Birth Control & Abortion: A Mormons’ Perspective

Posted on March 31, 2012 by R Davis

Birth Control is a very interesting topic among those who call themselves religious. Many within our own faith even miss the boat a bit on this one. Our religion has a very strong focus on the family and we believe a lot of the problems in society and life in general can be solved or eased if you have a good family life. We also believe in true love. Love to God, one another, and to our spouses and family. We believe in many cases the world confuses or perverts true love with physical intimacy. We believe that one of the greatest ways one can show love to another person is to share the most precious part of themselves with that person. However, we also believe that procreation is a power of creation. God is the ultimate creator and has bestowed upon us this very sacred privilege to participate with Him in bringing others into this world. I do not have time to write about the purpose of this life as that would help you better understand this concept but I will try to stay on topic.

As Mormons, we believe that the sacred powers of procreation should only be shared between husband and wife. Obviously, being celibate is a form of birth control which we believe is appropriate when single but after marriage what do Mormons believe? Mormons believe that we have the sacred privilege to bring lives to this earth and that those decisions (family planning if you will) should be between husband, wife, and God. Does that mean we as Mormons believe that we should only procreate when we want to bring children into this world? The answer is no. We believe that physical intimacy is an extremely important part of a healthy relationship and helps a husband and wife draw closer to each other by strengthening their spiritual and emotional ties.

Recently, the news has talked a lot about birth control and if the Government should pay for these things. Religiously, we believe that the Government is there to protect our rights. Each individual can decide for themselves if they feel that the right to free birth control is a right they feel the government should provide.

Abortion is another form of birth control. We as Mormons generally do not believe abortion is appropriate. However, there are certain circumstances such as rape, incest, or the health (life) of the soon to be mother when abortion might be appropriate. Again, that decision should be made between the mother, father (if appropriate), and God. We believe that when we make mistakes, we should be held accountable for those and if an unwanted pregnancy occurs we should not throw away that precious life. We know of so many couples who want to have children but due to matters outside of their control are not able to bring children into this world on their own. If you got pregnant and do not feel that you can provide the type of life that child needs, we ask that you do not have an abortion but love that child as your Heavenly Father loves you and give it up for adoption to one of these wonderful families who really wants that child. It might be one of the greatest signs of love for the child which you might never know. Some of my best friends’ parents had to make that decision and chose to let their unknown child live and gave them to another family. I am so grateful for that ultimate sign of love because my life has been affected in an amazingly positive way because they were in my life. Please share your thoughts with me – What do you personally believe and feel regarding these topics?

Posted in Current Events, Family, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Apostolic Visitation

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Mostly A Martha

This week Elder Jeffrey Holland, one of the 12 Apostles of the LDS Church, came to my school to speak on the basic tenets of Mormonism at an event I helped plan. The event ended up going very well, but I was incredibly nervous beforehand for the following (and sometimes conflicting) reasons:

1. Attendance–Would any of my fellow students care to come? Would this high-profile speaker be addressing an empty room? Or, would the room be full but only of members of the church who somehow found out about the event (despite our attempts at secrecy) and filled up the room before any non-LDS people could get in?

2. Content–We had simply told Elder Holland to say something about the basics of Mormonism. What would he talk about? Would it be understandable to non-Mormons?

3. Attitudes–In addition to my worries over how people might take Elder Holland’s remarks, the event also included a Q&A session. What kinds of questions would people ask? Would they be respectful? How would Elder Holland handle “tough” questions? Or, again, would the (possibly uninvited) Mormons who found out about the event dominate the Q&A and ask really specific doctrinal questions the non-LDS people wouldn’t understand?

Luckily my fears and worries were unfounded. Our room was completely full and, as far as I could tell, most of the people in the room were not LDS. I was so pleased to see how many of my colleagues were interested in learning more about my faith. In addition, everybody was incredibly respectful during the Q&A and everybody I talked to afterwards had positive things to say about their experience.

Not only did the event reconfirm my faith that God answers prayers (since I had prayed so hard that it would go well), but it also strengthened my belief that God really does call and speak to apostles and prophets in our day. Elder Holland’s topic and on the spot answers to questions could only have been inspired.

