Do Mormons practice "soaking," and is it an officially sanctioned activity? I recently became aware of the concept of soaking, as an "alternative" to sexual intercourse, which is allegedly practiced by certain Mormons, as a moral way to express one's premarital desire for sexual activity without "really" having sex.

My questions are:


Is this really practiced by Mormons?
Why is "motionless sex" somehow seen as more moral than the full thing?
Is this sanctioned by the Mormon church, or anyone else in a presumed position of authority?
And if so, on what grounds is this permissible while "real" sex is not?
College Students Looking for Loopholes...

I would not be surprised if this was practiced by some students at BYU. But if it has happened, then it is a misbehaviour amongst select groups of naive students, it is most certainly not a church practice, as it is a clear violation of the law of Chastity. BYU has a very strict code of conduct, which essentially states, "If you fornicate, you will get kicked out of School." 

From the BYU Undergraduate Catalogue:


  Honor Code Statement
  
  We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men. . . . If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or
  praiseworthy, we seek after these things (Thirteenth Article of
  Faith).
  
  As a matter of personal commitment, faculty, administration, staff,
  and students of Brigham Young University, Brigham Young
  University—Hawaii, Brigham Young University—Idaho, and LDS Business
  College seek to demonstrate in daily living on and off campus
  those moral virtues encompassed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and
  will
  
  Be honest 
  Live a chaste and virtuous life   Obey the law and all campus policies   Use clean language   Respect others   Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, and
  substance abuse   Participate regularly in church services   Observe the Dress and Grooming Standards   Encourage others
  in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code 
  
  Conduct
  
  All students are required to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Honor Code. In addition, students may not
  influence or seek to influence others to engage in behavior
  inconsistent with the Honor Code.
  
  Students must abstain from the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal
  substances and from the intentional misuse or abuse of any substance.
  Sexual misconduct; obscene or indecent conduct or expressions;
  disorderly or disruptive conduct; participation in gambling
  activities; involvement with pornographic, erotic, indecent, or
  offensive material; and any other conduct or action inconsistent with
  the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and
  the Honor Code is not permitted.
  Violations of the Honor Code may result in actions up to and including separation from 
  the university.


In an attempt to avoid expulsion, and church discipline, some students have tried to find a loophole in the honor code.

This idea of "soaking" is not the first unusual thing I've heard come out of BYU. A few years back there were supposedly a series of excommunications because some BYU kids were allegedly eloping to Vegas, getting legally married in one of those drive-thru chapels, having a quick honeymoon weekend, then getting the marriage annulled before going back to class on Monday. Their theory was, they were married when they were having sex, so it wasn't adultery. They tried to pull a fast one on the church with a technicality.  

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints does not sanction ANY form of sexual intercourse outside of the bonds of marriage between a man and a woman.

See Gospel Topics: Chastity

COMPLETE fidelity in thoughts, words and actions is the policy of the church, anything else is the vain attempt of a sinner trying to avoid accountability. 

These students ignorantly assume that they can beat the system by adhering to the letter of the law, assuming that the courts in heaven emulate courts of men. God's justice invokes the spirit of the law, there are no loopholes.