SpencerMarsh at 14:38, 2 April 2026

2026-04-02T14:38:07Z

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SpencerMarsh at 16:34, 12 March 2026

2026-03-12T16:34:22Z

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	<small>[[Mormonism and gender issues\|Social Issues in the Church]] > <span style="color:#~~99B36C~~"> Women ~~in the Church of Jesus Christ~~</span></small>		<small>[[Mormonism and gender issues\|Social Issues in the Church]] > <span style="color:#7BB375"> Women</span></small>
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SpencerMarsh at 16:33, 12 March 2026

2026-03-12T16:33:39Z

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SpencerMarsh at 18:36, 6 March 2026

2026-03-06T18:36:25Z

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	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its leaders have consistently been against abortion.<ref name="ortner">Daniel Ortner, "The Consistency of Prophetic Abortion Teaching," ''Public Square Magazine'', June 7, 2022, https://publicsquaremag.org/faith/gospel-fare/the-consistency-of-prophetic-statements-about-abortion/.</ref>		The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its leaders have consistently been against abortion.<ref name="ortner">Daniel Ortner, "The Consistency of Prophetic Abortion Teaching," ''Public Square Magazine'', June 7, 2022, https://publicsquaremag.org/faith/gospel-fare/the-consistency-of-prophetic-statements-about-abortion/.</ref>

	~~Latter-day Saints regard the guidance of the living prophets as the most important factor in determing the Lord's will for modern quesitons and practice.~~		Prophetic guidance often draws from—and is consistent with—canonized scripture. We here examine scriptural passages that have relevance to the abortion debate—though we must remember that the position of the Church of Jesus Christ derives fundamentally from modern prophetic guidance, and not an interpretation of past scripture. We can, however, use the prophets' current stance to explore scripture and see what we might learn.

	~~Wilford Woodruff recalled an experience during the Church's early years in Kirtland:~~

	~~<blockquote>~~
	I will refer to a certain meeting I attended in the town of Kirtland in my early days. ... [A] leading man in the Church got up ... and said: “You have got the word of God before you here in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants; you have the written word of God, and you who give revelations should give revelations according to those books, as what is written in those books is the word of God. We should confine ourselves to them.”

	When he concluded, Brother Joseph turned to Brother Brigham Young and said, “Brother Brigham, I want you to take the stand and tell us your views with regard to the living oracles and the written word of God.” Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and he said: “There is the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning of the world, almost, to our day. And now,” said he, “when compared with the living oracles those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet or a man bearing the Holy Priesthood in our day and generation. I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books.” That was the course he pursued. When he was through, Brother Joseph said to the congregation: “Brother Brigham has told you the word of the Lord, and he has told you the truth.”<ref>{{CR\|author=Wilford Woodruff\|date=October 1897\|pages=18–19}} See also Ezra Taft Benson, "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet," BYU Devotional (26 February 1980), {{link\|url=https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/ezra-taft-benson/fourteen-fundamentals-following-prophet/}}</ref>
	~~</blockquote>~~

	Prophetic guidance often draws from—and is consistent with—canonized scripture. We here examine scriptural passages that have relevance to the abortion debate—though we must remember that the position of the Church of Jesus Christ derives fundamentally from modern prophetic guidance, and not an interpretation of past scripture. We can use the prophets' current stance~~, however,~~ to explore scripture to see what we might learn.

	==== {{s\|\|Exodus\|21\|22-25}} ====		==== {{s\|\|Exodus\|21\|22-25}} ====
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	<blockquote>		<blockquote>
	¶ If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, nd yet no mischief ~~followhe~~ shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, ~~Eye~~ for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, ~~Burning~~ for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.		¶ If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow, he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

	This is a type of ''casuistic law''— that is, it stipulates what kind of punishments should be inflicted on a person if they engage in certain kinds of acts. This is a case where two or more people are fighting and accidentally hurt a woman and her fetus. This would be an ''accidental miscarriage'' '''or''' ''accidental premature birth'' of a woman while two people are fighting.		This is a type of ''casuistic law''— that is, it stipulates what kind of punishments should be inflicted on a person if they engage in certain kinds of acts. This is a case where two or more people are fighting and accidentally hurt a woman and her fetus. This would be an ''accidental miscarriage'' '''or''' ''accidental premature birth'' of a woman while two people are fighting.

	The scripture stipulates that if the men make the woman miscarry/have this premature birth, they must first be confronted by the husband of the woman. The husband along with judges will jointly determine what kind of fine to impose on those who fought. The same procedure was followed if the husband himself was one of the combatants in the altercation.		The scripture stipulates that if the men make the woman miscarry/have this premature birth, they must first be confronted by the husband of the woman. The husband, along with judges, will jointly determine what kind of fine to impose on those who fought. The same procedure was presumably followed if the husband himself was one of the combatants in the altercation.

