WEBVTT 00:00:07.179 --> 00:00:09.480 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:11.880 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:13.619 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:13.619 --> 00:00:16.500 Conference talks. This is Abby. And Amy. Let's 00:00:16.500 --> 00:00:28.399 jump into it. Today we're discussing the talk 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:31.120 Cherishing Life by Elder Neal L. Anderson of 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:34.320 the Quorum of the Twelve. Our Savior Jesus Christ 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:37.539 taught us, By this shall all men know that ye 00:00:37.539 --> 00:00:39.920 are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:43.159 I love that he started this way. I feel like 00:00:43.159 --> 00:00:45.240 it spoke to my heart, and I hope that it spoke 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:47.600 to everyone's heart who was listening, that we 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:50.320 are applying this across the board. And he's 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:52.759 going to go into a sensitive subject. Right. 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:56.219 you know, once you get to the end of the talk 00:00:56.219 --> 00:00:58.039 and you realize this is what he started, he actually 00:00:58.039 --> 00:01:00.679 ends with this exactly too. He starts and finishes 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:03.380 it, that it's to say, there's going to be all 00:01:03.380 --> 00:01:05.219 sorts of fillings that are conjured up with this 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:08.219 particular topic. And this is coming from a place 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:11.079 of love. Yes. Apply the principle of love. Elder 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:13.640 Anderson received a letter from a bishop in Utah 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:15.599 who shares a touching story of a young woman 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:17.959 in crisis and the help that was made available 00:01:17.959 --> 00:01:20.019 to her. She and her family had been away from 00:01:20.019 --> 00:01:21.659 the church for some time, but decided to come 00:01:21.659 --> 00:01:24.060 back. As they came back, the daughter felt God's 00:01:24.060 --> 00:01:25.780 love love during a testimony meeting and began 00:01:25.780 --> 00:01:28.540 the repentance process. Shortly after, she learned 00:01:28.540 --> 00:01:30.299 she was pregnant and, despite pressure from her 00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:32.439 boyfriend to terminate the pregnancy, chose to 00:01:32.439 --> 00:01:34.980 keep the baby. With overwhelming love and support 00:01:34.980 --> 00:01:37.420 from her ward, including her bishop and young 00:01:37.420 --> 00:01:40.000 woman president, she felt guided by the Lord. 00:01:40.180 --> 00:01:42.579 In February, she and her family joyfully welcomed 00:01:42.579 --> 00:01:45.599 her baby boy, surrounded by a caring church community. 00:01:45.900 --> 00:01:48.359 This church community truly demonstrated that 00:01:48.359 --> 00:01:51.079 they were true disciples of Jesus Christ because 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:53.409 of the love that they showed. President Russell 00:01:53.409 --> 00:01:55.730 M. Nelson said a hallmark of the Lord's true 00:01:55.730 --> 00:01:58.109 and living church will always be an organized 00:01:58.109 --> 00:02:00.650 effort to minister to individual children of 00:02:00.650 --> 00:02:03.469 God, ministering with loving kindness to the 00:02:03.469 --> 00:02:06.870 one just as he did. I think of times when someone 00:02:06.870 --> 00:02:08.990 has experienced maybe injury or illness, job 00:02:08.990 --> 00:02:12.110 loss, death of a loved one. Think of those people 00:02:12.110 --> 00:02:15.930 who you have ministered to or who have ministered 00:02:15.930 --> 00:02:18.370 to you. Knowing today that he's going to be talking 00:02:18.370 --> 00:02:26.479 about, you know, abortion is going to have us 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:29.120 stop and pause and think, what if that is the 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:33.060 experience that's coming up? What can I do to 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:35.639 help that one person in need that's experiencing 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:38.699 an unplanned or unwed pregnancy? Our thoughts 00:02:38.699 --> 00:02:41.520 are going to go in a certain direction. let things 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:43.639 immediately come to mind on how you could help 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:45.800 and support that individual. That's a great way 00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:48.060 to go at it, Abby. Again, applying love. When 00:02:48.060 --> 00:02:50.500 a single woman discovers that she's expecting 00:02:50.500 --> 00:02:54.659 an unanticipated child, health concerns, spiritual 00:02:54.659 --> 00:02:57.460 turmoil, embarrassment, financial worries, educational 00:02:57.460 --> 00:03:00.319 questions, marriage uncertainty, and the sadness 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:02.259 of shattered dreams can, in a moment of pain 00:03:02.259 --> 00:03:04.939 and bewilderment, lead a thoughtful woman to 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:08.389 take steps that will bring deep pain. and regret. 00:03:08.629 --> 00:03:11.469 For anyone listening who have experienced the 00:03:11.469 --> 00:03:13.770 deep pain and regret from having or participating 00:03:13.770 --> 00:03:17.389 in an abortion, please remember, these might 00:03:17.389 --> 00:03:19.569 have been my favorite words of the whole talk. 00:03:19.770 --> 00:03:22.990 Although we cannot change the past, God can heal 00:03:22.990 --> 00:03:25.969 the past. I love that part. Forgiveness can come 00:03:25.969 --> 00:03:28.069 through the miracle of his atoning grace as you 00:03:28.069 --> 00:03:30.509 turn to him with a humble and repentant heart. 00:03:30.909 --> 00:03:32.909 It's incredible to think that someone who has 00:03:32.909 --> 00:03:36.289 held on to the pain of that loss, maybe decades 00:03:36.289 --> 00:03:39.030 ago or maybe just recently, can be told by an 00:03:39.030 --> 00:03:41.830 apostle of God that humility and a repentant 00:03:41.830 --> 00:03:44.090 heart can relieve this person of the burden that 00:03:44.090 --> 00:03:47.560 they feel. I didn't see a lot of controversy 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:50.699 about this talk. Did you see that? I didn't, 00:03:50.699 --> 00:03:52.400 but I'm not on social right now. Yeah, and I'm 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:55.020 not really following people that, you know, kind 00:03:55.020 --> 00:03:56.479 of like just muting people that I don't want 00:03:56.479 --> 00:03:57.659 to hear from. So it could be there. So it could 00:03:57.659 --> 00:04:01.719 be there. But, you know, I'm assuming that maybe 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:05.439 there was another. group of people that heard 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:07.180 that and have been carrying that burden for a 00:04:07.180 --> 00:04:09.719 long time and rejoiced just being told like i 00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:11.860 totally would no matter what there's no there's 00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:14.740 no limits on the savior and and what his atonement 00:04:14.740 --> 00:04:16.680 can do and that maybe all this time they've been 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:18.759 like well murder you murdered somebody or something 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:20.220 and they're just like i can't i can't even bring 00:04:20.220 --> 00:04:21.740 that up it's like one of the hardest deepest 00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:24.899 darkest things that i carry no you can absolutely 00:04:24.899 --> 00:04:28.069 um I know he's speaking to a worldwide church 00:04:28.069 --> 00:04:29.870 and I'm not going to pretend like I know all 00:04:29.870 --> 00:04:31.730 of the phrases and the terminology that this 00:04:31.730 --> 00:04:34.110 topic brings up across the world landscape in 00:04:34.110 --> 00:04:36.410 the political debate. But I do know a lot of 00:04:36.410 --> 00:04:39.110 our audience is from America and they're very 00:04:39.110 --> 00:04:41.269 familiar with the fact that two words are often 00:04:41.269 --> 00:04:45.269 attached to the sanctity of mortal birth. And 00:04:45.269 --> 00:04:48.709 that is the word life and choice. And maybe that 00:04:48.709 --> 00:04:51.639 line lingered. Or triggered something inside 00:04:51.639 --> 00:04:53.500 of you, like you got to pick your side. Your 00:04:53.500 --> 00:04:55.100 mind starts running through your thoughts on 00:04:55.100 --> 00:04:57.199 why your stance is, you know, of being either 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:02.920 pro -choice or pro -life is superior. Abby, I 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:05.000 love that you said that. Those are the things 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:09.490 that touched my heart as he was speaking. I loved 00:05:09.490 --> 00:05:12.730 it because he said life is a most precious part 00:05:12.730 --> 00:05:15.250 of our father's perfect plan. So he's already 00:05:15.250 --> 00:05:17.529 talked about life and how precious it is. And 00:05:17.529 --> 00:05:19.290 he said right before that he said life and choice 00:05:19.290 --> 00:05:22.149 are both essential in this difficult issue. Our 00:05:22.149 --> 00:05:24.629 political landscape tries to make it like a side. 00:05:24.730 --> 00:05:27.170 You pick one or the other. And he said, no, guys. 00:05:27.550 --> 00:05:29.970 They're both important. Yes. But in what context? 