grea RE rte er geese ene The Church Section EDITORIAL ChildlessMarriages MARRIAGE ig conmmanded of the Lord. It is part of his plan for the welfare of his children here on earth. The establishment of a good home is one of the primary = of mankind. : - The Lord commands that rule for all of his children. marriage He does be the not expect that there shall be any individuals or any groups who will refuse to enter lawful and honorable matriage. Celibacy has no part in the Kingdom of God. It is true that there are some unfortunate ~ persons who, for some good reason, have no desirable opportunity for marriage but it is believed that in the Lord’s own due time, all righteous people will be given such opportunity. Relationship ~ of legal marriage ‘ful terms by the is ranked next to of crime. of the sexes outside the bonds is denounced in the most forceLord and his servants. Sex sin murder in the Lord’s category Through his servants the Lord has eee ed that we have good family life. That pre-supposes the rearing of children. From time immemorial the word of the Lord has been: “Multiply and replenish the earth.” Marriage is not for selfish relationships as between husband and wife. It is the threshold through which we as mortals may become in a very real sense, creators in partnership with God, by providing bodies for the _ Spirits which are sent from the eternal world to take up earth life here as we do. | & % % WHEN HE gave the commandment that mankind multiply and replenish the earth, he did not intend that it should be ignored. He expects obedience to all of his commandments. Newly married couples who start out in life are expected to keep this commandment, and not retire to a restricted existence without children. Childless marriages are generally unhappy ones, and when couples deliberately plan to remain childless, they contribute largely to the divorce rate of the na- tion, and to the unhappiness of the individuals themselves. Some who have been perfectly healthy and able to bear children have avoided this responsi‘bility, and in doing so have resorted to the use of harmful practices and devices resulting often in physical injury to the wife and demoralization to both parties. Some have wondered if the Church would approve such practices. Of course it never has and never could. : There are those who desire children, and find that one or the other of the couple is impotent Ss “ss ton Adoptions often have proved to be a blessing in such cases. In recent times, some medical men have experimented with aaa advised artificial methods of insemination. Occasionally our people inquire about the righteousness of such a practice, and have been told to avoid such things, that the . practice is not moral, and as would lead to family complications. * * THE NATURAL PROCESSES. of matrimony are approved of the Lord. He encourages his righteous children to rear their families in the way of truth, teaching them the gospel, and urging them to convert their children. He has laid it upon parents as a solemn re. Sponsibility to train their children to be genuine Latter-day Saints, warning them against sinful _ practices, and instilling in their hearts allegiance to the truth. Family life is sacred. It is an approach to the divine. In no way do men and women, boys and girls, get nearer to the Lord than through righteous, faith-promoting, harmonious family life. To further this condition among the Latterday Saints, the general authorities have advised that all families in the Church observe a regular home evening, during which they may ad_ vance the cause of good relationships within the — family, and teach all the members thereof the value of living the restored gospel. : 16—CHURCH SECTION ee ELEM kk x. Se