Frequently Asked Questions Wouldn't barrier methods be okay since they do not interfere with life after conception? I can see how contraceptives would be wrong for single people, but what about married couples who just want to space their children? Are there any moral considerations regarding Artificial Reproductive Technology (Artificial insemination, Invitro)? What is the Church's position on Sterilization surgeries? I am willing to use NFP, but my spouse is not. What can I do? Has the Church's teachings on Birth Control changed? If this is so important, why isn't it taught over the pulpit? What has our living Prophet said about birth control? My bishop said it was okay to use contraceptives, is he wrong? I know many good, active members of the Church who use contraceptives...if it's against Church teachings, how come their use is so common among the members? What consequences can come to a couple who uses contraceptives? What consequences can come to a society who uses contraceptives? Does the Church teachings on family planning add to the "population problem"? Don't our Leaders know how difficult it is to "multiply and replenish"? We are an exception to the rule, aren't we? What is the Church's position on Birth Control? As Latter-day Saints, we understand that we lived in the Pre-existence before coming here to earth. There, our Heavenly Father presented a beautiful plan in which we rejoiced. We were to be given the opportunity to receive a body and progress towards perfection. The Lord is the harvester of life. He has stated, "this is my work and my glory--to bring to past the immortality and eternal life of man." Part of this work is to for us to participate with Him in bringing His spirit children to earth. The unwarranted use of contraceptives frustrates our Father's plan. Although the church does not have an "official position", here Hugh B. Brown explains "the only position the church can take" concerning Birth control: The Church has always advised against birth control and that is the only position the Church can take in view of our beliefs with respect to the eternity of the marriage covenant and the purpose of this divine relationship. There are, of course, circumstances under which people are justified in regulating the size of their families. Where the health of the mother is concerned, and where the welfare of other children would be adversely affected, parents sometimes, under the advice of their physicians, deem it wisdom to take precautionary measures. . . . The Church cannot give a blanket or over-all answer to the question which would be applicable to all situations. Seeking divine guidance and searching your own souls is recommended, but in a long lifetime of counseling on these matters, the General Authorities of the Church are united in recommending generally against birth control. Hugh B. Brown The Way of the Master, pp. 114-15 Back to FAQ Are there reasons when contraceptive use would be acceptable? Our Father understands that there are situations when having a child could adversely effect the child, the parents, or the family. In fact, he gave us natural means to space our children. Breastfeeding serves to suppress ovulation. This is His way of giving the mother time to heal, gain strength, and nurture the child before another child is conceived. Our Father also gave us observable signs of fertility that we might know when we are fertile and infertile. By His design, women are only fertile for a short period of time each cycle and for only a season of their lives. When we follow the Word of Wisdom and eat healthy foods, we will be healthier and may be able to have more children. Also, staying out of debt as our Leaders have instructed, would allow us to provide for more children. When we disobey one commandment or instruction, we are often not able to obey another commandment. Here our leaders explain that the mothers health and the welfare of the children may be reasons for avoiding a pregnancy: When the husband and wife are healthy, and free from inherited weaknesses and diseases that might be transmitted with injury to their offspring the use of contraceptives is to be condemned. David O. McKay Conference Report, October 1943, Pg. 30 Where the health of the mother is concerned, and where the welfare of other children would be adversely affected, parents sometimes, under the advice of their physicians, deem it wisdom to take precautionary measures. . . . Hugh B. Brown The Way of the Master, pp. 114-15 Back to FAQ How many children should a couple have? We should be anxious and willing to welcome any spirit children into our homes that the Lord sees fit to send. Children born into Latter-day Saint homes will be given the opportunity to learn the Gospel of Jesus Christ, where children born into other homes may not. Family size is a personal matter between the couple and the Lord. Through fasting, prayer, priesthood blessings, and attending the temple, we will know when to bring children into our homes, when our families are complete, and how to avoid a pregnancy if necessary. Here Dallin H. Oaks explains how many children we should have: How many children should a couple have? All they can care for! Of course, to care for children means more than simply giving them life. Children must be loved, nurtured, taught, fed clothed, housed, and well started in their capacities to be good parents themselves. Exercising faith in God's promises to bless them when they are keeping his commandments, many LDS parents have large families. Others seek but are not