	The passage further stipulates that if the woman herself is injured or dies (exactly which is not clear), then the people who engaged in the fight are liable for death and other punishments [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_for_an_eye lex talionis]. It’s important to note that lex talionis "is a principle of fair treatment of assailants and not necessarily a literal prescription for retaliatory treatment in all cases."<ref>Carol Myers, "Exodus," in ''The New Oxford Annotated Bible'', ed. Michael Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press), 114. Importantly, Myers further states on the same page: "Note that compensation is sometimes acceptable (vv. 22, 26, 27) and that the rabbinic understanding of talion calls for paying damages."</ref>		The passage further stipulates that if the woman herself is injured or dies (exactly which is not clear), then the people who engaged in the fight are liable for death and other punishments [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_for_an_eye lex talionis]. It’s important to note that lex talionis "is a principle of fair treatment of assailants and not necessarily a literal prescription for retaliatory treatment in all cases."<ref>Carol Myers, "Exodus," in ''The New Oxford Annotated Bible'', ed. Michael Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press), 114. Importantly, Myers further states on the same page: "Note that compensation is sometimes acceptable (vv. 22, 26, 27) and that the rabbinic understanding of talion calls for paying damages."</ref>
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	Some have argued that this passage and, consequently, Israelite law treats the value of the mother as greater than the value of the fetus. But this argument depends on the correct translation of ויצאו (''wytsaw''. Translated as "depart from her" in the KJV above), how one translates the term אָסוֹן (ʾ''ason'') translated as "mischief", what that ''ason'' included, and who that ''ason'' is applied to. None of these questions can be answered with certainty.		Some have argued that this passage and, consequently, Israelite law treats the value of the mother as greater than the value of the fetus. But this argument depends on the correct translation of ויצאו (''wytsaw''. Translated as "depart from her" in the KJV above), how one translates the term אָסוֹן (ʾ''ason'') translated as "mischief", what that ''ason'' included, and who that ''ason'' is applied to. None of these questions can be answered with certainty.

	''Wytsaw'' is [https://biblehub.com/exodus/21-22.htm typically translated] as "give birth prematurely" in modern, popular, English biblical translations, though other important translations say "miscarriage". "Premature birth" is may be preferred because of 'ason which is typically translated as ''harm'' or ''injury''. Some say that it should be translated as "serious injury". Some take it to refer to death.		''Wytsaw'' is [https://biblehub.com/exodus/21-22.htm typically translated] as "give birth prematurely" in modern, popular, English biblical translations, though other important translations say "miscarriage". "Premature birth" may be preferred because of <i>'ason</i> which is typically translated as ''harm'' or ''injury''. Some say that it should be translated as "serious injury." Some take it to refer to death.

	Who the injury, serious injury, harm, or death is inflicted on is also important. If it is only the woman, then the woman is being more valued than the fetus. If the harm is assumed to either the woman or her fetus, then both are being valued equally. If the harm is only to the fetus, then the fetus is being valued more than the woman. It's uncertain, but the first two options are more likely than the last. Injury to either a woman or a child would be negative.		Who the injury, serious injury, harm, or death is inflicted on is also important. If it is only the woman, then the woman is being more valued than the fetus. If the harm is assumed to be to either the woman ''or'' her fetus, then both are being valued equally. If the harm is only to the fetus, then the fetus is being valued more than the woman. It's uncertain, but the first two options are more likely than the last. Injury to either a woman or a child would be negative.

	Even if we translate and interpret the passage such that the fetus is miscarried and no other harm is brought on the woman, the passage ''still stipulates that a fine be paid''. This indicates that the fetus ''still had at least some value'' in the eyes of the Israelite law. This scripture under no circumstances allows a kind of ethic that sees the fetus as entirely expendable no matter the stage of development.		Even if we translate and interpret the passage such that the fetus is miscarried and no other harm is brought on the woman, the passage ''still stipulates that a fine be paid''. This indicates that the fetus who was miscarried or born prematurely—and a fetus presumably <i>at any stage of development</i>— ''still had at least some value'' in the eyes of the Israelite law. This scripture under no circumstances allows a kind of ethic that sees the fetus as entirely expendable no matter the stage of development.

	The very least that we can conclude from these passages is that this was an ''accidental'' situation (not a deliberate one as in the case of elective abortion), that both the mother and fetus were seen as valuable at least in some way, and that damages needed to be paid or punishments received commensurate with the harm inflicted on mother and fetus.		The very least that we can conclude from these passages is that this was an ''accidental'' situation (not a deliberate one as in the case of elective abortion), that both the mother and fetus were seen as valuable at least in some way, and that damages needed to be paid or punishments received commensurate with the harm inflicted on mother and fetus.

			Given the fact that this was a case of accidental harm alone, we cannot use this scripture to support the deliberate end of a fetus's life.

