Will I see my miscarried child in the next life?

Question

 

Gramps,

I had a miscarriage at about two months. It wasn’t formed at all, but it looked like a giant liver. I don’t know if it had a heartbeat, but it was growing, so I don’t know what that actually means. What the heck? Question. If it was growing, that means it was alive. It’s an aborted fetus. Maybe if so, will I see it in the next life?

Joyce

 

Answer

 

Joyce.

For many people, a miscarriage brings not only grief but also uncertainty. There is often a deep longing to know what happened to that child and whether the relationship will continue beyond this life.

According to the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is reason for hope, even though not every detail has been revealed.

Latter-day Saints believe that every person is a beloved spirit child of Heavenly Father. Before coming to earth, we lived with Him as spirits. Mortality is only one step in our eternal journey. Because of this belief, many members find comfort in knowing that a child lost through miscarriage is not lost to God.

At the same time, the Church has not received a revelation that answers every question about miscarriage. The Lord has not revealed exactly when a spirit enters a developing body or how every circumstance surrounding miscarriage will be resolved. However, He has revealed enough for us to trust in His love and mercy.

One important gospel truth is that little children are precious in the sight of God and are redeemed through Jesus Christ.

The Book of Mormon teaches:

“Little children are alive in Christ.” (Moroni 8:22)

Abinadi similarly declared:

“Little children also have eternal life.” (Mosiah 15:25)

These scriptures provide assurance that children who die before reaching accountability are safe in Christ and recipients of His grace.

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught a remarkable doctrine concerning children who die before reaching maturity. President Joseph F. Smith later recounted:

“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.’” (The Salvation of LIttle Children)

While this statement specifically addresses infants and young children rather than miscarriage, many parents have found comfort in the principle that family relationships continue and that opportunities lost in mortality may be restored through the Lord’s plan.

President Joseph F. Smith, who buried several of his own children, taught:

“With little children who are taken away in infancy and innocence before they have reached the years of accountability … they are redeemed by the blood of Christ.” (The Salvation of Little Children)

His teachings emphasize that children who die before accountability are completely covered by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

When discussing stillborn children, President Joseph Fielding Smith acknowledged that revelation has not provided all the answers. However, he offered a hopeful personal opinion:

“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. I cannot help feeling that this will be the case.” (Our Stillborn Baby)

Although President Smith carefully identified this as his personal opinion rather than revealed doctrine, many Latter-day Saints find comfort in his hopeful perspective.

The Church has also published an article discussing what is known and unknown regarding children who die very young. It notes that President Joseph F. Smith found comfort in the doctrine that children who die young will be resurrected and raised by their righteous parents after the Resurrection. “The Salvation of Little Children Who Die: What We Do and Don’t Know)

Perhaps one of the most comforting teachings from the Prophet Joseph Smith is his promise that faithful Saints will ultimately recover every righteous loss:

“All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided you continue faithful. By the vision of the Almighty I have seen it.” (The Joseph Smith Papers)

That promise does not explain exactly how every situation will unfold, but it does testify that Heavenly Father is aware of every sorrow and has the power to restore what mortality takes away.

The foundation of that hope is Jesus Christ. Because of His Resurrection, death is not permanent. Families can continue beyond the grave. Through His Atonement, every injustice can be corrected, every wound healed, and every righteous blessing fulfilled.

Will you see a child in the next life that you miscarried?

The most accurate answer according to LDS doctrine is that we do not have a specific revelation that fully answers that question. However, we do have powerful truths that point toward hope. We know your child is known and loved by Heavenly Father. We know little children are alive in Christ. We know families are central to God’s eternal plan. We know that every righteous blessing will be restored. And we know that Jesus Christ has overcome death.

For that reason, many faithful Latter-day Saints look forward with hope to a future day when unanswered questions will be resolved and losses will be healed. While mortality leaves some uncertainty, the gospel invites us to trust in a loving Heavenly Father who remembers every child and every parent.

Until that day, we can rest in the promise that nothing precious is forgotten by God and that through Jesus Christ, every faithful hope can ultimately be fulfilled.

 

Gramps