Book of Abraham is Lord's Blueprint of Creation
Joseph Fielding Smith
The account of the creation in the Book of Abraham is "The Lord's Blueprint of Creation." By this I mean Abraham gives an account of the planning in heaven for this earth and its inhabitants, before the work of building was done. I do not say that this planning contemplated the creation of the sun or other heavenly bodies, but rather the placing of the earth in the position which it was to occupy in relation to these orbs.
(President Joseph Fielding Smith, DOS 1:74-75)
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Genesis and Moses- Creation of the Physical Earth
Joseph Fielding Smith
The account of the creation of the earth as given in Genesis, and the Book of Moses, and as given in the temple, is the creation of the physical earth, and of physical animals and plants. I think the temple account, which was given by revelation, is the clearest of all of these. These physical creations were made out of the natural elements.
(President Joseph Fielding Smith, DOS 1:75)
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God Organized the Earth from Existing Elements
Joseph Smith
You ask the learned doctors why they say the world was made out of nothing; and they will answer, "Doesn't the Bible say He created the world?" And they infer, from the word create, that it must have been made out of nothing. Now, the word create came from the word "baurau" which does not mean to create out of nothing; it means to organize; the same as a man would organize materials and build a ship. Hence, we infer that God had materials to organize the world out of chaos--chaotic matter, which is element, and in which dwells all the glory. Element had an existence from the time he had. The pure principles of element are principles which can never be destroyed; they may be organized and re-organized, but not destroyed. They had no beginning, and can have no end.
T. 351-352
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Elohim means Gods- The Head of the Gods organized the Heavens and Earth
Joseph Smith
In the beginning the head of the Gods brought forth the Gods...The head of the Gods called the Gods together...The head God organized the heavens and the earth. I defy all the world to refute me. In the beginning the heads of the Gods organized the heavens and the earth...The head one of the Gods said, "Let us make a man in our own image..." I once asked a learned Jew, "If the Hebrew language compels us to render all words ending in "im" in the plural, why not render the first Elohim plural?" He replied, "That is the rule with few exceptions; but in this case it would ruin the Bible." He acknowledged I was right.
T. 371-372
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The Plurality of Gods
Joseph Smith
In the very beginning the Bible shows there is a plurality of Gods beyond the power of refutation. It is a great subject I am dwelling on. The word Elohim ought to be in the plural all the way through--Gods. The heads of the Gods appointed one God for us; and when you take [that] view of the subject, it sets one free to see all the beauty, holiness and perfection of the Gods. All I want is to get the simple, naked truth, and the whole truth.
T. 372
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God has made Fixed Decrees, Bounds, Laws, Conditions
Joseph Smith
God has made certain decrees which are fixed and immovable; for instance, God set the sun, the moon, and the stars in the heavens, and gave them their laws, conditions and bounds, which they cannot pass, except by His commandments; they all move in perfect harmony in their sphere and order, and are as lights, wonders and signs unto us. The sea also has its bounds which it cannot pass. God has set many signs on the earth, as well as in the heavens...
T. 197-198
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Plan of Salvation Established Before World Was
Joseph Smith
The great Jehovah contemplated the whole of the events connected with the earth, pertaining to the plan of salvation, before it rolled into existence, or ever "the morning stars sang together" for joy; the past, the present, and the future were and are, with Him, one eternal "now;" He knew of the fall of Adam, the iniquities of the antediluvians, of the depth of iniquity that would be connected with the human family, their weakness and strength, their power and glory, apostasies, their crimes, their righteousness and iniquity; He comprehended the fall of man, and his redemption; He knew the plan of salvation and pointed it out; He was acquainted with the situation of all nations and with their destiny; He ordered all things according to the council of His own will; He knows the situation of both the living and the dead, and has made ample provision for their redemption, according to their several circumstances, and the laws of the kingdom of God, whether in this world, or in the world to come.
T. 220
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Organization of Worlds Agreeable to Perfect Order
Joseph Smith
The organization of the spiritual and heavenly worlds, and of spiritual and heavenly beings, was agreeable to the most perfect order and harmony: their limits and bounds were fixed irrevocably, and voluntarily subscribed to in their heavenly estate by themselves, and were by our first parents subscribed to upon the earth.
T. 325
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Never was a Time when there was not an Earth
Joseph Fielding Smith
The Lord never created anything for nothing, nor out of nothing. Everything has a place and was created for a purpose. Man was not created to be destroyed. This work has been going on forever. There never was a time when there was not an earth; never a time when there were not people on it, for that is the work of the Lord, and the heavens are innumerable, and so are the earths that have passed away to their exaltation and glory. As they pass away others take their places. This is not the only world.
