Mormon Leaders on Population Control

Russell M. Nelson 

Another excuse some use to justify abortion relates to population control. Many in developing nations unknowingly ascribe their lack of prosperity to overpopulation. While they grovel in ignorance of God and His commandments, they may worship objects of their own creation (or nothing at all), while unsuccessfully attempting to limit their population by the rampant practice of abortion. They live in squalor, oblivious to the divine teaching-stated in the scriptures not once, but thirty-four times-that people will prosper in the land only if they obey the commandments of God. (General Conference, April 1985)

Harold B. Lee 

Satan turns great issues of the day into concerns for the Church. Do you realize that Satan has decreed that he will use all of his considerable power to thwart the work of Jesus Christ on the earth? That power enables him to turn some of the great issues of the day into the challenges of the Church. The women's liberation front, at least the extremist areas, challenges the teachings of the Church concerning the sister's role as homemaker and her key role as supporter and thus to share in the blessings of the priesthood. This whole movement strikes at the heart of one of the great and the most fundamental teachings pertaining to your lives. We hear so much about this world ecology. Experts develop theses around fully justified pollution problems, then all too often conclude that the solution to these problems lies in birth and population control—again, a direct challenge to the word of God as revealed by his prophets. (Teachings of Harold B. Lee, 43)

Ezra Taft Benson 

The precepts of men would have you believe that by limiting the population of the world, we can have peace and plenty. That is the doctrine of the devil. Small numbers do not insure peace; only righteousness does. After all, there were only a handful of men on the earth when Cain interrupted the peace of Adam's household by slaying Abel. On the other hand, the whole city of Enoch was peaceful; and it was taken into heaven because it was made up of righteous people. And so far as limiting the population in order to provide plenty is concerned, the Lord answered that falsehood in the Doctrine and Covenants when he said: "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." (D&C 104:17.) (General Conference, April 1969)