I came across this news story this morning: Children Bad for Planet

Having large families should be frowned upon as an environmental misdemeanour in the same way as frequent long-haul flights, driving a big car and failing to reuse plastic bags, says a report to be published today by a green think tank.

This scares me. China’s one child policy, for example, is grounded in similar concerns about the negative effects of overpopulation, but I don’t think most people could look at China’s decades-long experiment as evidence of the wisdom of limiting population. On the surface, it sounds reasonable: resources are stretched thin, land is becoming more scarce, pollution is a problem. It’s not a big jump to embrace the idea that slowing population growth might counter some of these issues. But in China, this slowed population growth has been accomplished with horrible consequences: forced and sex-selective abortion, stiff penalties and fines, families torn apart, and yes, my friends – even infanticide. These happenings are not evidence of “wisdom” or “success,” but of an adversary working overtime to undermine the family at every turn.

The authors of the study cited in the article certainly believe they are proposing a logical plan for dealing with some of Earth’s environmental woes, but what they suggest counter’s the Lord’s teachings in Doctrine and Covenants 104:17: "For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves."

Those who would reduce the value of a human being to a math equation demonstrating the number of pounds of carbon dioxide that person will ultimately add to the atmosphere know nothing of the divine worth of every individual on this planet. We are literal sons and daughters of God, and I can attest that He does not view His children liabilities or mere sources of pollution. He loves us and has provided the family as the ideal human unit on this Earth. The family is divinely ordained for welcoming and nurturing and teaching His children during their Earthly journey. "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" helps clarify the roles of children, parents and families in Heavenly Father's plan, as well as the penalties for attempts to thwart that plan:

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

2 Nephi 9:28 warns us about the dangers of substituting worldly knowledge for eternal truths and teaches us to recognize the source of false teachings: “O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.”

What are your thoughts about this article? How does adoption fit into all of this? (Or does it?) What other examples of the adversary’s attack on families have you seen that are also couched in environmentalism?

If you’re brave, you can also join a discussion about the article here. Here are a couple of gems from the growing list of comments:

“Could a third child perhaps grow up to discover an alternative fuel? We'll never know as long as we view people as liabilities rather than assets.”

“It's a little late, but welcome to ‘1984’.”

And my personal favorite: ;)

“Perhaps the parents of the authors should have been informed about this.”