jayanna

I would think it would be between you and your doctor. However, if you do get looks at church, assume it is envy because it certainly would be on my part. I try not to be covetous of babies but it's so hard.

I think a sheep would be a vast improvement on me. I wanna be this sheep. Maybe we can take turns...

Is it wrong to receive government assistance? Of course not. First of all, when I first became a single mother after I had exhausted my savings I received assistance from the church for about a month, while my applications for government assistance were being processed...assistance that MY BISHOP told me to file for. He would not have advised me to do so if it were sinful. Since becoming an adult I have worked at least one job, sometimes as many as three. I believe that whatever assistance I received for that short time (the medical coverage was for about 3 years) was more than returned in the 18 or so years since then. I am very glad that I had that medical coverage since that was when I started having some very significant heart problems and had 2 toddlers at home. Secondly, we are all using government assistance as we read and type. Even this website is funded by a third party. The roads we drive on are provided by government funding, as is our police force, fire services, and as we know here in Oklahoma, the National Weather Service is watching over us to take care of our storm safety. Is it evil to receive these things? Of course not. Should we all go build our own temple because the one we attend was built with dollars that were given by others? No. Let's not be ridiculous. The very concept of money should be and will be eradicated at some point. I am more than happy to give part of the money I make at my job (and it isn't much at all) to help families welcome a little baby. The money doesn't really belong to me anyway. The Lord is merciful and only asks 10% of it back at this time, but someday it will be 100%. I look forward to the day when I no longer have to worry about money, I am so much closer to being a temple worker now. This being said, we need to remember moderation in all things. Independence is a very important principle, as are all of our gospel principles. However, it is not meant to be taken to the extreme of not helping one another without judgement or malice. The entirety of the gospel is the news that we are all washed clean of our sins and can receive eternal life through the sacrifice of one man. We are every one of us unprofitable servants. No, not one of us has earned atonement, it was freely given. Somehow, he has agreed to make us joint heirs, and he didn't have to. When we judge someone else because of 'welfare' may we always remember that the only reason there's a heaven possible for us is because we accepted charity from the Lord. Charity never faileth.