00:05:30.230 --> 00:05:32.870 And he says, by his decree, we cherish and preserve 00:05:32.870 --> 00:05:35.610 life. I think those two words were some of my 00:05:35.610 --> 00:05:37.449 favorite. Cherish and preserve, because those 00:05:37.449 --> 00:05:39.889 are guiding principles for the rest of our lives. 00:05:39.970 --> 00:05:43.550 And we choose the continuation of life once conceived. 00:05:43.790 --> 00:05:47.029 So again, cherish and preserve life, and we continue 00:05:47.029 --> 00:05:49.250 life once it's conceived. We also treasure the 00:05:49.250 --> 00:05:51.470 gift of choice. Like you said, there's choice 00:05:51.470 --> 00:05:54.680 and there's life of moral agency. helping to 00:05:54.680 --> 00:05:57.220 strengthen righteous choices approved by God 00:05:57.220 --> 00:06:00.079 that bring eternal happiness. When a man and 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:02.439 woman are in a fragile time facing this crucial 00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:06.680 choice, our words, our hands, spiritually, emotionally, 00:06:06.899 --> 00:06:08.939 and financially can bless them to fill the Savior's 00:06:08.939 --> 00:06:12.339 love. I feel like this is an action item. I'm 00:06:12.339 --> 00:06:14.560 well past the age of having an unwanted teen 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:17.750 pregnancy. probably realistically having children 00:06:17.750 --> 00:06:20.149 at all, but I'm raising children that that could 00:06:20.149 --> 00:06:22.509 be, you know, the situation they face, or maybe, 00:06:22.550 --> 00:06:26.550 you know, I'll have church callings where like 00:06:26.550 --> 00:06:29.370 my circle of influence will be this, you know, 00:06:29.370 --> 00:06:31.490 young teen population where this could be a very 00:06:31.490 --> 00:06:33.750 real and true thing. And certainly, you know, 00:06:33.750 --> 00:06:36.790 we're in a ward that issue has come up and it 00:06:36.790 --> 00:06:38.589 could certainly continue to come up in the future. 00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:41.939 The ears that I put on to hear this talk is, 00:06:42.019 --> 00:06:45.740 what is my job? What can I do to help in this 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:49.660 most difficult time? Those are the action items 00:06:49.660 --> 00:06:52.000 that I'm going to hear pop out. So what can I 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:54.060 do spiritually, emotionally, and financially 00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:57.660 to bless those in this situation, feel the Savior's 00:06:57.660 --> 00:07:00.500 love? And then President Henry B. Eyring said, 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:03.360 bring a clarifying adjustment to their spiritual 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:06.079 eyes from what they think they see to what they 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:09.689 cannot yet see. So appreciate that. Meaning what 00:07:09.689 --> 00:07:12.870 value, you know, if all that they see right immediately 00:07:12.870 --> 00:07:15.089 in front of them is how this is going to ruin 00:07:15.089 --> 00:07:18.209 their life, it's going to prevent them from doing 00:07:18.209 --> 00:07:21.850 X, Y, Z, how do they afford it? All of these 00:07:21.850 --> 00:07:26.509 perceived roadblocks making, you know, there's 00:07:26.509 --> 00:07:28.350 like maybe four choices here, but making only 00:07:28.350 --> 00:07:30.389 one choice, like rise to the top, seeming like 00:07:30.389 --> 00:07:32.290 the only option out there. Because that's the 00:07:32.290 --> 00:07:36.589 message the world wants them to hear. I love 00:07:36.589 --> 00:07:38.629 that this next section is titled The Doctrine 00:07:38.629 --> 00:07:40.350 of Mortal Life, and it starts with a quote from 00:07:40.350 --> 00:07:43.129 President Dallin H. Oaks, who said, Our attitude 00:07:43.129 --> 00:07:45.389 toward abortion is not based on revealed knowledge 00:07:45.389 --> 00:07:48.129 of when mortal life begins, because sometimes 00:07:48.129 --> 00:07:50.949 that is the debate. It is fixed by our knowledge 00:07:50.949 --> 00:07:53.709 that all the spirit children of God must come 00:07:53.709 --> 00:07:56.310 to this earth for a glorious purpose, and that 00:07:56.310 --> 00:07:58.470 individual identity began long before conception 00:07:58.470 --> 00:08:01.170 and will continue for all the eternities to come. 00:08:01.290 --> 00:08:03.990 I really appreciated when I read this how clear 00:08:03.990 --> 00:08:06.959 and succinct it was. Yeah. It kind of just ends 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:09.879 this pointless debate that we have with others, 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:13.220 like when did life start? Doesn't matter. Well, 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:16.019 it matters. It started eons ago. Yeah. In the 00:08:16.019 --> 00:08:18.040 pre -existence. Can't put a number on it, though. 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:22.339 Yeah. Yes. Whatever word you want to call it, 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:25.259 and if we're going to try to slice it up to how 00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:28.240 many cells are in there to call it life, we have 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:30.079 this much different doctrine. We know it started 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:32.700 way before, and it goes way after this short 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:36.250 stint here. The word of the Lord concerning the 00:08:36.250 --> 00:08:40.509 unborn given voice to the first presidency and 00:08:40.509 --> 00:08:43.350 the Quorum of the Twelve have never varied and 00:08:43.350 --> 00:08:46.230 echoes the words of prophets throughout the ages, 00:08:46.429 --> 00:08:48.970 giving divine clarity to what the Lord has asked 00:08:48.970 --> 00:08:51.889 of us. Quote, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter 00:08:51.889 --> 00:08:54.110 -day Saints believes in the sanctity of human 00:08:54.110 --> 00:08:56.450 life. Therefore, the Church opposes elective 00:08:56.450 --> 00:08:59.129 abortion for personal or social convenience and 00:08:59.129 --> 00:09:01.309 counsels its members not to submit to perform, 00:09:01.529 --> 00:09:04.700 encourage, pay for or arrange for such abortions 00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:10.070 and obviously you know their caveat of the the 00:09:10.070 --> 00:09:12.230 exceptions that exist. He goes on and he says, 00:09:12.309 --> 00:09:14.309 the Lord allows for possible exceptions when 00:09:14.309 --> 00:09:17.549 a pregnancy results from rape or incest, or a 00:09:17.549 --> 00:09:19.889 competent physician determines that the life 00:09:19.889 --> 00:09:22.309 or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy, 00:09:22.309 --> 00:09:24.990 or a competent physician determines that the 00:09:24.990 --> 00:09:27.850 fetus has severe defects that will not allow 00:09:27.850 --> 00:09:31.289 the baby to survive beyond birth. And then the 00:09:31.289 --> 00:09:33.870 first presidency continues. Abortion is a most 00:09:33.870 --> 00:09:36.320 serious matter. Even in these rare situations, 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:38.500 it should be considered only after the persons 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:40.960 responsible have received confirmation through 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:43.340 prayer and counsel with others. Thirty years 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:45.440 ago, the Lord's prophet issued a proclamation 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:47.960 to the world. It includes these words. We declare 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:50.580 that God has commanded that the sacred powers 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:52.840 of procreation are to be employed only between 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:55.419 man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and 00:09:55.419 --> 00:09:57.960 wife. We declare the means by which mortal life 00:09:57.960 --> 00:10:00.500 is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm 00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:03.240 the sanctity of life and of its importance to 00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:06.590 God's eternal plan. I never really considered 00:10:06.590 --> 00:10:09.389 that line being pertinent to this talk, but in 00:10:09.389 --> 00:10:13.730 the context of this talk, it is. It is. Totally. 