I was asked this last weekend to give the closing keynote address for the Latter-day Saints for Life Conference in Provo, Utah. Standing for life is a core doctrine of the Church, and something deeply personal to me. So I said yes. The morning of the conference, I felt inclined to edit my remarks (which were mainly bullet points and quotes). As I sat down to make my edits, I found myself rewriting (and writing down) my entire address! I figured I would share it with you here today. NOTE: If you were at the conference, I had to condense my remarks to end on time, as well as make on-the-fly comments. Here are the full remarks I intended to make.

A Strategy for War.

We are at war, brothers and sisters. President Nelson repeatedly framed the fight for life as a war on the defenseless. After quoting the death tolls from all the wars the US has ever fought, he taught: “Regrettable as is the loss of loved ones from war, these figures are dwarfed by the toll of a new war that annually claims more casualties than the total number of fatalities from all the wars of this nation. It is a war on the defenseless—and the voiceless. It is a war on the unborn. This war, labeled “abortion,” is of epidemic proportion and is waged globally.” (GC: Apr. 1985).

We are at war. Make no mistake about it! To borrow from the Oct. 1995 address from Elder Woolsey: “I would like to speak to you today about a strategy for war. We sing the hymn “Onward, Christian Soldiers! Marching as to war” (Hymns, 1985, no. 246). Paul said, “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Cor. 14:8). In the book of Revelation we are told of a war in heaven (see Rev. 12:7). What kind of battle? What kind of war?

The war is for the souls of men. The battle lines have been drawn since Adam: evil versus righteousness. In this the final dispensation and in preparation for the Millennium, the forces of evil have intensified and united under the powerful influences of Satan. On the opposite side of the line, the kingdom of God is clearly sounding the trumpet of righteousness as perhaps never before. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is on the offensive in the declaration of good to be good and evil to be evil.”

In 2008, when President Nelson wrote his prolife appeal entitled, “Abortion: An Assault on the Defenseless,” he cited that worldwide there had been 40 million abortions in 2007. Today, that number has climbed to nearly 75 million in 2025, per the World Health Organization. Abortion is such an important issue that the Church will discipline members for merely encouraging abortion!

We are at war, make no mistake about it! But more than being at war, we are also called to be peacemakers. How can we be peacemakers in a time of war? God expects us to end this war on the unborn. And it won’t end in surrender. We are called to win this war. To usher in peace where a baby in the womb is in the safest place on earth. So what is our strategy to win this war and bring about peace? Here are a few.

First Strategy: Seeking to Understand Pure Doctrine

Our Doctrine of Life begins with Heavenly Parents. President Oaks taught in the Apr. 1995 GC: “Our theology begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them.”

In the Family Proclamation, we are taught, “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. "

Elder Sterling W. Sill in the Oct. 1965 General Conference taught: “The universe is God's handiwork, but man is his son. God placed the gold and silver in the earth, but he endowed his children with his own attributes and made them heirs to his potentialities. And according to his own immutable laws of heredity, the children may hope sometime to become like the parents.” (CR, Oct. 1965, pp. 57)

He goes on to say, “Someday we will more clearly know who we are. We will understand the great scriptural teaching that God, angels, spirits, and men are all of the same species in different stages of righteousness and development.” CR, Oct. 1965, pp. 58)

No other Christian Church believes we are literal children of God. Everything must be understood in this context. Standing for life starts when we know and live pure doctrine.

A NOTE ON EXCEPTIONS: Now, before someone mentions the possible exceptions the Church has, it is vital to understand: we do not have doctrinal exceptions; we have policy exceptions. Our doctrine is pro-life full stop. Our doctrine does not change. Violation of our doctrine, either by those having an abortion or 3rd parties encouraging it, is grounds for Church discipline (disfellowship or excommunication). Our policy, which can and does change, currently has exceptions for abortion (See General Handbook, 38.6.1). But this policy does not make abortion good or automatic in said rare cases; rather, in those very extreme and rare cases, those who have an abortion won't get excommunicated for it. It is vital to understand that even if someone has "an exception," the Church always urges life. The Church never encourages abortion. The Church is pro-life.

Second Strategy: Use Doctrine to inoculate against Satan’s factual lies

One of the biggest misconceptions about Satan is that he always tells bald-faced lies in the war. Lies that are 100% untrue. But Satan is far wiser than that. Satan's most powerful lies are the ones where he mingles lies with something that is true. It is factual statements that lead us away from Christ.

Like in Genesis 3:3-4, when Satan tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, he told Eve, "Ye shall not surely die" (lie), but "ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (true). Satan's is to keep us from understanding the truth. What is truth? The Lord explained in the Doctrine and Covenants as follows:

"24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;

25 And whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning." D&C 93:24-25

Satan is always trying to deceive us, even if he must use something that is true, but hidden in it is a lie! Just like a skilled fisher wraps a hook with a worm, Satan will try to trick you into believing a lie by wrapping it in something true.

