At the funeral of two-year-old Marian Lyon, the Prophet [Joseph Smith] said: “We have again the warning voice sounded in our midst, which shows the uncertainty of human life; and in my leisure moments I have meditated upon the subject, and asked the question, why it is that infants, innocent children, are taken away from us, especially those that seem to be the most intelligent and interesting. The strongest reasons that present themselves to my mind are these: This world is a very wicked world; and it … grows more wicked and corrupt. … The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again"
(History of the Church, 4:553–54; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on Mar. 20, 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Wilford Woodruff.)
I cannot express enough how much comfort this has brought me. Our angel children were too pure and too lovely to stay here for very long. What special spirits God must have given to us. And while we are separated from them for now, we will have the opportunity to be with them after this life, and for all eternity. And I am certain that upon getting to know our children, we will learn how truly special they are. It took me a long time to get through the process of mourning, but now I do see how we can rejoice. Our sweet children have already gained exaltation and a place in the celestial kingdom. Can any parent wish more for their child?
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