Miscarriages

My mind has been drawn to those who experience miscarriages. I have had a lot of friends who have had to deal with this trial. My heart aches for them and my prayers are with them. This post is written in hopes to bring peace to those individuals. Personally, I had 3 miscarriages in 2002-2003. At the time they were very difficult and by the third one I really felt like Summer was going to be our only child. I had a range of emotions, but that is not the point of this post. I think one of the hardest things about them for me was that there is no set doctrine on the subject. There are some really good hopeful quotes by General Authorities, but no concrete doctrine about the finalization of those precious spirits in a miscarriage. I am a person that wants doctrine.

Since the beginning of 2011 I have really studied this topic. Tonight I read something that really rang true to me as I have studied and prayed about this topic. I hope it serves as a comfort to those who have had to deal with this. I was rereading one of my favorite near death experience accounts of Suzanne Freeman. She had a near death experience with complications in an ectopic pregnancy that went very wrong. In meeting the daughter of that ectopic pregnancy on the other side of the veil she said,

"It was made known to me that sometimes a miscarriage is allowed as a challenge for the mother or family, and the brief time spent in the mother's womb has fulfilled that particular spirit's mission. Sometimes a miscarriage occurs because there is a problem with the DNA or some other facet of development, and the spirit that would have claimed that body may come again. Depending on the cause and purpose of the event, miscarried babies may be able to choose whether the miscarriage is their total earthly experience, or whether they want to go again."

Suzanne Freeman was blessed with a near death experience to learn that her dear daughter Brook's mission on the earth was fulfilled through the ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage, but not all of us are going to have such a grand experience. In another book about miscarriages the author spoke about an important tool that we have of using personal revelation to know the purpose and spiritual outcome of the miscarriages. I know this personally to be true and to work. You don't even have to almost die to learn these things. It is as simple as asking specific questions to Heavenly Father and He pours out knowledge, as long as you do your part in fasting, praying, and earnestly and diligently seeking out those answers for your specific circumstances.

At the beginning of this year I read on a blog the experience of one woman's 3 miscarriages, where she learned through personal revelation that one returned to heaven to act as a guardian to her family, one returned to her at a different time, and another one returned to one of her children (she had like 11 kids so maybe the Lord let her have a rest!!!). To me this explains why there would be no set doctrine because every situation is different. Doctrine to me is something that you can always count on, but how can church leaders promise something that is different in various circumstances. We are naturally interested in things that affect us, and for those that have experienced a miscarriage can find great comfort in knowing that Heavenly Father does hear and answer our earnest prayers....and that is doctrine.

I feel a special kinship to people that have experienced a miscarriage. For those of you who have experienced a miscarriage and want an ear to listen to and shoulder to cry on mine is always open.