Multiple and Replenish

President Hinckley once stated: “The Lord has told us to multiply and replenish the earth that we might have joy in our posterity, and there is no greater joy than the joy that comes of happy children in good families. But He did not designate the number, nor has the church. That is a sacred matter left to the couple and the Lord.” (Hinckley, Cornerstones to a Happy Home, pg 6)

When I was in elementary school, I had decided I wanted eight children, just like my mom. Later, in my teens, I had come up with twelve perfect names. I guess that meant I was going to have twelve perfect children. As time went on, and I got older, the number went back down to eight, then six, then four. Then I questioned if I was ever going to get married so I could at least have one child. Right about then I met my husband. We had a quick courtship and engagement. I can’t exact remember when we decided but during our courtship/engagement we decided we wanted three children. We also decided that we wanted them before my husband turned 40, which would mean that we’d have them all within five years from getting married, if possible.

In the same statement, President Hinckley said: “The official statement of the Church includes this language: ‘Husbands must be considerate of their wives, who have the greater responsibility not only of bearing children but of caring for them through childhood, and should help them conserve their health and strength. …They should seek inspiration from the Lord in meeting their marital challenges and rearing their children according to the teachings of the gospel.’” (Hinckley, Cornerstones of a Happy Home, pg 6)

Having three children in five years seems like a difficult task, both in the theory of conception and the “conserving” of “health and strength.” I am here to testify that as a couple comes together with the Lord and follows the inspiration given from the Lord, they will be able to do what is best for the whole family. We actually ended up having three children within 2 years and 362 days. As I look back on the past decade of our lives as a family, I know without a shadow of a doubt that we were supposed to have our three children within the time-frame we did. I can further testify that with the inspiration from the Lord I was given the help of multiple heavenly and earthly angels along my path to help with the energy and strength needed to accomplish this task.