Several weeks ago my wife and I were reading about several topics in We Believe by Rulon Burton. Kiera decided to do a little research on birth control. After several minutes she came over to me and said that I had to hear this. We read with wonder and amazement on how clear the topic was laid out by Prophets and Apostles. As we discussed the topic together we tried to figure out how so many did not understand the seriousness of the issue and how lightly it is taken. I kept being prompted to compose a talk on the subject and as I prepared the talk I felt strongly that a preface was needed to help those that read this talk to truly seek the spirit and walk by faith and turn to the Lord and have the words of the prophets unfolded to their eyes, because the Lord is very clear on this subject.

Nephi in his closing remarks before he left this world to return home to his God said,

But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught. (2 Nephi 33:2)

This hit me hard because it made me realize that we as latter-day saints are as guilty of this as anyone else, and if not worse, because we have the fullness of the gospel. How often do we hear great counsel from our prophet or apostles and then return almost immediately to our old ways completely forgetting the counsel, this is a form of esteeming something as a thing of naught. This happens many times at church, or even conference, we may choose to delay or start tomorrow or next week and then we forget. Another way to cast aside the words of God would be to come to the conclusion of what is meant by the Lord through our own wisdom (relying solely on the flesh), which is where rationalization comes into play. Nephi asked his older brothers Lamen and Lemuel,”

8 … Have ye inquired of the Lord?
9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.
10 Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts? (1 Nephi 15: 8-10)

Nephi is telling us that we must turn to our God with a sincere heart and be taught by him. Joesph Smith teaches us “The best way to obtain truth and wisdom is not to ask it from books, but to go to God in prayer, and obtain divine teaching” (History of the Church, 4:425). If we fail to “go to God in prayer, and obtain divine teaching” we will be putting our trust in the arm of flesh of which Nephi says, “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm (2 Nephi 4:34).” Henry B Eyring instructs us, 

We now know that we will not allow ourselves to follow Satan and so we will pray always unto the Father in the name of Christ and receive divine teaching. I believe that the key is learning by faith, of which true faith leads to action. David A Bednar teaches us in his talk Seek Learning by Faith: 

Now that we understand how to learn by faith which will draws us to our knees to obtain divine teaching and then to stand and do that which was learned, we can now begin the talk. Let us be careful not to be like the wicked Nephites and harden our hearts against the words of God. 

The Family: A Proclamation to the World should be clear enough when it says “We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force (The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)” We should listen when a statement is made from the Prophet, First Presidency and all the Twelve Apostles. I may be wrong but I did not see anywhere in the statement “when it is convenient multiply and replenish the earth” and yet that seems to be the case; whether a couple is trying to get to know each other first, finishing school, waiting to make more money, or any other type of conveniences. The words are simple and direct, “We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.” Interestingly declare is defined as follows: “1. To make known formally or officially. 2. To state emphatically or authoritatively; affirm. 3. To reveal or make manifest; show. 4. To make a full statement of” (Dictionary.com). To declare is significantly stronger than merely suggesting. 

“The family is the most important organization in time or in eternity. Our purpose in life is to create for ourselves eternal family units. There is nothing that will ever come into your family life that is as important as the sealing blessings of the temple and then keeping the covenants made in connection with this order of celestial marriage” (Joseph Fielding Smith, We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 202).

A prophet of God is telling us our purpose in life, how can we change that to, my purpose in life is to have a small family so that our family can enjoy the fruits of the world, or anything of such manner. Anything that may distract us from our families both in bringing spirits into this world or the rearing of those spirits that we have been given already by our Father in Heaven must be evaluated closely. If it does not match up with our purpose in life we should re-evaluate our priorities. 

“The Lord has told us that it is the duty of every husband and wife to obey the command given to Adam to multiply and replenish the earth, so that the legions of choice spirits waiting for their tabernacles of flesh may come here and move forward under God’s great design to become perfect souls, for without these fleshly tabernacles they cannot progress to their God-planned destiny. Thus, every husband and wife should become a father and a mother in Israel to children born under the holy, eternal covenant.” President Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, David O. McKay (First Presidency) (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 204)

The thought that came to my mind when I was preparing this talk with this quote was that we would do anything to help the children we now have to succeed in life, and my question is, will we not do that with all the children the Lord has for you to have. I believe the answer is yes, we must bring spirits into this world so that they too can “come here and move forward under God’s great design to become perfect souls.” And together as a family we will be exalted and obtain our crown of glory. 

