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Just to clarify, I would like to set the record straight that the LDS religion has never set out to "justify" their
"tendencies" to have many children. In my life here on earth, there has never been one presentation by any of our
general authorities that encourage people to have more children and there is nothing in our doctrine that encourages
people to have more children. On the other hand, LDS families tend to have generally somewhat larger families, but
that is because we believe we are spirit children of our Heavenly Father and that He sent us here, not only to gain a
physical body, but to learn His doctrine and to keep His commandments so that we might prove ourselves worthy to
return to Him at the end of our lives. Consequently, as a people, we love the opportunity to provide physical bodies
that our Heavenly Father needs for His spirit children to come to the earth.
Additionally, if you would do your homework, you will find that the size of the average LDS family is about the
same average size as a Catholic family. To stress the point, the average size of the Islamic family is just a little larger
than both of these groups, and the average size of a Jewish family is just a little smaller. Large families is not
something that is indigenous to LDS people only.
As to your claim that the earth is being overpopulated and consequently our natural resources are being depleted and
our beautiful earth is being damaged, I beg to differ. The damage to our earth and atmosphere is not done by people
because there are too many of them. In my opinion, it is done because there are companies out there that are not
willing to produce vehicles that can run efficiently on something other than fossil fuel. Too many vehicles are
polluting our earth’s atmosphere, not too many children. Factories worldwide that dump toxic chemicals into rivers
and streams are diminishing the beauty of our earth. Laziness and greed, not too many children create these
problems. Although, after all of these centuries, it is true that there still are people starving in so many parts of the
world. Isn't it interesting that in the United States of America the population has doubled in the past 40 years and we
don’t have any less food and water now then we did then. In fact you will have to agree that governments around
the world are even paying farmers to "dump" milk, potatoes, corn and other foods because of the tremendous over
supply for the market. I wonder if there is a way that governments could give send their excess crops to the poor and
starving countries in the world, like Ethiopia, Somalia, Albania, and Serbia and so many others. It’s a crime that even
in our own country of America, with the plentiful resources of food that we have, people go hungry!
In a revelation given to a prophet in these last days, the Lord said "For the earth is full and there is enough and to
spare it. Yea, I have prepared all things for the children of men."
What we need in the world today is not fewer children. What we need is less greed, more compassion, more charity,
more concern about the well being of others and those that can actually make a difference. What we need are honest
individuals who can provide us with legislation requiring cars and factories, to burn cleaner fuel or by using alternate
sources of energy.
Look around and see what I have seen as I have traveled this beautiful world of ours. There are plenty of natural
resources, plenty of space and plenty of food. Even in the world's most densely populated country, China, there are
vast wildernesses and their pristine mountains and forest are something to behold. We definitely don't need fewer
children. We need more common sense and more compassion from those who can make a difference.
Sincerely,
Donny Osmond
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