(President Joseph Fielding Smith, DOS 1:61-62)
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We have Brothers and Sisters on Other Earths
Joseph Fielding Smith
We are not the only people that the Lord has created. We have brothers and sisters on other earths. They look like us because they, too, are the children of God and were created in his image, for they are also his offspring. His great work is to create earths and people them with his children who are called upon to pass through the mortal probation like unto this we are now in, suffering pain, sorrow, and the ills of the flesh, coming face to face with sin, with temptation; and having the right within themselves, God-given, to reject the evil and receive the good or reject the good and receive the evil, if they will, with the understanding, of course, that they shall be judged before his bar for their deeds and receive their reward accordingly. Every man has his agency to choose good or evil, to be rewarded or debased, and of course each will be rewarded.
(President Joseph Fielding Smith, DOS 1:62)
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Man was Created by Heavenly Father
Bruce R. McConkie
From other sacred sources we know that Jehovah-Christ, assisted by "many of the noble and great ones" (Abr. 3:22), of whom Michael is but the illustration, did in fact create the earth and all forms of plant and animal life on the face thereof. But when it came to placing man on earth, there was a change in Creators. That is, the Father himself became personally involved. All things were created by the Son, using the power delegated by the Father, except man. In the spirit and again in the flesh, man was created by the Father. There was no delegation of authority where the crowning creature of creation was concerned.
(Bruce R. McConkie, Promised Messiah, p. 62)
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God the Creator; God the Redeemer; God the Testator
Bruce R. McConkie
Everlasting covenant was made between three personages before the organization of this earth, and relates to their dispensation of things to men on the earth; these personages, according to Abraham's record, are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer; and God the third, the witness or Testator. (T. 190.) From this we learn that the work of the Father is creation (though he uses the Son and others in the creation of all things except man); the work of the Son is redemption (though he performs this infinite work by the power of the Father); and the work of the Holy Ghost is to bear witness of the Father and Son, whose minister he is.
(Bruce R. McConkie, Promised Messiah, p. 63)
Thursday, May 19, 2011
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SAVIOR
An Interview with the Savior
President David O. McKay
In 1965, President David 0. McKay made the following statement to a group of Church employees:
"Let me assure you, Brethren, that some day you will have a personal priesthood interview with the Savior himself. If you are interested, I will tell you the order in which he will ask you to account for your earthly responsibilities.
"First, he will request an accountability report about your relationship with your wife. Have you actively been engaged in making her happy and ensuring that her needs have been met as an individual?
"Second, he will want an accountability report about each of your children individually. He will not attempt to have this for simply a family stewardship but will request information about your relationship to each and every child.
"Third, he will want to know what you personally have done with the talents you were given in the pre-existence.
"Fourth, he will want a summary of your activity in your Church assignments. He will not be necessarily interested in what assignment you have had, for in his eyes the home teacher and a mission president are probably equals, but he will request a summary of how you have been of service to your fellow man in your Church assignments.
"Fifth, he will have no interest in how you earned your living but if you were honest in all your dealings.
"Sixth, he will ask for an accountability on what you have done to contribute in a positive manner to your community, state, country, and the world."
(Reported by Cloyd Hofheins in a talk to the Seventies Quorum of Provo, Utah Oak Hills Stake, May 16, 1982)
President David O. McKay
In 1965, President David 0. McKay made the following statement to a group of Church employees:
"Let me assure you, Brethren, that some day you will have a personal priesthood interview with the Savior himself. If you are interested, I will tell you the order in which he will ask you to account for your earthly responsibilities.
"First, he will request an accountability report about your relationship with your wife. Have you actively been engaged in making her happy and ensuring that her needs have been met as an individual?
"Second, he will want an accountability report about each of your children individually. He will not attempt to have this for simply a family stewardship but will request information about your relationship to each and every child.
"Third, he will want to know what you personally have done with the talents you were given in the pre-existence.
"Fourth, he will want a summary of your activity in your Church assignments. He will not be necessarily interested in what assignment you have had, for in his eyes the home teacher and a mission president are probably equals, but he will request a summary of how you have been of service to your fellow man in your Church assignments.
"Fifth, he will have no interest in how you earned your living but if you were honest in all your dealings.
"Sixth, he will ask for an accountability on what you have done to contribute in a positive manner to your community, state, country, and the world."
(Reported by Cloyd Hofheins in a talk to the Seventies Quorum of Provo, Utah Oak Hills Stake, May 16, 1982)
WOMEN OF GOD
Man and Women Perfect each Other
Sheri Dew
“[Satan] would have us believe men and women are so alike that our unique gifts are not necessary, or so different we can never hope to understand each other. Neither is true. Our Father knew exactly what He was doing when He created us. He made us enough alike to love each other, but enough different that we would need to unite our strengths and stewardships to create a whole. Neither man nor woman is perfect or complete without the other.”