blessed with children or the number of children they desire. In a matter as intimate as this, we should not judge one another. Dallin H. Oaks Conference Report, October 1993, Pg. 101 Back to FAQ When should couples start their families? Marriage is for the purpose of building families. Our society would have us believe that we should postpone having children until we have had time to get to know each other, until we have finished our education, and until our finances are secure. Children bind the marriage together and give us a reason to work out any difficulties we may have in early marriage. Couples should use their courtship to get to know each other, and remember that we have an eternity to get to know our spouses. Also, what better way to really know our spouses than to see them as mothers and fathers in Zion? Many couples are able to marry, start their families, and complete their education at the same time. This is not the easiest way, but we are not here for "easy"...we are here to serve the Lord and follow His commandments. Here President Benson warned us not to postpone parenthood after marriage: The undue postponement of parenthood is bound to bring disappointment and is not pleasing in the sight of God. Yes, of course, one can always find excuses. The young husband is going through school. I know how difficult it is. I remember our first year of married life on seventy dollars a month for both of us. I thank the Lord for my noble companion and her fervent determination to put first things first. It thrills me to witness young couples where the husband is struggling through medical school or dental school or some other school and they have the courage and strength and the faith to know that in some way the God of Heaven will assist them if they do their duty and have their families. Ezra Taft Benson God, Family, Country, pp. 197-98 Back to FAQ What is the difference between using contraceptives and natural methods to avoid a pregnancy? Aren't both means to the same end? In order to fulfill the Lord's purpose of bringing His spirit children to earth, He attached pleasure to marital intimacy. The Lord has given the gift of marital intimacy to married couples. This union is for two purposes: Procreative and Unitive--or what we might call "life and love". When a couple contracepts, they separate these two purposes in order to avoid the responsibility of parenthood. They still want the pleasure, but they do not want the responsibility. This can be compared to a person with Bulimia. They want the pleasure of eating, but they want to avoid gaining weight. They separate the pleasures and the consequences of over-eating by throwing-up. When a couple uses NFP to avoid a pregnancy, they abstain from genital contact during the times of the woman's cycle that are fertile. This can be compared to a person who wants to lose weight and does so by abstaining from over-eating. They do not separate the pleasure from the consequence, instead, they use self-control. There is a difference between doing something and trying to avoid the consequences and doing nothing at all. NFP couples use self-control and have learned to live with their fertility; Contracepting couples attempt to control and suppress their fertility. Here our Leaders have explained that "life and love" should not be separated: As to sex in marriage, the necessary treatise on that for Latter-day Saints can be written in two sentences: Remember the prime purpose of sex desire is to beget children. Sex gratification must be had at that hazard. You husbands: be kind and considerate of your wives. They are not your property; they are not mere conveniences; they are your partners for time and eternity. President J. Reuben Clark CR, October 1949, Pg. 194 Seeking the pleasure of conjugality without a willingness to assume the responsibilities of rearing a family is one of the onslaughts that now batter at the structure of the American home. Intelligence and mutual consideration should be ever-present factors in determining the coming of children to the home. David O. McKay Conference Report, April 1969, Pg.5-6 Back to FAQ What about doing nothing to prevent or achieve a pregnancy and just let the Lord be in control of birth? As Latter-day Saints, we are taught to pray in all of our decisions, especially those that will affect us eternally. We are also taught to be Co-creators with God. Being a Co-creator would involve active participation between the couple and the Lord, as opposed to the couple simply giving the responsibility to the Lord. Pray is essential in being a Co-creator with God. We must be open and willing to accept any child that the Lord sees fit to send to our homes. In that aspect, the Lord is in control of birth. However, there are times when a couple will pray about having a child and the answer is "no". Only He knows what our future will hold; He may know that it would not be an ideal time and situation for a child to come to a couple's home. Also, sometimes the answer is "yes" but our fertility is not functioning properly. We must do all that we can to bring our fertility to normal functioning in order to fulfill the Lord's will. Here President Kimball explains how we may need to take action to become a parent: Sometimes operations or adjustments or hormones may make parenthood possible. Frequently fears and frictions and tenseness are causes for barrenness and sterility. Such people should do everything in their power to put themselves in a position to have their babies. Adoption of parentless children brings joy to