What is the Mormon church's current policy and/or practice of reporting or recording as births and deaths on the records of the Church?
There is no information given by revelation in regard to the status of stillborn children. However, I will express my personal opinion that we should have hope that these little ones will receive a resurrection and then belong to us. I cannot help feeling that this will be the case.
When a couple have a stillborn child, we give them all the comfort we can. We have good reasons to hope. Funeral services may be held for such children, if the parents so desire. Stillborn children should not be reported nor recorded as births and deaths on the records of the Church, but it is suggested that parents record in their own family records a name for each such stillborn child.
President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972), Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. (1954–56), 2:280.
What if the baby was born alive, but died 10 minutes later?
"Only the atheist realizes how morally objectionable it is for survivors of catastrophe to believe themselves spared by a loving god, while this same God drowned infants in their cribs." Sam Harris
It’s a troubling policy. I don’t understand why stillborn babies are barred. It seems unnecessarily hurtful to the already-hurting parents. What would be the harm in the Church acknowledging the birth and adding the child to the Church records? Sometimes the self claimed family orientated Church is anything but.
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
It’s a troubling policy. I don’t understand why stillborn babies are barred. It seems unnecessarily hurtful to the already-hurting parents. What would be the harm in the Church acknowledging the birth and adding the child to the Church records? Sometimes the self claimed family orientated Church is anything but.
Although it should be noted that parents are encouraged to record stillborn children in their own family records. Families may include the name of a stillborn child on family group records, followed by "stillborn" in parentheses.
Also, memorial or graveside services may be held according to parents' wishes.
It’s a troubling policy. I don’t understand why stillborn babies are barred. It seems unnecessarily hurtful to the already-hurting parents. What would be the harm in the Church acknowledging the birth and adding the child to the Church records? Sometimes the self claimed family orientated Church is anything but.
Although it should be noted that parents are encouraged to record stillborn children in their own family records. Families may include the name of a stillborn child on family group records, followed by "stillborn" in parentheses.
Also, memorial or graveside services may be held according to parents' wishes.
Regards,
MG
What about saving ordinances? If not recorded, does the Mormon church permit them by proxy in the temple?
"Only the atheist realizes how morally objectionable it is for survivors of catastrophe to believe themselves spared by a loving god, while this same God drowned infants in their cribs." Sam Harris
Although it should be noted that parents are encouraged to record stillborn children in their own family records. Families may include the name of a stillborn child on family group records, followed by "stillborn" in parentheses.
Also, memorial or graveside services may be held according to parents' wishes.
Regards,
MG
What about saving ordinances? If not recorded, does the Mormon church permit them by proxy in the temple?
As far as I am aware, the answer is no. The Church in its wisdom treats ‘stillborn’ as ‘never born’. I’m not sure the child’s parents would agree.
Given that the fetus develops and is ‘alive’ for a period of time in the womb, the Church seems to be (unwittingly?) taking a position on when during a pregnancy the body has a spirit inserted.
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
It’s a troubling policy. I don’t understand why stillborn babies are barred. It seems unnecessarily hurtful to the already-hurting parents. What would be the harm in the Church acknowledging the birth and adding the child to the Church records? Sometimes the self claimed family orientated Church is anything but.
The harm would be equivalent to the church adding a recently-deceased 100 year-old to its records: The perception of artificial inflation of its numbers.
It’s a troubling policy. I don’t understand why stillborn babies are barred. It seems unnecessarily hurtful to the already-hurting parents. What would be the harm in the Church acknowledging the birth and adding the child to the Church records? Sometimes the self claimed family orientated Church is anything but.
The harm would be equivalent to the church adding a recently-deceased 100 year-old to its records: The perception of artificial inflation of its numbers.
Only if the child were to be added as “living”. Proxy ordinances don’t inflate membership numbers but they do allow parents to feel eternally connected to deceased children. Simply allow temple ordinances for stillborn children in the same way as they are allowed for children who die prior to the age of 8.
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
What about saving ordinances? If not recorded, does the Mormon church permit them by proxy in the temple?
As far as I am aware, the answer is no. The Church in its wisdom treats ‘stillborn’ as ‘never born’. I’m not sure the child’s parents would agree.
Given that the fetus develops and is ‘alive’ for a period of time in the womb, the Church seems to be (unwittingly?) taking a position on when during a pregnancy the body has a spirit inserted.
Not at the very moment a sperm penetratrates the egg?
"Only the atheist realizes how morally objectionable it is for survivors of catastrophe to believe themselves spared by a loving god, while this same God drowned infants in their cribs." Sam Harris
It’s a troubling policy. I don’t understand why stillborn babies are barred. It seems unnecessarily hurtful to the already-hurting parents. What would be the harm in the Church acknowledging the birth and adding the child to the Church records? Sometimes the self claimed family orientated Church is anything but.
The harm would be equivalent to the church adding a recently-deceased 100 year-old to its records: The perception of artificial inflation of its numbers.
The perception of padding numbers is enough for the Lord's church to withhold saving ordinances from a child of God? That looks much worse than some perceiving numbers padding.
"Only the atheist realizes how morally objectionable it is for survivors of catastrophe to believe themselves spared by a loving god, while this same God drowned infants in their cribs." Sam Harris
As far as I am aware, the answer is no. The Church in its wisdom treats ‘stillborn’ as ‘never born’. I’m not sure the child’s parents would agree.
Given that the fetus develops and is ‘alive’ for a period of time in the womb, the Church seems to be (unwittingly?) taking a position on when during a pregnancy the body has a spirit inserted.
Not at the very moment a sperm penetratrates the egg?
Well, if that was the case then they would treat a stillborn the same as a baby who dies shortly after birth. Because in the eyes of the Lord they would both have been spirits in posession of bodies. I think the Church is confused on this. If the Church takes a position that the spirit only becomes active when a child is born alive, then its objections to abortion are baseless.
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
