In a world where everything seems to revolve around sex, where sitcoms get their biggest laughs from sexually-related jokes, it seems a little odd to preach abstinence. I mean, kids aren’t going to listen – why not just teach about birth control instead?
But as the focus of society shifts more and more to sex, at the same time, more and more voices of reason are stepping forward to talk about the benefits of abstinence. Religious figures are not the only ones to speak out – medical authorities have also talked about it. And more teenagers are listening than we might think.
Why should we teach abstinence rather than birth control? And why does the LDS Church place such focus on it?
1. Risk of pregnancy. A teenage pregnancy or any unexpected pregnancy is not ideal for the mother or the child. Sometimes the girl is simply too young to be able to carry successfully. These pregnancies can end in abortion, are sometimes accompanied by drug or alcohol abuse, and at the very least cause a great deal of emotional upset. No birth control is 100% effective. The only way to completely avoid an unexpected pregnancy is to abstain.
The LDS Church teaches that a child deserves to be born into a home where both mother and father are present. This is not always possible in cases of unexpected pregnancy.
2. Risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Regardless of your spiritual leanings, we can all agree that contracting an STD is bad. It can not only take your life, but the lives of any partners you may have in future, and if you were to become pregnant, the life of your child as well. While not every STD is life-threatening, many are, and those that are not can make the lives of the carriers miserable with various symptoms. It’s just not worth it. No form of birth control can protect you from contracting an STD.
3. Loss of the Spirit. Moral cleanliness is one of the most prized attributes we can have. When a person is morally clean, not only physically but mentally, they can have the Holy Ghost with them at all times and are better able to do God’s work, acting as His hands on earth. When we are not morally clean, we lose that guide and can fall prey to even more mistakes. There’s no form of birth control that can keep your spirituality intact.
At the risk of being too blunt, let me say this. Your peers and society will tell you that sex is great, that you’re missing out on something wonderful if you wait. But no sex is worth the accompanying guilt, chance of pregnancy, and chance of contracting an STD. What makes sex wonderful is doing it with someone you love, who will be there the next morning, who has shown their commitment to you by waiting until after marriage. When you know that person is truly yours, when you know that your union has been blessed by God, that is when sex is most wonderful. Anything else is just an imitation.
Related Blogs:
Sex Education Curriculums Need a Makeover
Research Supports Abstinence Programs
Is It Time to Teach Your Child the Facts of Life?