Question
Gramps,
Can someone who has had an abortion go to the temple and go to the Celestial Kingdom?
Raia
Answer
Hello Raia,
Thank you for your question. As you must be aware, abortion is a serious topic and one that the church does not take casually. Let me share with you some information directly from the church on this subject. While reading this, please be sure to read my entire response, since the answer to your question lies towards the end.
“LDS Handbook 2 : 21.4.1 Abortion
The Lord commanded, “Thou shalt not…kill, nor do anything like unto it” (D&C 59:6). The Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience. Members must not submit to, perform, arrange for, pay for, consent to, or encourage an abortion. The only possible exceptions are when:
1. Pregnancy resulted from the forcible rape or incest
2. A competent physician determines that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy.
3. A competent physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.
Even these exceptions do not justify abortion automatically. Abortion is a most serious matter and should be considered only after the persons responsible have consulted with their bishops and received divine confirmation through prayer.
Church members who submit to, perform, arrange for, pay for, consent to, or encourage an abortion may be subject to Church discipline.
As far as has been revealed, a person may repent and be forgiven for the sin of abortion.”
In 1973 the First Presidency of the Church released a statement in which they quoted a prior First Presidency of the Church:
“As to the amenability of the sin of abortion to the laws of repentance and forgiveness, we quote the following statements made by (then) President David O. McKay and his counselors, Stephen L Richards and J. Reuben Clark, Jr. which continues to represent the attitude and position of the Church:
“”As the matter stands today, no definite statement has been made by the Lord one way or another regarding the crime of abortion. So far as is known, he has not listed it alongside the crime of the unpardonable sin and shedding of innocent human blood. That he has not done so would suggest that it is not in that class of crime and therefore that it will be amenable to the laws of repentance and forgiveness.“”
This quoted statement, however, should not, in any sense, be construed to minimize the seriousness of the revolting sin.”
Because you are able to fully repent of an abortion and put that in your past, yes, you can be found worthy of a temple recommend and able to enter the House of the Lord. In like turn, since you are able to attend the temple and enjoy the blessings of your own ordinances there, that successfully opens the door for you potentially obtaining the Celestial Kingdom as much as someone who had not had an abortion.
So to answer your question in simple terms:
1. Can someone who has had an abortion go the temple? Yes, upon full repentance
2. Can someone who has had an abortion go to the Celestial Kingdom? Yes, upon full repentance
Individuals who were not members of the church at the time of an abortion, are forgiven of all their sins at the time of their baptism, even the sin of an elective abortion. Members of the church who have an elective abortion while being a member, are held to a higher standard.
Thank you again for your question Raia.
Gramps
