Romney

[UtahDan]

MJ was RSP back in our Utah ward and the bishop of that ward was told quite clearly by the SP that he should never counsel couples to use birth control. This was around 2005. I have no idea if the bishop ever acted on the counsel since I'd never ask my bishop something like that.

What is the context? If he was telling the bishop not to counsel people at all on decisions like that then that seems like good advice.

[myboynoah]

I've probably mentioned before that during a premarital interview, Mrs. PAC's SP told her that she should never allow her husband to see her naked, and that except for bathing in private, the garment should remain on at all times. When she reported this I recoiled but asked cautiously (since she was and is very devout), "What do you think of that counsel?" She just started laughing and said, "Don't worry, occasionally we get counsel that's best ignored." Whew.

Whew is right. I love it when a story has a happy ending.

[jay santos]

That is good advice.

When my buddy got engaged (early 80's), he and his fiance did a pre-marriage interview with her bishop. At the end of the interview the bishop leaned a little closer and in his best general authority voice stated "And remember: we don't believe in birth control. We believe in self control." Shocked, they asked her father if that was true. He said, "Oh don't worry about him. He is crazy."

If you're getting married in your early 80's and everything's working properly, I say throw caution to the wind and don't worry about birth control.

[Moliere]

What is the context? If he was telling the bishop not to counsel people at all on decisions like that then that seems like good advice.

I probably didn't say it correctly. He was basically told that birth control is not okay to use and he should tell people just that if they asked him. I don't think he was supposed to proactively tell people not to use it, but if they asked or if it came up he was to tell them birth control was not okay to be used.

[Jeff Lebowski]

MJ was RSP back in our Utah ward and the bishop of that ward was told quite clearly by the SP that he should never counsel couples to use birth control. This was around 2005. I have no idea if the bishop ever acted on the counsel since I'd never ask my bishop something like that.

That is weird. I wonder where they get that.

From the handbook:

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.
(1989 General Handbook of Instructions, Chapter 11)

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 chldren 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.

Married couples also should understand that sexual relations within marriage are divinely approved not only for the purpose of procreation, but also as a means of expressing love and strengthening emotional and spiritual bonds between husband and wife.
(1998 Church Handbook of Instructions)

[Indy Coug]

I probably didn't say it correctly. He was basically told that birth control is not okay to use and he should tell people just that if they asked him. I don't think he was supposed to proactively tell people not to use it, but if they asked or if it came up he was to tell them birth control was not okay to be used.

And thus, we know why our current church growth rate sucks.

[jay santos]

When I got married, we were both devout, and both didn't believe in birth control, or at least we believed young couples should not wait to have children.

[Jacob]

Whew is right. I love it when a story has a happy ending.

Speaking of which, thought devout and ultra-orthodox in my earlier days, I always thought it was a good idea to chat about post-marital sexual mores prior to getting married. I doubt it does much good when you are dealing with a couple of virgins, but it would be nice to know ahead of time if the prospective spouse has any of these crazy ideas about garment wearing, nudity, and...well..other inhibitions. These things should be deal breakers.

[Indy Coug]

Don't use birth control, but keep garments on at all times. Sounds like the same net result, particularly if the couple doesn't take a shining to mesh.

[Jacob]

When I got married, we were both devout, and both didn't believe in birth control, or at least we believed young couples should not wait to have children.

While you don't hear as much about birth control nowadays (it is still actively taught at our school universities), the advice to not postpone child bearing has not fallen out of favor. Apostles still stress it in public. While in school, while in debt, don't wait. If I didn't it in medical school 50 years ago, you can do it to.

[Art Vandelay]

When I got married, we were both devout, and both didn't believe in birth control, or at least we believed young couples should not wait to have children.

Interesting. Was this something you had been told by leaders or parents? My parents (understandable as NM) and my wife's (very devout, though DC liberalized, like UD) told us to not be in a big hurry to start a family. We waited 5 years and other than some chiding from my brother, about my 'boys' not being able to swim, no one ever said anything to us. I was married in 92.

[Indy Coug]

While you don't hear as much about birth control nowadays (it is still actively taught at our school universities), the advice to not postpone child bearing has not fallen out of favor. Apostles still stress it in public. While in school, while in debt, don't wait. If I didn't it in medical school 50 years ago, you can do it to.

In the wards I've been in, the biggest families have been those of medical students.

[smokymountainrain]

In the wards I've been in, the biggest families have been those of medical students.

I noticed the same in the wards I've been in.

[Jarid in Cedar]

In the wards I've been in, the biggest families have been those of medical students.

I noticed the same in the wards I've been in.

2 during/6 after

[Jacob]

In the wards I've been in, the biggest families have been those of medical students.

Makes sense that they'd take to heart the constant advice of the Hippocratic apostle.

Either that or we can see the result of their faithfulness in their vast intelligence and earning potential.