Church Quote by Heber C. Kimball
“Women are made to be led, and counseled, and directed…And if I am not a good man, I have no just right in this Church to a wife or wives, or the power to propagate my species. What then should be done with me? Make a eunuch of me, and stop my propagation.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: General Conference, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, 1850
The speaker argues that a man who cannot fulfill his duties as a husband and father should be denied the right to marry and have children, even to the point of forced celibacy.
In simple terms: A man unfit for marriage should be barred from having wives or children.
Key Takeaway
Consider the ethics of denying reproductive rights.
Themes
gender roles
marriage
reproductive ethics
authority
religion
Mood
conflicted
critical
thoughtful
Type
ethical
theological
social commentary
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- church leadership decisions
- family planning policies
- personal moral dilemmas
Key Concepts
patriarchal authority
moral responsibility
social control
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it just to punish someone by denying them family life?
- How could societies balance moral standards with personal freedoms?
A Different Perspective
Such a stance ignores individual autonomy and the potential for personal growth or redemption.
![“T]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people - the new covenant, blood-bought people of God. That's why Paul said, 'Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her' (Eph. 5:25). He didn't give himself up for a…” quote by Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a4/mark-dever-3175_blood_t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-bu_3297.jpg)
