We recently received a question about whether gambling is allowed in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
You can read more about this topic at lds.org, from the LDS topics section: Gambling.
The Church is opposed to gambling (including government lotteries). The principles behind this position include that gambling invites trying to get something for nothing. It violates the principle of work that is so important in God’s plan. Gambling is also addictive, and as such, people often squander money that they should or would have used for something useful (or even critical to survival). Some even resort to stealing or other behaviors.
That said, as members of the Church, we also understand that sometimes people will use the gift of agency that God has given them to make choices that are not good for their well-being and for their families and other loved one. This may be the case for some members of the Church who gamble, and/or are trapped in the grip of other addictive behaviors.
The Church has an addiction recovery program for those who struggle with addictions of any kinds. Loved ones of those in addiction are also invited to attend, and there is a section on the ARP website just for loved ones. (In some areas, there are family support meetings. Check the Addiction Recovery website for more information.)
**Please note: The answers in “Ask a Mormon Woman” reflect the thoughts, perspectives, and experiences of individuals. Although here at Mormon Women: Who We Are, we strive to have our content consistent with the Church’s doctrine and teachings, we do not speak officially for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For official information about or from the Church, please visit www.mormon.org or www.lds.org.
Have a question you would like to ask? Send an email to us at gmail, with either ‘mormonwoman’ or ‘mormonwomen’ as the username.