“As the Prophet uses it, the term “first organization” seems to refer to the first time the spirit children of God were organized into proposed families, groups, etc,. as they were to be developed in the flesh on the earth. If man would keep the commandments of God and seek the promptings of the Holy Spirit in forming the associations of life in the flesh, the “first organization” would find actual expression on earth. By sealing those associations in righteousness under the power of the Holy Priesthood, man could then perpetuate the relationships formed on earth into eternity. Hence, the tentative arrangements that were effected in the pre-earth state were referred to as having been carried out in the “first organization.” In a manifestation to Brigham Young after the Prophets death, Joseph Smith was reported to have instructed his successor as follows: 

Tell the people to be humble and faithful, and be sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach them what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom… Be sure to tell the people to keep the spirit of the Lord; and if they will, they will find themselves just as they were organized by our Father in Heaven before they came into the world. Our father in Heaven organized the human family, but they are all disorganized and in great confusion. ” ( Doctrinal Commentary on the Pearl of Great Price, p. 122).

Brigham Young gives us further understanding of how the families organized by God have been disorganized and in great confusion. I think it is important to note that the first thing that happens is the Holy Spirit is lost or ignored and then the disorganization happens.

“There are multitudes of pure and holy spirits waiting to take tabernacles, now what is our duty?- To prepare tabernacles for them; to take a course that will not tend to drive those spirits into the families of the wicked, where they will be trained in wickedness, debauchery, and every species of crime. It is the duty of every righteous man and woman to prepare tabernacles for all the spirits they can. (Discourses of Brigham Young, p 197)”

This is a scary thought to know from a Prophet of God that if we do not do all we can do to bring spirits into our family circle, that they could be driven into the families of the wicked and experience and be taught utmost wickedness. Debauchery is defined as “extreme indulgence in sensual pleasures” (Dictionary.com). Again the word duty is used and so I wanted to get a better understanding of the meaning of the word, and so I looked it up. It is defined as “1. An act or a course of action that is required of one by position, social custom, law, or religion… 2a. Moral obligation… 2b. The compulsion felt to meet such obligation” (Dictionary.com). Let us do our duty and bring as many souls into our family circles as the Lord will permit us to have! 

“How will those feel who fail to obey that first great command [multiply, and replenish the earth] when they stand in the presence of the creator, who says to them, as He said to those in olden times, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” How can they comply with that invitation if they have no children to take to the Father? They must remain childless throughout eternity. They have been blind to their rights and privileges. It is only by a proper understanding of the laws of God, and by compliance with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, only by doing what the Lord has said we should do, that we will enjoy the fulness of happiness that our Father in heaven has promised those who are faithful. I do not feel to censure, but with all my heart I pity the man and woman who grace their home with the lesser animals of God’s creation, and keep away from their firesides those angels from His presence who might be theirs through time and through all eternity. I realize there are some men and women who are grieved because they are not fathers and mothers, they are not blessed of the Lord in that particular, they have no children of their own, and by no fault of their own. I believe the Lord will provide in such cases. If they will do their duty in keeping the other commandments, their reproach will be taken away. I raise my voice among the sons and daughters of Zion, and warn you that if you dry up the springs of life and abuse the power that God has blessed you with, there will come a time of chastening to you, that all the tears you may shed will never remove. Remember the first great commandment [Gen.1:28]; fulfill that obligation.” Elder George Albert Smith (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 204)

Can we imagine eternity without children or the small family that we conveniently had and then choose to have no more; I believe it will be a time of grave disappointment and lamentation. This is a plead for all the sons and daughters of Zion to turn back to the commandment the Lord gave and bring the souls that have been foreordained to us into the world. If we heed this command our joy will be full in this life and the life to come and we will be blessed with eternal increase. 

“We seriously regret that there should exist a sentiment or feeling among any members of the Church to curtail the birth of their children. We have been commanded to multiply and replenish the earth that we may have joy and rejoicing in our posterity.
Where husband and wife enjoy health and vigor and are free from impurities that would be entailed upon their posterity, it is contrary to the teachings of the Church artificially to curtail or prevent the birth of children. We believe that those who practice birth control will reap disappointment by and by.” David O. McKay, Hugh B. Brown, N. Eldon Tanner (First Presidency) (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 206)

Dictionary.com defines sentiment as “A thought, view, or attitude, especially one based mainly on emotion instead of reason.” what is amazing is that the First Presidency said “a sentiment” which is as small as even one thought or whim. The Lord is teaching us that if we are healthy and desire to limit or plan our families either artificially or by any other way then we can know that our thinking and desires are contrary to the teaching of the Church. Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk in the May 2005 conference about pornography and taught us a little bit about evil and the thoughts that run out the Spirit.