Men and Women Assigned Different Roles in Mortality
M. Russell Ballard
Heavenly Father assigned different responsibilities in mortality to men and women. To His sons He gave the priesthood and the responsibilities of fatherhood, and to His daughters He gave the responsibilities of motherhood...God has revealed through His prophets that men are to receive the priesthood, to become fathers, and with gentleness and pure, unfeigned love to lead and nurture their families in righteousness, taking for their pattern the way the Savior leads the Church. Men have also been given the primary responsibility for providing for the temporal and physical needs of the family. Women have the ability to bring children into the world and have been given the primary role and opportunity to lead, nurture, and teach their little ones in a loving, safe, and spiritual environment. In this divinely sanctioned partnership, husbands and wives work together. Why this pattern is the approved pattern is not entirely clear. The Lord has chosen to reveal only His will on the matter, not His reasoning. Indeed, the reasons are unimportant as far as we are concerned, because the issue is not open to debate. Consensus and public opinion are irrelevant to a discussion of the doctrine of God, because it is mandated through revelation, not legislation or negotiation...It is an issue of faith--nothing more, nothing less.
(M. Russell Ballard, Counseling with our Councils, pp. 55-57)
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Women not Created to be like Men
President Ezra Taft Benson
You women were not created to be the same as men. Your natural attributes, affections, and personalities are entirely different from a man's. They consist of faithfulness, benevolence, kindness and charity. They give you the personality of a woman. They also balance the more aggressive and competitive nature of a man...We do not doubt that women have both the brain power and skills--and in some instances superior abilities--to compete with men. But by competing they must of necessity, become aggressive and competitive. Thus their godly attributes are diminished and they acquire a quality of sameness with man.
(Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pp. 547-48)
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Women of God
Margaret Nadauld
Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.
(Margaret D. Nadauld, CR, Oct. 2000, pp. 16-17)
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Support your Wives
President Spencer W. Kimball
Let us support the sisters of our household in their Church callings as they so wonderfully support us. Let us not neglect them simply because they sometimes go on being good even when they are neglected.
Let our homes be filled with praise and commendation for all those of our household. Let us not get so carried away with our priesthood peers, those men we are associated with in our church assignments, that we neglect our eternal companions, for our association with our wives will be forever.
(President Spencer W. Kimball, CR, Oct. 1978, p. 63)
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Honor Unto Our Wives
President Spencer W. Kimball
Peter urged us to give honor unto our wives (1 Peter 3:7). It seems to me we should be even more courteous to our wives and mothers, our sisters and our daughters, than we are to others. When Paul said that a man who did not provide for his own household was "worse than an infidel" (1 Tim. 5:8), I like to think of providing them with affectional security as well as economic security. When the Lord told us in this dispensation that "women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance" (D&C 83:2), I like to think of the maintenance as including our obligation to maintain loving affection and to provide consideration and thoughtfulness as well as food.
(President Kimball, CR, Oct. 1978, pp. 62-63)
Motherhood near to Divinity
"Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the Highest, Holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to angels."
-James R. Clark
CLEAVE UNTO THY SPOUSE
Mother in Heaven
Melvin J. Ballard
No matter to what heights God has attained or may attain, he does not stand alone; for side by side with him, in all her glory, a glory like unto his, stands a companion, the Mother of his children. For as we have a Father in heaven, so also we have a Mother there, a glorified, exalted, ennobled Mother.
(Melvin J. Ballard, cited in Bryant S. Hinckley, Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin Joseph Ballard, p. 205)
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Cleave unto thy Wife
President Ezra Taft Benson
Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else (D&C 42:22). To my knowledge there is only one other thing in all scripture that we are commanded to love with all our hearts, and that is God Himself. Think what that means! This kind of love can be shown for your wives in so many ways. First and foremost, nothing except God Himself takes priority over your wife in your life–not work, not recreation, not hobbies. Your wife is your precious, eternal helpmate–your companion. What does it mean to love some one with all your heart? It means to love with all your emotional feelings and with all your devotion. Surely when you love your wife with all your heart, you cannot demean her, criticize her, find fault with her, or abuse her by words, sullen behavior, or actions. What does it mean to “cleave unto her”? It means to stay close to her, to be loyal and faithful to her, to communicate with her, and to express your love for her. Love means being sensitive to her feelings and needs. She wants to be noticed and treasured. She wants to be told that you view her as lovely and attractive and important to you. Love means putting her welfare and self-esteem as a high priority in your life...Remember, brethren, love can be nurtured and nourished by little tokens. Flowers on special occasions are wonderful, but so is your willingness to help with the dishes, change diapers, get up with a crying child in the night, and leave the television or the newspaper to help with the dinner. Those are the quiet ways we say “I love you” with our actions. They bring rich dividends for such little effort.
