LDS Church Opposes Nevada Question 6 Abortion Measure, Directs Leaders to Read Opposition Letter to Congregations

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has publicly opposed Nevada’s Right to Abortion Initiative, known as Question 6. Church leaders have directed local congregations to read a letter opposing the measure during weekly sacrament meetings for two consecutive weeks. The letter, issued by the United States Southwest Area Presidency, which oversees Nevada, urges members to voice their opposition to the initiative while maintaining a Christlike approach to political discourse.

Local leaders first read the letter on September 20, and are set to read it again on September 27. The letter encourages members to express their views respectfully, in line with the church’s guidance on civility and Christlike love. This directive mirrors a similar letter sent to Idaho church leaders the previous week, urging opposition to that state’s reproductive rights ballot measure.

Question 6 would establish a constitutional right to abortion before fetal viability, allowing qualified health care practitioners to perform or administer abortions until viability, or afterward when necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient. Fetal viability typically occurs around the 24th week of gestation, though the exact point may vary. The proposed language, found in Article 1, Section 25, would prohibit the state or any political subdivision from interfering with qualifying abortions.

Abortion is already legal in Nevada up to the 24th week of pregnancy under a statute approved by voters in a ballot measure from the 1990s, sometimes referred to as Question 7. That measure upheld the existing 24-week abortion statute and prevented the Nevada Legislature from amending or repealing it without voter approval. However, it did not establish a constitutional right to abortion, a gap that Question 6’s supporters claim they are addressing.

Nevadans voted overwhelmingly in favor of Question 6 in 2024, with 64 percent of the vote, according to Truthout. However, under Nevada’s constitutional amendment process, the initiative must appear again on the ballot in a second even-numbered election year to be added to the state constitution. The measure is expected to appear on the ballot again in 2026 for that required second vote. Reproductive Freedom for All has described the original campaign as a grassroots effort involving state partners, activists, and more.

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