I am BriAnne. That's a fact. If you're reading this initial post, it's probably because we're already somehow acquainted, so I doubt that some delightfully formal introduction is needed. Nonetheless, I'm a wife to one and a mother to three. It's the best job I've ever had. I'm a portrait photographer on the side and an aspiring writer. I'm LDS. And I know that many don't find religious affiliation to be a defining characteristic, but in my case I assure you that it is. I hope that who I am and what I am somehow has the ability to define and inspire, to teach and to lift.
I have a family blog where I post our latest news and ridiculous amounts of photos of our darling children. That blog is a good record of our family life and it keeps our more distant family and friends informed. It will continue to serve that purpose. But sometimes I'm opinionated, sometimes I have things on my mind worth sharing, occasionally I'm even inspired, and quite often I think I'm hilarious. In all cases I enjoy writing about it, but realize that I seldom do. I wanted a place where I could do just that. This blog is going to be that place. I love to write. I am far more eloquent with the written word than the spoken. Perhaps that's because I speak faster than anyone I know and my brain has trouble catching up. Or perhaps it's because ever since I can remember words have simply flowed from my hand. Whatever the cause, I love to write. I always said that one day I'd write a book.....and hopefully someday I'll do just that, but until then maybe some of you will enjoy my random little blurbs instead. I hope so. (Be patient with me as I work out the kinks with this new blog. I'm positive it will change.)
Controversy is popular. People are drawn to it. Controversial topics breed a wide array of feelings and heated debate. As many of you know, I'm still in school. I'm currently taking an environmental science course that has quite a broad scope. My professor talks about everything from recycling to the greenhouse effect to the nitrogen cycle. Every Thursday we discuss a current event/topic that relates to that week's subject. This past week's topic was sustainability and population control.....the topic I've been dreading all quarter.
Why would I dread it, you say? Because as I glanced over the syllabus on the first day of class, it was the one topic where I thought to myself, "Now, that's the day that as an LDS Mother, you'll be more than likely standing alone." And I was. I generally love being right, but Thursday I wasn't as thrilled with it.
The event that spawned this debate was a short textbook article that we had to read involving the Matlab Project in Bangladesh. The issue was essentially this: Bangladesh has something like a population of 145 million people. It's a country roughly the size of Wisconsin. They also had an incredibly high total fertility rate in comparison to other countries. The Matlab Project involved an organization going in with free contraceptives and "education." Volunteers of this organization would essentially make personal visits to the homes of every female within their particular area EVERY two weeks "educating" them about their options. Within 18 months, the percentage of women on birth control reached well over 50%. The textbook claimed that Bangladesh was successful "because of aggressive, well-funded outreach efforts..." It also claimed that because of outreach efforts "Ideal family size declined." And although the textbook applauded Matlab's success in helping curb this explosive population growth, it also said that a larger decline in population may be necessary, "but further reductions may require fundamental social, political, and economic changes that are difficult to implement in traditional...countries..."
When I first read the article I was schocked. When our discussion ensued in class on Thursday evening, my shock turned to annoyance first and then pity. For the record, I like my professor. He's a very nice, respectable man and in his defense, he probably thinks he's doing and saying the right things. In the interest of education and environmental concern, he thinks that the smart choice for curbing the overpopulation of our planet is having enough individuals who will make the smart choice to have no children.
I learned many years ago that the smart choice is the choice that leaves you standing on holy ground. Do I think that as a global population we abuse our natural resources? Yes. Do I think that our amount of waste is significant? Yes. Do I think that in certain areas, due to high levels of poverty and population, that people are suffering? Yes. Do I believe that because of those facts that we as humans have the right to think we know better than a loving God? No.
We're given commandments for a reason. When our Father in Heaven asked us to multiply and replenish the Earth, He didn't say, "Multiply and replenish the Earth until the scientific community thinks that my creation can't sustain the effects of that commandment any longer, in which case you can ignore it." God knows the capacity of this planet. He created science and He perfectly understands the sustainability of His natural resources. And truthfully (and this a matter of pure speculation), I think the Second Coming of our Savior will arrive long before we've exhausted our resources. So, in the face of scientific logic, and an entire classroom that essentially agreed with my professor, I am still unmoved.
I was strangely silent as the discussion went on. I thought the smartest approach would be to not drag religion into a scientific discussion. I knew I couldn't win. But when someone stated that educated women have fewer children and another that laws governing reproduction (such as the one implemented in China) would be the best route, I think I must have started shifting in my seat. If nothing else, a look of sheer disgust must have crossed my face. It was when my professor said, "BriAnne, you look like you have something to say," that I realized my silence wasn't the best decision I'd ever made.
I'm sure what came out of my mouth wasn't eloquent. I was caught off guard and hadn't formulated any of the hundreds of thoughts swirling around in my head into anything coherent or logical. But I answered anyway. The room was silent. I don't know if anybody agreed with me. If they did, they were too scared to say so. And I partially can't blame them for that. But I'll tell you what I told them (only it'll probably sound prettier this time around). And I say it with just as much certainty this time and without apology.
Our Father in Heaven knows what He's doing. He knows what He's asked and He knows the consequences of that request. He doesn't make apologies and there are no exceptions to His rules. He said to multiply and replenish the Earth and He meant it. I stand with the prophets when I say that that law remains in force. Population doesn't get to be our concern because He needs all of His spirit children to get here. It is what it is.
In regards to what's happening in Bangladesh, I feel sorry for those women. Their new "education" has convinced them that there's more to life than having children and raising families. I assure you that there isn't. Families are the purpose of life. We've come here to learn to be like our Heavenly Father...to learn to raise children and selflessly love them. Life is family. And all of the education in the world won't convince me otherwise. I have an educated Mother who chose to bear and raise eight children. I'm grateful every day for a Mom (and Dad) who understands the Plan of our Heavenly Father and who decides to stand in holy places. I'm grateful for the seven siblings I have who are my best friends. I'm grateful for my three beautiful children and hope to some day declare that I have more than that.....without apology.
For the record, I'm not opposed to the use of contraceptives, nor is it my business how many children any of my readers choose to have. My point is simply this: Dont' second guess God. You'll never come out on the winning end of the argument. And although standing on His side sometimes leaves you standing alone, I can't even begin to express the sweet peace that washed over me when I answered my professor. An entire classroom on my side couldn't have replaced that feeling had I remained silent. God lives. So does our Savior who is His Son. And because They live, we live. No amount of science can alter those facts.
No comments:
Post a Comment