Large Mormon Families

[davejay]

No, of course not.  This topic was about large families, like 6 or more, I’ve even heard of 20 or more children from the same parents.  If you can’t support that many children, then it is wrong.
I feel strongly that the Churches welfare program is a lot better than the governments welfare program, the Churches welfare program, you have to do something to get the money; work at a cannery, do service projects, and so forth.  In the governments welfare program, not only are you not required to work, or do anything to get the money, you are penalized when you do.  This is so wrong.

[Happy_LDS]

I agree. It seems also that the concept of what constitutes a large family varies. You said six is or more (same with me) but now days if you have more than 2 people start looking at you weird.

[tragula]

Mormons in general are known to have large families, but depending where you live you may find acceptance or rejection in your decision to have a large family. My question is: How is it possible for Church members (who are supposed to know about the Plan of Salvation)  to criticize, ridicule or look "funny" to a family that decides to continue extending it? I fully understand the world's view but within the Church?

I think that it is clearly wrong for members of the Church to be judging other members for having large families.  I agree with the quote from Brigham Young.

[Happy_LDS]

Tragula yes it's sad...I was also thinking in another perspective. Those who have large families who criticize others for not having one. I know this lady who has 5 children and she is always talking how is it possible that sister A has only 1 or 2? And one day I told her, we really do not know the circumstances in the lives of each one of these people, who knows why! Every family is a world in itself and these issues are not something we should be assuming about one another.

[tragula]

Happy,
I agree.  I have a sister who was only able to have one daughter naturally and was not able to have any more, even though I know that she would like to have had more.  Should people judge her?  I don't think so.  She was able to adopt another daughter, but they were very lucky to get her, so now they have two, and they feel lucky at that.

[Happy_LDS]

Happy to hear that Tragula. I also think if she did not have health issues and her choice was to have just one child then is up to her and the Lord, nobody else should make her feel uncomfortable because she chose not to have more than 1.