00:10:14.110 --> 00:10:16.230 Nurturing and protecting life that is yet unborn 00:10:16.230 --> 00:10:18.870 is not a political position. It is a moral law 00:10:18.870 --> 00:10:21.889 confirmed by the Lord through his prophets. Statement 00:10:21.889 --> 00:10:23.990 by President J. Reuben Clark, who served in the 00:10:23.990 --> 00:10:26.009 first presidency, beautifully describes our youth 00:10:26.009 --> 00:10:28.570 today. He said, the youth of the church are hungry 00:10:28.570 --> 00:10:30.190 for things of the spirit, and they are eager 00:10:30.190 --> 00:10:33.480 to learn the gospel, and they wait. Or they want 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:35.620 it straight and undiluted. They want to know 00:10:35.620 --> 00:10:37.740 about our beliefs, and they want to gain testimonies 00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:39.980 of the truth. They are inquirers, seekers of 00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:42.080 truth. So I felt like an action item's in here. 00:10:42.299 --> 00:10:45.440 Let's speak more often with faith and compassion 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:49.059 to our youth in our homes, with each other in 00:10:49.059 --> 00:10:50.820 Relief Society and Elders Corps meetings about 00:10:50.820 --> 00:10:53.179 the Lord's law of chastity, the sanctity of life, 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:54.899 and the care of the unborn and their mothers. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:58.450 And again, paired with this is... This is the 00:10:58.450 --> 00:11:01.649 truth. This is how God, He has designed it to 00:11:01.649 --> 00:11:06.590 be. But also in those same settings say, when 00:11:06.590 --> 00:11:10.090 things happen, you know, what's the next step? 00:11:10.149 --> 00:11:13.529 Those two conversations hopefully can be paired 00:11:13.529 --> 00:11:15.970 together. And so interesting that he said, speak 00:11:15.970 --> 00:11:18.610 more often and then also with faith and with 00:11:18.610 --> 00:11:21.789 compassion. Like that is very, it's very helpful. 00:11:22.509 --> 00:11:25.220 A dear sister, this is... one of the stories 00:11:25.220 --> 00:11:27.960 that was shared. A dear sister wrote to me of 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:30.840 an experience she had decades ago. As a 17 year 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:32.639 old, I found myself pregnant with little to no 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:35.159 support from my boyfriend. I felt ashamed and 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:37.600 alone, but never considered an abortion. I had 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:39.899 my loving family and my bishop with whom I met 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:43.429 regularly for guidance. I turned to God. i studied 00:11:43.429 --> 00:11:45.809 the scriptures i prayed for and found strength 00:11:45.809 --> 00:11:48.450 through my savior and the repentance process 00:11:48.450 --> 00:11:51.889 and then this is she shares where she came to 00:11:51.889 --> 00:11:54.070 i received an answer to my prayers that i could 00:11:54.070 --> 00:11:57.190 not deny it was heartbreaking but i knew i'd 00:11:57.190 --> 00:11:59.509 be placing my daughter for adoption i prayed 00:11:59.509 --> 00:12:02.190 for courage and felt the savior's love so clearly 00:12:02.190 --> 00:12:05.330 through repentance i know that god answers prayers 00:12:05.330 --> 00:12:09.710 and strengthens us i love that she um She applied 00:12:09.710 --> 00:12:13.129 the process of forgiveness and turning to God 00:12:13.129 --> 00:12:15.149 for answers because that is across the board, 00:12:15.230 --> 00:12:17.610 no matter what situation we find ourselves in, 00:12:17.649 --> 00:12:20.769 any difficult one where we need to counsel with 00:12:20.769 --> 00:12:23.009 the Lord. I love that she felt comfortable turning 00:12:23.009 --> 00:12:25.289 to God because somewhere else in here, it's just 00:12:25.289 --> 00:12:27.169 kind of like, well, I've made this mistake. He 00:12:27.169 --> 00:12:28.789 doesn't want to hear from me. Oh, I'm making 00:12:28.789 --> 00:12:31.289 this next decision. And that is so false. He 00:12:31.289 --> 00:12:33.490 wants to hear. Right. He is. Yeah, I'm sure he 00:12:33.490 --> 00:12:36.399 was so pleased with her turning to him. In any 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:38.980 moment, especially when she could maybe feel 00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:41.259 that there was distance. A loving couple adopted 00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:43.399 this precious baby girl and taught her the gospel. 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:45.879 She is now married with a beautiful family of 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:49.539 her own. At times, profoundly difficult and agonizing 00:12:49.539 --> 00:12:52.639 uncertainty can accompany the protection of life. 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:55.100 Again, love that we're talking about protection 00:12:55.100 --> 00:12:57.799 of life. How many times have we talked about 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:00.080 how doing the things we are prompted to isn't 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:02.970 always the easy thing? But again. You know, it 00:13:02.970 --> 00:13:04.929 doesn't always bring immediate relief, but in 00:13:04.929 --> 00:13:08.029 time, we keep going on and on until the day we 00:13:08.029 --> 00:13:09.870 look back and we see that the decision we made 00:13:09.870 --> 00:13:11.549 was right, which is another reason I want to 00:13:11.549 --> 00:13:13.470 circle back to what President Eyring said when 00:13:13.470 --> 00:13:16.070 he said, you know, we can help them to see things 00:13:16.070 --> 00:13:17.570 more clearly that they're not seeing right now. 00:13:17.769 --> 00:13:20.230 Sometimes emotions completely cloud our, like, 00:13:20.250 --> 00:13:23.309 there's probably fear and shame and all these 00:13:23.309 --> 00:13:25.529 other feelings that definitely can get in the 00:13:25.529 --> 00:13:28.950 way of making good choices that will last for 00:13:28.950 --> 00:13:32.200 eternity. Yep. And all of these stories were 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:33.940 obviously shared with permission, looked in the 00:13:33.940 --> 00:13:35.559 footnotes and it was like with permission, with 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:39.259 permission. But how powerful that this woman, 00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:41.080 you know, if she's comfortable that it's being 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:42.960 shared here, she's probably testified of that 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:44.379 in different situations. She's probably been 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:47.279 invited to talk about her story in a Relief Society 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:50.940 or in a young woman's situation. And how many 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:54.090 more people have learned that lesson? She's not 00:13:54.090 --> 00:13:55.730 the first or the last. Turning a hard situation 00:13:55.730 --> 00:13:58.250 into something that's so positive and good. Totally. 00:13:58.289 --> 00:14:00.570 I mean, I'm a sucker for adoption videos. And 00:14:00.570 --> 00:14:04.070 when that baby was placed in these parents' arms, 00:14:04.450 --> 00:14:08.990 I'm just like a very sad, like the very sad, 00:14:09.049 --> 00:14:13.330 sad moment of this young girl knowing, even though 00:14:13.330 --> 00:14:15.070 she probably wanted to keep her baby, that the 00:14:15.070 --> 00:14:17.049 right thing was to give it up for adoption in 00:14:17.049 --> 00:14:18.629 this situation. In that situation, yes. I'm not 00:14:18.629 --> 00:14:20.389 trying to say that that's always the right situation, 00:14:20.450 --> 00:14:24.360 but it was in her situation. that immense grief 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.960 that she probably felt and has probably held 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:30.019 onto for many years, the exact opposite, the 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:31.919 joy that that other family would feel. But I 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:34.799 mean, also there's moments in the adoptive family's 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:37.279 lives that they probably feel that pain and sadness 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:41.039 for what the birth mom or parents are missing 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:43.179 out on. So many emotions and all of them are 00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:45.139 good. And it's not like we said, it's not like 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:49.000 these decisions make it easy. It just, with time. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:52.779 You know, being able to see it from a perspective 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:57.320 of time, you know, just things have softened 00:14:57.320 --> 00:14:58.860 and we can kind of look back on that and just 00:14:58.860 --> 00:15:01.759 say, oh, it was for the best good for a lot of 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:05.059 reasons. Another story shared. Recently, a young 00:15:05.059 --> 00:15:07.419 couple whom Kathy and I loved wrote me about 00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:11.059 their precious baby they were expecting. They 00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:14.279 were expecting a baby and at the 10 -week mark, 00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:17.139 they found out that their child had Down syndrome. 