A Flawed Supreme Court Ruling
I took a government class in high school four years prior to the Dobbs Decision. A focal part of the class was a study on various landmark Supreme Court rulings. I remember one case that was especially highlighted: Roe v Wade. Roe’s decision was based on the implied “right to privacy” in the fourteenth amendment’s due process clause pertaining to “liberty” (“…nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”). Ironically, life is listed before liberty on the list of what is protected from the state as part of the due process clause; I believe this piece of the Constitution was not written this way by chance. As Christians and Latter-day Saints, we hold especially sacred the gift of life that our Creator has endowed us with. Our founding fathers had this eternal truth in mind as they drafted our nation’s Constitution.
The Church’s Stance
The Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe led to a national debate on the issue of abortion and what should and should not be protected by the law. According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ general handbook, “members must not submit to, perform, arrange for, pay for, consent to, or encourage” an elective abortion. For generations, Prophets and apostles have warned and condemned the atrocity of abortion. It is no debate that the overturn of Roe v Wade is a moment to be celebrated by Latter-day Saints and Christians alike; however, there are also actions that need to be taken.
A Weak Rationalization
If the Church’s stance on abortion is clear, why are there so many members of the Church who outrightly support these movements? There seems to be a common justification for these positions: “Personally, I would never get an abortion or encourage one in my family, but the government should stay out of that decision for everyone.” This justification is not only common among Christians but among the general “pro-choice” movement itself. This way of thinking is convenient for many and is often used to justify legislation regarding other moral issues. However, this rationalization collapses when confronted with the mere definition of abortion: the deliberate termination of human life. The Lord commands, “Thou shalt not … kill, nor do anything like unto it” (D&C 59:6).
President Nelson’s Comments Regarding Legalization
Abortion is not just any moral issue, it is an evil that should be restricted not just by a good conscience but by governments in place to protect people. President Nelson has taken a stand on this issue multiple times during his time as an Apostle of the Lord. In the October 1987 conference, he said, “For the wrath of God is provoked by governments that sponsor gambling, condone pornography, or legalize abortion.” Another article written by Russell M Nelson titled, Abortion: an Assault on the Defenseless, says, “This war called abortion is a war on the defenseless and the voiceless. It is a war on the unborn. This war is being waged globally. Ironically, civilized societies that have generally placed safeguards on human life have now passed laws that sanction this practice.” Such statements directly contradict the prominent “Christian rationalization” for being pro-abortion.
Our Responsibility
In the April 2021 General Conference, Neil L Anderson said, “What is our responsibility as peaceful disciples of Jesus Christ? Let us live God’s commandments, teach them to our children, and share them with others who are willing to listen. Let us share our deep feelings about the sanctity of life with those who make decisions in society.” When Roe v Wade was overturned, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement that could not be more clear as to what our responsibility is as members of Christ’s restored Church. “The Church’s position on this matter remains unchanged. As states work to enact laws related to abortion, Church members may appropriately choose to participate in efforts to protect life and to preserve religious liberty.” So, how can we participate in these “efforts to protect life” as stated by the Church? There are many organizations in the Latter-day Saint and greater Christian community that promote the sanctity and protection of life. One such organization is Latter-day Saints for Life, a group that began in 2022 and is bringing Latter-day Saints from around the country and the world together to support pro-life causes through the lens of the restored Gospel. There are pro-life clubs that meet at universities around the country including BYU’s Students for Life Club. You may also donate or volunteer at crisis pregnancy centers that help expecting mothers receive valuable resources that facilitate their choosing of life. Social media is also a great way to spread the message of the sanctity of life; if pro-abortion extremists continue to drive their devastating message on social media, it becomes even more vital that we speak up and stand up for the unborn. When it comes to speaking out on this issue, especially as Christians and members of the Church, it is our responsibility to advocate for the unborn and promote laws that protect life, not destroy it.
Written by: Wyatt Karras
Contributor
The opinions in this article are those of the author.
The Cougar Chronicle is an independent student-run newspaper and is not affiliated with Brigham Young University or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.