Mormonism's attitude towards abortion

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Prince_Hal

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I have been a Mormon bishop for 14 years.

I remember the LDS ‘General Handbook of Instructions’ saying that abortion was wrong and a deplorable sin except in certain circumstances. Now, to their credit, the LDS church is being honest about their stance. On their website they say:

lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=9bc1d93c8688f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=726511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD&vgnextfmt=tab1

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the sanctity of human life. Therefore, the Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience, and counsels its members not to submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions.

The Church allows for possible exceptions for its members when:

• Pregnancy results from rape or incest, or

• A competent physician determines that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy, or

• A competent physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.

The Church teaches its members that even these rare exceptions do not justify abortion automatically. Abortion is a most serious matter and should be considered only after the persons involved have consulted with their local church leaders and feel through personal prayer that their decision is correct.

The Church has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion."

I spoke to a counsellor in the LDS Ward that I attend with my wife - I go to look after my children and to pray for my family whilst they are in the LDS building. This counsellor said that the number of LDS mothers who have an abortion is very, very small, probably less than 0.1% of the total abortions in the USA ! As if this justified things. I suppose the statistics make no difference to the child that happens to be the 0.1% and it finds itself being physically torn apart in its mothers womb.

Another dignatory in the Ward suggested kindly that I speak to church leaders about my “problem” and “issue” when i spoke so strongly against these exceptions to abortion !!

Another said that if the Holy Spirit said it was okay, through Christ’s Prophet on the earth, then who were we to oppose it. I suggested to him that this was the “Nuremburg defense”.

So, trust the LDS “holy spirit” in this, trust it in other things. If this is wrong, then how can you trust it in other things. We really are saying that the LDS “holy spirit” is another spirit, not the one that we know as the love of God - the Holy Spirit.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this ? I wanted to raise the subject to get your views, but also to inform people what under the covers, the LDS church actually thinks. The TV ads may show this happy family appearance, and yet, they are willing to allow capital punishment to be applied to the victim of the crime. The child can die to save the mother pain.

No, I do not under-estimate the terrible pain that a mother goes through if she has been raped. But what extra torment would she go through knowing that she has killed her child to avoid that pain ?

The LDS people spend so much time in the Family History Centres researching geneology and then performing vicarious work for them in their temples. Here’s a challenge to them: get off you computers and out of your temples where you think you are helping the dead, and look to the living. Think of the good that could be done with all of those hours and days and years of efforts, by standing outside the abortion mills, the abortuaries, to stop this modern holocaust. Your “holy spirit” really does have you bound and diverted from good.

So, my brothers and sisters in Christ, did you know this ? What are your thought ?

*.

God bless,

Hal.
 
Prince_Hal said:
I remember the LDS ‘General Handbook of Instructions’ saying that abortion was wrong and a deplorable sin except in certain circumstances. Now, to their credit, the LDS church is being honest about their stance. On their website they say:

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the sanctity of human life. Therefore, the Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience, and counsels its members not to submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions.

The Church allows for possible exceptions for its members when:

• Pregnancy results from rape or incest, or

• A competent physician determines that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy, or

• A competent physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.

The Church teaches its members that even these rare exceptions do not justify abortion automatically. Abortion is a most serious matter and should be considered only after the persons involved have consulted with their local church leaders and feel through personal prayer that their decision is correct.

The Church has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion."

I spoke to a counselor in the LDS Ward that I attend with my wife - I go to look after my children and to pray for my family whilst they are in the LDS building. This counselor said that the number of LDS mothers who have an abortion is very, very small, probably less than 0.1% of the total abortions in the USA ! As if this justified things. I suppose the statistics make no difference to the child that happens to be the 0.1% and it finds itself being physically torn apart in its mothers womb.
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First, Prince Hal, thank you for bring your witness to this Forum, it helps all of us who want to know more about the other faith traditions out there and especially those that come to our door.

Well, I would say there are a few issues that I would like to point out in the stance of the LDS on the issue of Abortion. First, in their official statement listed above they call the Baby in the mothers womb a “Fetus” as if that makes it less then a Gift from God even if it is brought into this world in a less then ideal circumstance.

Second, the Counselor you mention above, I would say is very naive if he/she truly believe that of the over 1.5 million plus baby’s killed in abortions each year, that only 0.1% are done by Mormons.