00:15:18.540 --> 00:15:21.500 Often with Down syndrome, multiple heart defects 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:24.480 can pair with that. Despite pressure from medical 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:26.879 professionals to consider termination, they sought 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:28.779 divine guidance and felt peace and comfort through 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:30.639 the Spirit. The father described their daughter 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:32.720 as a special soul with a deep desire to join 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:34.779 their family. While the mother shared how the 00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:37.679 Savior healed her heart and gave her hope. I 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:39.679 kind of feel like the way this story reads is 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:41.679 that every time they would go and they still 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:43.320 had the option. Do you want to abort? This baby's 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:44.399 going to have a hard life. Do you want to have 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:46.100 an abortion? It's not too late. Do you want to 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:50.240 have an abortion? previously was like oh that 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:52.559 diagnosis that's a hard thing and hadn't come 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:55.120 to terms with it every subsequent time that she 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:57.440 was asked if she wanted to end this baby's life 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:59.559 and you know save them from a lot of hard things 00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:02.000 and the couple from a lot of hard things it be 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.899 it made her more determined and more determined 00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:06.559 to preserve that life because that life was important 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:09.360 for whatever reason in their family at that time 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:12.759 it was important so they trusted god's plan they 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:16.720 welcomed their baby girl It says one week ago, 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:19.820 and they're grateful to be hers forever. Wow. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:24.440 Undaunted faith and remarkable courage are hallmarks 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:27.159 of disciples of Jesus Christ. I think these hard 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:30.000 situations that we're presented with do help 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:33.779 us to fortify, strengthen our testimony of the 00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:37.679 things that we know to be true. Adam and I, we 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:40.820 carry a... double recessive genetic disease. 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:43.179 And after we found that diagnosis out with our 00:16:43.179 --> 00:16:46.659 first child, subsequent children, we were encouraged 00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:49.299 to have amniocentesis like on our second kid. 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:53.639 And so we met with the perinatologist and that's 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:55.940 what she was suggesting and weighing the consequences 00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:58.179 and basically saying, well, if you find out the 00:16:58.179 --> 00:16:59.860 baby has cystic fibrosis, then you can abort 00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:02.580 and just save all of that pain and heartache. 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:07.160 And I'm like, that's a hard thing. we knew we 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:09.880 were keeping our babies, like whatever may come. 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:14.619 It wasn't an option, but to be told that by a 00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:17.359 medical professional, like basically this is 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:20.039 the easy way out and like no shame, no harm there. 00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:23.180 I've faced that decision in my own life. And 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:27.779 for myself, I thought Heavenly Father knows exactly, 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:29.819 you know, what combination of kids we're going 00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:31.200 to get, whether they're going to have cystic 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:33.980 fibrosis or not, or heart conditions or Down 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:37.839 syndrome. It all comes with a purpose in my mind. 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:42.440 For sure, Abby. Over the years, many individuals 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:44.579 have sought to return to the covenant path and 00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:46.180 reclaim their priesthood and temple blessings. 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:49.359 One man, after being unfaithful to his wife and 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:52.160 to his covenants, fathered a child with another 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:55.119 woman who considered abortion. His faithful wife 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:57.579 pleaded for the child's life and promised to 00:17:57.579 --> 00:18:00.539 raise him as her own. Ten years later, she lovingly 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:02.480 cared for the boy and supported her husband's 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:05.619 repentance. Her ability to forgive and embrace 00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:08.180 the child came through her faith in Jesus Christ. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:11.539 Honestly, I love the way he tells this story 00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:14.140 because he's like, how was she able to do this? 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:16.259 I think that was the question for every single 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:20.539 person listening to this. And then he said, through 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:23.420 her faith in Jesus Christ. And the Spirit just 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:27.279 witnessed to my heart again. She maybe had lost 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:29.460 faith in her husband for a time, but she put 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:32.059 her trust and faith in the right guy. Jesus Christ, 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:35.250 you can do. anything that you're called to do. 00:18:35.410 --> 00:18:38.369 So it was her faith in Jesus Christ and her deep 00:18:38.369 --> 00:18:41.529 belief in the sacredness of life. She knew that 00:18:41.529 --> 00:18:44.009 the unborn child was a child of God, innocent 00:18:44.009 --> 00:18:47.190 and pure. That's a fact. I know, right? And also 00:18:47.190 --> 00:18:49.730 when I, I love when someone speaks truth. And 00:18:49.730 --> 00:18:51.670 in this case, when we're listening to conference, 00:18:51.809 --> 00:18:56.289 when our general leaders or the apostles, a prophet. 00:18:56.970 --> 00:18:58.930 When they speak truth, it just resounds with 00:18:58.930 --> 00:19:01.990 my heart. And I just love feeling that over and 00:19:01.990 --> 00:19:04.599 over again, the Holy Ghost saying. That's true. 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:07.119 That's true. It's like it, I don't know, it cements 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:09.019 it deeper into my heart. And when I heard those 00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:10.799 words, Abby, just like you said, that's totally 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.700 true. That's how it felt listening to it. There's 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:14.579 a possibility other people listening to this 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:16.819 talk were angry the whole time through. Could 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:19.619 be. And that's definitely your right to be angry. 