(President Ezra Taft Benson, CR, Oct. 1987, pp. 60-62)
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Cleave to your Spouse and None Else
President Spencer W. Kimball
Infidelity is one of the greatest sins of our generation. The movies, the books, the magazine stories all seem to glamorize the faithlessness of husbands and wives. Nothing is holy, not even marriage vows. The unfaithful woman is the heroine and is justified, and the hero is so built up that he can do no wrong. It reminds us of Isaiah who said: "Wo unto those that call evil good and good evil; ... " (Isaiah 5:20).
There are those married people who permit their eyes to wander and their hearts to become vagrant, who think it is not improper to flirt a little, to share their hearts, and have desire for someone other than the wife or the husband. The Lord says in no uncertain terms: "Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and cleave unto her and none else." (D&C 42:22).
And, when the Lord says all thy heart, it allows for no sharing nor dividing nor depriving. And, to the woman it is paraphrased: "Thou shalt love thy husband with all thy heart and cleave unto him and none else." The words none else eliminate everyone and everything. The spouse then becomes preeminent in the life of the husband and wife, and neither social life nor occupational life nor political life nor any other interest nor person nor thing shall ever take precedence over the companion spouse. We sometimes find women who absorb and hover over the children at the expense of the husband, sometimes even estranging them from him. The Lord says to them: " ... Thou shalt cleave unto him and none else."
Marriage presupposes total allegiance and total fidelity. Each spouse takes the partner with the understanding that he or she gives self totally to the spouse: all the heart, strength, loyalty, honor, and affection with all dignity. Any divergence is sin-- any sharing the heart is transgression. As we should have "an eye single to the glory of God" so should we have an eye, an ear, a heart single to the marriage and the spouse and family.
Home-breaking is sin, and any thought, act, or association which will tend to destroy another's home is a grievous transgression.
Amulek, the prophet, reminded us: "For our words will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from His presence." (Alma 12:14)
Some who marry never cut themselves loose from the apron strings of the parents. The Lord says through his prophets: "For this cause shall a man [or a woman] leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife [or husband], and they two shall be one flesh." (Eph. 5:31. Brackets added).
Parents who hold, direct and dictate to their married children and draw them away from their spouses are likely to regret the possible tragedy. Accordingly, when two people marry the spouse should become the confidant, the friend, the sharer of responsibility, and they two become independent. No one should come between the husband and wife, not even parents.
To those who claim their love is dead, let them return home with all their loyalty, fidelity, honor, cleanness, and the love which has become embers will flare up with scintillating flame again. If love wanes or dies, it is often infidelity of thought or act which gave the lethal portion. To those who belittle marriage and its vows and responsibilities, to wives and husbands who joke with each other about possible infidelities, Paul describes such jesting and joking about sacred things: "But fornication, and all uncleanness, and covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting ... " (Ibid., 5:3-4).
In conclusion, I plead with all young people bound by marriage vows and covenants to make that marriage holy, keep it fresh, express affection meaningfully and sincerely and often.
(Elder Spencer W. Kimball, CR, Oct. 1962, pp. 55-60)
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Melvin J. Ballard
No matter to what heights God has attained or may attain, he does not stand alone; for side by side with him, in all her glory, a glory like unto his, stands a companion, the Mother of his children. For as we have a Father in heaven, so also we have a Mother there, a glorified, exalted, ennobled Mother.
(Melvin J. Ballard, cited in Bryant S. Hinckley, Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin Joseph Ballard, p. 205)
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Cleave unto thy Wife
President Ezra Taft Benson
Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else (D&C 42:22). To my knowledge there is only one other thing in all scripture that we are commanded to love with all our hearts, and that is God Himself. Think what that means! This kind of love can be shown for your wives in so many ways. First and foremost, nothing except God Himself takes priority over your wife in your life–not work, not recreation, not hobbies. Your wife is your precious, eternal helpmate–your companion. What does it mean to love some one with all your heart? It means to love with all your emotional feelings and with all your devotion. Surely when you love your wife with all your heart, you cannot demean her, criticize her, find fault with her, or abuse her by words, sullen behavior, or actions. What does it mean to “cleave unto her”? It means to stay close to her, to be loyal and faithful to her, to communicate with her, and to express your love for her. Love means being sensitive to her feelings and needs. She wants to be noticed and treasured. She wants to be told that you view her as lovely and attractive and important to you. Love means putting her welfare and self-esteem as a high priority in your life...Remember, brethren, love can be nurtured and nourished by little tokens. Flowers on special occasions are wonderful, but so is your willingness to help with the dishes, change diapers, get up with a crying child in the night, and leave the television or the newspaper to help with the dinner. Those are the quiet ways we say “I love you” with our actions. They bring rich dividends for such little effort.
