D&C and Children

[four1298]

This post isn't that that good since I didn't like this book that much. The point of this post is to save my notes and connect this book to natalism.

Fear
I think some people abstain from reproduction due to fear. This is known as tokophobia. I think an argument for abortion is that they can't afford children among other fears as this study notes:

Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives

Public discussion about abortion in the United States has generally focused on policy: who should be allowed to have abortions, and under what circumstances. Receiving less attention are the women behind the statistics—the 1.3 million women who obtain abortions each year1—and their reasons for...

www.guttmacher.org

Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward

Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven

Gold Digging
Gold digging is a barrier to reproduction. Women don't want poor men.

Remember the a worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon, which contains the truth and the word of God—

And if ye seek the a riches which it is the will of the Father to give unto you, ye shall be the richest of all people, for ye shall have the riches of eternity

And if thou obtainest more than that which would be for thy support, thou shalt give it into my storehouse, that all things may be done according to that which I have said

I saw the beautiful streets of [the Celestial] kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with a gold

I know some of these things were in The Bible but I didn't notice them previously.

Possible Natalism
Without children some of these commandments are impossible.

And visit the house of each member, and exhort them to a pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties

Every member of the church of Christ having children is to bring them unto the elders before the church, who are to lay their hands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name

Let your families be a small, especially mine aged servant Joseph Smith’s, Sen , as pertaining to those who do not belong to your families

I googled this and it says it's not about having less children. Yet that's a possible interpretation. What I think is that a small family is better than no family.

Parents are commanded to teach the gospel to their children

Abortion

[A]nd he that kills shall not have forgiveness in this world, nor in the world to come

Suffering
Abortion and euthanasia are possibly both the result of an exaggeration of suffering.

Those who endure tribulation will be crowned with glory;

Endure is a common word in these books.

Also the body hath need of every a member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect

Marriage

In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];

And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse a another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified

Interesting Unrelated Quotes

For Satan putteth it into their hearts to anger against [Joseph Smith], and to the shedding of blood

This earth has a temporal existence of 7,000 years

The use of wine, strong drinks, tobacco, and hot drinks is proscribed

Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly

Man was in the beginning with God

The Lord established the Constitution of the United States;

And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel

The Father and the Son have bodies of flesh and bones.

Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it

 

[four1298]

I forgot to include this quote:

And if thou art a faithful unto the end thou shalt have a crown of immortality, and eternal life in the mansions which I have prepared in the house of my Father

I know this is in The a Bible but I missed it when I read it.