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:22.220 But I would challenge you to read that first 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:24.660 paragraph again and just ask Heavenly Father, 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:27.420 is he really coming from a place of love? And 00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:30.630 if he is. Can you help soften me enough to just 00:19:30.630 --> 00:19:32.769 give him a chance to make the case that he's 00:19:32.769 --> 00:19:37.150 making here? So Abbey President Russell M. Nelson 00:19:37.150 --> 00:19:40.230 said, A hallmark of the Lord's true and living 00:19:40.230 --> 00:19:43.230 church will always be an organized effort to 00:19:43.230 --> 00:19:46.750 minister to individual children of God, ministering 00:19:46.750 --> 00:19:48.410 with love and kindness, like we talked about 00:19:48.410 --> 00:19:52.859 before, to the one just as he did. Very last 00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:55.400 footnote referenced resources available to us 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:58.140 as members of the church. And I feel like if 00:19:58.140 --> 00:20:02.460 he had been given another 15 minutes to talk 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:04.099 about the pulpit, he probably would have just 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:05.880 read through them. Instead of just putting it 00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:09.119 over there, right? I don't love to just read 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:14.440 things, but this is definitely like too many 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:16.140 times we're listening to these general conference 00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:19.339 talks, like the audio version and the print's 00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:22.420 not in front of us. Too many things were like 00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:25.579 the Spirit directed me time and time again, check 00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:27.279 out that footnote, check out that footnote. So 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:29.859 I happened to get my paper copy yesterday from 00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:32.140 the mail preparing for this thing, and I was 00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:35.299 prompted to do that. And so I went to the references 00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:38.339 that he used, and I thought, you know what? I'm 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:40.900 hearing what you're asking us to do, and I think 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:42.859 that he wants us to put all of this right here 00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:46.779 so that... If you're driving and listening. You 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:49.539 can pause. That's the end of the podcast. We've 00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:52.319 regurgitated the talk as it was given and tried 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:56.579 to just stay out of the political like discord 00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:59.099 that is like so present with this topic. Or just 00:20:59.099 --> 00:21:01.640 the sensitivity of everyone having their own 00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:03.759 personal revelation on this. Right. But this 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:07.039 information is so good. He referenced three things. 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:09.480 The first one was unwed pregnancy, which comes 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:12.440 from the topic in questions. It says, Heavenly 00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:14.380 Father loves all of His children and shows mercy 00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:16.299 to each one regardless of their circumstances. 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:19.220 He is rich in mercy and will support us in our 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:21.819 trials, troubles, and afflictions. Being pregnant 00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:24.119 and unmarried can be a difficult time in a person's 00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:26.819 life. Each individual experiences unique circumstances 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:29.200 when faced with unwed pregnancy. In deciding 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:31.319 how to proceed, remember that Heavenly Father 00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:34.359 will never abandon you or your child. He loves 00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:41.970 your child as much as, if not more, than. You 00:21:41.970 --> 00:21:44.869 love the child and he desires to help you both. 00:21:45.069 --> 00:21:47.509 He cares about and has a plan for both of you 00:21:47.509 --> 00:21:51.470 and he will not leave you comfortless. Question, 00:21:51.609 --> 00:21:55.130 what do I do now that I'm pregnant? First, remember 00:21:55.130 --> 00:21:56.970 that. And again, remember, we're reading this 00:21:56.970 --> 00:22:00.549 from word for word outline. Yeah. Remember topics 00:22:00.549 --> 00:22:02.869 and questions. You can find it in print if you 00:22:02.869 --> 00:22:06.769 want. Remember that your Heavenly Father loves 00:22:06.769 --> 00:22:09.049 you and wants to help you as you move forward. 00:22:09.269 --> 00:22:11.849 It is never too late to seek His counsel or feel 00:22:11.849 --> 00:22:14.950 His Spirit as you seek divine direction. The 00:22:14.950 --> 00:22:18.170 health of your child is important. Seek prenatal 00:22:18.170 --> 00:22:20.450 care where available and seek information on 00:22:20.450 --> 00:22:23.799 prenatal health. Who can I talk to? As you make 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:26.259 decisions for your future, seek Heavenly Father's 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:27.900 guidance through prayer and counsel with your 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:30.079 parents, bishop, medical provider, and other 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:32.220 trusted individuals who seek to support you. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:35.519 Remember, you are not alone, and many people 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:38.039 care about you and want to support you as you 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:40.019 move forward with your life. In addition, your 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:42.519 bishop can provide counsel to you as your priesthood 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:44.660 leader and can also help you begin the process 00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:48.720 of repentance as appropriate. What are my options? 00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:51.680 When you experience unwed pregnancy, you will 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:54.220 have to choose one of four options. Marriage, 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:57.819 adoption, single parenting, or abortion. And 00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:59.960 again, it says, see the general handbook as far 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:03.119 as this goes on abortion for an explanation of 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:05.299 why the church does not support abortions, except 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:07.880 in rare circumstances that we've gone over. What 00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:10.099 you choose will depend on your unique circumstances. 00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:13.160 Again, that's what I meant. Like, each person 00:23:13.160 --> 00:23:16.480 has a choice between those four things. And just 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:19.779 because, you know, we're talking mostly about 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:22.640 one of the three, just because one of the three 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:25.180 was best for you does not mean that someone else 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.980 you've heard about that it was best for them. 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:29.319 Again, it's personal revelation and what the 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:32.319 circumstances. the question, how do I decide 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:34.619 what to do? Remember, whatever you decide for 00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:36.579 you and your child, some people will agree with 00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:39.220 your decisions and others will not. Every individual 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:42.000 situation is different. So the answer for one 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:44.779 person's may not work for another. One thing 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:46.779 you can be sure of is that no one will have given 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:49.299 as much time, effort, and thought to the unique 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:52.980 circumstances of your situation as you and the 00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:55.519 Lord. Trust in the divine counsel to receive 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:57.440 from Heavenly Father as you make your decision. 