Surgical Sterilization

[Solon]

My sister told me about a man in her ward in Kaysville, UT, who works for Deseret Book. According to my sister, Deseret Book won't pay for this man to get a vasectomy because it's against Church policy.

Now that's just an unsubstantiated anecdote, but my sister was right. It is against Church policy.

I was unaware of this.

Surgical Sterilization (Including Vasectomy)

The Church strongly discourages surgical sterilization as an elective form of birth control. It should be considered only if (1) medical conditions seriously jeopardize life or health or (2) birth defects or serious trauma have rendered a person mentally incompetent and not responsible for his or her actions. Such conditions must be determined by competent medical judgment and in accordance with law. Even then, the persons responsible for this decision should consult with each other and with their bishop and should receive divine confirmation of their decision through prayer. (CHOI 2006, pg. 188)

I know several LDS who have been surgically sterilized. I consider only a few to be mentally incompetent. Has anyone ever received blowback from LDS authorities for elective sterilization?

[Soccermom]

Maybe the new handbook will be more clear by replacing strongly discourages with prohibits. If having kids is between a man, woman, and God, why the hades does the handbook need to mention something like that at all?

[Moliere]

Maybe he should check with his insurance company instead of Deseret Book.

I also wonder if he could get a decent deal on the surgery if he negotiated with the hospital directly.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Has anyone ever received blowback from LDS authorities for elective sterilization?

I'm quite close to one who, immediately after mentioning to his stake president that he had had the big snip, was extended a call to serve as a bishop.

I know another V-Vet who was called to serve as a stake president and is currently a mission president.

Whether these examples should be seen as punishment is up to the beholder.

[CardiacCoug]

We had a urologist in a prior Bishopric who actually auctioned off vasectomies for young men/young women fundraisers. Amazingly, nobody questioned the propriety of this.

I have known about the statement in the CHOI. It is clearly an anachronism from the time when birth control generally was discouraged and I am confident that it will be gone fairly soon.

[UtahDan]

This is an issue where the membership is in open rebellion. Look for this to disappear in a coming edition of handbook 1.

[pellegrino]

I have a friend who had one and within three weeks he was called into a bishopric. I hope that doesn't happen to me when I get mine.

[BigPiney]

This is an issue where the membership is in open rebellion. Look for this to disappear in a coming edition of handbook 1.

It will be the first thing I look for. I'll let you know.

[grapevine]

I wonder if people at ces firesides and devotionals are more strict on birth control than the church handbook. I still see brethern railing on bc and defintly sterilization at the devotionals and firesides, Earl C Tingey, William R Bradford, C Scott Grow and others at various schools if you go to there websites. Still ask couples not to postpone parenthood.

Light Planet has an intersting explanation on handbook. Of course there is no grey on that site.

[utahby5]

After offspring #6 comes sometime this next week, I am scheduling the visit to Dr Snip Snip. I have always felt that it is the most chivalrous act I could perform for my wife since the pill makes her feel poorly and she doesn't want surgery herself. I feel we have multiplied and replenished to our capacity. Absolutely no guilt here. However I did just get called to the bishopric so maybe I have been punished for my intent.

[SuperGabers]

Will one of the docs here clarify why getting the old snipper-roo is not a 100% certainty? I am ALWAYS hearing conception stories even after the old snip-snip.

[Donuthole]

Will one of the docs here clarify why getting the old snipper-roo is not a 100% certainty? I am ALWAYS hearing conception stories even after the old snip-snip.

You know how when you tear off a lizard's tail, it eventually grows back another one? Sort of like that.

[NorthwestUteFan]

My sister told me about a man in her ward in Kaysville, UT, who works for Deseret Book. According to my sister, Deseret Book won't pay for this man to get a vasectomy because it's against Church policy.

This reminds me of the old story about the man who inured his SACRUM and couldn't walk, stand, or sit without great pain and couldn't lift his kids.

His wife stood up in Fast and Testimony meeting and proclaimed that her husband couldn't do anything because he injured his SCROTUM.

Sometimes that is simply too much info. If I were to pursue the big snip-snip you can be damn sure I am not going to let my wife go blabbing it to the whole ward!

My wife has a different take on this. She decided that if she were to pass away, there is a chance I would want to have children again if I married again. However when she is through, she is through.

Check out Essure, btw. Non-surgical, office procedure and is cheap enough to pay out of pocket (or MSA).

[Babs]

Will one of the docs here clarify why getting the old snipper-roo is not a 100% certainty? I am ALWAYS hearing conception stories even after the old snip-snip.

You mean for the guy? You can get a closed-end vaz and you're fine.

[SeattleUte]

Sterilization is crucial. Infection is one of the hazards of surgery. You could die or lose a limb from that alone. Why is this controversial? I did read once people were afraid to wash in the Middle Ages. Maybe they do need to update the handbook.