SALT LAKE CITY (AP) â Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints decried abortion as evil and issued another plea for members to combat prejudice and racism during a church conference that took place last weekend without attendees because of the pandemic. The faith has long opposed abortion, but addressed it only sparingly in recent years. Citing a speech by former church President Gordon B. Hinckley from a 1998 conference, church leader Neil Andersen said abortion is âevil, stark and real and repugnantâ and pleaded with women to avoid considering it. × Advertisement âLet us share our deep feelings about the sanctity of life with those who make decisions in society,â Andersen said. âThey may not fully appreciate what we believe, but we pray that they will more fully understand why, for us, these decisions go well beyond just what a person wants for his or her own life.â