Reader comment on Church General Handbook 38.6.19 "Birth Control"

 

"...for the choice of "permanent" sterilization. 38.6.19 "strongly discourages surgical sterilization as an elective form of birth control" and then allows for limited exceptions.

I expect that 38.6.4 is a better representation of God's truth on the matter (that birth control -- including surgical sterilization when a couple decides they will not have more children -- is a private matter that should be left between the couple and the Lord), and that 38.6.19 will eventually get edited and corrected when the bureaucracy can get to it (but what does some random internet busybody like me really know). For now, there is still some tension in the Handbook about just how far a couple can go in deciding these things for themselves." ~ David N

I'm not sure I see a conflict in the two policies. I can see why it would be "discouraged". When a couple goes in for surgical sterilization, the doctor has to sit them down and make sure they fully understand what they are electing to do. This is because many cases have had post surgery remorse - whether it was spiritually or years down the road changing their mind about wanting children. If a man is sterilized, should his wife die and he remarries, his new wife may want a child. Sure he can get a reversal, but it can cost $8-10,000. There is generally not the same issue with other forms of birth control. This is the only reason I can see it being "discouraged". Though it is discouraged, I was not able to find anywhere where sterilization would be a action that would affect temple worthiness or be a cause for membership restrictions or a church court. Bishops are not being told to ask about sterilization in interviews. So, in that, I'm still seeing the church keeping themselves out of the decisions they make concerning birth control. The only reason I can see why it would be put as a "discouragement" in the handbook would be in case a member ask a church leader about it. The church leader could then tell them "well, the handbook say's it's discouraged, but is a decision to be made between you, your spouse and the Lord." This is one of the reasons I wrote my article "Is the Bishop in Your Bedroom". As youth in the church we can culturally get so hung up on taking anything sexual to the Bishop that some don't realize they don't have to take what they do sexually with their spouse to the Bishop. As married couples, our sexual activities with our spouse are between spouses and the Lord. In fact, the Bishop really doesn't want to hear it and I've had a bishop tell me as much. ~ Coach Sam Zaragoza