What does this have to do with abortion? Everything. Abortion is the byproduct, the fruit, of women not understanding the truth about motherhood. Satan tells women, “Pregnancy is hard,” “Your body will never be the same,” and “your ability to climb the ladder will be hampered if you have kids.” (etc etc etc.). All of those things are technically true, but none of them are the truth of the matter. Satan LOVES factually true statements that lead us away from Christ. That leads women away from motherhood. That leads them to deny the sanctity of life!

So, what is the truth about motherhood? The First Presidency has declared: "Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels." The First Presidency: Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, David O. McKay (CR Oct. 1942, pp. 12-13)

Ezra Taft Benson taught: “One apparent impact of the women’s movement has been the feelings of discontent it has created among young women who have chosen the role of wife and mother. They are often made to feel that there are more exciting and self-fulfilling roles for women than housework, diaper changing, and children calling for mother. This view loses sight of the eternal perspective that God elected women to the noble role of mother and that exaltation is eternal fatherhood and eternal motherhood. (‘To the Elect Women of the Kingdom of God,’ Nauvoo Illinois Relief Society Dedication, 30 June 1978.)” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 548).

What does he mean that exaltation is eternal motherhood? Well, in D&C 132, v. 16, 17, 19, and 20 we read:

“Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.

For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever."

Speaking of those who make and keep the sealing covenant, the Lord goes on to say that their martial union will be in “… full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.

Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.”

What does this mean? That the defining characteristic that distinguishes the angels from those who are exalted and become gods is the ability to have children. Do you see it now? When a husband and a wife are sealed in the temple according to God’s law, they jointly enter into the Patriarchal Order of the Priesthood. They enter into the order of the gods! This is literally why we came to earth. To enter into this order through Christ, and have children.

John Taylor taught: "Have you forgotten who you are, and what your object is? Have you forgotten that you profess to be Saints of the Most High God, clothed upon with the holy priesthood? Have you forgotten that you are aiming to become kings and priests to the Lord, and queens and priestesses to him?" (The Gospel Kingdom [1987], pp. 229-230)

I ask again, what does this have to do with abortion? In the war for life, the first battlefield is with our own youth, the rising generation. Teaching pure doctrine inoculates against Satan’s lies. Teaching our youth the truth and the doctrine of life is the only way to inoculate them against the wiles of the devil. If we do not teach that motherhood and marriage are godly, Satan will try to dissuade the sisters that motherhood and marriage are bondage. As Boyd K. Packer has taught, "When one knows the doctrine, parenthood becomes a sacred obligation, the begetting of life a sacred privilege. Abortion would be unthinkable." (GC: Oct. 1983). Pure doctrine, taught and understood, will inoculate the rising generation from Satan’s lies on abortion, but also on many other moral issues we face today. The Family Proclamation is a prophetic synthesis of our doctrine; read it, study it, and use it as a launchpad to go deeper.

IMPORTANT NOTE: More than just teaching pure doctrine, we must also ensure our comments about our families are consistent with that doctrine. If we say things like, "Pregnancy was the worst!" or "Man, I miss my pre-pregnancy body!" or if someone says they want to homeschool, you reply, "I could never spend that much time with my kids." IF we make comments like the above, but then try to tell our kids that having a family is the best thing, and motherhood and having children is divine, they WILL detect the disconnect. If all the youth hear is people complaining about marriage, childbearing, and raising your kids, then they will see abortion as a logical way to avoid that. So we must be careful in what we say! Now, I am NOT saying we whitewash difficulties, but rather ensure we are doctrinally accurate: "Pregnancy was the worst, BUT holding that little baby in my arms made it worth it." or "You are homeschooling? That is awesome! I don't think I have the skills to do that myself. But I bet you enjoy that time with your kids!"

Third Strategy: Use Prophetic Logic

Many years ago, I volunteered at an event called Ignite at Adobe. It was geared towards LGBTQ youth, and preventing their suicide. As the event started, I found myself in a room with other volunteers, and they were all talking about why they left the Church. I was in a bit of shock when someone asked me, "When did you leave?" I replied, "Oh, I am an active doctrine-believing member; in fact, that is why I am here today." They looked aghast. After a few questions back and forth, I explained I believed life was sacred, everyone deserves to know they are loved, and that choosing life is always better than choosing death.

One of the volunteers then quipped back, "If the Church cares about LGBTQ youth not killing themselves, why did they pull support from our conference?" I was confused and asked for more context. They explained that the Church used to support the Ignite conference. But they stopped that past year. I asked, "Why did they stop?" And they explained that they had amended their mission statement to include affirmation of orientation. And in response, the Church pulled its support because they want dead LGBTQ youth. I then pushed back, "Wait, the Church was willing to support you in your goal to prevent suicide. But you told them they needed to support affirmation too, and pushed them out over that. SO you would rather have an affirmed dead LGBTQ youth than an un-affirmed alive one? Because that is what your actions have shown: you care more about affirmation than suicide prevention. You are willing to sacrifice support for suicide prevention to get affirmation." We went on to have a good conversation, and a couple of people really acted like this was the first time someone had logically explained why the Church did what it did, in response to their mixed-up priorities.

