Riess, author of The Next Mormons, have noted that younger generations of LDS members are navigating a very different world than their parents. They are more online, more aware of the outside world's perceptions, and sometimes more willing to question the rigid boundaries of the past.
The Digital Echo Chamber
Social media has a way of turning a niche rumor into a "fact." A few years ago, a series of viral TikToks claimed to show people jump-humping. Most were clearly satirical. But the algorithm doesn't care about satire; it cares about engagement.
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The more people searched for "what does soaking mean in the Mormon religion," the more content was created to fill that void. This creates a feedback loop where the myth becomes the reality. It’s a form of digital orientalism—fetishizing and mocking a culture based on its perceived oddities.
Moving Beyond the Meme
If you’re looking for the truth about soaking, here it is: It probably happens, but it’s nowhere near as common as the internet wants you to believe. It is a fringe behavior born out of a specific set of cultural pressures.
For those actually within the faith or those looking to understand it, the conversation should probably shift. Instead of laughing at the mechanics of soaking, the real discussion is about how young people in high-demand religions navigate intimacy, guilt, and the transition to adulthood.
What you can actually do with this information:
If you are a student at a religious university or someone struggling with these boundaries, the most helpful step isn't looking for a loophole. It’s finding a therapist or a trusted mentor who understands "religious trauma" or "scrupulosity" (the religious form of OCD).
Understand that the "loophole" mentality usually leads to more guilt, not less. Whether you choose to follow your faith's rules or move away from them, doing so with honesty is better for your mental health than trying to "cheat" a divine commandment with a bed-jumper.
Real growth happens when you stop looking for the line and start looking at why you’re standing at the edge in the first place.