(President Ezra Taft Benson, CR, Oct. 1987, pp. 60-62)
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Cleave to your Spouse and None Else
President Spencer W. Kimball
Infidelity is one of the greatest sins of our generation. The movies, the books, the magazine stories all seem to glamorize the faithlessness of husbands and wives. Nothing is holy, not even marriage vows. The unfaithful woman is the heroine and is justified, and the hero is so built up that he can do no wrong. It reminds us of Isaiah who said: "Wo unto those that call evil good and good evil; ... " (Isaiah 5:20).
There are those married people who permit their eyes to wander and their hearts to become vagrant, who think it is not improper to flirt a little, to share their hearts, and have desire for someone other than the wife or the husband. The Lord says in no uncertain terms: "Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and cleave unto her and none else." (D&C 42:22).
And, when the Lord says all thy heart, it allows for no sharing nor dividing nor depriving. And, to the woman it is paraphrased: "Thou shalt love thy husband with all thy heart and cleave unto him and none else." The words none else eliminate everyone and everything. The spouse then becomes preeminent in the life of the husband and wife, and neither social life nor occupational life nor political life nor any other interest nor person nor thing shall ever take precedence over the companion spouse. We sometimes find women who absorb and hover over the children at the expense of the husband, sometimes even estranging them from him. The Lord says to them: " ... Thou shalt cleave unto him and none else."
Marriage presupposes total allegiance and total fidelity. Each spouse takes the partner with the understanding that he or she gives self totally to the spouse: all the heart, strength, loyalty, honor, and affection with all dignity. Any divergence is sin-- any sharing the heart is transgression. As we should have "an eye single to the glory of God" so should we have an eye, an ear, a heart single to the marriage and the spouse and family.
Home-breaking is sin, and any thought, act, or association which will tend to destroy another's home is a grievous transgression.
Amulek, the prophet, reminded us: "For our words will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from His presence." (Alma 12:14)
Some who marry never cut themselves loose from the apron strings of the parents. The Lord says through his prophets: "For this cause shall a man [or a woman] leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife [or husband], and they two shall be one flesh." (Eph. 5:31. Brackets added).
Parents who hold, direct and dictate to their married children and draw them away from their spouses are likely to regret the possible tragedy. Accordingly, when two people marry the spouse should become the confidant, the friend, the sharer of responsibility, and they two become independent. No one should come between the husband and wife, not even parents.
To those who claim their love is dead, let them return home with all their loyalty, fidelity, honor, cleanness, and the love which has become embers will flare up with scintillating flame again. If love wanes or dies, it is often infidelity of thought or act which gave the lethal portion. To those who belittle marriage and its vows and responsibilities, to wives and husbands who joke with each other about possible infidelities, Paul describes such jesting and joking about sacred things: "But fornication, and all uncleanness, and covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting ... " (Ibid., 5:3-4).
In conclusion, I plead with all young people bound by marriage vows and covenants to make that marriage holy, keep it fresh, express affection meaningfully and sincerely and often.
(Elder Spencer W. Kimball, CR, Oct. 1962, pp. 55-60)
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BIRTH CONTROL
Birth Control
The First Presidency
The First Presidency is being asked from time to time as to what the attitude of the Church is regarding birth control...We seriously regret that there should exist a sentiment or feeling among any member 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.
(First Presidency, David O. McKay, Hugh B. Brown, N. Eldon Tanner, April 14, 1969)
_____________________________________________________________________________________Birth Control
General Handbook of Instructions
It is the privilege of married couples who are able to bear children to provide mortal bodies for the spirit children of God, whom they are then responsible to nurture and rear. The decision as to how many children to have and when to have them is extremely intimate and private and should be left between the couple and the
Lord. Church members should not judge one another in this matter.
(Church Handbook of Instructions, p. 158)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Birth Control
The First Presidency
When married couples are physically able, they have the privilege of providing mortal bodies for Heavenly Father's spirit children. They play a part in the great plan of happiness, which permits God's children to receive physical bodies and experience mortality.
If you are married, you and your spouse should discuss your sacred responsibility to bring children into the world and nurture them in righteousness. As you do so, consider the sanctity and meaning of life. Ponder the joy that comes when children are in the home. Consider the eternal blessings that come from having a good posterity. With a testimony of these principles, you and your spouse will be prepared to prayerfully decide how many children to have and when to have them. Such decisions are between the two of you and the Lord.
As you discuss this sacred matter, remember that sexual relations within marriage are divinely approved. While one purpose of these relations is to provide physical bodies for God's children, another purpose is to express love for one another--to bind husband and wife together in loyalty, fidelity, consideration, and common purpose.