“But the test of what is evil is not its degree but its effect. When persons entertain evil thoughts long enough for the Spirit to withdraw, they lose their spiritual protection and they are subject to the power and direction of the evil one. (Conference May 2005, pornography)”

How can we become like our Father in Heaven without the Spirit to help us grow and develop. I can promise that as we eliminate thoughts of preventing spirits from coming into our homes and use the Spirit as our tool we will learn to love each of our children even more than before could be possible and we will begin our journey toward Godhood where we will begat, rear, and love a countless number of children, but we must begin that journey today. There may also be trying times that lie before a husband and a wife that decide to begin their journey toward their exaltation by letting the Lord decide the size of their family and these trials may come as financial or take some other form but let them have absolute faith in Christ and he will provide a way. Nephi 3:7 teaches us this principle of faith. 

“Is it proper and right in the sight of God for parents intentionally to prevent, by any means whatever, the spirits, the sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, from obtaining earthly tabernacles? I have, of course, only reference to parents lawfully married, and specifically to Latter-day Saints. 

In a general way, and as a rule, the answer to this question is an emphatic negative. I do not hesitate to say that prevention is wrong. It brings in its train a host of social evils. It destroys the morals of a community and nation. It creates hatred and selfishness in the hearts of men and women, and perverts their natural qualities of love and service, changing them to hate and aversion. It causes death, decay, and degeneration instead of life, growth, and advancement. And finally, it disregards or annuls the great commandment of God to man, “Multiply and replenish the earth” (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 206).

I am now speaking of the normally healthy man and woman. But, that there are weak and sickly people who in wisdom, discretion and common sense should be counted as exceptions, only strengthens the general rule” (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 202).
Wow, this is a powerful statement. A prophet of God first of all says that “prevention is wrong” and then makes this powerful statement, “that there are weak and sickly people who in wisdom, discretion and common sense should be counted as exceptions, only strengthens the general rule.” This wording of “weak and sickly people” gives a greater definition of the health of the mother. Again remember that the Lord has power to heal anyone who has sufficient faith, there are personal conditions that would not qualify as weak and sickly, and rather than changing the words of God to fit the situation, we should rely on God to provide a way to accomplish his first and great commandment to multiply and replenish the earth. 

“The increasing tendency to look upon family life as a burden, and the ever-spreading practice of birth control, are ominous threats to the perpetuation of the United States. In the light of what the restored gospel teaches us regarding pre-existence, the eternal nature of the marriage covenant, and of family relationship, no healthy wife in the Church should shun the responsibilities of normal motherhood.” Dictionary.com defines perpetuation as 1. To cause to continue indefinitely; make perpetual. 2. To prolong the existence of; cause to be remembered. These quotes are very scary and we have an obligation to warn the world. “Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor” (D&C 88:81) (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 206).

President Harold B. Lee said,

“[W]e declare it is a grievous sin before God to adopt restrictive measures in disobedience to God’s divine command from the beginning of time to “multiply and replenish the earth.” Surely those who project such measures to prevent life or to destroy life before or after birth will reap the whirlwind of God’s retribution, for God will not be mocked” (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 206).

Prophet and President of the Church, tells us that it is not simply a decision we make to adopt restrictive measures or not to adopt restrictive measures but if we make the wrong decision it is a “grievous sin before God.” Ultimately the decision is between husband, wife and the Lord. The 1989 General Handbook of Instructions states at page 11-4: “Husbands must be considerate of their wives, who have a great responsibility not only for bearing children but also for caring for them through childhood. Husbands should help their wives conserve their health and strength. Married couples should seek inspiration from the Lord in meeting their marital challenges and rearing their children according to the teachings of the gospel.” Be sure that your decision is approved of the Lord. George Q. Cannon shows the importance of being sure with your decision.

“We have heard that many of the diabolical practices of the world have been introduced . . . among some who profess to be Latter-day Saints, to prevent the bearing of children. No sin, unless it be that of murder, will meet with a greater condemnation from God than this evil of tampering with the fountains of life. Such sins will destroy the strength of any people that practices them, and the nation whose people yield to such vices is in great danger of destruction. No Saint can practice or encourage such corruption without incurring the displeasure of an offended God” (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 206).

