Defending the Sanctity of Human Life (Chapter 27)

For this blog, I would like to ask what "defending the sanctity of human life" means? The text states that "Life. The etymology of the Old English word for life includes meanings such as "body" and "person", or that which "remains" and "continues. Life can be defined as a condition of sustained regenerative activity, energy, expression, or power that human beings and other animate creatures experience." (Hallen, 2012, p. 291). Each human being no mater who they are or what they look like is a beloved spirit son or daughter of our Heavenly Father and each has a divine nature and destiny.

“One human life is as precious as a million lives, for each is infinite in value.” (Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits, Jewish Views on Abortion, p. 4, as cited in Faust
). In our world today, especially during this time, abortion has become such a worldwide political issues that has created several debates and controversies within our world today. This is the biggest debate of defending the sanctity of human life. The text states that abortion literally translates to "cut off the existence of someone" or to "cause someone to disappear". (OED, 1989, s.v., abortion, as cited in Hallen). "Abortion can generally be defined as the natural or deliberate termination of the life of an unborn or partially born child." (Hallen, 2012, p. 292).

I have been involved with several different debates regarding abortion with friends in high school and it is quite disheartening how common and frequent it is in our world today. How are we suppose to preserve and the defend the sanctity of human life if it is so easy to take away? The text advises us that " Latter-Day Saints should prayerfully, strive to strengthen their testimonies of the sanctity of life, their resolve to and defend gospel principles relating to the sanctity of life." (Hallen, 2012, p. 295). The proclamation invites us to counteract the violence of abortion by peacefully upholding the sanctity of life and I know we will be blessed if we do so.




References:

• Hallen, C. L. (2012). Defending the Sanctity of Human Life. In Successful marriages and families: Proclamation principles and research perspectives (pp. 290-299). Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University.
• Faust, J. E. (1975, April). The Sanctity of Life - James E. Faust. Retrieved July 23, 2014, from https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1975/04/the-sanctity-of-life?lang=eng