many hearts. Few, if any, parents need be childless through their years. Spencer W. Kimball The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, Pg. 324-31 We are taught to gain knowledge in spiritual and temporal things. Certainly, the Lord would want us to understand our bodies and our fertility! Couples who have an understanding of their fertility are able to be active participants with the Lord in planning their families. Conception is not left to nature alone, rather couples prayfully decide when to use their fertility. In this way, they are able to assist the Lord in bringing His children to earth in accordance with His will. There may be times in a marriage when the Lord truly does instruct a couple to "live together normally and let the children come" (See SWK) however, the couple participated by praying. Only the Lord knows what is best for each family. Are there some sexual acts that are considered contraceptive? What about using alternative means to achieve orgasm during the fertile times? During the fertile times of the woman's cycle, NFP couples are encouraged to concentrate on non-genital ways of expressing their love for each other. This is where the marriage building aspects of NFP come in. Alternative means of achieving orgasm (sexual acts other than genital to genital intercourse) are discouraged for practical reasons. A pregnancy can occur if pre-ejaculatory fluid comes into contact with fertile mucus at the vulva. This can occur with or without ejaculation and without penetration. Also the woman may confuse arousal fluids for signs of fertility which would cause confusion on her chart. Using an alternative means to achieve an orgasm during the fertile times may avoid some of the physical side-effects of contraceptives, however, couples can still experience emotional and spiritual side-effects. It really is no different than using a contraceptive. They are using a contraceptive behavior rather than a chemical or a device to separate life from love. They are still trying to experience pleasure while avoiding the consequence of their actions; There is no self-control involved. These sexual acts often tend to be selfish on the part of one spouse or the other. The Lord intended for marital intimacy to be a total giving of ones self to their spouse. A total giving of their body, mind, spirit, and fertility. Selfishness is often the cause of problems in a marriage. Each spouse should be more concerned about their spouse's feelings... rather than their own. Here Bruce R. McConkie included onanism with other sexual sins (although he was speaking about being chaste before marriage, onanism is listed along with serveral acts that married couples should not participate in as well.): : "Virtue may be lost by degrees; and chastity may be destroyed a step at a time. Immodesty, necking, and petting, themselves a form of sex immorality, frequently lead to much grosser offenses. Every degree and type of lewdness, lasciviousness, and licentiousness; of concupiscence, prostitution, and whoredoms; of sodomy, onanism, and homosexuality; of masturbation, incontinence, and perversion; of rape, seduction, and infidelity; of adultery, fornication, and uncleanness -- all these things, as well as many others, are condemned by divine edict and are among Lucifer's chief means of leading souls to hell. Fine distinctions between them are of no particular moment and are not necessary to observance of the divine laws involved. Counsel in the field of chastity is simply: Be Chaste!" President Spencer W. Kimball taught: Sexual relations in marriage are not unrestrained. Even though sex can be an important and satisfactory part of married life, we must remember that life is not designed just for sex. Even marriage does not make proper certain extremes in sexual indulgence. To the Ephesian saints Paul begged for propriety in marriage: "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself." (Ephesians 5:28.) And perhaps the Lord's condemnation included secret sexual sins in marriage, when he said: "And those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God." (D&C 132:52.) If it is unnatural, you just don't do it. That is all, and all the family life should be kept clean and worthy and on a very high plane. There are some people who have said that behind the bedroom doors anything goes. That is not true and the Lord would not condone it." The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.311-12 In a letter addressed to local Church leaders, the First Presidency stated: "Married persons should understand that if in their marital relations they are guilty of unnatural, impure, or unholy practices, they should not enter the temple unless and until they repent and discontinue any such practices. Husbands and wives who are aware of these requirements can determine by themselves their standing before the Lord. All of this should be conveyed without having priesthood leaders focus upon intimate matters which are a part of husband and wife relationships. Skillful interviewing and counseling can occur without discussion of clinical details by placing firm responsibility on individual members of the Church to put their lives in order before exercising the privilege of entering a house of the Lord. The First Presidency has interpreted oral sex as constituting an unnatural, impure, or unholy practice. If a person is engaged in a practice which troubles him enough to ask about it, he should discontinue it." (Copy located in BYU Library Special Collections) Are all methods contraceptive in