00:23:57.819 --> 00:24:00.589 Scriptures teach us how to make decisions. um 00:24:00.589 --> 00:24:02.990 through study and prayer it says behold you have 00:24:02.990 --> 00:24:06.170 not understood you have supposed that i would 00:24:06.170 --> 00:24:08.630 give it unto you when you took no thought save 00:24:08.630 --> 00:24:10.849 it was to ask me but behold i say unto you that 00:24:10.849 --> 00:24:12.869 you must study it out in your mind then you must 00:24:12.869 --> 00:24:15.430 ask if it be right and if it is right i will 00:24:15.430 --> 00:24:18.170 cause that your bosom shall burn within you therefore 00:24:18.170 --> 00:24:20.910 you shall fill it is right studying a decision 00:24:20.910 --> 00:24:23.049 out in your mind includes researching the information 00:24:23.049 --> 00:24:26.329 available for each of us to challenge each of 00:24:26.329 --> 00:24:29.170 the challenges we face we can consider the following 00:24:29.170 --> 00:24:31.670 questions What direction are parents, bishop, 00:24:31.769 --> 00:24:34.009 and other trusted individuals giving you? What 00:24:34.009 --> 00:24:35.829 are the rewards and challenges for both you and 00:24:35.829 --> 00:24:38.490 your child associated with each decision? If 00:24:38.490 --> 00:24:41.250 I were to place the needs of a child above the 00:24:41.250 --> 00:24:43.150 needs of everyone else, including my own, how 00:24:43.150 --> 00:24:45.589 might this influence my decision? These are just 00:24:45.589 --> 00:24:47.210 a few of the questions you may want to explore 00:24:47.210 --> 00:24:49.150 prior to taking your decision to the Lord or 00:24:49.150 --> 00:24:51.609 for His counsel. Remember, He cannot assist you 00:24:51.609 --> 00:24:53.210 in making your decision unless you invite Him 00:24:53.210 --> 00:24:57.099 to be part of them. So good. Will I get through 00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:59.460 this challenge? Regardless of your decisions, 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:01.779 the Lord is mindful of you. He wants you and 00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:04.059 your child to be successful and happy. Though 00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:06.200 you may be discouraged at times, remember to 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:08.960 learn from the past and then let it go so you 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:11.420 can move forward into the future. If you move 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:13.900 forward today, resolving to keep the Lord ever 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:16.519 present in your decisions, you will surely succeed. 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:19.319 If I know someone who is experiencing an unwed 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:22.180 pregnancy, how might I help? If you're seeking 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:24.099 advice on how to minister to a family member 00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:26.599 or friend, know that Heavenly Father loves you 00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:29.039 and values your desire to help. Ministering to 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:31.539 an unwed parent in a positive manner will require 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:34.019 knowledge and inspiration. Seek knowledge from 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:36.059 numerous resources, including church handbooks, 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:39.380 magazines, and conference talks, as well as academic 00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:41.799 books and articles. Seek spiritual knowledge 00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:43.740 through prayer and priesthood blessings. You 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:45.480 may also consider counseling with your bishop 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:47.460 as you explore ways that you might be able to 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:49.700 help. Maybe the most important gift you can give 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:52.779 is your continued friendship and nonjudgmental 00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:57.400 listening ear. I think how depressing it would 00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:59.779 be if you found out your child was expecting 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:03.269 a baby. And you find out you're like the last 00:26:03.269 --> 00:26:04.789 person that they felt safe that they could talk 00:26:04.789 --> 00:26:08.730 to. Like less disappointing than that they have 00:26:08.730 --> 00:26:12.589 this decision to face. Like I want to make sure 00:26:12.589 --> 00:26:15.809 for my action item that we're very comfortable 00:26:15.809 --> 00:26:17.950 talking about these possible scenarios. Like 00:26:17.950 --> 00:26:21.269 you teach true principles. Yes, I would prefer 00:26:21.269 --> 00:26:25.450 that you wait until you are legally and lawfully 00:26:25.450 --> 00:26:28.789 married to delve into the powers of procreation. 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:35.299 That should be not the case for you. Please trust 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:39.339 my love for you is enough to handle whatever 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:43.380 decision that we need to go through. We're in 00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:46.420 this together. Never feel alone in the challenge 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:49.640 that's right in front of your face. Never let 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:52.380 the world's message that you have to fight that 00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:54.039 alone, you have to keep that secret, you have 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:56.619 to bear that burden alone, be the thing that, 00:26:56.640 --> 00:27:02.490 you know, the message that... is front of mind 00:27:02.490 --> 00:27:06.049 right yeah okay um so that was that section then 00:27:06.049 --> 00:27:10.609 um i copied and pasted what he said on um the 00:27:10.609 --> 00:27:12.950 church yeah this came right from the church handbook 00:27:12.950 --> 00:27:15.309 on abortion the lord commanded thou shalt not 00:27:15.309 --> 00:27:17.829 kill nor do anything like unto it the church 00:27:17.829 --> 00:27:19.829 opposes elective abortion for personal social 00:27:19.829 --> 00:27:22.750 convenience and we we kind of quoted that um 00:27:22.750 --> 00:27:25.250 already from the talk like he he wanted to list 00:27:25.250 --> 00:27:28.140 those and be very clear on it because I know 00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:29.779 why he did it. People are like, well, you're 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:31.559 forcing them to have the baby. That's going to 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:34.480 kill the mother. Or they were raped or there 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:37.460 was incest. There's clearly exceptions to this. 00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:40.920 But even when we agree that, you know, those 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:45.519 exceptions exist, they wanted to make sure that 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:50.539 this rises to the top. Carefully consider that. 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:54.789 Yes. It's forgivable. Yes, like the Jesus Christ 00:27:54.789 --> 00:27:56.690 and Atonement is going to cover that. But that 00:27:56.690 --> 00:28:00.609 still is not going to override what we see in 00:28:00.609 --> 00:28:03.670 studies, the back end of the emotional turmoil 00:28:03.670 --> 00:28:07.130 that abortion has on people. So I've watched 00:28:07.130 --> 00:28:10.869 people who have been raped. They choose to carry 00:28:10.869 --> 00:28:13.380 the baby. Full term, some keep the baby, some 00:28:13.380 --> 00:28:14.859 give the baby for adoption. Still, there's like 00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:16.980 a multitude of choices to be made after you say, 00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:20.799 you know, no to abortion, yes to preserving life. 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:23.339 And then what does that life look like? Multiple 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:27.180 scenarios. I'm sure that they used guidance of 00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:30.700 the Spirit to get to that point. And they're 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:34.259 all good. They're all good options to consider. 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:38.720 It's not just one answer solves all. That was 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:41.000 the exception. So, yeah, I'm going to do the 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:43.059 abortion. That doesn't solve all the problems 00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:48.019 just in one fell swoop. Now, when you're in a 00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:50.880 position as a leader and somebody comes forward 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:55.279 to you that one of these situations has occurred, 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:59.880 it may be necessary to report these circumstances 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:03.180 to, what do you say like? Officials. Yeah, officials. 