God please help all of us living in the “Culture of Death”
 
Divine_mercy said:
Well, I would say there are a few issues that I would like to point out in the stance of the LDS on the issue of Abortion. First, in their official statement listed above they call the Baby in the mothers womb a “Fetus” as if that makes it less then a Gift from God even if it is brought into this world in a less then ideal circumstance.
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Agreed. By using the word “fetus” it appears that the wording is trying to deflect from the point that this is a baby, a human being, and in someway making it less of a sin, or indeed no sin.

Later on in the quote the LDS church talks of “… possible exceptions for its members”. The word “members” is used instead of “mother” and “father”. Again apparently deflecting from the fact that a child has been created who has parents. Interestingly, does this mean only “members” of the LDS church has these exceptions ?

I wrote to the President of the LDS church - Gordon B. Hinckley and asked how he could condone any exceptions at all, and why he did not immediately come out in total opposition to any form and all forms of abortion, under any circumstance. Needless to say after 3 months, no reply.

God Bless,

Hal.
 
But first, he says, you should pray for ‘receiving a confirmation through prayer’. Oh, ok, so you should wait for God to confirm that it is ok to slaughter your unborn child. One wonders what kind of ‘God’ that would be, Certainly not the God of the Bible, Whose Word says

‘You created my inmost self,
knit me together in my mother’s womb.
For so many marvels I thank you;
a wonder am I, and all your works are wonders.’ (Psalm 139: 13-14; NJB)

Yes, even unwanted unborn children, those who are handicapped, those who are conceived as a result of rape or incest are ‘a wonder’. Our Lord says elsewhere

‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.’ (Gospel of St. Matthew 18:16; NJB)

Peace,

Ryan 🙂
 
I really don’t understand why everyone gets angry about the word fetus. Does no one know what this means?

It’s time we who oppose abortion take full advantage of the irony in the word “fetus” being used by those who support abortion.

🤷
 
hasikelee said:
I really don’t understand why everyone gets angry about the word fetus. Does no one know what this means?

It’s time we who oppose abortion take full advantage of the irony in the word “fetus” being used by those who support abortion.

🤷
Click to expand...
Please enlighten us, my understanding it is a medical term that depersonalizes the Baby that is being Killed?

As in everything, I am open to the Truth.
 
Hal

I agree with your feelings and emotions on all points brought up. This is a very frustrating time in history when people cannot see or hear the halocuast going on around us. The pain and suffering of the many mothers and fathers of these unborn children is devastating when they realize what they have done.

This is not the guiding of the Holy Spirit.

I didn’t know the teaching of the LDS on this matter and I thank you for your information. I do appreciate the promotion of family by the LDS, but to promote family we need to start from the beginning of life to the end.

God Bless
 
In 1973 the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the following statement regarding abortion, which is still applicable today:

"…The Church opposes abortion and counsels its members not to submit to or perform an abortion except in the rare cases where, in the opinion of competent medical counsel, the life or good health of the mother is seriously endangered or where the pregnancy was caused by rape and produces serious emotional trauma in the mother. Even then it should be done only after counseling with the local presiding authority and after receiving divine confirmation through prayer. Abortion must be considered one of the most revolting and sinful practices in this day, when we are witnessing the frightening evidence of permissiveness leading to sexual immorality. Members of the [Mormon] Church guilty of being parties to the sin of abortion must be subjected to the disciplinary action of the council of the Church as circumstances warrant. In dealing with this serious matter, it would be well to keep in mind the word of the Lord stated in the 59th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, verse 6, “Thou shalt not steal, neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it…” (signed by the First Presidency of the Mormon Church, Harold B. Lee, N. Eldon Tanner and Marion G. Romney).

Larry King asked the question: What is your position on abortion? President Hinckley answered by saying: "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention there were more than 1,200,000 abortions performed in 1995 in the United States alone. What has happened to our regard for human life? How can women, and men, deny the great and precious gift of life, which is divine in its origin and nature?… Abortion is an ugly thing, a debasing thing, a thing which inevitably brings remorse and sorrow and regret.

mormonolympians.org/mormon/abortion_mormonism.html
 
Data from the U.S. Govt. Census Bureau lists Utah as the state with the lowest teen pregnancy rate and the lowest abortion rate in the United States. [Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States 1997: National Data Book. Washington, D.C.: Census Bureau, U.S. Dept. of Commerce (1997).]

