Martial Sexuality and Fertility

We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. We declare the means by wish mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. 


LDS and Other Religions' Doctrines on the Purposes of Marital Sexuality

There are several reasons for marital sexuality.

Becoming one-this is a doctrinal foundation of Christian belief. Rabbi Shuley Boteach identified physical intimacy of a husband and wife as something that symbolizes the tie between God and all of His creations. Jeffrey R. Holland describes it as a "welding".  H. B. Yusuf, speaking on the unity in marital intimacy, stated that in Islam "the union of the man and his wife is traced to a common origin of equality because both are created from a single soul." Marital sexuality is designed to "build tranquil unity between spouses." Gardner, a Christian author, summed up this purpose when he stated:

Godly sex is so much more . . . than merely a physical act; it has a spiritual component . . .[A] deeper connection [within sexual relations] goes far beyond simply understanding how to overcome sexual dysfunction. . . . It goes way beyond technique and physique. This deeper dimension is experienced when we move past pleasure as a goal and instead seek intimate connection--not just with our bodies but also with our souls.

Connection with God-LDS writers and other Christians describe marital intimacy as a sacrament. Gardner also said that sex in marriage is like "an act of worship, a sacrament of marriage that invites and welcomes the very presence of God." Elder Holland describes this purpose of marital sexuality:

Sexual intimacy is . . . symbolic of a union between mortals and deity, between otherwise ordinary and fallible humans uniting for a rare and special moment with God himself and all the powers by which he gives life in this wide universe of ours. . . . Indeed, if our definition of sacrament is that act of claiming, sharing, and exercising God's own inestimable power, then I know of virtually no other divine privilege so routinely given to us all--women or men, ordained or unordained, Latter-day Saint or non-Latter-Day Saint -- than the miraculous and majestic power of transmitting life, the unspeakable, unfathomable, unbroken power of procreation. 

Strengthening Bonds-President Spencer W. Kimball said "There is nothing unholy or degrading about sexuality in itself, for by that means men and women join. . . in an expression of love." Husbands and wives can learn to share a view that marital sexual expression is designed to protect and strengthen emotional bonds, which in turn will influence marital sexuality and satisfaction."  From an Islamic point of view, the purpose of sexual intimacy is for the mutual pleasure and bonding of a wife to her husband.

Procreation-Adam and Eve were told to "multiply and replenish the earth." According to the Proclamation to the World this directive is still in force. For the continuation of generations, the marital act of procreation is the foundation of the bridge between  ancestors and progenitors. For those married couples unable to have children, the promise of increase as part of the Abrahamic covenant is an eternal promise, and of course, for those who choose to adopt, the sealing power will achieve this same purpose as though the adoptive parents had borne the child biologically.



Attitudes and Beliefs that Help Promote Positive Marital Sexuality

1. Sexual interaction is a healthy component of marriage that need not be a source of negative feelings or guilt.
2. Married persons deserve to feel good about their bodies and to view sexual expression as a normal, healthy part of their marriage. 
3. A primary component of marital sexuality is giving and receiving pleasure-oriented touching in the context of an intimate, committed, and divinely supported relationship. As such, it requires relaxation and focus on the other person as well as on one's own pleasure. 
4. Sexuality should be expressed in a way that enhances your intimate, marital relationship and bonds you together. 
5. Couples should strive to create a "we" relationship, where both partners' sharing and pleasure is important as opposed to one person individually focused on what she or he will get out of the experience. 

The Decision to Bear and Rear Children

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "If you are married, you and your spouse should discuss your sacred responsibility to bring children into the world and nurture them in righteousness." For those married couples who are physically able, it is a spiritual obligation as well as a joy with subsequent blessings to bear and rear children. 

Principles that help guide couples in this decision:

• Study the matter carefully-consider the sanctity and meaning of life and the joy that children bring to the home, ponder the plan of salvation, weigh the consequences of their choices.
• Counsel together-neither husband nor wife should seek to coerce the other, respectfully and patiently listen, try to understand the principles that underlie differing points of view.
• Seek the inspiration of the Lord-seek His help as they study the doctrines and the plan of salvation and consider their circumstances, seek His help in counseling together and arriving at a decision.

Couples of childbearing years will be faced numerous times with the question of how many children to have and when or if to add another member to their family. 

From the textbook, Successful Marriages and Families, Hawkins, Alan J., Dollahite, David C., & Draper, Thomas W., 2012.