Birth Control
by MeganQ. I am a non-member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but looking into it. I was wondering: I’m on birth control for regulation of the menstrual cycle. What is the belief Mormons have on this?
The official church stance on birth control is that this is a decision to be made solely between husband, wife and the Lord. We believe that children are a wonderful blessing and that the commandment God gave to Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth is still in force today. Husband and wife are encouraged to ponder the blessing that children bring and take the decision to God in prayer.
Members are reminded that finances, schooling and other worldly concerns are not God’s concerns. Sometimes faith is required when the world would say, “That doesn’t seem wise, considering your circumstances.” I have known couples who have waited to begin their families until their positions become more secure and I have known couples who have started their families despite many secular obstacles. It is not the position of any outsider to make a judgment on such a private, individual matter. What is right for one couple may not be right for another.
Sexual intimacy brings new life into the world, but that is not its sole purpose. God intends sexual relations also to be an expression of love between husband and wife, an important part of a loving, faithful, flourishing marriage.
why did you take down the post on “why illness?”
It will come up again shortly. It was withdrawn for a little editing. Thanks for your interest, Anony!
We do have to consider finances, especially in this economy. You must be able to provide for you children properly. In this economy jobs are hard to come by and the costs of livng are rising. Hours, wages and benefits are being cut. The fact is each couple can only afford so many kids. Every couple has a different income and financial situation.
This might just be a ignorance of basic LDS doctrine on my part, but you said “the commandment God gave to Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth”. Replenish meaning ‘to fill again something previously emptied’? Do Mormons believe that Earth was populated prior to Adam and Eve?
The joke is that Adam and Eve “plenished” the earth, then Noah and his wife “replenished” it.
The word “replenish” is used in God’s command to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28 (KJV). The original Hebrew just means “fill.” There’s no secret doctrine here that I’m aware of, just an ambiguous translation issue.