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:11.119 So, you know, what's awesome is that if you trust, 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:13.000 if you have a relationship with your bishop, 00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:15.480 that's one of those top people that you trust 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:18.079 that they can help you navigate what the best 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:21.759 situation is. Maybe your bishop is the one that 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:23.779 helps you figure out the word and the dialogue, 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.579 how you can bring this to your parents, because 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:27.839 not that you're afraid to talk to your parents 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:30.920 about it, but you don't know the words. You kind 00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:33.339 of just want like a buffer in there just so that 00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:38.299 that conversation. It's a very hard thing. So 00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:41.339 whoever feels like that safe person to you, we're 00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:44.839 encouraging you to think now in advance. Who 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:47.440 would you turn to if you had these pressing questions 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:56.680 to ask? I wanted to jump to resources that are 00:29:56.680 --> 00:30:00.200 available to single expectant parents. Love that. 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:02.660 As you help with sensitive or trying situations, 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:05.940 remember the following guiding principles. Love 00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:09.740 first, listen to understand, teach truth, nourish 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:13.019 faith, and minister. Again, all of these principles 00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:15.140 really apply across the board and they're very 00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:17.940 well used here. We're going to go through this 00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:23.000 on specific to being an unexpected single parent, 00:30:23.140 --> 00:30:27.119 but we'll line out what those mean because it's 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:29.559 the suggested dialogue when you're Like Amy said, 00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:32.680 when you're dealing with any hard topic decision, 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:36.140 life choices. I love when he said at the end, 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:38.779 it says frequently review details on these guiding 00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:40.920 principles just to get you right back to where 00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:47.339 we are with this. Let's see right here. Single 00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:50.240 expectant parents may experience new and unanticipated 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:52.740 challenges as they navigate an unplanned pregnancy. 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:55.440 They face the responsibility of deciding a future 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:57.960 for their child and for themselves. Some will 00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:59.900 marry, others will place their child for adoption, 00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:02.380 and some will decide to single parent. He shared 00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:05.339 a situation with each of these. It is not unusual 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:07.799 for single expectant parents to contemplate abortion. 00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:10.339 However, due to the sanctity of life, the church 00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:13.619 opposes elective abortion for personal or social 00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:16.619 convenience and counsels its members not to submit 00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:20.410 to. Perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for 00:31:20.410 --> 00:31:23.269 such abortions. Okay, this is good. Family Services 00:31:23.269 --> 00:31:25.809 provides free consultation for single expectant 00:31:25.809 --> 00:31:27.670 parents and can also provide information about 00:31:27.670 --> 00:31:30.309 marriage, adoption, single parenting. Encourage 00:31:30.309 --> 00:31:32.170 the single expectant parent to meet with his 00:31:32.170 --> 00:31:34.309 or her bishop who can connect him or her to Family 00:31:34.309 --> 00:31:36.670 Services. If they're not available, the bishop 00:31:36.670 --> 00:31:38.329 may have access to additional counseling resources. 00:31:39.069 --> 00:31:41.210 If you become aware that a pregnancy was a result 00:31:41.210 --> 00:31:44.299 of abuse or sexual assault. contact civil authorities. 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:47.039 There's helplines available for this. Single 00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:49.380 expectant parents are often pressured with advice 00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:51.619 about the right choice to make in response to 00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:53.400 their pregnancy. It can place strain on their 00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:55.640 relationships at the very time they need the 00:31:55.640 --> 00:31:58.119 most support. Single expectant parents can benefit 00:31:58.119 --> 00:32:00.400 greatly from loving encouragement to seek spiritual 00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:02.680 confirmation for their choices rather than relying 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:04.759 solely on the advice of others. They may wonder, 00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:06.440 does Heavenly Father really want to give them 00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:08.660 advice because of their prior choices? However, 00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:11.039 in every single thing by prayer and supplication 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:24.349 with thanksgiving, let your That's what I highlighted 00:32:24.349 --> 00:32:27.009 before as like an action item. It becomes our 00:32:27.009 --> 00:32:29.670 responsibility to say, what skill set do I have 00:32:29.670 --> 00:32:33.450 that can be most helpful in this situation? Nowhere 00:32:33.450 --> 00:32:35.589 in there is it going to be rebuke them and tell 00:32:35.589 --> 00:32:37.369 them, that was a really bad decision that you 00:32:37.369 --> 00:32:39.930 made. We're past that point. What can we do to 00:32:39.930 --> 00:32:41.750 love and support them and help them make the 00:32:41.750 --> 00:32:44.910 best decision for them going forward, them and 00:32:44.910 --> 00:32:48.259 the unborn child? Express hope and healing through 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:50.299 the Savior and his atonement. Identify their 00:32:50.299 --> 00:32:52.319 identity as a child of heavenly parents with 00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:53.859 individual strengths, talents, and abilities. 00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:56.259 You're never going to know how strong and amazing 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:59.039 you are until faced with this to see the stuff 00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:01.200 that you're made of. Share confidence in Heavenly 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:03.740 Father's desire and ability to help them. Foster 00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:05.660 a connection between them and their bishop. And 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:07.779 if applicable, encourage pondering their patriarchal 00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:10.000 blessing for direction and comfort. Offer to 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:12.039 arrange priesthood blessing. Support thoughtful 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:14.640 exploration of their options, which we've listed. 00:33:16.329 --> 00:33:18.869 A single expectant parent's decision about their 00:33:18.869 --> 00:33:21.109 pregnancy is going to impact the lives of their 00:33:21.109 --> 00:33:23.609 family members. Thoughtfully strive to understand 00:33:23.609 --> 00:33:25.509 their individual needs and perspective. Encourage 00:33:25.509 --> 00:33:27.549 board councils, leaders to actively serve the 00:33:27.549 --> 00:33:30.250 expectant parents and their families. Counsel 00:33:30.250 --> 00:33:33.710 them together. And some family members may not 00:33:33.710 --> 00:33:35.509 agree with a single expectant parent's decision 00:33:35.509 --> 00:33:37.569 regarding their future. Try to avoid aligning 00:33:37.569 --> 00:33:40.359 with family members. Instead, show love and understanding 00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:42.980 for differing perspective. Now remember, there 00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:45.960 are warden stake resources available. With permission 00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:47.839 and help of the single expectant parent, you 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:49.799 can identify a trusted person to be a mentor. 