The Sanctity of Human Life

"Human life is a sacred gift from God. Elective abortion for personal or social convenience is contrary to the will and the commandments of God. Church members who submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions may lose their membership in the Church."

What is life?  Life has been defined as the existence of an individual human being. When does life begin?

The controversy of Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice has been debated for years. People have chosen sides and have strong reasons for believing what they believe about when life begins and a woman's choices regarding her own body.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World states, "ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny."

The quote that began this post is part of the LDS church's official position on Abortion. The last part "may lose their membership to the church," may seem harsh and brutal, but if you think about it, all choices have consequences. If you speed, you get a ticket. If you bully or smoke in school, you get suspended or even expelled. Just like in every case, though, there are exceptions. 

The LDS church's official position on abortion also states, "Church leaders have said that some exceptional circumstances may justify an abortion, such as when pregnancy is the result of incest or rape, when the life or health of the mother is judged by competent medical authority to be in serious jeopardy, or when the fetus is known by competent medical authority to have severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.

However, the church's official position also says that these circumstances do not automatically justify an abortion. "Those who face such circumstances should consider abortion only after consulting with their local Church leaders and receiving a confirmation through earnest prayer."

Finally, I would like to share this video of a young girl talking about abortion. This video raises the question, "If a 12 year old can understand the sanctity of human life, then why can't the rest of the world?"