action (preventing the sperm and egg from joining) or do some interfere with life after conception? A contraceptive is generally understood to be a chemical or device that prevents the sperm and ovum from joining. However, all hormonal methods (the pill, shot, and implants) have other actions that prevent pregnancy. The first action is an attempt to suppress ovulation. The second action is to thicken the cervical mucus to prevent the sperm from passing through the cervix and joining with the ovum. The third action is to alter the uterine lining. This last action would make it difficult for a fertilized ovum to implant into the uterine lining. This is not a contraceptive action; This action interferes with life after conception. The IUD also alters the lining of the uterus and causes the cervical mucus to thicken. With these methods, it is believed that most of the time pregnancies are prevented by suppressing ovulation or by thickening the cervical mucus. Many medical professionals and other promoters of these methods have said that pregnancy is never avoided due to the altering of the uterine lining. They claim that conception is prevented by either suppressing ovulation or by preventing the sperm and ovum from joining. However, we do know that pregnancy can and does occur in less than one percent of woman on the pill, even if they are using the method according to instructions. What we don't know, is how many times ovulation does occur, conception does take place, and the new life is unable to implant into the mother's womb. Fertilized ovums do not always implant even in women who are not using these methods. Nature's intent is for conception to take place and for the pregnancy to be maintained....although, sometimes it does not succeed. Some couples feel that because it happens in nature as well, that it is not wrong to use a chemical or device that may prevent implantation of the fertilized ovum. As Latter-day Saints, we need to ask ourselves if we are against life or for life. Nature's intent is to sustain life. In contrast, these methods are designed to prevent or destroy life. We are not responsible for what takes place in nature...however, we are responsible for our own actions. Here Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen explains how we should feel about human life: "Thou shalt not kill." We are created in the image of God. The union of the flesh with the spirit can bring us a fulness of joy. Teach your children to respect the sanctity of human life, to revere it and cherish it. Human life is the precious stepping-stone to eternal life, and we must jealously guard it from the moment of conception. Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen of the Seventy, "Eternal Laws of Happiness" CR Ensign Nov. 1995 |
Frequently Asked Questions Wouldn't barrier methods be okay since they do not interfere with life after conception? I can see how contraceptives would be wrong for single people, but what about married couples who just want to space their children? Are there any moral considerations regarding Artificial Reproductive Technology (Artificial insemination, Invitro)? What is the Church's position on Sterilization surgeries? I am willing to use NFP, but my spouse is not. What can I do? Has the Church's teachings on Birth Control changed? If this is so important, why isn't it taught over the pulpit? What has our living Prophet said about birth control? My bishop said it was okay to use contraceptives, is he wrong? I know many good, active members of the Church who use contraceptives...if it's against Church teachings, how come their use is so common among the members? What consequences can come to a couple who uses contraceptives? What consequences can come to a society who uses contraceptives? Does the Church teachings on family planning add to the "population problem"? Don't our Leaders know how difficult it is to "multiply and replenish"? We are an exception to the rule, aren't we? What is the Church's position on Birth Control? As Latter-day Saints, we understand that we lived in the Pre-existence before coming here to earth. There, our Heavenly Father presented a beautiful plan in which we rejoiced. We were to be given the opportunity to receive a body and progress towards perfection. The Lord is the harvester of life. He has stated, "this is my work and my glory--to bring to past the immortality and eternal life of man." Part of this work is to for us to participate with Him in bringing His spirit children to earth. The unwarranted use of contraceptives frustrates our Father's plan. Although the church does not have an "official position", here Hugh B. Brown explains "the only position the church can take" concerning Birth control: The Church has always advised against birth control and that is the only position the Church can take in view of our beliefs with respect to the eternity of the marriage covenant and the purpose of this divine relationship. There are, of course, circumstances under which people are justified in regulating the size of their families. Where the health of the mother is concerned, and where the welfare of other children would be adversely affected, parents sometimes, under the advice of their physicians, deem it wisdom to take precautionary measures. . . . The Church cannot give a blanket or over-all answer to the question which would be applicable to all situations. Seeking divine guidance and searching your own souls is recommended, but in a long lifetime of counseling on these matters, the General Authorities of the