Why We Need a Savior

The Christmas season is here, and I wanted to share this message as a reminder for why we celebrate. I know that because of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His gospel, we can be together forever as families. Christ is the true superhero.

Heroic Code of Conduct

Just as heroes have their own code of honor, so do we as Latter-Day Saints. Our banner, or modern "title of liberty" if you will, is known as The Family: A Proclamation to the World. This year, The Proclamation celebrated its 20th anniversary. It was first announced by President Gordon B. Hinckley "at the annual general Relief Society meeting" (Hawkins et al). Even though it was first given so long ago, its importance is not lessened. Rather, it has become more important as time progresses.

The Proclamation is a guide to families all around the world. There is a reason "to the World" was added at the end, it isn't just for the church. God loves all of His children, and He wants the message of the Proclamation to spread to the whole world. Today, "more than ever, families are under attack. A culture of throwaway relationships; familial apathay and permissive values... and immorality has made the responsibility to build strong families more challenging and more important" (Hawkins et al).

The Proclamation can provide direction in many aspects of our lives. It answers questions concerning gender, parental roles, our divine nature, marriage, and the law of chastity. Not only does The Proclamation provide answers, it also ends with a challenge to "promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society" (The Family).

In this instance, we are Clark Kent rather than Superman. We have our own "Daily Planet" to share goodness through. Today social media allows us to share our beliefs in a variety of ways. We can promote the importance of the family unit with the click of a button. There are so many people who have yet to hear the glad message of The Proclamation. I reaffirm that it is our duty as responsible citizens to promote and spread the message of The Proclamation. How can we have this knowledge, and not share it? 

Sources:

Hawkins, A., Dollahite, D., & Draper, T. (2012). The Proclamation: A Guide, a Banner, and a Doctinal Summary of the Church’s Emphasis on the Family. In Successful Marriages and Families: Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives. Provo, Utah: BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World. (1995, September 23). Retrieved October 29, 2015, from https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation

Defending the Innocent

As the political debate is heating up for the next election, the issue of abortion is again being brought up. "Donald Trump... declared himself pro-life after years of supporting the pro-abortion position" while Ben Carson "supports the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act which would make it illegal to have an abortion more than 20 weeks after fertilization, allowing exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother" (Donald, Ben). Another presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, said, "I think abortion should remain legal, but it needs to be safe and rare. And I have spent many years now, as a private citizen, as first lady, and now as senator, trying to make it rare, trying to create the conditions where women had other choices" (Hillary).

But which of these if any is right? How do we decide which stance is the best course of action? Luckily, the Lord has given us revelation that answers that question.

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declares the sanctity of human life. We deplore the practice of partial-birth abortion which destroys innocent life, and we condemn and oppose it as one of the most revolting and sinful practices of our day" (Hawkins et al). While the church is opposed to abortion, it does allow for special circumstances where abortion is an option. For example, "a pregnant mother may consider aborting a child conceived as a result of incest or rape because of the severe trauma that she has already experienced as a victim" (Hawkins et al).

I would like to argue that as potential superheroes we fight for unborn children and fight to give them a chance at life. "By abortion, the mother kills even her own child to solve her problems... [and] the father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world" this can then makes the same father "likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion leads to abortion" (Hawkins et al).

I don't think pregnancy should be looked at as a problem that will ruin our lives. Yes, sometimes it is a problem that effects our lives, but I don't think it needs to ruin it, and abortion certainly shouldn't be seen as the only solution.

Giving a child up for adoption is one of the most selfless things I can think of. Adoption blesses several lives. It allows the child to be raised in a loving home that can provide for him or her. This also allows the adoptive parents (or family) to raise a child, which they might have been longing for for some time. The birth parents also are blessed by knowing that their child is in a loving home recieving their best chance at life.

I hope that as time goes on we can remember that abortion isn't the only option. There are families out there praying night and day for the chance to have a child, and adoption can be an answer to these prayers. 

Sources:

Ben Carson on Abortion. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2015, from http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Ben_Carson_Abortion.htm

Donald Trump on Abortion. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2015, from http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Donald_Trump_Abortion.htm

Hawkins, A., Dollahite, D., & Draper, T. (2012). Defending the Sanctity of Human Life. In Successful Marriages and Families: Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives. Provo, Utah: BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.

Hillary Clinton on Abortion. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2015, from http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Hillary_Clinton_Abortion.htm