Doctrinal Library

D&C 101:78

78 That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.

Marriage and Family (Part 2)

A Conversation about Abortion

Friend: I don’t get it, Sarah. If your church believes so strongly in choice, then why are you against a woman choosing to have an abortion?

Sarah: It’s going to take a minute to explain. Let’s talk after class.

[Class ends]

Sarah: Okay. Let me try to answer your question. We have to step back and look at a bigger picture than just what happens here in this life. When you do, you can see that there’s more going on with abortion than just ending a pregnancy.

Friend: What does that mean?

Sarah: I guess my feelings on this are based on my understanding of the purpose of life. Well, what I mean is, life doesn’t begin with birth or end with death. We lived before we came to earth, and we continue to live after we die.

Friend: Do you really believe that?

Sarah: Yeah, I do. Heavenly Father has a plan for our lives. Part of that plan is to come to earth and get a body. And as part of that plan, Heavenly Father shares with us the power to create other bodies. But He commands us to use it only in marriage. So if we use that power and choose to invite life, and then turn around and destroy it, that goes against God’s purpose in even giving it to us in the first place. We’re taking into our own hands powers reserved for Him. God gives us freedom of choice, but with it comes responsibility for our choices. So if we choose to use that power, we have to deal with the consequences of that choice. Does that make sense?

Friend: Yeah, it does. Thanks.

3 Nephi 12:21

21 Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, and it is also written before you, that thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of God;

Helaman 5:30

30 And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul—

3 Nephi 20:25

25 And behold, ye are the children of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

2 Nephi 28:19-22

19 For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it must needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devil will grasp them with his everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger, and perish;
20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.
21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.

Alma 39:15

15 And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the acoming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people.

2 Nephi 26:22

22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.

Alma 37:37

37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

2 Nephi 15:20

20 Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!