00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:52.319 You can identify local resources that provide 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:54.859 support in harmony with the gospel principles, 00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:58.079 like counseling or programs or agencies like 00:33:58.079 --> 00:34:00.640 family services. If the single expectant parents 00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:02.839 are considering parenting, you could encourage 00:34:02.839 --> 00:34:04.680 them to read and participate in strengthening 00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:06.700 the family, marriage and family relations classes, 00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:08.500 or to read the associated material. materials 00:34:08.500 --> 00:34:12.719 so basically you become aware of all of the resources 00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:15.699 that are available in the situation and i felt 00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:17.780 like that was the charge the call there's so 00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:20.179 much that we can do at this point where where 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:23.179 these experiences might come our way and be prepared 00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:26.199 so that you know when we're hit with that hey 00:34:26.199 --> 00:34:29.599 i'm expecting a baby that we don't say the wrong 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:31.920 thing that we take a moment take a breath let 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:37.599 the spirit be in the situation let love overshadow 00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:40.739 the whole conversation. What can I do for you? 00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:43.019 Maybe a hug. Maybe you're just hugging in this 00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:45.519 moment, buying some time for the spirit to be 00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:47.860 like, don't mess this up, Abby. Say the right 00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:52.360 thing. Don't get this wrong. So last thing I'm 00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:56.739 going to say is I was very touched by... the 00:34:56.739 --> 00:34:58.539 reminder of these guiding principles. So Amy 00:34:58.539 --> 00:35:01.539 listed them in just kind of the five points, 00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:03.860 but I think they're so cool because they help 00:35:03.860 --> 00:35:06.639 with any sensitive or trying situation that we're 00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:10.480 going to face. The suggestion is to, like Amy 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:12.800 said, love first. All of God's children are worthy 00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:14.920 of love and kindness. We may not understand a 00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:17.019 person's individual experiences, but we can always 00:35:17.019 --> 00:35:20.380 show love. Why don't you take over the rest, 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:23.110 starting with listen to understand. Listen to 00:35:23.110 --> 00:35:25.329 understand. Be careful not to make assumptions 00:35:25.329 --> 00:35:28.090 about feelings or behavior. Ask questions and 00:35:28.090 --> 00:35:30.730 listen, then respond with interest and empathy. 00:35:30.969 --> 00:35:34.050 As you listen, you will nurture trust and gain 00:35:34.050 --> 00:35:36.650 understanding in how to minister. Teach truth. 00:35:36.829 --> 00:35:39.329 True principles provide the foundation for faithful 00:35:39.329 --> 00:35:42.150 choices. As guided by the Spirit, lovingly teach 00:35:42.150 --> 00:35:45.070 those truths that will help the person stay on 00:35:45.070 --> 00:35:48.829 a path toward eternal joy. Nourish faith. Faith 00:35:48.829 --> 00:35:52.250 is founded on trust in a loving Father, on an 00:35:52.250 --> 00:35:54.809 understanding of Jesus Christ's atonement, on 00:35:54.809 --> 00:35:56.989 confidence in the Holy Ghost's guidance, and 00:35:56.989 --> 00:35:59.190 on the assurance that God has a plan for each 00:35:59.190 --> 00:36:03.130 person's eternal progression. Encourage individuals 00:36:03.130 --> 00:36:05.230 to nourish their personal faith through daily 00:36:05.230 --> 00:36:07.050 prayer and scripture study. This is so good, 00:36:07.130 --> 00:36:10.949 Abby. Minister. Acting in love. Listening to 00:36:10.949 --> 00:36:13.250 understand and seeking direction from the Spirit 00:36:13.250 --> 00:36:15.969 will provide a deeper understanding of the best 00:36:15.969 --> 00:36:18.789 way to lovingly minister to individual needs. 00:36:18.969 --> 00:36:22.409 I definitely want to take a screenshot of this 00:36:22.409 --> 00:36:24.309 right here and have this for me because truly 00:36:24.309 --> 00:36:28.369 it is the best way to proceed with any hard conversation 00:36:28.369 --> 00:36:30.889 and really any way that we deal with the people 00:36:30.889 --> 00:36:32.619 that we love in our life. That really is everything. 00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:35.460 So just learning these, it'd be great to have 00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:37.099 these things in practice. And then when something 00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:38.760 comes that's a little more heated and higher, 00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:42.199 like elevated emotion and things like that, it'll 00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:45.519 already be part of you. The last one that you 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:47.420 read about the minister part, I was thinking 00:36:47.420 --> 00:36:50.059 I might not have the answer in this first conversation 00:36:50.059 --> 00:36:56.650 of what I can best do for that person. And that's 00:36:56.650 --> 00:36:58.769 fine. I think it's something that can take some 00:36:58.769 --> 00:37:00.969 time and I'll say, I'll just start praying. Like, 00:37:00.989 --> 00:37:02.829 what can I do to help this person the most? And 00:37:02.829 --> 00:37:04.250 those little thoughts and impressions will come 00:37:04.250 --> 00:37:06.110 to me and I'll reach out and do those things, 00:37:06.190 --> 00:37:08.010 you know, as they feel appropriate. But what 00:37:08.010 --> 00:37:11.670 I know about myself is on the listen to understand, 00:37:11.969 --> 00:37:14.269 like, you come to me with your problem. I think 00:37:14.269 --> 00:37:15.570 you want me to solve your problem for you. I'm 00:37:15.570 --> 00:37:17.070 going to tell you what you need to do. I know 00:37:17.070 --> 00:37:19.269 that that's my character flaw. And I know that 00:37:19.269 --> 00:37:21.590 in these situations, if I can just be way more 00:37:21.590 --> 00:37:23.489 aware of, I'm just here to listen to what you 00:37:23.489 --> 00:37:28.130 have to say. Get it off your chest. If you ask 00:37:28.130 --> 00:37:31.010 a question there, I'll say, let me find a resource 00:37:31.010 --> 00:37:33.269 that you can study and read out that might help 00:37:33.269 --> 00:37:35.309 you rather than me being like, well, this is 00:37:35.309 --> 00:37:37.730 the thing that I heard about that. This would 00:37:37.730 --> 00:37:40.030 blindside me. I'd be like, I don't know what 00:37:40.030 --> 00:37:42.289 to do in your situation. I wouldn't feel comfortable 00:37:42.289 --> 00:37:45.590 making that decision for somebody. But time and 00:37:45.590 --> 00:37:49.809 time again in this talk, I learned. We each have 00:37:49.809 --> 00:37:52.289 our part to play as a ward member, as the mother 00:37:52.289 --> 00:37:53.630 of one of these children, as a friend of one 00:37:53.630 --> 00:37:56.150 of these people. We get to be the supporting 00:37:56.150 --> 00:37:59.230 role. Exactly. And it's kind of a long -term 00:37:59.230 --> 00:38:01.829 thing. You might end up babysitting. You might 00:38:01.829 --> 00:38:05.030 end up helping them review the profiles for their 00:38:05.030 --> 00:38:08.150 future adoption. You might be doing a wedding 00:38:08.150 --> 00:38:09.690 for somebody. I don't know. There's a million 00:38:09.690 --> 00:38:12.250 things that you could be doing, but I love these 00:38:12.250 --> 00:38:13.889 guiding principles. Like you said, screenshot. 00:38:14.650 --> 00:38:16.190 Have that available all the time. I'll probably 00:38:16.190 --> 00:38:18.269 just put that into the show notes, like a very 00:38:18.269 --> 00:38:21.909 specific block. That's it. I know this one was 00:38:21.909 --> 00:38:26.150 long. Thank you for sticking with us. Do you 00:38:26.150 --> 00:38:27.769 have anything in closing? I'm going to close 00:38:27.769 --> 00:38:29.869 with his testimony because it circled right back 00:38:29.869 --> 00:38:31.829 to the beginning. He said, Dear brothers and 00:38:31.829 --> 00:38:34.670 sisters, the diminishing love. of unborn children 00:38:34.670 --> 00:38:38.190 worldwide is a grave concern. God cherishes life. 00:38:38.429 --> 00:38:41.550 It is his work and his glory to bring immortality 00:38:41.550 --> 00:38:44.030 and eternal life to his children as disciples 00:38:44.030 --> 00:38:48.010 of Jesus Christ. We cherish life. By this shall 00:38:48.010 --> 00:38:50.610 all men know ye are my disciples, if ye have 00:38:50.610 --> 00:38:53.880 love one to another. May we share our love even 00:38:53.880 --> 00:38:56.239 more abundantly with those who need us so desperately. 00:38:56.659 --> 00:38:59.460 I express my love for you and our Heavenly Father's 00:38:59.460 --> 00:39:01.960 love for His children coming to earth in the 00:39:01.960 --> 00:39:04.840 name of Jesus Christ, amen. Thanks for sticking 00:39:04.840 --> 00:39:06.659 with us. We'll catch you on the next one. See 00:39:06.659 --> 00:39:07.199 you next time.