Book of Mormon: Day 308: Children Speak Marvelous Things

Today’s Reading: 3 Nephi: 26:14

14 And it came to pass that he did teach and minister unto the children of the multitude of whom hath been spoken, and he did loose their tongues, and they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things, even greater than he had revealed unto the people; and he loosed their tongues that they could utter.

October 2013:

In the early of morning, I listened to the thunder. I could feel my heart breaking. Our oldest son, who had just celebrated his 4th birthday, was awake, quietly creeping around the house. In the symbolic dream that woke me, I saw a uterus being emptied; my heart knew what was going to happen, but I clung desperately to hope.

I drug my feet into the bathroom and took a pregnancy test because I didn’t know what else to do. It was positive, but very faint. Much more faint than it should have been at that point in the pregnancy. It confirmed what I knew in my heart for days: we were going to loose this baby.

I woke my husband.

“We need to talk. It’s not good.”

Elaboration was unnecessary. He knew right away, before I said anything else.  In the darkened room, our eyes met. No words spoken. Just the sound of rain falling and thunder rolling.  I could see the pain in his eyes. It was the same pain I remembered all too well from a prior miscarriage.  Seeing that pain took my breath away. As an emotional hurricane overcame me, I staggered into his arms.

I eventually laid in bed, but sleep wouldn’t come. Just then, our sweet 4 year old appeared in the shadow of the room.  We hadn’t told either of the boys about the pregnancy, nor was he present as my husband held me as I cried, yet he was there with a Divinely appointed mission. Just as Christ loosed the tongues of the Nephite children, I believe in that brief moment, He “did loose (our son’s) tongue, and (he) did speak unto (me, his mother) great and marvelous things.” Alma 32:23 reminds us, “And now, He imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.”

That morning, our son climbed into bed and sang the most beautiful Primary song in his most adorable, squeaky, 4 year old voice. He sang about Rainbows, a song we don’t sing often, if ever, in our home. All women who have endured miscarriage will understand the significance of rainbows. A “rainbow baby” is a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death or infant loss. The term has encouraged parents to share their stories of loss – and the babies that followed.[1] Rainbow babies are the sunshine and hope that follow the storm of loss. In the simplest, yet most profound way, our son had provided me with hope. I felt reassured that there would be a “rainbow baby”, that our sadness would eventually be swept away in the joy. More importantly, I felt that God was near and mindful of me. He had sent one of His angels to my rescue. Our son’s timing, his song selection, and even the unfamiliar lyrics sung perfectly were miraculous. Indeed, he did speak many more “marvelous things” to me, sacred things, things that will forever be etched in my mind.

Of angels, Elder Holland said:

“…in times of special need, (God) sends angels, divine messengers, to bless His children, to reassure them that heaven (is) always very close and that His help (is) always very near…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, (or) guidance… I have spoken here of heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need. But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk and talk with– here, now, every day.” [2]

Obviously my son wasn’t sent directly from the presence of God as an angelic being, but this doesn’t diminish his angelic mission, nor does it erase from mind the spiritual capacity of little ones. Elder Lynn G. Robbins recently elaborated on the Savior’s visit and ministry among the Nephite children when He loosed their tongues and the children spoke marvelous things:

“Perhaps more than opening the mouths of babes, the Lord was opening the eyes and ears of their astonished parents. Those parents had been granted the extraordinary gift of a glimpse into eternity and of beholding the true identity and premortal stature of their children. Would that not forever change the way the parents saw and treated their children?” [3]

I have been forever changed by this experience. Although our mortality physically separates us from our Heavenly Father, He is mindful of us. He is able and willing to send angels, in various ways, to aide, comfort, warn, or protect us. The children He has entrusted in our care are capable, just as the Nephite children, to have their “tongues loosed” to speak marvelous things. May we not overlook “little children (who) have words given unto them many times” as our potential angelic messengers and comforters (Alma 32:23).

Vanessa Pebley

Vanessa has been married to Prince Charming since 2007 and is Mommy to three bouncy boys. She spends her days enforcing nap time, avoiding laundry, and setting off the fire alarm.