Planned Parenthood is kinda like the Gospel...

I was in Planned Parenthood today picking up what I’m hoping is my last set of birth control before we start our family. I won’t tell you how many months I got, so you can still be surprised when I make an announcement. I went to the Orem/Provo office this time because it’s down the street from my work and I didn’t want to the Sugarhouse (Salt Lake) location this weekend. I should have expected a different dynamic going to the Provo office  than to the Downtown office, but I was caught completely off guard by what I found.

When I go to the Downtown office it’s always packed full of adults (mostly women). It’s always an interesting experience because someone always seems to want to talk to me in the waiting room and discuss their situation and ask for advice (weird, but I try to set a good example). When I walked into the Provo office the waiting room was completely empty. As I filled out my paperwork and waited, slowly a few people trickled in and out.

First a group of three MAYBE 15 year old girls walked in chatting and having a grand time. One girl approached the desk and proceeded to fill out the paper work. From the bits and pieces of their conversation I couldn’t help to overhear I gathered that one was hoping the test wouldn’t show up positive (don’t know if for pregnancy or std’s). I was shocked about how unconcerned these young girls were! I was in Provo for heaven’s sake.

The other group that really caught my eye was another younger girl (certainly in High School) that lined up with a woman that was probably her mother (she looked that age anyway). They were so happy standing in that line waiting for birth controll. I did a ring check and the young woman didn’t have an engagement ring on. I couldn’t help in both of these situations feeling horrible for these girls! What could have gone wrong to lead them here? Why wasn’t the mother of the High School-er freaking out (as I’m sure my Mom would if any of her daughters approached her in High School and asked for a Planned Parenthood escort).

It made me think of the Gospel Doctrine lesion I’m preparing for Sunday. I’m sure you’ll have the lesson yourselves, so to keep it brief there are four “steaks” that hold up a person (like steaks that support a fragile tree from strong wind). What was missing from these girls lives? Was it family example and support? Good friends? How do you get so calloused to a situation that at that age you can appear to not care at all?

As I drove away I was able to think of the positives in this situation. At least there was a place these girls could go to for help (STD and Pregnancy testing, birth control at a reasonable price). At least they had someone they could confide in and could support them through these hard times. Because I was in Provo I assume they are Mormon (which I shouldn’t), but regardless of Religion High Schools in Utah teach only abstinence as an option. So I’m glad that if these girls aren’t living morally clean they at least know they have the option of not bringing a child into this world into their difficult circumstances.

As a side note I’m not condoning abortion, but I do think the other services Planned Parenthood offers are necessary. I avoid the Gyno at all costs (thus the Planned Parenthood trips), so I can’t imagine a High Schooler having to hurdle that obstacle to get help. Even if they shouldn't be having sex, at least they have cheap/free access to contraceptives.