be unchosen. But there are still choices; always
a best one.
“Sometimes the covenant of marriage has been
broken; more often none was made. In or out of
marriage, abortion is not an individual choice.
At a minimum, three lives are involved.
“The scriptures tell us, ‘Thou shalt not... kill, nor
do anythinglike unto it’ (D&C 59:6; italics added).
“Except where the wicked crime of incest or rape was
involved, or where competent medical authorities
certify that the life of the mother is in jeopardy, or
that a severely defective fetus cannot survive birth,
abortion is clearly a ‘thou shalt not.’ Even in these
very exceptional cases, much sober prayer is required
to make the right choice.
“We face such sobering choices because we are
the children of God” (in Conference Report, Oct.
1990, 108; or Ensign,Nov. 1990, 85).
“I know of no sins connected with the moral
standard for which we cannot be forgiven. I do
not exempt abortion” (in Conference Report, Apr.
1992, 95; or Ensign,May 1992, 68).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
“Abortion, which has increased enormously, causes
one to ask, ‘Have we strayed so far from God’s second
great commandment—love thy neighbor—that a
baby in a womb no longer qualifies to be loved—at
least as a mother’s neighbor?’ Even so, violence to
an unborn child does not justify other violence!”
(in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 94–95; or Ensign,
May 1993, 76).
Elder Russell M. Nelson
“Regrettable as is the loss of loved ones from war,
these figures are dwarfed by the toll of a new war
that annuallyclaims more casualties than the total
number of fatalities from all the wars of this nation.
“It is a war on the defenseless—and the voiceless.
It is a war on the unborn.
“This war, labeled ‘abortion,’ is of epidemic
proportion and is waged globally. Over 55 million
abortions were reported worldwide in the year 1974
alone. Sixty-four percent of the world’s population
now live in countries that legally sanction this
practice. In the United States of America, over
1.5 million abortions are performed annually. About
25 to 30 percent of all pregnancies now end in
abortion. In some metropolitan areas, there are more
abortions performed than live births. Comparable
data also come from other nations” (in Conference
Report, Apr. 1985, 13; or Ensign,May 1985, 11).Elder Dallin H. Oaks
“The ultimate act of destruction is to take a life. That
is why abortion is such a serious sin. Our attitude
toward abortion is not based on revealed knowledge
of when mortal life begins for legal purposes. It is
fixed by our knowledge that according to an eternal
plan, all of the spirit children of God must come to
this earth for a glorious purpose, and that individual
identity began long before conception and will
continue for all the eternities to come. We rely on
the prophets of God, who have told us that while
there may be ‘rare’ exceptions, ‘the practice of
elective abortion is fundamentally contrary to the
Lord’s injunction, “Thou shalt not... kill, nor do
anything like unto it” (Doctrine and Covenants
59:6)’ (1991 Supplement to the 1989 General Handbook
of Instructions,p. 1).
“Our knowledge of the great plan of happiness also
gives us a unique perspective on the subject of
marriage and the bearing of children. In this we
also run counter to some strong current forces in
custom, law, and economics” (in Conference Report,
Oct. 1993, 99–100; or Ensign,Nov. 1993, 74).2 ABORTION