How can someone be against abortion because of the sanctity of human life in one case, but for it in another? You either believe, “in the sanctity of human life…” or you don’t.
It comes from the mormon belief of a pre-existence, where, all the souls of all the humans are believed to exist, prior to the creation of the earth.
Obtaining a body for each soul is not an accidental placing. mormons believe every soul is put exactly where god wants it. thus, they are against abortion as you might be messing up God’s plan for that soul.
However, they believe that if an unborn child dies before birth, either naturally or via abortion, that soul will be given another body to inhabit.
Therefore, to LDS, abortion is not murder. It is at its worse case, an interruption of God’s intentions. They believe that it is possible that God will allow an unborn child to be killed, in some circumstances. Rape, incest, the health of the mother. These are not automatically allowed. The parents must work with their ecclesiastical leaders, in effect, they must be granted permission.
Mormons believe they can pray for God’s guidance in these circumstances. Essentially they believe they can ask God if it is ok to proceed with an abortion, and that it is possible that God will grant them permission.
A mormon once told me that he viewed it the same as a just war. That is, that the unborn was a threat to the mother’s life, therefore, it is morally justified in taking the unborn life.
