Birth Control and Family Planning

A private matter between a husband, a wife, and the Lord — and why the Church leaves it there.

Children Are a Blessing

The starting point is the worth of children. The first commandment given to Adam and Eve was to multiply and replenish the earth, and that commandment remains in force. Children are among the greatest blessings of this life and are central to God's plan, which depends on mortal bodies being provided for His waiting spirit children.

Psalm 127:3–5

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. … Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.”

Because children matter this much, the decision to have them is treated as sacred — not as a burden to be minimized or a lifestyle choice to be optimized away.

The Decision Belongs to the Couple

On the question of how many children to have and when to have them, the Church is deliberately clear: this is a private matter for the husband and wife. The Church does not set a number, does not track it, and does not judge couples for it. The decision, and the consequences of the decision, rest with each married couple and the Lord.

Couples are counseled to make that decision together, prayerfully, considering their circumstances, their health, and the guidance of the Spirit — not the pressure or opinions of anyone else. This restraint is itself a doctrine: God trusts husbands and wives, as stewards over the power of creation, to counsel with Him directly about their own family.

The One Limit

There is a single clear boundary. Elective abortion is never an acceptable method of family planning; it is contrary to the commandments of God and stands entirely apart from the private discretion couples have over birth control. The intimacy of marriage also serves more than procreation — it expresses love and strengthens the bond between husband and wife — and honoring that purpose is part of a healthy marriage.

Within that boundary, the matter is left where the doctrine places it: between a husband, a wife, and the Lord.

Key References