We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed.
 

• "We are appalled at the conscious effort of many of the people in this world to take it upon themselves, presumptive, to change the properly established patterns of social behavior established by the Lord, especially with regard to marriage, sex life, family life. We must say: “The wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” (See Isa. 29:14.)   President Spencer W. Kimball, "Why Call Me Lord, Lord and Do Not the Things Which I Say?," Ensign, May 1975.

 

• "The expression of our procreative powers is pleasing to God, but he has commanded that this be confined within the relationship of marriage."   Dallin H. Oaks, "The Great Plan of Happiness," Ensign, November 1993.

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• "...in the context of lawful marriage, the intimacy of sexual relations is right and divinely approved. There is nothing unholy or degrading about sexuality in itself, for by that means men and women join in a process of creation and in an expression of love."    President Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, edited by Edward L. Kimball, (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982), 311.

 
 
We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
 

• “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.”  First Presidency Statement on Abortion: “News of the Church: Abortion Is Considered ‘Revolting Sin" by Church,” Ensign, Mar. 1973.

 

• “We oppose and abhor the damnable practice of abortion and every other unholy and impure act which strikes at the very foundation of the home and family, and our most basic institutions.” President Ezra Taft Benson, “Guide for Unwed Parents,” Ensign, September 1984

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• “Abortion is an evil, stark and real and repugnant, which is sweeping over the earth. Abortion is not the answer. This only compounds the problem. It is an evil and repulsive escape that will someday bring regret and remorse.”  President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Save the Children,” Oct. 1994 General Conference, Ensign, Nov. 1994.

 

• “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?”  Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “‘Behold, the Enemy is Combined’ (D&C 38:12)’” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 94–95; or Ensign, May 1993, 76).

 

• “Unfortunately, the world’s “final solution” is abortion.”  Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “Reasons to Stay Pure,” New Era, March 2003.

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• “What is happening to our appreciation of the sanctity of human life? Abortion is an evil, stark and real and repugnant, which is sweeping over the earth. I plead with the women of this Church to shun it, to stand above it, to stay away from those compromising situations which make it appear desirable. There may be some few circumstances under which it can occur, but they are extremely limited and for the most part improbable.  ” President Gordon B. Hinckley,“Walking in the Light of the Lord,” Oct. 1998 General Conference, Ensign, Nov. 1998, 99).

 

• “When the controversies about abortion are debated, “individual right of choice” is invoked as though it were the one supreme virtue. That could only be true if but one person were involved. The rights of any one individual do not allow the rights of another individual to be abused. In or out of marriage, abortion is not solely an individual matter. Terminating the life of a developing baby involves two individuals with separate bodies, brains, and hearts. A woman’s choice for her own body does not include the right to deprive her baby of life—and a lifetime of choices that her child would make. As Latter-day Saints, we should stand up for choice—the right choice—not simply for choice as a method.”  President Russell M. Nelson, “Abortion: An Assault on the Defenseless,” Ensign, November 2008.

 

• “From the perspective of the plan of salvation, one of the most serious abuses of children is to deny them birth. …Many laws permit or even promote abortion, but to us this is a great evil. …There is a tragic irony in the multitudes of children eliminated or injured before birth while throngs of infertile couples long for and seek babies to adopt.”  President Dallin H. Oaks, “Protect the Children” Ensign, November 2012.  

 

• “Abortion for personal or social convenience strikes at the heart of a woman’s most sacred powers and destroys her moral authority. The same is true of sexual immorality and of revealing dress that not only debases women but reinforces the lie that a woman’s sexuality is what defines her worth.”  Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “The Moral Force of Women,” Ensign, November 2013.

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• “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?  ...There is no greater miracle than the creation of human life.  Abortion is an ugly thing, a debasing thing, a thing which inevitably brings remorse and sorrow and regret...There is a far better way.  If there is no prospect of marriage to the man involved, leaving the mother alone, there remains the very welcome option of placing the child for adoption by parents who will love it and care for it. There are many such couples in good homes who long for a child and cannot have one” President Gordon B. Hinckley,  "What are People Asking about Us - Church of Jesus Christ," Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 91–92; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 71).

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• “Whatever the laws of man may come to tolerate, the misuse of the power of procreation, the destroying of innocent life through abortion, and the abuse of little children are transgressions of enormous proportion. For cradled therein rests the destiny of innocent, helpless children” Boyd K Packer, Little Children, Oct. 1986, 21; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 18.

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• “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."  Elder Dallin H Oaks, "The Great Plan of Happiness," Ensign, 1993, 1991 Supplement to the 1989 General Handbook of Instructions, p. 1).

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• “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!” Neal A Maxwell, "Behold the Enemy is Combined," Apr. 1993, 94–95; or Ensign, May 1993, 76).