Sunday I taught the RS lesson out of the Conference Ensign---
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them by President Boyd K. Packer.
I also shared some of the information from Handbook 2.
Birth Control
21.4.4 It
is the privilege of married couples who are able to bear children to
provide mortal bodies for the spirit children of God, whom they are then
responsible to nurture and rear. The decision as to how many children
to have and when to have them is extremely intimate and private and
should be left between the couple and the Lord. Church members should
not judge one another in this matter.
Married
couples should also understand that sexual relations within marriage
are divinely approved not only for the purpose of procreation, but also
as a way of expressing love and strengthening emotional and spiritual
bonds between husband and wife.
Family Circumstances
7.2.1 When extending callings, scheduling leadership meetings, and planning activities, leaders consider the family circumstances of members. Church service and participation always entail a measure of sacrifice. However, strong families are vital to the Church, and members should not be asked to make excessive family sacrifices to serve or to support programs or activities.
One
family circumstance to consider is the Church calling(s) held by a
member’s husband or wife. Individual families should not be overburdened
with Church responsibilities. Another circumstance to consider is the
overall time demands that members face in supporting their families and
taking care of other personal matters. In some areas of the world,
members of necessity work two or three jobs. These are legitimate
considerations for leaders to weigh in extending callings, scheduling
leadership meetings, and planning activities.
19.1.1 Although service in Church callings requires sacrifice, it should not compromise a member’s ability to fulfill family and employment responsibilities (see 17.2.1). Before calling a married person to an assignment that requires a significant time commitment, Church leaders consider the effect of the calling on the marriage and family.
A couple of paragraphs from President Packers talk--
"....I could understand why in all that we do in the Church, we need to provide the way, as leaders, for parents and children to have time together as families. Priesthood leaders must be careful to make the Church family-friendly.
"There are many things about living the gospel of Jesus Christ
that cannot be measured by that which is counted or charted in records
of attendance. We busy ourselves with buildings and budgets and programs
and procedures. In so doing, it is possible to overlook the very spirit
of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Too often someone comes to me and says, 'President Packer, wouldn’t it be nice if … ?'
I
usually stop them and say no, because I suspect that what follows will
be a new activity or program that is going to add a burden of time and
financial means on the family.
Family time is sacred time and should be protected and respected. We urge our members to show devotion to their families."
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