(First Presidency, Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, James E. Faust, True to the Faith, 2004, p. 26)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Birth Control
President Ezra Taft Benson
Young mothers and fathers, with all my heart I counsel you not to postpone having your children, being co-creators with our Father in Heaven. Do not use the reasoning of the world, such as, "We'll wait until we can better afford having children, until we are more secure, until John has completed his education, until he has a better-paying job, until we have a larger home, until we've obtained a few of the material conveniences," and on and on. This is the reasoning of the world, and is not pleasing in the sight of God. Mothers who enjoy good health, have your children and have them early. And, husbands, always be considerate of your wives in the bearing of children. Do not curtail the number of your children for personal or selfish reasons. Material possessions, social convenience, and so-called professional advantages are nothing compared to a righteous posterity. In the eternal perspective, children--not possessions, not position, not prestige--are our greatest jewels.
(President Benson, All-Church Parents Fireside, 22 Feb. 1987)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Birth Control
President Spencer W. Kimball
I have told many groups of young people that they should not postpone their marriage until they have acquired all of their education ambitions... that when they marry they should not wait for children until they have finished their schooling and financial desires. Marriage is basically for the family and when people have found their proper companions there should be no long delay. They should let the children come. There seems to be a growing feeling that marriage is for legal sex, for sex's sake. Marriage is basically for the family; that is why we marry--not for the satisfaction of sex, as the world around us would have us believe. Young wives should be occupied in bearing and rearing their children. I know of no scriptures where an authorization is given to young wives to withhold their families and to work to put their husbands through school. There are thousands of husbands who have worked their own way through school and have reared families at the same time. Though it is more difficult, young people can make their way through their educational programs.
(President Spencer W. Kimball, Speeches of the Year, 1973, pp. 262-263)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________Birth Control
Boyd K. Packer
Never has a generation been so surrounded with those who speak irreverently of life. Never has there been such persuasion to avoid responsibilities of parenthood... Young couples are continually told that parenthood means forfeiture of advanced degrees and limiting of occupational progress, a representation they will live to know false...Whether you will be blessed with many children or but a few...is a matter that will be made known as your life unfolds. But I urge you, I warn you to approach parenthood with reverence. When you covenant in marriage and are free to act in the creation of life, when you stand at the threshold of parenthood, know that you stand on holy ground...Young couples, draw reverently close to your Father in Heaven in these monumental decisions of life...Grow close to Him. Perhaps you, as He, will come to "suffer the little children to come unto (you), and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."
(Mark 10:14) (Boyd K. Packer, CR, Oct. 1966, p. 132)
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Birth Control
Hugh B. Brown
...to a great extent, the readiness of a couple to enter into the bonds of matrimony can be measured by the desires they have to bring children to this earth. A lack of this desire indicates immaturity, and a couple that feels this way is probably not ready for marriage.
(Hugh B. Brown, You and Your Marriage, p. 135)
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President Joseph F. Smith
I think it is a crying evil that there should exist a sentiment or a feeling among any members of the Church to curtail the birth of their children. I think that is a crime wherever it occurs, where husband and wife are in possession of health and vigor and are free from impurities that would be entailed upon their posterity. I believe that where people undertake to curtail or prevent the birth of their children that they are going to reap disappointment by and by. I have no hesitancy in saying that I believe this is one of the greatest crimes of the world today, this evil practice.
(President Joseph F. Smith, Relief Society Magazine, 4:318)
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Birth Control
President Brigham Young
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.
(Brigham Young, JD 4:56)
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Birth Control
President Spencer W. Kimball
Women who are deliberately childless will regret it. I am not sorry for women who sacrifice their lives for children. I am not sorry for those women who have many children. But I am sorry for women who come to the Judgment Day who have never assumed the responsibility of rearing children, who have been afraid of pain, resistant to sacrifice. They are the ones whose hearts will be heavy...
(President Kimball, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pp. 328-29)
The First Presidency
The First Presidency is being asked from time to time as to what the attitude of the Church is regarding birth control...We seriously regret that there should exist a sentiment or feeling among any member 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.
(First Presidency, David O. McKay, Hugh B. Brown, N. Eldon Tanner, April 14, 1969)
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General Handbook of Instructions
It is the privilege of married couples who are able to bear children to provide mortal bodies for the spirit children of God, whom they are then responsible to nurture and rear. The decision as to how many children to have and when to have them is extremely intimate and private and should be left between the couple and the
Lord. Church members should not judge one another in this matter.
(Church Handbook of Instructions, p. 158)
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Birth Control
The First Presidency
When married couples are physically able, they have the privilege of providing mortal bodies for Heavenly Father's spirit children. They play a part in the great plan of happiness, which permits God's children to receive physical bodies and experience mortality.
