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Here are a few references that may help answer questions on topics of stillborns, miscarriages and angelic visitations.
Brigham Young said of stillborn children, “they are all right… and nothing in the way of sealings or ordinances need be done for them.”
-Bruce R. McConkie, comp. Doctrines of Salvation, 2:281
Joseph Fielding Smith wrote his feelings about it. “There is no information given by revelation in regard to the status of stillborn children. However, I will express my personal opinion that we should have hope that these little ones will receive a resurrection and then belong to us.”
-Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:280
“Joseph Smith taught the doctrine that the infant child that was laid away in death would come up in the resurrection as a child; and, pointing to the mother of a lifeless child, he said to her: ‘You will have the joy, the pleasure, and satisfaction of nurturing this child, after its resurrection, until it reaches the full stature of its spirit.’ There is restitution, there is growth, there is development, after the resurrection from death. I love this truth. It speaks volumes of happiness, of joy and gratitude to my soul. Thank the Lord he has revealed these principles to us.”
Chapter 15: The Salvation of Little Children,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, 128
As Mary the mother of Jesus came to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was carrying John the Baptist, Luke reads, “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped n her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”(Luke 1: 41)
Brigham Young said, “When the mother feels life come to her infant it is the sprit entering the body.”
-Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 17:143
“A miscarriage is delivery of a dead fetus, before it is viable—that is, before it could have lived on its own outside the mother’s womb. A stillbirth is delivery of the dead fetus that has developed to the point where it would normally have been viable, but for some reason is born dead. The line between a miscarriage and a stillbirth is not clear cut, and sometimes there is a question as to whether the fetus was viable. In this case, the decision to record or not to record the name on the family records is up to the family. The family may give the stillborn child a name for recording purposes, if they desire, and funeral services may even be held. But such children are not reported as births or deaths on Church records.”
-Val D. Greenwood, manager of special services, Temple Department, “I Have a Question” Ensign September 1987, p. 27-28
“Knowing that many parents will face a miscarriage or stillbirth sometime during their childbearing years doesn’t make it any easier to experience. Generally, the grieving process moves slowly from shock and numbness, through searching and yearning, to disorientation and depression, and finally to acceptance and an ability to enjoy life without feeling guilty.
“While I was grieving, I found great assurances in the words of the Savior. On one of my loneliest, blackest days, I read in the New Testament: ‘I will not leave you comfortless… Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:18, 27.)”
-Janene Wolsey Baadsgaard, “Coping with the Heartache of Miscarriage” Ensign, July 1989, p. 57-58
President Joseph F. Smith gave us some insight: “When messengers are sent to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, they are not strangers, but from among our kindred, friends, and fellow-beings and fellow-servants… Our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters and friends who have passed away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges, may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again, bringing from the divine Presence messages of love, of warning, or reproof and instruction, to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh.”
-Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1970, pages 435–36
“Undoubtedly angels often guard us from accidents and harm, from temptation and sin. They may properly be spoken of as guardian angels. Many people have borne and may bear testimony to the guidance and protection that they have received from sources beyond their natural vision. Without the help that we receive from the constant presence of the Holy Spirit, and from possible holy angels, the difficulties of life would be greatly multiplied.
“The common belief, however, that every person born into the world has a guardian angel assigned to be with that person constantly, is not supported by available evidence. … An angel may be a guardian angel though he come only as assigned to give us special help. In fact, the constant presence of the Holy Spirit would seem to make such a constant, angelic companionship unnecessary.
“So, until further knowledge is obtained, we may say that angels may be sent to guard us according to our need; but we cannot say with certainty that there is a special guardian angel, to be with every person constantly.”
-John A. Widtsoe, The Improvement Era, April 1944, page 225
“You youth of today, we voyage together. … It may be a storm where Nature’s fury is unleashed or it may be a mental or an emotional storm that threatens destruction. Whatever the occasion or the cause, you may by faith, intensified by fasting or ‘after long abstinence’ like Paul, have standing by your side during ‘that night’ of turmoil a ‘guardian angel’ of God ‘whose you are and whom you serve.’ ”
-Harold B. Lee, Decisions for Successful Living, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1973, p. 79–80
“From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children… Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times.
-Jeffrey Holland, “The Ministry of Angels” Ensign, November 2008, p. 29-31
“And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered… and they are given by the manifestation of the Sprit of God unto men, to profit them.
“For behold, to one is given by the Sprit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom…
“And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits…
“And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.” (Moroni 10: 8, 9, 14, 17)
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