Church are united in recommending generally against birth control. Hugh B. Brown The Way of the Master, pp. 114-15 Back to FAQ Are there reasons when contraceptive use would be acceptable? Our Father understands that there are situations when having a child could adversely effect the child, the parents, or the family. In fact, he gave us natural means to space our children. Breastfeeding serves to suppress ovulation. This is His way of giving the mother time to heal, gain strength, and nurture the child before another child is conceived. Our Father also gave us observable signs of fertility that we might know when we are fertile and infertile. By His design, women are only fertile for a short period of time each cycle and for only a season of their lives. When we follow the Word of Wisdom and eat healthy foods, we will be healthier and may be able to have more children. Also, staying out of debt as our Leaders have instructed, would allow us to provide for more children. When we disobey one commandment or instruction, we are often not able to obey another commandment. Here our leaders explain that the mothers health and the welfare of the children may be reasons for avoiding a pregnancy: When the husband and wife are healthy, and free from inherited weaknesses and diseases that might be transmitted with injury to their offspring the use of contraceptives is to be condemned. David O. McKay Conference Report, October 1943, Pg. 30 Where the health of the mother is concerned, and where the welfare of other children would be adversely affected, parents sometimes, under the advice of their physicians, deem it wisdom to take precautionary measures. . . . Hugh B. Brown The Way of the Master, pp. 114-15 Back to FAQ How many children should a couple have? We should be anxious and willing to welcome any spirit children into our homes that the Lord sees fit to send. Children born into Latter-day Saint homes will be given the opportunity to learn the Gospel of Jesus Christ, where children born into other homes may not. Family size is a personal matter between the couple and the Lord. Through fasting, prayer, priesthood blessings, and attending the temple, we will know when to bring children into our homes, when our families are complete, and how to avoid a pregnancy if necessary. Here Dallin H. Oaks explains how many children we should have: How many children should a couple have? All they can care for! Of course, to care for children means more than simply giving them life. Children must be loved, nurtured, taught, fed clothed, housed, and well started in their capacities to be good parents themselves. Exercising faith in God's promises to bless them when they are keeping his commandments, many LDS parents have large families. Others seek but are not blessed with children or the number of children they desire. In a matter as intimate as this, we should not judge one another. Dallin H. Oaks Conference Report, October 1993, Pg. 101 Back to FAQ When should couples start their families? Marriage is for the purpose of building families. Our society would have us believe that we should postpone having children until we have had time to get to know each other, until we have finished our education, and until our finances are secure. Children bind the marriage together and give us a reason to work out any difficulties we may have in early marriage. Couples should use their courtship to get to know each other, and remember that we have an eternity to get to know our spouses. Also, what better way to really know our spouses than to see them as mothers and fathers in Zion? Many couples are able to marry, start their families, and complete their education at the same time. This is not the easiest way, but we are not here for "easy"...we are here to serve the Lord and follow His commandments. Here President Benson warned us not to postpone parenthood after marriage: The undue postponement of parenthood is bound to bring disappointment and is not pleasing in the sight of God. Yes, of course, one can always find excuses. The young husband is going through school. I know how difficult it is. I remember our first year of married life on seventy dollars a month for both of us. I thank the Lord for my noble companion and her fervent determination to put first things first. It thrills me to witness young couples where the husband is struggling through medical school or dental school or some other school and they have the courage and strength and the faith to know that in some way the God of Heaven will assist them if they do their duty and have their families. Ezra Taft Benson God, Family, Country, pp. 197-98 Back to FAQ What is the difference between using contraceptives and natural methods to avoid a pregnancy? Aren't both means to the same end? In order to fulfill the Lord's purpose of bringing His spirit children to earth, He attached pleasure to marital intimacy. The Lord has given the gift of marital intimacy to married couples. This union is for two purposes: Procreative and Unitive--or what we might call "life and love". When a couple contracepts, they separate these two purposes in order to avoid the responsibility of parenthood. They still want the pleasure, but they do not want the responsibility. This can be compared to a person with Bulimia. They want the pleasure of eating, but they want to avoid gaining weight. They separate the pleasures and the consequences of over-eating by throwing-up. When a couple uses NFP to avoid a pregnancy, they abstain from genital contact during the times of the woman's