Children are a heritage

I wish to let you know in writing how I feel about my children having children. I have been sufficiently instructed in the gospel to know that children are a heritage to the Lord. The world would be concerned about having children, but I am not.

We had eight children and would have more if we could have, but we were not blessed with the opportunity. 

Because the world looks down on having children many of the members of the church have adopted the ways of the world and do not understand the Commandments of God.The gospel of Jesus Christ is not understood by the world. Nor are the principles of it by those who seek after the world and its ways. The principles of the Gospel indicate that the patriarchal order is the order that will prevail in the celestial kingdom.

I think that the teachings of the gospel should really come by and through the family. The father is responsible for the teaching of the gospel to his wife and children and they are to listen to his counsel and follow it as long as it is righteous and in accordance with the teachings of The Lord and His prophets. We should follow the words of the Scriptures and of the prophets. 

The first commandment given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was to multiply and replenish the earth and to have joy and rejoicing in their posterity. We learn later that this joy is to come in the day of The Lord Jesus Christ. 

When Alice and I were first married, President David O. McKay was asked a question about limiting our families. His response was that those couples that practiced birth control would reap disappointment bye and bye. When I was asked about this matter as a stake president, I would say that the covenant was between the individual and The Lord. I would then say that they were responsible not to me, but to The Lord. 

Some individuals cannot have children in this life. The Lord does not require us to run faster than we are able. However there are saints that limit the number of children that they bring into the world because of reasons that have nothing to do with raising a righteous posterity, but fear. They want to send their children to college. They want to provide them with a car. They feel like they cannot provide for the luxuries if they have more children. In the end we cannot take our money or our degrees or our worldly possessions into heaven, but if we are fortunate our children will be there.  

Love

Grandpa