Posted in News, Religion | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Proxy Baptisms

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Abalyn

Jewish Holocaust survivor Eli Wiesel recently called for Mitt Romney to tell the Mormon Church to stop proxy baptisms of Jews. Members of his own family were listed in the Church’s genealogical database. Family members of journalist Daniel Pearl have also issued a statement on the baptism of Pearl after his death in Pakistan asserting that the baptism was unwanted.

Proxy baptisms are baptisms done on behalf of people who have died. Unlike some Christian churches who teach that those not baptized in this life cannot be saved, Mormons carry out proxy baptisms so that everyone has the chance to be saved. Proxy baptisms are conducted in a temple, a place set apart for such special ceremonies, and in the ceremony a person is baptized “on behalf of” the deceased. This does not make the person baptized Mormon. They still have the ability to choose whether to accept the baptism or not.baptismal font in Mormon temple

Church members are only supposed to submit family names for baptism so Jewish proxy baptisms are due to a few members abusing the practice of name submission. The LDS church in a recent statement read to all church congregations has called for a stop to such abuses. The Church has also started to take actions against members who violate practices and submit Jewish names. Recently, violators have lost the rights to access records or submit names indefinitely.

It is natural to see proxy baptisms as ill-advised and offensive, especially for the Jewish who have endured forced conversions throughout their history. I have been troubled by the reports myself, realizing how wrong they were and glad when I read the Church’s message calling for a stop to baptisms of non-familiar contemporaries. Yet I felt at a loss as to how to explain something that sounds odd but to me is something very precious and beautiful.

Let me see if you will understand it another way. Baptism for the dead is our way of asserting the importance of every individual in the face of a great difference in belief and earthly circumstance. It makes everyone equal before God, able to change and to be saved. It’s our way of saying that all people are children of God, equally valued, no matter the circumstances that life dealt them. It shows that we believe in a merciful God who can still allow people to change after death. This Mormon love letter to humanity helps us care about people of the past, to remember them and no matter their obscurity to testify of their value. We feel close to them when we are baptized in their name. We attest that God can fix and make sense of a confusion of belief and a multitude of ill treatment, that humanity in all its messiness now and then will have a chance.

Posted in Mormonism 101, News | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Black or white, Bond or free

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Hey Jude

The Washington Post wrote an article about a BYU professor that made comments about race, words that seemed to justify past discrimination against ordaining African Americans and Africans into priesthood offices. The professor provided several reasons for the ban, saying that Blacks were not given the Priesthood due to the mark of Cain, performance in the premortal period, and other reasons that have nothing to do with real Church doctrine.

I grew up hearing speculations about why this policy existed. People would use psuedo-doctrine, similar to what the BYU professor said, to justify the policy. The more they spoke, the more they made me sick. Maybe it’s because I am a minority – a triple minority in some respects. I’m (1) female, (2) Asian, and (3) LDS, so I’m a minority in terms of gender, race, and religion. When I was younger, I had serious issues with the idea that my Church discriminated against people that had skin as brown as mine. I really hated it when Church members used conjecture and speculation to try to soothe my angry and inquiring teenage mind. When I couldn’t find a real answer to my questions, it made me rethink everything else I was taught, including my own membership in the Church.

The Church issued a rebuttal to the WP article, affirming its position that “all are alike unto God,” and that the professor’s comments do NOT represent real Church doctrine. The God referred to in this article, is the God that I have come to know and love. The true God spoken of in the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and other scripture welcomes all people, regardless of race, creed, income, or sex. The true God is “not a respector of persons,” and certainly would not respect man-made concepts as arbitrary as racial categories.

I’m glad that people are talking about this. We need to talk about the past in a frank and open manner. I hope that by looking at the past, and finding mistakes in our thinking and practices, that we can use this opportunity to better the organization. But the only way we can do that is if we stop pushing issues under the rug and address them head on.

Posted in Current Events, Religion | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Source of Peace

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Jason

Over the last several years we have witnessed a staggering number of natural disasters. Disasters including volcanic eruptions in Iceland, Tsunamis in Japan, Indonesia and Thailand, earthquakes in Turkey, New Zealand, and Haiti, deadly tornadoes in the central United States, record cold temperatures and snow fall in Europe, Hurricane Katrina and the threat of drought in various parts of the globe.

These events have claimed the lives and livelihood of many of God’s children. Possessions have been lost, homes destroyed, and communities becoming battered by the economic burdens of having to rebuild from rubble. As difficult as these natural disasters can be, the more troubling events for me are those caused by man.