cycle that are fertile. This can be compared to a person who wants to lose weight and does so by abstaining from over-eating. They do not separate the pleasure from the consequence, instead, they use self-control. There is a difference between doing something and trying to avoid the consequences and doing nothing at all. NFP couples use self-control and have learned to live with their fertility; Contracepting couples attempt to control and suppress their fertility. Here our Leaders have explained that "life and love" should not be separated: As to sex in marriage, the necessary treatise on that for Latter-day Saints can be written in two sentences: Remember the prime purpose of sex desire is to beget children. Sex gratification must be had at that hazard. You husbands: be kind and considerate of your wives. They are not your property; they are not mere conveniences; they are your partners for time and eternity. President J. Reuben Clark CR, October 1949, Pg. 194 Seeking the pleasure of conjugality without a willingness to assume the responsibilities of rearing a family is one of the onslaughts that now batter at the structure of the American home. Intelligence and mutual consideration should be ever-present factors in determining the coming of children to the home. David O. McKay Conference Report, April 1969, Pg.5-6 Back to FAQ What about doing nothing to prevent or achieve a pregnancy and just let the Lord be in control of birth? As Latter-day Saints, we are taught to pray in all of our decisions, especially those that will affect us eternally. We are also taught to be Co-creators with God. Being a Co-creator would involve active participation between the couple and the Lord, as opposed to the couple simply giving the responsibility to the Lord. Pray is essential in being a Co-creator with God. We must be open and willing to accept any child that the Lord sees fit to send to our homes. In that aspect, the Lord is in control of birth. However, there are times when a couple will pray about having a child and the answer is "no". Only He knows what our future will hold; He may know that it would not be an ideal time and situation for a child to come to a couple's home. Also, sometimes the answer is "yes" but our fertility is not functioning properly. We must do all that we can to bring our fertility to normal functioning in order to fulfill the Lord's will. Here President Kimball explains how we may need to take action to become a parent: Sometimes operations or adjustments or hormones may make parenthood possible. Frequently fears and frictions and tenseness are causes for barrenness and sterility. Such people should do everything in their power to put themselves in a position to have their babies. Adoption of parentless children brings joy to many hearts. Few, if any, parents need be childless through their years. Spencer W. Kimball The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, Pg. 324-31 We are taught to gain knowledge in spiritual and temporal things. Certainly, the Lord would want us to understand our bodies and our fertility! Couples who have an understanding of their fertility are able to be active participants with the Lord in planning their families. Conception is not left to nature alone, rather couples prayfully decide when to use their fertility. In this way, they are able to assist the Lord in bringing His children to earth in accordance with His will. There may be times in a marriage when the Lord truly does instruct a couple to "live together normally and let the children come" (See SWK) however, the couple participated by praying. Only the Lord knows what is best for each family. Are there some sexual acts that are considered contraceptive? What about using alternative means to achieve orgasm during the fertile times? During the fertile times of the woman's cycle, NFP couples are encouraged to concentrate on non-genital ways of expressing their love for each other. This is where the marriage building aspects of NFP come in. Alternative means of achieving orgasm (sexual acts other than genital to genital intercourse) are discouraged for practical reasons. A pregnancy can occur if pre-ejaculatory fluid comes into contact with fertile mucus at the vulva. This can occur with or without ejaculation and without penetration. Also the woman may confuse arousal fluids for signs of fertility which would cause confusion on her chart. Using an alternative means to achieve an orgasm during the fertile times may avoid some of the physical side-effects of contraceptives, however, couples can still experience emotional and spiritual side-effects. It really is no different than using a contraceptive. They are using a contraceptive behavior rather than a chemical or a device to separate life from love. They are still trying to experience pleasure while avoiding the consequence of their actions; There is no self-control involved. These sexual acts often tend to be selfish on the part of one spouse or the other. The Lord intended for marital intimacy to be a total giving of ones self to their spouse. A total giving of their body, mind, spirit, and fertility. Selfishness is often the cause of problems in a marriage. Each spouse should be more concerned about their spouse's feelings... rather than their own. Here Bruce R. McConkie included onanism with other sexual sins (although he was speaking about being chaste before marriage, onanism is listed along with serveral acts that married couples should not participate in as well.): : "Virtue may be lost by degrees; and chastity