Comments on: Does the Mormon Church have a position on sterilization to prevent the bearing of more children? https://askgramps.org/does-the-mormon-church-have-a-position-on-sterilization-to/ Moral answers to everyday concerns, curiosities, and uncertainties. Gramps considers all questions on all topics from all sources. Wed, 29 Sep 2021 03:40:30 +0000 hourly 1 By: Lisa https://askgramps.org/does-the-mormon-church-have-a-position-on-sterilization-to/#comment-32682 Tue, 06 May 2014 14:46:00 +0000 http://www.askgramps.org/does-the-mormon-church-have-a-position-on-sterilization-to/#comment-32682 I think there is a large difference between temporary birth control methods, and permanent ones. Obviously one carries a lot more weight. I have heard many friends tell me that they regret the decision to have permanent methods in place because they later felt that their family wasn’t complete. Sometimes there is a feeling of satisfaction and completion that is relative to that time period, not permanent, and making such huge choices with the creative gift we have should always involve the Lord and husband and wife.. all three.

The current church stance is this;

“Husband and wife are encouraged to pray and counsel together as they plan their families. Issues to consider include the physical and mental health of the mother and father and their capacity to provide the basic necessities of life for their children.

Decisions about birth control and the consequences of those decisions rest solely with each married couple. Elective abortion as a method of birth control, however, is contrary to the commandments of God.”

And found in the handbook:

Surgical Sterilization (Including Vasectomy)

The Church strongly discourages surgical sterilization as an elective form of birth control. Surgical sterilization 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.

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I have to conclude that there are times it may be appropriate, but that it’s not something to do lightly but prayerfully with husband wife and the Lord all in agreement. It’s not helpful to existing children in the home to have mother constantly and debilitatingly pregnant back to back without time to recover. Being a mother myself, I have never felt the Lord desired women to “run faster than they have strength” in this calling. Therefore, there are times even temporary measures may be appropriate, and times they aren’t. In my own life and journey, I have found the Lord to be a very understanding party to things. I was only ever asked to begin my family in faith and He would help provide for them as we went along, and now (11 years later) I see the wisdom in this due to my age and health situations it took me this long and 10 pregnancies to achieve 4 children, but these were meant to come. Trusting the Lord and including him in the decisions made about children is vital because they are not just our children… they are His!

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