By Doris
The world’s view on abortion is pro-choice, meaning any woman should be able to decide any time she is pregnant whether or not she wants to carry that baby and if she doesn’t want it, then she should be able to get an abortion, no strings attached.
Most Christians take the pro-life view that any human who has life has a right to maintain that life. The Ten Commandments say, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). Many Christians believe that killing a fetus is taking a life, even though the child has not yet been born.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often misnamed the Mormon Church) definitely stands on the side of opposing abortion. Modern scripture expands the commandment of not killing to “Thou shalt not . . . kill, nor do anything like unto it” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:6).
The Mormon rule regarding sex before marriage is certainly closely related to its stand on abortion. Mormon doctrine considers the power to create life a divine one, and God has made very clear His standards regarding using or abusing that power. “God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World). Getting pregnant out of wedlock is the result of a choice that woman made. She does not get to choose the consequences, and choosing to get an abortion will only compound the weight of the sins on her.
There are a very few instances in which the Mormon rule regarding abortion may permit an abortion. These include “when a pregnancy is the result of incest or rape, when the life or health of the mother is judged by competent medical authority to be in serious jeopardy, or when the fetus is known by competent medical authority to have severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth” (True to the Faith, p4). However, these circumstances do not automatically justify a woman to have an abortion. If a woman finds herself in any of these situations, the Mormon rule regarding abortion says she should make a decision only after talking with her local church leaders and receiving a confirmation from the Holy Spirit after asking God His will in earnest prayer.
There are circumstances, like those listed above, when the pregnancy is not the fault of the woman. She should seek guidance from the Spirit and from her leaders as well.
Any time a child is conceived out of wedlock, the Mormon rule regarding this encourages the couple who conceived the child to marry and work toward establishing an eternal family relationship, which is the goal of every faithful Latter-day Saint (“Mormon”). If the situation makes this outcome unlikely, it may be the best option to put the child up for adoption.
Life is sacred and should be treated as such. Children are a blessing from God and they are His children. They deserve to be raised in a home where they are loved and where their parents love and are faithful to God and each other.
Abortion should never be used as an easy out to a difficult situation. We will all be held accountable for our actions eventually, so covering up a mistake is not effective or a good option. Try to do the best you can to fix mistakes you make, through the healing and cleansing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
http://youtu.be/KGCxBmoAIAE
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