I am so very sorry to learn of the loss of your baby and that you have not been able to have more children. I can only imagine the heartache this has brought you. I do know many wonderful people who have lost their children through illness or accident. That pain, it seems to me, would be almost unbearable. I also know many who are not able to have children, which is a source of much sorrow. Although, I do not know many who have had to suffer both of those heartaches.

I have read of many who have had "near death experiences" who report that in the moments they were in the spirit world, they recognized some of their loved ones there in a state of great peace and love. I am sure that your baby is in a much better place than here and is having a wonderful life there. That does not, I realize, take away the pain of your loss here. I believe that for you to be eternally bound to that child, you must learn and follow the gospel of Jesus Christ. That path leads to the Holy Temples where families are sealed or bound for all eternity by priesthood keys restored in these latter days. These keys were originally given to Peter as the Lord said, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

We have learned that this passage in the Bible refers to the binding of families for eternity. We have also learned that with this eternal covenant comes the great privilege of rearing a deceased child to physical maturity after the resurrection in a much more glorious setting. I invite you to learn more about this eternal blessing. Let me know if you are interested and I will direct you in your search.

Many of whom I know who are not able to have children of their own have found great joy and happiness in adopting. It has often been expressed that these adopted children feel as much their own as if they had born to them. I even know those who strongly feel that the very children who are intended for their eternal families are sent to them through some other birth mother. Have you considered or prayed about adoption?

I do not have the answers for these difficult questions in life. I believe that sometimes, the only comfort may come in consideration of the eternal perspective; that life does not end at death and that our trials, if endured well, can be to our great blessing.

When Christ's Church was restored to the earth in the early 1800's (see Life's Greatest Questions by clicking on My Beliefs and then Multimedia in www.donny.com) the prophet of the restoration, Joseph Smith and many of his early followers suffered much. There was little medical remedy for serious illness in those days and many suffered premature deaths. Joseph and his wife, for instance, lost several of their children. In addition to this, they were hated and persecuted, driven from their homes, and some even murdered including the prophet himself.

In light of this intense suffering, the Lord gave several messages pertaining to these difficult questions. Here are some of them as recorded in our Doctrine and Covenants as well as in the Book of Mormon:

"If thou art called to pass through tribulation...know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 122:5, 8)

"...all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 98:3)

"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 121:7 - 8)

"But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:18)

These passages have been a comfort to me and I hope they will help you. I wish for you the very best. Let me know if I could be of more help.

Sincerely,

Donny Osmond


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