If you are married, you and your spouse should discuss your sacred responsibility to bring children into the world and nurture them in righteousness. As you do so, consider the sanctity and meaning of life. Ponder the joy that comes when children are in the home. Consider the eternal blessings that come from having a good posterity. With a testimony of these principles, you and your spouse will be prepared to prayerfully decide how many children to have and when to have them. Such decisions are between the two of you and the Lord.
As you discuss this sacred matter, remember that sexual relations within marriage are divinely approved. While one purpose of these relations is to provide physical bodies for God's children, another purpose is to express love for one another--to bind husband and wife together in loyalty, fidelity, consideration, and common purpose.
(First Presidency, Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, James E. Faust, True to the Faith, 2004, p. 26)
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Birth Control
President Ezra Taft Benson
Young mothers and fathers, with all my heart I counsel you not to postpone having your children, being co-creators with our Father in Heaven. Do not use the reasoning of the world, such as, "We'll wait until we can better afford having children, until we are more secure, until John has completed his education, until he has a better-paying job, until we have a larger home, until we've obtained a few of the material conveniences," and on and on. This is the reasoning of the world, and is not pleasing in the sight of God. Mothers who enjoy good health, have your children and have them early. And, husbands, always be considerate of your wives in the bearing of children. Do not curtail the number of your children for personal or selfish reasons. Material possessions, social convenience, and so-called professional advantages are nothing compared to a righteous posterity. In the eternal perspective, children--not possessions, not position, not prestige--are our greatest jewels.
(President Benson, All-Church Parents Fireside, 22 Feb. 1987)
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Birth Control
President Spencer W. Kimball
I have told many groups of young people that they should not postpone their marriage until they have acquired all of their education ambitions... that when they marry they should not wait for children until they have finished their schooling and financial desires. Marriage is basically for the family and when people have found their proper companions there should be no long delay. They should let the children come. There seems to be a growing feeling that marriage is for legal sex, for sex's sake. Marriage is basically for the family; that is why we marry--not for the satisfaction of sex, as the world around us would have us believe. Young wives should be occupied in bearing and rearing their children. I know of no scriptures where an authorization is given to young wives to withhold their families and to work to put their husbands through school. There are thousands of husbands who have worked their own way through school and have reared families at the same time. Though it is more difficult, young people can make their way through their educational programs.
(President Spencer W. Kimball, Speeches of the Year, 1973, pp. 262-263)
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Boyd K. Packer
Never has a generation been so surrounded with those who speak irreverently of life. Never has there been such persuasion to avoid responsibilities of parenthood... Young couples are continually told that parenthood means forfeiture of advanced degrees and limiting of occupational progress, a representation they will live to know false...Whether you will be blessed with many children or but a few...is a matter that will be made known as your life unfolds. But I urge you, I warn you to approach parenthood with reverence. When you covenant in marriage and are free to act in the creation of life, when you stand at the threshold of parenthood, know that you stand on holy ground...Young couples, draw reverently close to your Father in Heaven in these monumental decisions of life...Grow close to Him. Perhaps you, as He, will come to "suffer the little children to come unto (you), and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."
(Mark 10:14) (Boyd K. Packer, CR, Oct. 1966, p. 132)
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Birth Control
Hugh B. Brown
...to a great extent, the readiness of a couple to enter into the bonds of matrimony can be measured by the desires they have to bring children to this earth. A lack of this desire indicates immaturity, and a couple that feels this way is probably not ready for marriage.
(Hugh B. Brown, You and Your Marriage, p. 135)
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President Joseph F. Smith
I think it is a crying evil that there should exist a sentiment or a feeling among any members of the Church to curtail the birth of their children. I think that is a crime wherever it occurs, where husband and wife are in possession of health and vigor and are free from impurities that would be entailed upon their posterity. I believe that where people undertake to curtail or prevent the birth of their children that they are going to reap disappointment by and by. I have no hesitancy in saying that I believe this is one of the greatest crimes of the world today, this evil practice.
(President Joseph F. Smith, Relief Society Magazine, 4:318)
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Birth Control
President Brigham Young
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.
(Brigham Young, JD 4:56)
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Birth Control
President Spencer W. Kimball
Women who are deliberately childless will regret it. I am not sorry for women who sacrifice their lives for children. I am not sorry for those women who have many children. But I am sorry for women who come to the Judgment Day who have never assumed the responsibility of rearing children, who have been afraid of pain, resistant to sacrifice. They are the ones whose hearts will be heavy...
