Celebrating the 30 Year Anniversary of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" (And Abortion Then and Now)

1995

30 years ago, in 1995, my parents were sealed in the Logan temple. The same year, my mom heard “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” read for the first time by Gordon B. Hinckley in general conference. And just over a year later, I was born.

At this time, around 133 million babies were born worldwide each year.

But in 1995, an estimated 46 million babies weren’t born. Those babies died in their mother’s wombs from elective abortion.

In other words, the same year the Family Proclamation was published, for every 3 babies born, 1 was killed by abortion.

But when he read the proclamation that day in 1995, the prophet of the Lord taught: “We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.”

I’m grateful my parents stood by their beliefs and gave life to me. Today, we need more Saints like them—and more than ever.

30 Years Later

Now, the UN reports 132 million babies are born each year, (slightly down since in 1995).

But abortion numbers have gone way up: now, an estimated 73 million babies die from elective abortion.

That means that for every 2 babies born today, 1 was aborted.

Statistically, I’m a survivor, and, probably, so are you.

My third baby, moments after birth

Why We Care

As Latter-day Saints, we don’t see abortion as simply a personal decision. The sanctity of life is central to God’s whole plan for each of us.

Thanks to the truths found in the Family Proclamation and the words of ancient and modern prophets, we know where we came from and why we're here:

Before this life, we each used our agency to choose to follow Christ. We came to earth with the purpose of gaining a body, growing in families, learning to making good choices, and someday having children of our own.

This view also helps us understand why abortion is wrong:

We see that abortion is one of Satan’s favorite tools intended to thwart God’s plan, stopping a child’s journey almost before it has begun, and destroying the future family that might have been. Jesus Christ, the only innocent person, willingly gave His own life so that we all could live. Abortion demands that an innocent person gives up their life for us. Nothing could make such irreverent mockery of God’s plan for us.

This is who we are:

As Latter-day Saints, “we affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.”

(What impact has the Family Proclamation had on how you view the sanctity of life? How should it guide our actions as Latter-day Saints? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.)

Do you love what we're doing? Consider making a donation! We're celebrating the Family Proclamation's anniversary with a limited-edition magnet gift, which we will send to every person who donates $20 or more through the end of November 2025.