may be destroyed a step at a time. Immodesty, necking, and petting, themselves a form of sex immorality, frequently lead to much grosser offenses. Every degree and type of lewdness, lasciviousness, and licentiousness; of concupiscence, prostitution, and whoredoms; of sodomy, onanism, and homosexuality; of masturbation, incontinence, and perversion; of rape, seduction, and infidelity; of adultery, fornication, and uncleanness -- all these things, as well as many others, are condemned by divine edict and are among Lucifer's chief means of leading souls to hell. Fine distinctions between them are of no particular moment and are not necessary to observance of the divine laws involved. Counsel in the field of chastity is simply: Be Chaste!" President Spencer W. Kimball taught: Sexual relations in marriage are not unrestrained. Even though sex can be an important and satisfactory part of married life, we must remember that life is not designed just for sex. Even marriage does not make proper certain extremes in sexual indulgence. To the Ephesian saints Paul begged for propriety in marriage: "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself." (Ephesians 5:28.) And perhaps the Lord's condemnation included secret sexual sins in marriage, when he said: "And those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God." (D&C 132:52.) If it is unnatural, you just don't do it. That is all, and all the family life should be kept clean and worthy and on a very high plane. There are some people who have said that behind the bedroom doors anything goes. That is not true and the Lord would not condone it." The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.311-12 In a letter addressed to local Church leaders, the First Presidency stated: "Married persons should understand that if in their marital relations they are guilty of unnatural, impure, or unholy practices, they should not enter the temple unless and until they repent and discontinue any such practices. Husbands and wives who are aware of these requirements can determine by themselves their standing before the Lord. All of this should be conveyed without having priesthood leaders focus upon intimate matters which are a part of husband and wife relationships. Skillful interviewing and counseling can occur without discussion of clinical details by placing firm responsibility on individual members of the Church to put their lives in order before exercising the privilege of entering a house of the Lord. The First Presidency has interpreted oral sex as constituting an unnatural, impure, or unholy practice. If a person is engaged in a practice which troubles him enough to ask about it, he should discontinue it." (Copy located in BYU Library Special Collections) Are all methods contraceptive in action (preventing the sperm and egg from joining) or do some interfere with life after conception? A contraceptive is generally understood to be a chemical or device that prevents the sperm and ovum from joining. However, all hormonal methods (the pill, shot, and implants) have other actions that prevent pregnancy. The first action is an attempt to suppress ovulation. The second action is to thicken the cervical mucus to prevent the sperm from passing through the cervix and joining with the ovum. The third action is to alter the uterine lining. This last action would make it difficult for a fertilized ovum to implant into the uterine lining. This is not a contraceptive action; This action interferes with life after conception. The IUD also alters the lining of the uterus and causes the cervical mucus to thicken. With these methods, it is believed that most of the time pregnancies are prevented by suppressing ovulation or by thickening the cervical mucus. Many medical professionals and other promoters of these methods have said that pregnancy is never avoided due to the altering of the uterine lining. They claim that conception is prevented by either suppressing ovulation or by preventing the sperm and ovum from joining. However, we do know that pregnancy can and does occur in less than one percent of woman on the pill, even if they are using the method according to instructions. What we don't know, is how many times ovulation does occur, conception does take place, and the new life is unable to implant into the mother's womb. Fertilized ovums do not always implant even in women who are not using these methods. Nature's intent is for conception to take place and for the pregnancy to be maintained....although, sometimes it does not succeed. Some couples feel that because it happens in nature as well, that it is not wrong to use a chemical or device that may prevent implantation of the fertilized ovum. As Latter-day Saints, we need to ask ourselves if we are against life or for life. Nature's intent is to sustain life. In contrast, these methods are designed to prevent or destroy life. We are not responsible for what takes place in nature...however, we are responsible for our own actions. Here Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen explains how we should feel about human life: "Thou shalt not kill." We are created in the image of God. The union of the flesh with the spirit can bring us a fulness of joy. Teach your children to respect the sanctity of human life, to revere it and cherish it. Human life is the precious stepping-stone to eternal life, and we must jealously guard it from the moment of conception. Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen of the Seventy, "Eternal Laws of Happiness" CR Ensign Nov. 1995 |
