A Child’s Need--Parents and Family are What a Child Needs

A child’s needs are best met with a married father and mother in a family. A child's need is a traditional family. It is their God-given right.

A child's need defined by prophets of God

God has spoken through his prophets to declare that children have the right to be born into a family with two parents--a married mother and father. They have God-given entitlement to be reared by parents who have entered into and keep the covenant of marriage.

A child's need when the child is born out of wedlock

A published statement by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding a child's need states the following:

“When a child is born out of wedlock, the best option is for the mother and father of the child to marry and work toward establishing an eternal family relationship. If a successful marriage is unlikely, they should place the child for adoption…which is an unselfish loving decision that blesses the birth parents, the child, and the adoptive family.” 1

A child needs to be placed in a loving family. Abortion is not an answer

Latter-day prophets have repeatedly “denounced abortion except in exceptional circumstances, and then only after consulting with local Church leaders and receiving a confirmation through earnest prayer.” 2 A child needs a proper and traditional family. If a couple has conceived a child through their selfishness, they need to take the responsibility and make the sacrifice to fulfill the child's needs by giving it a proper birth and a proper home, as defined by the prophets.

A child's need--The prophet and apostles' declaration

“Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.” 3

Questions about 'A Child’s Need--Parents and Family are What a Child Needs'

• In what setting are a child's needs best met?



• To fulfill a child's needs, should the parents of the child be a married husband and wife? If the parents have not entered into an eternal marriage covenant, should they be working to do so>



• If marriage is not possible, what option should the birth parents strongly consider to best meet their child's needs?



• When considering an unborn child's needs against the needs of its birth parents, is abortion an answer?



• According to the prophet and apostles, what quality of marriage best meet a child's needs?

References fo 'A Child’s Need--Parents and Family are What a Child Needs'

1. True to the Faith, p. 4-5
2. True to the Faith, p. 4-5
3. The Family: A Proclamation to the World