	We now consider some other relevant scriptures.		We now consider some other relevant scriptures.
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	==== Thou shalt not murder ====		==== Thou shalt not murder ====
	Texts that may be relevant to the abortion debate include those that condemn murder. There are many such texts in the scriptures ~~tha; they~~ are well-known ~~enough~~ that we will not cite them here. The question is "~~does~~ abortion really constitute murder"?		Texts that may be relevant to the abortion debate include those that condemn murder. There are many such texts in the scriptures that are so well-known that we will not cite them here. The question is, "Does abortion really constitute murder?"

	Certain leaders of the Church have analogized abortion to murder in the past.<ref name="ortner"></ref>		Certain leaders of the Church have analogized abortion to murder in the past.<ref name="ortner"></ref>

	The current position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that abortion does not necessarily constitute murder. The Church most frequently cites a text contained in the Latter-day Saint canon: {{s\|\|Doctrine and Covenants\|59\|6}}. It tells the Saints "Thou shalt ~~not…kill~~, nor do anything like unto it." Abortion has typically been seen in the "nor do anything like unto it" clause.		The current position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that abortion does not necessarily constitute murder. The Church most frequently cites a text contained in the Latter-day Saint canon: {{s\|\|Doctrine and Covenants\|59\|6}}. It tells the Saints "Thou shalt not . . . kill, nor do anything like unto it." Abortion has typically been seen in the "nor do anything like unto it" clause.

	The first mention of "kill" clearly refers to murder. But there are obviously other categories of sinful killing that are not murder. (Some killing, such as in self-defense, could be considered not sinful at all.)		The first mention of "kill" clearly refers to murder. But there are obviously other categories of sinful killing that are not murder. (Some killing, such as in self-defense, could be considered not sinful at all.)

SpencerMarsh at 18:48, 5 February 2026

2026-02-05T18:48:26Z

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	<small>[[Mormonism and gender issues\|Social Issues in the Church]] > <span style="color:#99B36C"> Women in the Church of Jesus Christ</span></small>		<small>[[Mormonism and gender issues\|Social Issues in the Church]] > <span style="color:#99B36C"> Women in the Church of Jesus Christ</span></small>
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	{{Summary1}} This page answers questions and criticisms about the Church's relations with women.		{{Summary1}} This page answers questions and criticisms about the Church's relations with women.

SpencerMarsh at 18:48, 5 February 2026

2026-02-05T18:48:16Z

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	~~{{Main Page}}~~		<small>[[Mormonism and gender issues\|Social Issues in the Church]] > <span style="color:#99B36C"> Women in the Church of Jesus Christ</span></small>
	~~{{Navigation~~:~~Social issues}}{{blankline}}~~
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	{{Summary1}} This page answers questions and criticisms about the Church's relations with women.		{{Summary1}} This page answers questions and criticisms about the Church's relations with women.

SpencerMarsh at 16:18, 5 February 2026

2026-02-05T16:18:26Z

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GregSmith: /* What to do in the face of uncertainty? */

2024-06-05T01:13:32Z

What to do in the face of uncertainty?

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:13, 5 June 2024
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	Which risk should we run if we are not certain?		Which risk should we run if we are not certain?

			{{To learn more box:doctrine: abortion}}

	{{Endnotes sources}}		{{Endnotes sources}}

GregSmith: /* Are Latter-day Saint women placed under covenant in temples to subordinate themselves to their husbands? */

2024-06-05T01:12:44Z

Are Latter-day Saint women placed under covenant in temples to subordinate themselves to their husbands?

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	In any case the endowment's separate wording was altered as of 2023—likely to prevent and preclude any such misunderstandings.		In any case the endowment's separate wording was altered as of 2023—likely to prevent and preclude any such misunderstandings.

			{{To learn more box:women: in the Church}}{{blankline}}

	= What is the position of the Church of Jesus Christ on elective abortion?=		= What is the position of the Church of Jesus Christ on elective abortion?=

GregSmith: /* What to do in the face of uncertainty? */

2024-06-05T01:11:31Z

What to do in the face of uncertainty?

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	Which risk should we run if we are not certain?		Which risk should we run if we are not certain?

	{Endnotes sources}}		{{Endnotes sources}}

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Women in the Church of Jesus Christ - Revision history

SpencerMarsh at 14:38, 2 April 2026

SpencerMarsh at 16:34, 12 March 2026

SpencerMarsh at 16:33, 12 March 2026

SpencerMarsh at 18:36, 6 March 2026

SpencerMarsh at 18:48, 5 February 2026

SpencerMarsh at 18:48, 5 February 2026

SpencerMarsh at 16:18, 5 February 2026

GregSmith: /* What to do in the face of uncertainty? */

GregSmith: /* Are Latter-day Saint women placed under covenant in temples to subordinate themselves to their husbands? */

GregSmith: /* What to do in the face of uncertainty? */