What does this have to do with abortion? Well, when someone uses rape or the life of the mother to justify abortion on demand, help them to see what the LGBTQ activist saw at Adobe. If they really cared about the life of the mother or rape victims, they would seek to rally support on that singular issue with a narrowly defined bill that only has rape and life of the mother clarifications. BUT THEY DO NOT DO THAT. Like the activists at Adobe, they include abortion on demand (like in Idaho Prop 1). When they do this, they are really simply using rape victims and women whose lives are in danger to get abortion on demand. And would rather have dead women than a law that did not give them abortion on demand.

One of the greatest advocates for life using logic was Charlie Kirk; he would repeatedly use logic and rational thought to deconstruct the framework of those who have bought into emotional appeals for abortion (I highly recommend watching this compilation of his pro-life discussions). But more than just having vocal advocates for life in the public square, our own prophet, Dallin H. Oaks, as well as Russell M. Nelson, James E. Faust, and Neil L. Andersen, have also used secular and religious logic to denounce elective abortions. But more than that, they also deconstruct the most prominent pro-abortion talking points! They address:

If the baby is ‘alive’
Being ‘pro-choice’ because of agency.
Birth defects or infirmities.
My body, my choice.
Legislating morality.
Legalizing abortion due to exceptions in church policy.
Not letting our doctrine dictate our public policy.
Not talking about abortion because it is ‘political’

I urge you to read and study their talks:

Weightier Matters by Dallin H. Oaks (BYU Feb. 9, 1999, also Ensign, Jan. 2001)
The Sanctity of Life by James E. Faust (GC: Apr. 1975)
Reverence for Life by Russell M. Nelson (GC: Apr. 1985)
Abortion: An Assault on the Defenseless by Russell M. Nelson (Ensign Oct. 2008)
Cherishing Life by Neil L. Andersen (GC: Apr. 2025).

Fourth Strategy: Love, pray, and serve.

When someone chooses emotions over logic and doctrine, then the only option left you have is to love, pray for, and to serve them. This invites the Holy Ghost to enter into their lives, touch their heart, and, if possible, even soften it. Scripturally, we have the example of Alma the Younger and how the prayers of his father led the Lord to reach out and touch him and bring him home. But another amazing story is that of Becky Borden.

Back in 2021, at Education Week, Becky shared her story of leaving and returning to the Church. I will do my best to relate it: She explained that when she came out as a lesbian, many of her family members cut her off. For various reasons. She was very anti-Church at this time. She got married to another woman and was living the stereotypical anti-Mormon life. But she explains that her sister did not cut her off; she kept inviting her over for dinner. She mentioned that one day at dinner a prayer was offered and they asked God to bless her, and in that moment the Spirit reached out to her soul and touched her. She realized she was missing something.

That night, when she went home, she poured herself a glass of wine, and went out on her porch, pulled out a copy of the Book of Mormon, and started to read. She felt the Spirit again. Eventually, she and her wife decided they wanted to get baptized, so they got divorced, got baptized, and now she works with the Church to assist in outreach to the LGBTQ community.

I love these two examples as it shows that when someone has chosen to harden their heart to logic and God, that you need to trust in the Lord with all your heart. Continue to love them, serve them, and pray for them. Remember, He loves them far more than you do!

Therefore What? Be Peacemakers, End the War on the Unborn.

We are at war, but we have been called to be peacemakers. Peace will not come by capitulating on our doctrines and surrendering to the evils around us. We must, as James E. Faust and Marion G. Romney taught, be willing to offend the devil to serve Christ! So, what are real-world ways we can do this? How can we be peacemakers by ending this war on the unborn?

Become devoted disciples by learning pure doctrine. You will become radicalized for life as you learn our doctrine and as the Holy Spirit confirms it is God’s doctrine.
Teach our youth and fellow saints pure doctrine.
Use logic and rational thought to explain our position; use the words of the prophets to borrow authority.
Share quotes, talks, videos, and quote memes of the pro-life words of the prophets to lend your influence to the cause.
Seek to stand in proximity to God so others can feel you reflecting His love.
Pray for those whom you disagree with, including wayward children.
Get involved. Serve and donate your time, talents, and means to living and defending the doctrine of life.

I close with the words of our late prophet, Russell M. Nelson: “Yes, life is precious! No one can cuddle a cherished newborn baby, look into those beautiful eyes, feel the little fingers, and caress that miraculous creation without deepening reverence for life and for our Creator. Life comes from life. It is a gift from our Heavenly Father. It is eternal, as he is eternal. Innocent life is not sent by him to be destroyed! This doctrine is not of me, but is that of the living God and of his divine Son, which I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” (GC: Apr. 1985)

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