Doctrinal Library

Inexhaustible Gospel

Being so immersed in the gospel framework, we sometimes fail to realize how illuminating gospel truths are with regard to so many issues of the day. For instance, given the plan of salvation with our need to experience this mortal school, to acquire a mortal body, and then knowing the very preciousness of human life—we see the awful practice of widespread abortion differently. Similarly, struggling to have the “mind of Christ” includes purity of thought and letting virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly. Hence we view pornography as an awful and enslaving thing. We cannot feel otherwise concerning such practices as abortion and pornography, even if practices such as abortion and pornography are legally and constitutionally protected.

The Lord’s Side

Abortion rights are supported by 59 percent of the country [which is appalling] compared to Hollywood’s 97 percent. [See Chris Hicks, “Hollywood’s Values Clash with Our Own,” Deseret News, 19 July 1992, p. E9] Truly, parents and children will need to be diligent and cautious in choosing what type of entertainment to take into their homes.
Isn’t it interesting that these groups consider it “freedom of expression” to profane the Lord’s name and use obscenities, but oppose prayer in public places? These groups combat public faith yet uphold the right of anyone to have an abortion. They openly oppose good and love evil. Being on the Lord’s side means not only that we shun evil, but that we seek and cultivate the good wherever it can be found, whether within or without the Church.

The Sacred Responsibilities of Parenthood

The attacks on the family also undermine the value of life—particularly the life of the unborn. Life is being trivialized and subjected to the vacillating whims of convenience and political correctness. You will find it troubling as I do that between 1950 and 1997, some 46 industrialized countries and nine developing nations legalized or removed most restrictions on abortion. Each year an estimated 46 million abortions take place worldwide. Indeed, some estimate that induced abortions end one-fourth of all pregnancies.

As a Little Child

I testify that [babies and children] are images of the kingdom of God flourishing on earth in all of its strength and beauty.

Fear Not: Believe Only!

In a world that so desperately needs all the light it can get, please do not minimize the eternal light God put into your soul before this world was.

The Personal Journey of a Child of God

Some may question if life begins with the formation of an embryo, or when the heart begins to beat, or when the baby can live outside of the womb, but for us, there is no question that spirit daughters and sons of God are on their own personal journeys coming to earth to receive a body and experience mortality. As covenant children of God, we love, honor, nurture, safeguard, and welcome those spirits who are coming from the premortal world. May we always remember that each spirit child of God is coming to earth on his or her own personal journey.

The Eye of Faith

In my lifetime, we have seen a dramatic change in the world’s beliefs about many of the principles taught in the proclamation. During my teenage and early married years, many in the world walked away from the Lord’s standard we call the law of chastity, that sexual relations are to occur only between a man and a woman who are lawfully married. In my 20s and 30s, many walked away from the sacred protection of the unborn, as abortion became more acceptable.

And a Little Child Shall Lead Them

Fathers and mothers, next time you cradle a newborn child in your arms, you can have an inner vision of the mysteries and purposes of life. You will better understand why the Church is as it is and why the family is the basic organization in time and in eternity.

Repent of [Our] Selfishness

Today there are, for example, those who strain over various gnats but swallow the practice of partial-birth abortions. Small wonder, therefore, that selfishness magnifies a mess of pottage into a banquet and makes 30 pieces of silver look like a treasure trove.

Becometh As a Child

Ironically, as some people become harder, they use softer words to describe dark deeds. This, too, is part of being sedated by secularism! Needless abortion, for instance, is a “reproductive health procedure,” which is an even more “spongy expression” than “termination of pregnancy” (George McKenna, “On Abortion: A Lincolnian Position,” Atlantic Monthly, Sept. 1995, 52, 54). “Illegitimacy” gives way to the wholly sanitized words “nonmarital birth” or “alternative parenting”