[Colofornian]

If the LDS Church leadership was going to direct the politics of members, Mitt Romney and Harry Reid would have always voted pro-life. [esarlls3]

LDS is not strictly anti-abortion. [mcjordansc]

Mcjordansc is correct. The LDS official statements on abortion are generally pro-life...the problem is that is poc-marked with all kinds of gaps like mouse-tunneled cheese.

There's "life of the mother"; there's a "competent" medical doc which could include either a part-time abortionist; or since, 90% of abortions are done in free-standing abortion clinics who knows if that = Mr. or Mrs. abortionist; plus if a woman prays about it & her "personal revelation" concludes that the Mormon god has said "yes" then he becomes an accomplice to pre-born murder...& I could go on for more "exceptions."

[esarlls3]

Colofornian: Mcjordansc is correct. The LDS official statements on abortion are generally pro-life...the problem is that is poc-marked with all kinds of gaps like mouse-tunneled cheese.

There are two related statements in the LDS Newsroom:

Abortion

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.

Embryonic Stem-Cell Research

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has no official position on the moment that human life begins. Further, the Church has not taken a position on the issue of embryonic stem-cell research.

Personally, I believe life begins with a fertilized egg. I don't have a problem with preventing fertilization but would not be comfortable with anything preventing development after fertilization, including stem-cell research on embryonic cells.

The argument about abortion is really about allowing men and women to absolve themselves of responsibility for the consequences of their choices.

• except in the case of rape, men and women make their procreative choice when they decide to have intercourse
• any pregnancy that results is the natural consequence of their choice
• parents are responsible for providing for the welfare of their dependents, born and unborn, without respect to their desire to have or not to have children
• the father’s and/or mother’s decision that they would rather not endure the natural consequences of their choices and actions is not sufficient cause to terminate the pregnancy and the life of their child
• a decision to terminate a pregnancy in cases where the mother’s life is threatened is similar in nature to a decision to separate conjoined twins when the separation guarantees the death of one of them
• society, not government, has a responsibility to assist unsupported mothers during their pregnancy and to assist in placing unwanted children in families where they will be valued, loved, nurtured, and provided for

I'm OK with exemptions for rape, life of the mother, and severe deformity. These should not be used as openings for anyone to excuse an abortion.

Ultimately, when our society returns to God, out of wedlock pregnancy and abortions will decline. I oppose any government funding of abortions and think they should be restricted to the exceptions noted. Minors should need a guardian's permission.

Penalties for abortions should be financial for the provider and should be several times their gross income from an abortion. Penalties for the parents should be community service - perhaps helping families who want children find one to adopt.