Alongside these natural disasters, we continue see the impacts of violence and economic disaster. Civil unrest, riots, skirmishes, and the threat of war fill the headlines of most news channels, newspapers, and online outlets. The art of diplomacy, patience, and forgiveness appear to be pushed aside for greater demonstrations of power and force. Countries, communities and individuals continue living beyond their means and face potential bankruptcy which only shifts the burden of debt to others, eventually promoting greater unrest and aggression.

Where Can We Turn for Peace

The holy scriptures include many prophecies of events that will be experienced in days leading to the second coming of Christ. In Luke 21 we read:

“10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

“11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”

And because of the calamities of the last days, we also read that men’s hearts will fail them for fear and for the things they see happening in the earth (see Luke 21 verse 26).

The Source of True Peace

As we see the world in commotion, where then is the opportunity to find peace?

In the words of the beautiful hymn, Where Can I Turn for Peace we hear the answer.

Where can I turn for peace?
Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart,
Searching my soul?

Where, when my aching grows,
Where, when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand?
He, only One.

He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching
In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind,
Love without end.

Text: Emma Lou Thayne, b. 1924. © 1973 IRI

Music: Joleen G. Meredith, b. 1935. © 1973 IRI

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

What is the peace of Jesus Christ? Surely, he didn’t live in peaceful times. Yet, he taught others that he would bring peace to those who trusted in him and believed in his words, and adopted his teachings. That peace may not be freedom from hardship or difficulty. That peace comes from his Spirit.

Paul teaches us in Galatians that the “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Galatians 5:22-23

When we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, he blesses us with his Spirit. And the Spirit can bring us peace in a troubled world. We may continue to face great difficulty, but our souls can be calm, peaceful and full of love to those around us.

As we observe the challenges we and those around us face or may face, let’s take the time to be a little kinder, more loving, more serving. And by so doing, we may lift the burdens of others and fill our souls with the love of God which will bring about the greatest peace.

Posted in Current Events, Jesus Christ | Tagged , | 1 Comment

On Love

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Liz

Happy Valentine’s Day! My favorite thoughts on love are found both in the New Testament (1 Cor. 13) and The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (Moroni 7). In particular, this statement has resonated with me many times:

…if ye have not charity, ye are nothing,
for charity never faileth….
But charity is the pure love of Christ,
and it endureth forever;
and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day,
it shall be well with him.

I have a wonderful colleague who has been one of my most faithful supporters over the years. We didn’t always see eye to eye, and sometimes I would find myself at odds with her, anywhere from frustrated to furious at what she was choosing to do. During those challenging moments, I would inevitably feel that what God wanted me to do was get over my pride or my anger or my stubbornness – and love her despite our differences.

It wasn’t always easy. It wasn’t usually even fun. But over time, I grew in my capacity, and I learned that I can love even when we don’t agree. I learned that I can love even when my friend’s choices hurt me or those I care for and work with. I even learned to love the parts of her that sometimes drove me crazy and the ones that made me roll my eyes. Sometimes I wondered why, but always the Spirit gently guided me back to the path of love.

This same colleague was recently laid to rest after a brief battle with an aggressive disease. Although I grieved, in my sorrow I more clearly understood the Lord’s hand in our relationship. All those times I had swallowed my pride and yielded to the Spirit’s gentle guidance had softened my heart and taught me to love her the way Jesus Christ loves her – as a daughter of God, a sister, a friend, a woman of infinite worth. It shed great light on the nature of our loving Father in Heaven, His Son Jesus Christ, and the infinite Atonement He wrought on our behalf. And it gave me greater hope in the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren,
pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart,
that ye may be filled with this love,
which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ;
that ye may become the sons of God;
that when he shall appear we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is;
that we may have this hope;
that we may be purified even as he is pure.

For me, Valentine’s Day is not just about candy, chocolates, diamonds, and love notes; it is about giving another the benefit of the doubt, of seeking his or her eternal growth and welfare, of true forgiveness. It is acknowledging that the power of the Atonement of Christ will change a heart, and thus make a new man or woman of the one who caused us pain or sorrow. It is about the pure love of Christ.

Posted in Jesus Christ, Religion, Why I Believe | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment