Why Children?

Bring on the Babies!

In The Family: A Proclamation to the World we learn: 

"THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force."

Attitudes about bringing children into the world have changed over time, and in our current culture, large families are certainly the exception. When Jason and I were dating, we determined that we would wait for several years before having children so that we could be more established. When we got married, we both felt a strong confirmation that waiting to have children was not the Lord's plan for us. So- five days before our first anniversary, our darling Jarom made his entrance into the world. We were (very) young, (very) broke, and clueless, but we had God on our side. 

President Spencer W. Kimball fervently preached the responsibility we have to bring children into our homes: 

"You did not come on earth just to 'eat, drink and be merry.' You came knowing full well your responsibilities. You came to get for yourself a mortal body that could become perfected, immortalized, and you understood that you were to act in partnership with God in providing bodies for other spirits equally anxious to come to the earth for righteous purposes. And so you will not postpone parenthood. There will be rationalists who will name to you numerous reasons for postponement. Of course, it will be harder to get your college degrees or your financial start with a family, but strength like yours will be undaunted in the face of difficult obstacles. Have your family as the Lord intended. Of course it is expensive, but you will find a way, and besides, it is often those children who grow up with responsibility and hardships who carry on the world’s work. And...do not limit your family as the world does. I am wondering now where I might have been had my parents decided arbitrarily that one or two children would be enough, or that three or four would be all they could support, or that even five would be the limit; for I was the sixth of eleven children. Don’t think you will love the later ones less or have few material things for them. Perhaps like Jacob, you might love the eleventh one most. Young people, have your family, love them, sacrifice for them, teach them righteousness, and you will be blessed and happy all the days of your eternal lives."

(Spencer W. Kimball, “John and Mary, Beginning Life Together,” New Era, Jun 1975, 4)