The Sanctity of Life
"We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan" (The Church, 1995). "Each individual is sacred because each one reflects the divine image of the Creator (Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:13-16, Moses 2:27).
From conception to resurrection, mortal life is a gift from God. Each human being, no matter how young or how small, is a 'beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and as such, each has a divine nature and destiny'" (The Church, 1995; Hallen, 2012).
"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" (Nelson, 1985).
Spirit Child of God
“Every human being is a spirit child of God and lived with Heavenly Father before coming to earth. He entrusts his spirit children to earthly parents, who provide a mortal body for them through the miracle of physical birth, and gives to parents the sacred opportunity and responsibility to love, protect, teach, and to bring them up in light and truth so they may one day, through the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ, return to our Father’s presence” (Ballard, 1991). "The earth was designed to be a habitation for spirit children of our Heavenly Father as they come from the premortal existence, are clothed with an earthly tabernacle, and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection" (Hill, 2012).
Sacred Powers of Procreation
"The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force (Genesis 1:28). God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed" (The Church, 1995).
"A loving Heavenly Father reserved something so divine...for the heart of marriage". Marital sexuality allows couples to "become one, connect with God, strengthen the emotional and spiritual bonds in marriage, avoid temptation", and act in partnership with God to bring children into the world. Sexual union is a "symbol of total union...of their hearts, their hopes, their lives, their love, their family, their future, their everything" (Harper, 2012).
Parenting
"PARENTS HAVE A SACRED DUTY TO REAR THEIR CHILDREN
IN LOVE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS, AND TO TEACH THEM TO LOVE AND SERVE ONE ANOTHER, OBSERVE THE COMMAND-MENTS OF GOD, AND BE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS WHEREVER THEY LIVE" (The Church, 1995).
“The home is the first and most effective place for children to learn the lessons of life: truth, honor, virtue, self-control; the value of education, honest work, and the purpose and privilege of life. Nothing can take the place of home in rearing and teaching children, and no other success can compensate for failure in the home" (McKay, 1968).
Birth Within the Bonds of Marriage
"Marriage between a man and a woman is the authorized channel through which premortal spirits enter mortality. Complete sexual abstinence before marriage and total fidelity within marriage protect the sanctity of this sacred channel" (Bednar, 2013).
"Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of marriage, and to be reared by a father and mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity" (The Church, 1995). "Such a covenant relationship is the foundation of a home in which children are welcome and where they can learn and grow in an atmosphere of love and security, without fear of abuse or abandonment.
A recent publication (Institute, 2002) compares children of single or cohabiting parents with children of married parents. While single parents often succeed in rearing well-adjusted, responsible children, the report concludes that, taken as a whole, children who live with married parents are less likely to divorce or become unwed parents themselves, are less likely to experience poverty, tend to have higher grades, are more likely to attend college, and experience lower rates of unemployment.
On average, children of married parents also experience better physical and mental health, have lower rates of substance abuse, experience less child abuse, and are less likely to commit suicide or engage in criminal behavior. Parents can give children no greater gift than the example of a strong, loving marriage" (The Church, 2005).
References
Ballard, M. Russell. (1991). Teach the Children. Ensign, June.
Hallen, C (2012). Defending the Sanctity of Human Life. In A. Hawkins (Ed.), Successful marriages and families: Proclamation principles and research perspectives (p. 290-299). Provo, UT: BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.
Harper, J. and Feinauer, L. (2012). Marital Sexuality and Fertility. In A. Hawkins (Ed.), Successful marriages and families: Proclamation principles and research perspectives (p. 49-
57). Provo, UT: BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.
Hill, J., Carroll, S., and Fellows, K. (2012). Modern Fertility Patterns and God's Commandment to Multiply and Replenish the Earth. In A. Hawkins (Ed.), Successful marriages and
families: Proclamation principles and research perspectives (p. 151). Provo, UT: BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.
Institute for American Values. (2002). Why Marriage Matters: Twenty-One Conclusions from the Social Sciences.
McKay, David O. (1968). Family Home Evening Manual. iii.
Nelson, Russell M. (1987). Lessons from Eve. Ensign, November.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (1995). The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Ensign, November, 102.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (2005). Strengthening the Family: Within the Bonds of Matrimony. Ensign, August.