Mormon Adoption, LDS Adoption, Child Adoption - Cheaper by the dozen? LDS family size, part 3

03/15/07

Cheaper by the dozen? LDS family size, part 3

Posted by : Tana W. in LDS Adoption Blog at 10:26 am , 346 words, 168 views
Categories: LARGE FAMILIES, Being Conspicuous

And regarding mothers working outside the home, President Hinckley said in 1996:

“I recognize … that there are some women (it has become very many in fact) who have to work to provide for the needs of their families. To you I say, do the very best you can. I hope that if you are employed full-time you are doing it to ensure that basic needs are met and not simply to indulge a taste for an elaborate home, fancy cars, and other luxuries. The greatest job that any mother will ever do will be in nurturing, teaching, lifting, encouraging, and rearing her children in righteousness and truth. None other can adequately take her place.

“It is well-nigh impossible to be a full-time homemaker and a full-time employee. I know how some of you struggle with decisions concerning this matter. I repeat, do the very best you can.” (Women of the Church,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 69)

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So, women in the work place and contraception advances have very likely contributed to a decrease in LDS family sizes, but what other factors might there be? A talk recently given by a sociologist in our ward got me thinking about all of this in a new and interesting light. She mentioned her interest in the evolution of cultures, and speculated that while Satan is obviously at the bottom of many of society’s glaring evils (specifically those targeting families such as pornography, adultery, divorce, etc.), he may also be the author of seemingly innocuous culture changes – slow, subtle metamorphoses that aren’t easily detectable by members of the culture. I began to wonder how some of these subtle cultural changes could have the (side?) effect of limiting family size. This led me to contemplate the questions that are typically asked of our large family: How do you afford to have so many children? Are you able to spend one-on-one time with your kids? Do you ever get any time to yourself? How can you ______? (travel, go to the grocery store, get your laundry done, homeschool – you name it) with that many children?

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Comment from: gloria [Member]

Tana
I find it so interesting that many people, like to ask such personal questions.... really ..... I would never ask anyone LDS or non LDS "why do you only have 1 child or 2 children or 3 children?". That question would be upsurd to ask, but yet so often we are asked why 10? I find this such a persona question and yet I usually smile and say "because God asked us to!"

Going back to the reason "why" many LDS are reducing their family size...... I really don't think it's a matter of $$..... I think it's more the cultural values that are influencing the Saints more than anything...... honestly speaking there are a lot of things one gives up to have a large family..... there is less time for self and less $$ - to me that is not a big deal - but for others that certainly could be....our society no longer values the keeper of the home.... where 100 yrs ago, a homemaker and mother was an aspired profession for women. Our society has demeaned the role of mother and wife and keeper of the home.....except for Christian circles and some other orthodox religions - being a wife and mother just isn't valued. I am afraid that many young LDS girls are picking up on these social cues as well..... just recently I subbed in primary..... the question was brought up in a group of 9 yr old children of "what do you want to be when you grow up"..... there were 5 girls in this class and ONLY one of them said she wanted to be a mom!!!! ( that was my daughter, rachel :) I thought to myself : something is wrong, ....... what is happening here? Why are our girls in our church no longer valuing motherhood? It is very tragic.

Blessings,
gloria

Permalink 03/18/07 @ 00:08