- Chip Whitmer on How Many Latter-day Saints Have Ever Had An Elective Abortion? How Did They Feel About It?: “I volunteer every week with Pro-Life Utah, offering free sonograms, financial support, and many other services to women going into Planned Parenthood in SLC. We frequently meet more-or-less active LDS women from youth to middle age, from single to married to divorced, with or without children, who have decided to abort their child because of whatever personal or social crisis they are facing at the time. Most do not seem to be aware of the Church’s unequivocal opposition to elective abortion. Elder Andersen’s recent talk explicitly stated that this is a moral issue, not a political one, and that we should be teaching about this topic in Relief Society and Elders Quorum meetings.” Mar 30, 10:15
- on CFM 4/6-4/12: Poetry for “Remember This Day, in Which Ye Came Out from Egypt”: ““But, I do hope that God has some influence over us — that His persuasion can help us “soften” our hearts to become more charitable.” I have the same hope–and I think the book of Mormon gives us a good example of how the Lord’s influence can soften our hearts. 1 Nephi 2: 16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.” Mar 30, 08:06
- on What Was Revealed to You In Church (Or What Did Church Lead You to Think About Yesterday), 3/29)?: “Here are a few of the things I thought about because of attending Church meetings yesterday (3/29): Another of the speakers yesterday spoke to the children in the congregation, which I think is a good technique because it tends to break down any barriers the adults, and simplifies what is said. Essentially the speaker is translating what they want to say to language that is easily understood by children. Of course, I don’t think this is easy or any kind of universal solution to talks. Like with any translation, in the process of simplifying topics things are lost, and things are gained. Still this is a necessary process, and it works for adults as well, if its done properly. The story that the speaker told was about Jesus raising Lazarus, and the speaker noted that raising Lazarus cost Jesus something, because it led to local leaders wanting to kill him. I think this is probably true for most things that happen. What do our good deeds cost us? What is the cost to God of the blessings he gives us? During the performance of the choir, I noticed one person filming the choir on a cell phone. And I remember seeing others do the same thing in the past (esp. during the primary program). I doubt the person knew that the Handbook says we shouldn’t film in sacrament meeting, and because it was the choir (and not the sacrament or an ordinance) I’m not sure that its a real problem. In the end, aside from signing ability, is listening to a ward choir later significantly different from listening to a recording of the Tabernacle Choir? Later, for a closing prayer, a new member read a prayer from a cell phone instead of speaking extemporaneously. I later learned that the member didn’t speak English well, so I surmise this was their work around. Unlike many other Christian groups, we have an assumption that prayers are extemporaneous. But I don’t think there’s a rule about it. I wonder if reading pre-written prayers will ever become a practice among Church members. ” Mar 29, 20:00
- on How Many Latter-day Saints Have Ever Had An Elective Abortion? How Did They Feel About It?: “Much of Stephen’s research is about how and to what extent Church members believe and live the teachings of the Church. I imagine his work on Catholics is similar. His recent posts on masturbation and abortion are just part of that research agenda. It’s not the only thing a demographer of religion can study, but it’s certainly an obvious thing. I don’t find these posts creepy, but then one project I support is analyzing data from a menstrual cycle tracking app, so take that judgement for what it’s worth. Also, Stephen didn’t collect the data so he didn’t get to choose the sample size or the wording, and he was clear about the resulting limitations of his analysis. You analyze the data you have, not the data you wish you had.” Mar 28, 23:47
- on Masturbation Frequency Among Members: “REC911 So you’re suggesting that it should be seen as a smaller sin? Do I hear that right? Just basically “This is something that’s bad, but it’s not disqualifying”? Is that what you’re suggesting?” Mar 27, 22:18
- on How Many Latter-day Saints Have Ever Had An Elective Abortion? How Did They Feel About It?: “My wife had an embryo that didn’t develop and was essentially empty. The doctors recommended removing it rather than waiting for her body to reject it for possible complications. Would you call that an elective abortion? A better question to get at what really needs to be known is, how many LDS have had elective abortions of viable pregnancies. The fact that this wasn’t considered suggests severe oversight or bias in wanting to conflate the two.” Mar 27, 18:22
- on How Many Latter-day Saints Have Ever Had An Elective Abortion? How Did They Feel About It?: “Based on my short time as a branch president, district president and ward clerk, the answer to your question is definitely more than you think. Just from those experiences, I know as many people that were members of the LDS church and had abortions as were found in this survey. I won’t discuss details from people that brought this up during interviews , but three of my close friends had elective abortions and have spoken publically or written about their experience. One had a child with severe birth defects and a complicated pregnancy. Another found out she was pregnant in the middle of treatment for brain cancer that harmed the baby and was life threatening. Plus another for nonmedical reasons during a terribly messy and complicated divorce. The assumption that more active members have fewer abortions I don’t see evidence for. My wife and I had a stillborn son that medically would count as an abortion since it required induced labor and medical procedure to save my wife’s life after he died in utero. My brother and his wife had a son with trisomy-18 and delivered at full term but it was horribly traumatic and she tells everyone she wishes she hadn’t listened to her bishop and had an abortion.” Mar 27, 18:14
- on How Many Latter-day Saints Have Ever Had An Elective Abortion? How Did They Feel About It?: “There is a long tradition of assuming that all religious people are hypocrites, and a more recent tradition of making pronouncements on the lives of Latter-day Saints based on sloppy sampling methods, so I think Stephen’s posts are very useful.” Mar 27, 17:36
- on How Many Latter-day Saints Have Ever Had An Elective Abortion? How Did They Feel About It?: “I kind of agree with Lily. It seems kind of creepy or something that I am not sure how to define. Not quite looking in windows to watch people undress, but still creepy. I am not sure how much of it is my attitude that men should have zero say about abortion because it is not their body, it is not their life put at risk, it is not them throwing up or confined to bed for months. And yeah, you being male just feels like once again men are preachy/judgmental about what women do. And your statistics do not even ask things about was the pregnancy caused by rape or incest or some other case where the church is actually accepting of elective abortion, or with the men, was the mother who aborted LDS, or is he talking about his feelings about something she does not think of as sin? Does the definition you are using ask if the mother’s life or health were in danger. It just seems like you have such a small sample size, very inadequate information with vague definitions and you are trying to draw conclusions. Normally, I am all for good answers to even hard questions, but you don’t get to any useful answer at all. So, all I am left with is this “ick” factor that I am not sure how to define or explain.” Mar 27, 15:35
- on How Many Latter-day Saints Have Ever Had An Elective Abortion? How Did They Feel About It?: “You are correct. I lean left. And I am a prude.” Mar 27, 14:52