A new study by The Center For Reason (www.CenterForReason.com) finds that Christians have just as many abortions as their non-Christian counterparts. The study concludes that in the year 2000, Christians were responsible for 570,000 abortions. Catholics were found to be the worst offenders, with abortion rates higher than the national average.
prweb.com/releases/2006/3/prweb357377.htm
 
Prince_Hal said:
I have been a Mormon bishop for 14 years.

I remember the LDS ‘General Handbook of Instructions’ saying that abortion was wrong and a deplorable sin except in certain circumstances. Now, to their credit, the LDS church is being honest about their stance. On their website they say:

lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=9bc1d93c8688f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=726511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD&vgnextfmt=tab1

[see below]

Another dignatory in the Ward suggested kindly that I speak to church leaders about my “problem” and “issue” when i spoke so strongly against these exceptions to abortion !!

Another said that if the Holy Spirit said it was okay, through Christ’s Prophet on the earth, then who were we to oppose it. I suggested to him that this was the “Nuremburg defense”.

So, trust the LDS “holy spirit” in this, trust it in other things. If this is wrong, then how can you trust it in other things. We really are saying that the LDS “holy spirit” is another spirit, not the one that we know as the love of God - the Holy Spirit.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this ? I wanted to raise the subject to get your views, but also to inform people what under the covers, the LDS church actually thinks. The TV ads may show this happy family appearance, and yet, they are willing to allow capital punishment to be applied to the victim of the crime. The child can die to save the mother pain.

No, I do not under-estimate the terrible pain that a mother goes through if she has been raped. But what extra torment would she go through knowing that she has killed her child to avoid that pain ?

The LDS people spend so much time in the Family History Centres researching geneology and then performing vicarious work for them in their temples. Here’s a challenge to them: get off you computers and out of your temples where you think you are helping the dead, and look to the living. Think of the good that could be done with all of those hours and days and years of efforts, by standing outside the abortion mills, the abortuaries, to stop this modern holocaust. Your “holy spirit” really does have you bound and diverted from good.

So, my brothers and sisters in Christ, did you know this ? What are your thought ?

*.

God bless,
Hal.
*
This should be seen as evidence that the LDS Church isnt the Church Jesus established because, no offense, they lack the theological framework required to know and define the Truth and it shows with the “exceptions” listed above.

I see exactly what you are saying and you are right to be uncomfortable and even intolerant of such “excuses”.

Lets have a look:
• Pregnancy results from rape or incest, or
While this is often posed as a “reasonable” exception, the thinking and theology is seriously flawed. Basically if an attacker violates a woman (victim) then it is ok to turn around and murder an innocent bystander (unborn child)? That does make sense and misses the fact an innocent party got murdered.
• A competent physician determines that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy, or
This is slightly more subtle, but again it is saying murdering an innocent party is ok under certain circumstances. That is an error in moral thinking. • A competent physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.
This is the most disturbing of them all for multiple reasons, especially for the fact it basically leaves the door open for abortion any time the parents decide they dont want the “trouble” of dealing with an “unwanted” child. Further who is the physician that can tell for sure whether a child will survive beyond birth? That is the sin of presumption and gambling with someone’s life, that is not our job.

This alone is sufficient evidence to show that the LDS Church doesnt really understand what the REAL issue here is: the PRICELESS value of human life that must be protected at all stages.

The LDS simply dont have the Theological and Divine guidance to make such critical decisions which the true Church Jesus established, the Catholic Church, does have the ability to state the Truth and the Truth is abortion is never allowed because it is murder by definition.

Further the LDS could change their stand any time in either direction, the Catholic Church doesnt have that “luxury” because Truth doesnt change.
Click to expand...
 
Catholic_Dude said:
Basically if an attacker violates a woman (victim) then it is ok to turn around and murder an innocent bystander (unborn child)? That does make sense and misses the fact an innocent party got murdered.
Click to expand...
I think you’re missing an essential point of Mormonism. Though Mormons acknowledge a fetus to be living they don’t believe its life is comparable to the life of a person already born.

Catholic and Mormon theology share common words and terms which, under the surface, hold very different meanings (ie. Trinity). Mormons say they believe in the sanctity of human life, therefore they oppose abortion. What they do NOT say is that they believe in the sanctity of life of preborn humans. The important thing for Mormons is not the fetus in utero but the human being that the the fetus will become. Exactly when it becomes a human being, they’re not sure.

