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  • #1

    Lower birth rates are threatening families...

    In addition to understanding the theology of the family, we all need to understand the threats to the family. If we don’t, we can’t prepare for the battle. Evidence is all around us that the family is becoming less important. Marriage rates are declining, the age of marriage is rising, and divorce rates are rising. Out-of-wedlock births are growing. Abortion is rising and becoming increasingly legal. We see lower birth rates. We see unequal relationships between men and women, and we see cultures that still practice abuse within family relationships. Many times a career gains importance over the family.
    http://lds.org/ensign/2011/03/teachi...amily?lang=eng

    I also found the threat of "unequal relationships between men and women" to be an interesting threat given the insistence on a patriarchal structure of the Mormon home.
    "Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessing of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes. And yet for some, “spectator discipleship” is a preferred if not primary way of worshipping." -Pres. Uchtdorf
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  • #2
    I would think that if the average age at marriage goes up, that it might mean that people are taking marriage more seriously, not the opposite.

    Also, how can abortion become "increasingly legal?" It is already legal.

    For those parents that have kids that are in their teens, what is the landscape out there right now? Do you see a bombardment from peers and media that is telling your children to not get married? I would be interested in examples of the things you are seeing that are anti-family that you feel might sway your child.

    My children are too small for any of this right now so I can't say that I have seen any anti or pro family peer pressure. Not yet, anyway.
    Fitter. Happier. More Productive.
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    • #3
      So are they doing an about face on the use of birth control?
      Last edited by Sullyute; 02-25-2011, 07:48 AM.
      "Friendship is the grand fundamental principle of Mormonism" - Joseph Smith Jr.

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      • #4
        What is wrong with lower birth rates? I believe Beck only has three kids herself.

        I remember she got a lot of attention before when she talked about that woman's place in the home doing cooking, dishes, laundry, etc.
        "If there is one thing I am, it's always right." -Ted Nugent.
        "I honestly believe saying someone is a smart lawyer is damning with faint praise. The smartest people become engineers and scientists." -SU.
        "Yet I still see wisdom in that which Uncle Ted posts." -creek.
        GIVE 'EM HELL, BRIGHAM!

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        • #5
          It is probably the opposite for us...

          Daughter is getting pressured by peers at the BYU to get married. Getting pressured by the parents not too.

          We only have 2 kids. Wish we had more but it wasn't in the cards.

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          • #6
            I have this problem covered
            "The first thing I learned upon becoming a head coach after fifteen years as an assistant was the enormous difference between making a suggestion and making a decision."

            "They talk about the economy this year. Hey, my hairline is in recession, my waistline is in inflation. Altogether, I'm in a depression."

            "I like to bike. I could beat Lance Armstrong, only because he couldn't pass me if he was behind me."

            -Rick Majerus

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            • #7
              Originally posted by TripletDaddy View Post
              I would think that if the average age at marriage goes up, that it might mean that people are taking marriage more seriously, not the opposite.

              Also, how can abortion become "increasingly legal?" It is already legal.

              For those parents that have kids that are in their teens, what is the landscape out there right now? Do you see a bombardment from peers and media that is telling your children to not get married? I would be interested in examples of the things you are seeing that are anti-family that you feel might sway your child.

              My children are too small for any of this right now so I can't say that I have seen any anti or pro family peer pressure. Not yet, anyway.
              I think they are hearing that zero population is the answer my friend.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Soccermom View Post
                I think they are hearing that zero population is the answer my friend.
                Jimmy! Oh, Jimmy!
                PLesa excuse the tpyos.

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                • #9
                  If Church growth rates really are virtually tied to birth rates then I can see how it could be a concern.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Soccermom View Post
                    I think they are hearing that zero population is the answer my friend.
                    sassquatch!

                    But this actually plays into my point. How long have we been hearing that marriage and kids are under attack? Saturday's Voyeur was over 20 years ago. I don't really recall being dissuaded to get married by any of my NoMo friends and while I was in HS, I don't remember anyone trying to convince me that eventually having a family or getting married was uncool.

                    I wonder how much of this "attack" is hype and how much is substance. The "evidence," to the extent that there is any, is anecdotal at best.
                    Fitter. Happier. More Productive.
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                    • #11
                      Economic Security

                      In developed countries, birth rates decline when there is a great amount of economic insecurity. When the bread winners of a family lack economic security, they will delay having children or limit the size of their family.

                      Russia is an example of this. I was fascinated when I attended a presentation about Russia by a retired couple who had just returned from serving a mission. After seeing a bunch of pictures, I asked where all the Russian teenagers were as it seemed there were a lot of older people and then fewer children and infants but almost no teenagers. The couple explained that when the Iron Curtain fell there was a high degree of economic uncertainty and people quit having children until the uncertainty subsided.

                      Anecdotally, I see this with my own teenagers. None are in a hurry to get married and don't want a large family. They plan on graduating from college and get a feel for what their career prospects are before starting a family.

                      In church, we here from the pulpit all too often that we are chooing material and worldy things over spiritual and eternal things. That may be the case for some, but for many families, they just want to make sure they can provide for the children they choose to have. And there's a lot of economic uncertainty across many industries right now. I wonder if LDS church leaders are insulated from this since they don't have to worry about being unemployed the next time their institution mandates a "re-organization". People shouldn't be made to feel guilty because they have a smaller family by LDS standards when that is all they feel they can provide for.

                      So the threat is being unemployed and having a large family that cannot be provided for rather than lusting after material things. I totally understand why a couple may delay marriage or delay family until they have the means to provide for them. It wasn't that long ago where that was expected in some societies where there were 30-year old men marrying for the first time.
                      “Not the victory but the action. Not the goal but the game. In the deed the glory.”
                      "All things are measured against Nebraska." falafel

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by TripletDaddy View Post
                        Saturday's Voyeur was over 20 years ago.
                        More like almost 35 years ago.

                        The population thing goes back to the late 60s at least when Paul Ehrlich wrote his book called somethign like "The Population Bomb."

                        Befoer that it goes back to malthus.
                        PLesa excuse the tpyos.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by creekster View Post
                          More like almost 35 years ago.

                          The population thing goes back to the late 60s at least when Paul Ehrlich wrote his book called somethign like "The Population Bomb."

                          Befoer that it goes back to malthus.
                          35>20
                          Fitter. Happier. More Productive.
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                          • #14
                            The Foyer is dragging. SCOTTIE, WHERE ARE YOU?
                            When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.

                            --Jonathan Swift

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by TripletDaddy View Post
                              35>20
                              Really? Maybe I should adopt that as my point?
                              PLesa excuse the tpyos.

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