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Lds Position On Organ Donation

Do you feel it is right to give up your body for organ donation or should you be kept in tact for a proper burial? The other point would be the living gain from your body, but then again is your body so sacred that it should not be cut up in this manner?

Donation Organ Position Lds

My personal belief is that if I'm dead, I don't really need my organs. I'd be glad to give someone else the chance to live a better life if my organ donation would help them.

Lds Position On Organ Donation Studies Doctrine Mormon

You're really pushing my buttons right now!
I am a living organ donor. I donated my left kidney to my brother 14 years ago, on my 29th birthday. And, it is possible that I am suffering some ill effects of that action right now.

I have absolutely no problem, whatsoever, donating my organs at death. I don't think there is the slightest possible doctrinal reason not to do it.

In order to expand on this, I am going to discuss a different subject.

We all know (I assume) that the Church frowns on cremation. However, this is most definitely NOT a ban. Specifically, when a person comes from culture or country where it is required (India, Japan, some American Indian cultures), it is perfectly acceptable. Likewise, there is no possibility that a person who is completely destroyed in an explosion or actually consumed by wild animals would miss out on anything in the resurrection.

Based on these ideas, how could it be bad to not only provide service, but life itself to someone after our death, by donating organs that we don't even need?

Edited: Nighthawk on 29th Apr, 2004 - 2:16pm

Donation Organ Position Lds

I have struggled with this issue for years. If a loved one of mine needed an organ, I would want there to be one available, yet I hestitate to sign a donor card for when I die.

I think a part of me is afraid I will need my organs after I am dead. Or, as JB has said, maybe my body is not to be shared with someone else because it is a temple and sacred. Perhaps we have taken science too far by doing organ transfers.

Nighthawk, I think it is great you donated your kidney for your brother. I know I would want my loved ones to have the opportunity to receive an organ if it was needed. For some reason I am uncomfortable with the idea of donating mine though. Perhaps it is because of the Church's position on cremation. I don't know. However, if the Church were against organ donations, I am sure they would have counseled us about this by now. Organ donations and transplants is not new occurance. There has been ample time for our leaders to preach against it, if they were so inclined.

This might be an argument for why we shouldn't donate living organs. I don't know. At one point my sister asked me if I would donate a kidney to her if she needed it. I was about 20 at the time and had an infant son. It turned out she didn't need it. I told her I would, but I remember thinking I wasn't sure I really wanted to. I was afraid the one I had remaining might stop working some day. I don't know what I would have done in the end since it turned out she didn't need one. Today, I think I would probably donate it if she or another member of my family needed it, yet I still haven't signed that donor card for when I die.


Edited: tenaheff on 29th Apr, 2004 - 5:32pm

Donation Organ Position Lds

When I was about to donate my kidney, knowing that kidney problems are rampant in my family, many people asked me what I would do if I needed one later in life. My answer is still the same. I will cross that bridge if I come to it.

Diabetes is also rampant in my family. Since diabetes is one of the major causes of kidney failure, it is something that I really must watch for.

When my oldest daughter (now 19) heard that I am having a possible slight problem with my kidney, she immediately said that she would donate, if I ever need it.

I never considered it either a concern nor an honor to donate. My brother needed it, I had it. I will admit that I have to fight a little bit of pride about it. I really don't want to feel proud, as I think that such a feeling cheapens what happened.

As I said before, cremation is discouraged, not forbidden. It is even almost encouraged for certain cultures.

I guess that I can understand being hesitant about signing the donor card. But on deep reflection, it seems to me to be the easiest way possible to serve others in the most meaningful way.

Lds Position On Organ Donation

True, but unless you live in a culture that requires cremation we have been urged or counseled not to be cremated. I don't believe we are ever held accoutable for our actions when we have no choice or agency. Such would be the case if you are cremated because the law requires it. However, making a choice to do something we shouldn't is different. So, I wonder about the sacredness of the body. Yet, since the Church hasn't taken a position forbidding or even discouraging organ donation, I have to believe there is no gospel reason not to do it.

Lds Position Organ Donation

Well after all... you are the man of controversy

Nighthawk, you do bring up some points that I have often thought about. Why not help another rather than just be buried in the ground? I do know that my family would rather a proper service for me than just the remains being stored in a box and the coffin closed or urn as the case may be.

Anyway, the position of the Church on this is that it is left up to the individual and family. The decision to receive an organ should be made after competent medical counsel and prayer.

Lds Position Organ Donation Mormon Doctrine Studies

You don't know I have some strong feelings about this topic. In our ID cards here in Trinidad you don't have to sign whether you want to be an organ donor or not, I personally want to be one after I die, my only problem is that I would like to be buried with my Temple clothing, can I do both? I say buried because I know the Church do not agree with cremation and also because as I said before I would like to wear my Temple Clothing. As members of the Church we know that our life and our all is not in our flesh but in our souls and to know I can help to save a life would be such a great feeling after I depart from this life. If I was in the US or in any other country where you have to sign the card, I would be a bit afraid...can you imagine being kidnapped, just to take away your organs! and if you have a card signed then it seems like a free passport to me, who assures me that that information would be confidential and sfe until I die?.
I cannot remember where I read it but it says the Church has not an official position about Organ Donation.