First, Dictionary.com defines diabolical as 1. Of, concerning, or characteristic of the devil; satanic. 2. Appropriate to a devil, especially in degree of wickedness or cruelty. It would be safe to reword it as follows, We have heard that many of the satanic practices of the world have been introduced . . . among some who profess to be Latter-day Saints, to prevent the bearing of children. Then was given the seriousness of the issue, “No sin, unless it be that of murder, will meet with a greater condemnation from God than this evil of tampering with the fountains of life.”
Joseph F. Smith further defines the issue,

“Those who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of wedded life should see to it that they do not abuse the course of nature; that they do not destroy the principle of life within them, nor violate any of the commandments of God. The command which he gave in the beginning to multiply and replenish the earth is still in force upon the children of men. Possibly no greater sin could be committed by the people who have embraced this gospel than to prevent or to destroy life in the manner indicated. We are born into the world that we may have life, and we live that we may have a fulness of joy, and if we will obtain a fulness of joy, we must obey the law of our creation and the law by which we may obtain the consummation of our righteous hopes and desires-life eternal” (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 206).

Spencer W. Kimball is clear with methods of sterilization, “Sterilization and tying of tubes and such are sins, and except under special circumstances it cannot be approved.” 

“And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them-Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths-then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever. 

Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them” (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 208).

Joseph Fielding Smith said,

“The doctrine of the eternity of the marriage covenant and the “continuation of the seeds forever and ever,” is one of the most glorious principles of the Gospel. It is, in fact, the crowning principle which brings the fullness of exaltation to men and women who are willing to accept this eternal, holy and sacred ordinance. It is only in the celestial kingdom that the privilege of marriage and eternal increase will be found. Even in that kingdom there will be servants who are denied this privilege and glory. (D&C Sections 131 and 132:16-17) All who refuse to accept this principle and live in accordance with this covenant cannot be enlarged, but must remain separately and singly through all eternity. They cannot become sons and daughters of God” (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 208).

Herein lies our obligation to live by all the words of God and to lose our lives that we may find them in the Lord. We must transform our lives and strive to inherit those God-like characteristics that will qualify us to be able to obtain the highest degree of glory in the Celestial kingdom and have eternal increase with our beloved eternal companions.
President Brigham Young

“Those who are faithful will continue to increase, and this is the great blessing the Lord has given to, or placed within the reach of, the children of man, even to be capable of receiving eternal lives. 

To have such a promise so sealed upon our heads, which no power on earth, in heaven, or beneath the earth can take from us, to be sealed up to the day of redemption and have the promise of eternal lives, is the greatest gift of all” (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 208).

Melvin J. Ballard said,

“What do we mean by endless or eternal increase? We mean that through the righteousness and faithfulness of men and women who keep the commandments of God they will come forth with celestial bodies, fitted and prepared to enter into their great, high and eternal glory in the celestial kingdom of God; and unto them, through their preparation, there will come children, who will be spirit children. I don’t think that is very difficult to comprehend and understand. The nature of the offspring is determined by the nature of the substance that flows in the veins of the being. When blood flows in the veins of the being, the offspring will be what blood produces, which is tangible flesh and blood, but when that which flows in the veins is spirit matter, a substance which is more refined and pure and glorious than blood, the offspring of such beings will be spirit children. By that I mean they will be in the image of the parents. They will have a spirit body and have a spark of the eternal or divine that always did exist in them. 

Unto such parentage will this glorified privilege come, for it is written in our scriptures that “the glory of God is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” So, it will be the glory of men and women that will make their glory like unto his. When the power of endless increase shall come to them, and their offspring, growing and multiplying through ages that shall come, they will be in due time, as we have been, provided with an earth like this, wherein they too may obtain earthly bodies and pass through all the experiences through which we have passed, and then we shall hold our relationship to them, the fulness and completeness of which has not been revealed to us, but we shall stand in our relationship to them as God, our Eternal Father, does to us, and thereby is this the most glorious and wonderful privilege that ever will come to any of the sons and daughters of God” (We Believe, under Family and Parenthood, 208).

I testify that through the great plan of salvation is how we can be perfected and be raised with our eternal companions and if we magnified those God-given powers and privileges of procreation and raised up a family while in this life of probation and endured to the end, then we will be given the greatest gift God could give and that is eternal lifes and exaltation. I absolutely love my children and thank the Lord for the great privilege he has given me to be honored as a father in Zion. My love for my children and my eternal joy is truly increased with every sweet spirit that our home is blessed with, and I know that once we change our attitude and desires and put the Lord in control of our families, then the Holy Spirits influence in our life will be increased and more constant than ever before. I love this Gospel and all that it gives and teaches me and I love my Savior and will forever be in his debt for his mercy and goodness to me and my family, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Craig