How do special needs married couples fulfill their covenants?

[Bini]

When you get married in the Temple you make covenants. One of these covenants is to have children and prosper, correct? What about couples that are unable to fulfill this covenant, not because they are barren, but because they simply cannot take on such a responsibility? Do they miss out on blessings if they remain childless?

So here's an example. My senior year in high school I worked in a program that assisted special needs individuals. Most of these people lived in group settings but a few of them were able to live on their own with a roommate, or in some cases, a spouse. I looked after a married couple who were both in their twenties and both diagnosed with a developmental disability. I helped them shop for food and clothing. I helped them prepare meals and reminded them to take their medications. I drove them to work and I picked them up afterward. The wife was on birth control to prevent pregnancy. Her mother took her to scheduled appointments to the doctor to get the depo-shot. Knowing their situation, this was absolutely the right decision, as this couple were not able to care or raise a child independently.

Now, I don't remember this particular couple being LDS but what about LDS special needs couples in the same boat? Are they exempt from the covenant of having children and prospering?

[Just_A_Guy]

When you get married in the Temple you make covenants.

The general expectation for Mormon couples, regardless of the temple ordinances, is that they have as many children as their individual circumstances allow. I don't really want to get into a discussion of what is and isn't in the temple ceremony, but suffice it to say that a couple that feels their circumstances don't allow them to have children, is not in breach of their temple covenants.

Now, I think most parents would tell you that children are blessings and that anyone who doesn't have kids is missing out--irrespective of why that person doesn't have kids. But does childlessness per se carry any eternal consequences? I would say "no".

[Melissa569]

Honestly, I think we are all judged (at least partly) according to the circumstances we were dealt. I can tell you for a fact, that god is far more forgiving than most people might tend to think...

[john doe]

Temple covenants are eternal. They extend into the life after this one.

[Wingnut]

I was able to attend Time Out For Women this weekend (which I highly recommend), and Ardeth Kapp was one of the speakers. She is a former YW General President and nearly 80 years old. She doesn't have any children. Yet. (She wasn't able to, and due to other circumstances, she and her husband chose not to adopt.) She said that when she was in her younger years, people would inevitably ask her how many children she had. Her answer was always "None yet." People still ask her today how many children she has, and she still answers, "None yet." She doesn't think of herself as an Elizabeth or a Sarah, but rather she is confident in the knowledge that blessings denied her in this life will still be available to her in the life to come.

[Hemidakota]

When you get married in the Temple you make covenants. One of these covenants is to have children and prosper, correct? What about couples that are unable to fulfill this covenant, not because they are barren, but because they simply cannot take on such a responsibility? Do they miss out on blessings if they remain childless?

So here's an example. My senior year in high school I worked in a program that assisted special needs individuals. Most of these people lived in group settings but a few of them were able to live on their own with a roommate, or in some cases, a spouse. I looked after a married couple who were both in their twenties and both diagnosed with a developmental disability. I helped them shop for food and clothing. I helped them prepare meals and reminded them to take their medications. I drove them to work and I picked them up afterward. The wife was on birth control to prevent pregnancy. Her mother took her to scheduled appointments to the doctor to get the depo-shot. Knowing their situation, this was absolutely the right decision, as this couple were not able to care or raise a child independently.

Now, I don't remember this particular couple being LDS but what about LDS special needs couples in the same boat? Are they exempt from the covenant of having children and prospering?

What prevents them to adopt a child and having permission, to have that child sealed to them? There is no eternal provision that bars any worthy ‘called couples’ from entering into that order being childless in this life.

[Elgama]

They fulfil their covenants the same way we all do, doing the best they can with what Heavenly father has blessed them with,

[ADoyle90815]

I would think God is more understanding and forgiving that we realize, especially when people are infertile, or are carriers of some genetic disorder that could be passed on to children. Many couples in those situations decide to adopt, and others are happy being aunts and uncles to their siblings' children. If that couple is struggling with their disabilities, it's understandable that they don't want to risk passing it on to their children. I think it might even be more difficult for special needs couples to adopt a child, since if given a choice, birth mothers might chose a couple who isn't disabled. It's sad, but there's still a stigma when it comes to developmental disabilities, just look at how many Down syndrome babies are aborted, even if the test was a false positive.