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Don't put off having children, LDS Church apostle tells students

Published: Wednesday, Feb. 16 2005 4:15 p.m. MST

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confused

So how come BYU doesn't have a day care and a large amount of teachers will not allow children in class?

What in the world...?

This seems strange to me. The above comment from Confused seems appropriate; if BYU doesn't have a daycare, and "good" mormons go to BYU, but "good" mormons _also_ have children early, then it almost sounds to me like he's saying that they should choose between an education (which would PROVIDE for the kids) and having children.
I'm hoping that the students will have the good sense to finish their educations and get secure jobs before they even consider marriage, let alone children. I also hope that the trend of young women attending BYU until they are engaged to someone and then dropping out is declining. Point is, young people can make some pretty shortsighted life choices on their own--I really don't feel that their religious leaders should encourage them to rush headlong into parenthood before they've even graduated. Certainly not in the name of God, or anyone else. The Church Handbook does state (last time I knew) that the when and how of many children are brought into the world is strictly between the parents and God. I don't really feel that it's even Nelson's business.
Oh well. Strange planet, full of strange people, long weird trip, etc.

Jake

The world is overpopulated.

The responsible thing would be to have only one child, and to wait until one is absolutely ready to care for it responsibly.

But then the church couldn't brag about its numbers.

Becky

I am in complete agreement with the previous two comments. Good to see people with common sense, wisdom, and concern for something outside their own little bubble.

Anonymous

The entity over corporate Earth seems confused. Why allow numerous people to be killed in genocides on a yearly basis and have numerous earthquakes, tornadoes, and diseases that kill millions if in fact this same being says to hurry create as many babies as one can. It just doesn't seem to make sense and seems to be a bunch of hogwash.

ex and female

Is is talks like the one at that fireside that are the main reason I left the church several decades ago. I can't believe it is still going on. This institution is slowing going to make itself obsolete and offensive to half the population if it continues to encourage wide hips and narrow minds for females.

@commenters above

I'd suggest you find a less successful, wise and inspiried parent and husband to criticize than Elder Nelson.
He has forgotten more about parenting than the first 6 bloggers can hope to know.
Your captions are at least accurate...confused and what in the world.

ex and female

I am sure that Elder Nelson is a wonderful parent and he and his wife have raised great children. My point is that admonishing OTHERS to start early while going to school (which usually amounts in women dropping out and not finishing school) is not fair to them. There are a lot of depressed women in the Church who are too scared to speak out that they wished they had waited a few years to begin their family.

Jenn

As a young female college student I have began to see many of my childhood girlfriends who are LDS beginning to get married and have children while still in college, and it brakes my heart that these young girls are having their youth taken from them in order to meet some sort of quota for the church. Women and men should be free to make these decisions regarding when and at what age they would like to have children by themselves, but mostly it is important to encourage an education so that they will be able to support their families and themselves in the future.

Atheist

Women bare the brunt of this burden, due to the expectation that men will be the ones providing for the family. Why doesn't the church just come out and say women should not pursue their careers to instead raise a family.

Maxwell

How strange for a Religion following in the path of Jesus, who was a childless batchelor, to urge everyone to Marry and have many children. It is incredible to me that such an idea can occur from being a disciple. The only refreshing aspect of Christian life is the voluntary single life.

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