One of my friends told me the other day that the Church was against birth control and that it was a sin to get a vasectomy. I had always heard (and believe) that it is up to the husband and wife and how they feel they should raise their families with the Lord’s guidance. I decided to look it up in the online version of the LDS Handbook of instruction. It turns out that both my friend and I are correct. See below:
| 21.4.15 |
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. |
As you can see, on one hand, the Church Leaders say that birth control is a decision between husband and wife. However, on the other hand, when it comes to getting a vasectomy (which is probably the ultimate form of birth control) they strongly discourage it and encourage the couple counseling with the bishop first.
For LDS members who have a hard time with making decisions and relying on guidance from the Lord without having Leaders tell them what to do, I can see how this would be a hard decision. However, I personally feel that the way a husband and wife chooses to use birth control (including a vasectomy) is between them and God and the Church doesn’t need to be involved.
Thoughts?
10 comments
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May 27, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Rich Alger
I think the idea is that the decision is between the Lord and the couple. To make a permanent decision eliminates the possibility of choosing to have more later.
May 28, 2011 at 5:44 am
Cal
I would wonder why the Church discourages vasectomies.
Does it simply reflect the Church’s high regard for procreation?
May 29, 2011 at 5:51 am
Cal
or is there some other reason—like the safety of the procedure. Maybe there really isn’t much contradiction after all?
May 29, 2011 at 7:06 am
Paul
Are we all supposed to be familiar with the Handbook, now, so we’ll know the arcane decisions about which we’re to counsel with the bishop?
May 30, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Sean
I’m going with Rich. I don’t see a contradiction. Vasectomies are permanent. You can’t decide to have children later.
May 31, 2011 at 11:28 am
jks
These days vasectomies are very common. People often consider having them after two kids. When they are still knee deep in diapers. I think that most Mormon parents should wait before jumping to vasectomy at an early age.
I am so glad that we were able to choose to have our third and fourth kids. I can tell you though that when our first two were four and two I thought it would take a miracle to want to get pregnant again.
We are encouraged to take our procreative powers seriously and treat them as sacred. Early vasectomies are often knee jerk reactions to the difficulties of parenthood and the irritations of birth control methods.
I think people who are happy with their family and their vasectomy are couples who wait until later ages, have some real perspective on whether they are done having kids and have waited to receive confirmation that it is a good decision.
May 31, 2011 at 9:28 pm
ama49
jks,
I like your comment. I agree with you that the matter should be taken seriously and not on a whim. I’m sure your 3rd and 4th kids are glad you didn’t stop at a young age too!
May 31, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Paul
I don’t think these are conflicting. One (counsel on vasectomies) clarifies the other (counsel on birth control).
There’s not a lot of “why” in this counsel. It seems couples pondering this matter will need to fill those in themselves.
All that said, it is conceivable that couples will simply choose for themselves, blissfully unaware of any of this counsel, since not all members study the handbooks.
May 31, 2011 at 12:11 pm
SilverRain
Vasectomies are cheap, reversals expensive. There are also emotional complications that can come from them which few people really talk about. (Of course, the same thing is true with most forms of birth control.)
There are good reasons to advise against them besides simple birth control.
But I am vehemently biased against vasectomies, since one was used as a weapon against me in my marriage.
May 31, 2011 at 9:26 pm
ama49
SilverRain,
I can understand advising caution, etc. but in my mind I don’t see a reason to involve the Church if a couple decides to go the vasectomy route. I don’t see a need to talk to the bishop about birth control nor to I see a reason for talking about getting a vasectomy.
Your last sentence was interesting…what do you mean a vasectomy was used as a weapon against you?