(President Kimball, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pp. 328-29)
BABIES, INFANCY, & GROWTH
When the Spirit Enters the Body
Russell M. Nelson
It is not a question of when "meaningful life" begins or when the spirit "quickens" the body. In the biological sciences, it is known that life begins when two germ cells unite to become one cell, bringing together twenty-three chromosomes from both the father and from the mother. These chromosomes contain thousands of genes. In a marvelous process involving a combination of genetic coding by which all the basic human characteristics of the unborn person are established, a new DNA complex is formed. A continuum of growth results in a new human being. The onset of life is not a debatable issue, but a fact of science.
Approximately twenty-two days after the two cells have united, a little heart begins to beat. At twenty-six days the circulation of blood begins. Scripture declares that the "life of the flesh is in the blood." (Lev. 17:11) Abortion sheds that innocent blood.
(Russell M. Nelson, "Reverence for Life," Ensign, May 1985)
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Little Children to Grow after the Resurrection
Bruce R. McConkie
We were all mature spirits before we were born, and the bodies of little children will grow after the resurrection to the full stature of the spirit, and all the blessings will be theirs through their obedience, the same as if they had lived to maturity and received them on the earth. The Lord is just and will not deprive any person of a blessing, simply because he dies before that blessing can be received.
(Bruce R. McConkie, "The Salvation of Little Children," Ensign, April 1977, pp. 3-7)
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Children Taken in Infancy are too Pure for this Life
Joseph Smith
The Lord takes many (children) away even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again.
T. 196-197
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President Joseph Fielding Smith
There is no information given by revelation in regard to the status of stillborn children. However, I will express my personal opinion that we should have hope that these little ones will receive a resurrection and then belong to us. I cannot help feeling that this will be the case. When a couple have a stillborn child, we give them all the comfort we can. We have good reasons to hope. Funeral services may be held for such children, if the parents so desire. Stillborn children should not be reported nor recorded as births and deaths on the records of the Church, but it is suggested that parents record in their own family records a name for each such stillborn child. President Brigham Young taught, "They are all right, and nothing in the way of sealings or ordinances need be done for them."
(President Joseph Fielding Smith, DOS 2:280-281)
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Stillborn Children
Bruce R. McConkie
The spirit enters the body at the time of quickening, months prior to the actual normal birth. The value and comfort attending a knowledge of this eternal truth is seen in connection with stillborn children. Since the spirit entered the body before birth, stillborn children will be resurrected and righteous parents shall enjoy their association in immortal glory.
(Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 693-694)
Russell M. Nelson
It is not a question of when "meaningful life" begins or when the spirit "quickens" the body. In the biological sciences, it is known that life begins when two germ cells unite to become one cell, bringing together twenty-three chromosomes from both the father and from the mother. These chromosomes contain thousands of genes. In a marvelous process involving a combination of genetic coding by which all the basic human characteristics of the unborn person are established, a new DNA complex is formed. A continuum of growth results in a new human being. The onset of life is not a debatable issue, but a fact of science.
Approximately twenty-two days after the two cells have united, a little heart begins to beat. At twenty-six days the circulation of blood begins. Scripture declares that the "life of the flesh is in the blood." (Lev. 17:11) Abortion sheds that innocent blood.
(Russell M. Nelson, "Reverence for Life," Ensign, May 1985)
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Little Children to Grow after the Resurrection
Bruce R. McConkie
We were all mature spirits before we were born, and the bodies of little children will grow after the resurrection to the full stature of the spirit, and all the blessings will be theirs through their obedience, the same as if they had lived to maturity and received them on the earth. The Lord is just and will not deprive any person of a blessing, simply because he dies before that blessing can be received.
(Bruce R. McConkie, "The Salvation of Little Children," Ensign, April 1977, pp. 3-7)
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Children Taken in Infancy are too Pure for this Life
Joseph Smith
The Lord takes many (children) away even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again.
T. 196-197
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President Joseph Fielding Smith
There is no information given by revelation in regard to the status of stillborn children. However, I will express my personal opinion that we should have hope that these little ones will receive a resurrection and then belong to us. I cannot help feeling that this will be the case. When a couple have a stillborn child, we give them all the comfort we can. We have good reasons to hope. Funeral services may be held for such children, if the parents so desire. Stillborn children should not be reported nor recorded as births and deaths on the records of the Church, but it is suggested that parents record in their own family records a name for each such stillborn child. President Brigham Young taught, "They are all right, and nothing in the way of sealings or ordinances need be done for them."
(President Joseph Fielding Smith, DOS 2:280-281)
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Stillborn Children
Bruce R. McConkie
The spirit enters the body at the time of quickening, months prior to the actual normal birth. The value and comfort attending a knowledge of this eternal truth is seen in connection with stillborn children. Since the spirit entered the body before birth, stillborn children will be resurrected and righteous parents shall enjoy their association in immortal glory.
(Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 693-694)
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