Mormons oppose abortion because it interferes with Heavenly Father’s plan for spirits to gain bodies, not because they think it is intrinsically evil to kill the unborn (as faithful Catholics do). That’s why they can make exceptions. Mormonism and Catholicism have very different starting poins for a teaching which, on the surface, looks similar.
 
Divine_mercy said:
Please enlighten us, my understanding it is a medical term that depersonalizes the Baby that is being Killed?

.
Click to expand...
like embryo or neonate, it is a medical term that describes a baby at a certain stage of development, and simply denotes that stage. the irony lies in the fact that abortion, in this country may legally be done at any stage of development, blastocyte through the actual time of delivery, as a child in the process of delivery may be killed during the delivery process with impunity, and is far beyond the fetal stage. So using the word fetus implies abortion is limited to a certain stage, when this is not the case.

on this issue the Mormons I know in NE Ohio, both the more conservative and the more liberal (we have two branches there) adopt the general mainstream Protestant view that this is a matter between a woman and her physician, sometimes with the proviso that the husband as head of the family makes the final decision. I am not saying that is church teaching, I am saying that is how the considerable number of Mormons I know speak of the issue.
 
Thanks for the great post! I had no idea that the Mormans held this position. Tell me, is this a postition that can chage for the worse as well? I know that other doctrines have changed in the past, but is it concieveable that Mormans will have no issue with abortion one day?
 
Good_Daughter said:
I think you’re missing an essential point of Mormonism. Though Mormons acknowledge a fetus to be living they don’t believe its life is comparable to the life of a person already born.

Catholic and Mormon theology share common words and terms which, under the surface, hold very different meanings (ie. Trinity). Mormons say they believe in the sanctity of human life, therefore they oppose abortion. What they do NOT say is that they believe in the sanctity of life of preborn humans. The important thing for Mormons is not the fetus in utero but the human being that the the fetus will become. Exactly when it becomes a human being, they’re not sure.

Mormons oppose abortion because it interferes with Heavenly Father’s plan for spirits to gain bodies, not because they think it is intrinsically evil to kill the unborn (as faithful Catholics do). That’s why they can make exceptions. Mormonism and Catholicism have very different starting poins for a teaching which, on the surface, looks similar.
Click to expand...
Wow, I think you are right. It appears they are using similar “pro-life” terminology but in the end mean something very different. This makes sense considering they use similar (sometimes identical) terms for theology.
 
Divine_mercy said:
Please enlighten us, my understanding it is a medical term that depersonalizes the Baby that is being Killed?

As in everything, I am open to the Truth.
Click to expand...
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to derail the thread, but I also wanted to make sure you received an answer.

Fetus or Foetus is a Latin word meaning offspring, or in a flowery way “Fruit of the womb.”

In the medical/science community, the term fetus is used to describe a human from 7/8 weeks after conception all the way to birth. The term is used simply for practical matters, of course. Treating a baby outside of the womb will be different from treating a baby in the womb. “Baby” is not clear enough to be used in applications of medical procedure and scientific processes.

Yet, neither of the above uses/descriptions applies to dehumanization!

That is why I find it ironic that those who support abortion as a choice use the word “fetus” almost rabidly. 😃
 
Prince_Hal said:
I have been a Mormon bishop for 14 years.
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That is not impossible, but very unusual nowadays. Bishops are usually released after serving for four or five years. It is possible, however, for someone to be called to serve as a bishop more than once—usually after the lapse of several years. But it is very unusual for someone to serve as a bishop continuously for fourteen years. Perhaps you can explain what makes your case such an exceptional one.

zerinus
 
Zerinus,

As I recall, once a man has served as a bishop, even after he is released he is called “bishop” for the rest of his life - unless he is later called to be a stake president, in which case he will be called “president” from then on.

Paul
 
PaulDupre said:
Zerinus,

As I recall, once a man has served as a bishop, even after he is released he is called “bishop” for the rest of his life - unless he is later called to be a stake president, in which case he will be called “president” from then on.

Paul
Click to expand...
A bishop that has been released, although he does not lose his ordination, is no longer called “bishop,” nor would he refer to himself as the “bishop”. Only the currently serving bishop is addressed as the “the bishop”. If he is not the currently sering bishop of his ward, he should not be referring to himself as bishop.

zerinus
 
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