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Brandon's avatar

Hi Jacob. I really appreciate you making this available to read. Sam was able to put into words a lot of the feelings I’ve had since my daughter passed away 2 years ago. It was very touching, especially coming from such a young, but wise individual. Thanks again for sharing as it was really impactful .

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Jacob Z. Hess's avatar

thanks, Brandon. Sam just read your comment this morning. I'm sorry to hear about your daughter. We should talk sometime. Although this is a gut-punch with pain that doesn't ever seem to go away entirely, the hope and peace and joy and love does change the experience so much.

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C.W. Lippert's avatar

Sam’s remarks made a deep impression on me. I’m glad to be able to revisit them. Thank you for posting!

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eddified's avatar

Jacob, I also lost a daughter at a young age. She was born in summer 2019 and passed away Nov 2021. I am so sorry for your loss, I know it is very painful. But, the "good news" of the gospel is that the Resurrection is real! I hope you can find comfort in the promise of the resurrection.

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Jacob Z. Hess's avatar

Amen, dear friend. What good news this is - especially our restoration understanding in the law of compensation, that parents will one day raise their children lost in a glorious future day of peace.

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VaLynne Stoddard's avatar

I have told my daughter that as Grandmother, I get to help raise them :). A little more to my daughter’s story. About 2 years after the last baby died, her husband left her and left the Church. She is my Job. They had been married in the Temple.

She attended a YSA ward and some of her friends she met there wanted her to meet this guy they knew. They met and they have now been married 18 years and have two daughters, one a sophomore in high school and her youngest is in 6th grade in middle school. She did go through the First Presidency so she could go to the Temple with her 2nd husband. He’s a good man. But in all honesty, we never saw any red flags with her first husband. It was a shock when he made the choices he did.

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Flourishing And Neurodiverse's avatar

How devastating and gorgeous and hopeful. Out of the mouths of babes! Well done, Sam. Families are eternal.

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Jacob Z. Hess's avatar

thank you!

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VaLynne Stoddard's avatar

I just saw this, nearly a year and 1/2 after it was posted. Your Sam is such a wonderful big brother! He did have me in tears. My daughter lost 3 babies at birth due to a fatal birth defect. She had a daughter named Joy, and 2 sons, Kyle and Bradley. It was hard loosing 3 grandchildren and watching my daughter go through the sorrow of losing 3 babies. But we do have the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation.

My husband passed in October 2019, I miss him, but before he passed, in fact on the day we learned the pain in his wrist was terminal non smoking lung cancer that had gone to his bones, and not arthritis, we looked at each other said, "God is with us and we are eternal," let's live the rest of our earthly time so that others know that we know that to be true. We lived a year of JOY. We read Elder Bednar's talk, Shortly after the funeral, I had an experience where I knew he wanted me to continue to live with JOY. I was sobbing totally distraught and wanted him back. And suddenly I had that most intense feeling of pure JOY. I know we will be together again and I know I am to continue to let others know that I now that is true. I know he is gathering Israel on that side of the veil so I want to be diligent at doing it on this side. And all of that brings me JOY. (I always speak of JOY in capital letters :)

I still have what I call my pity parties at times, but as a friend once told me, "Nothing wrong with pity parties, just don't over stay your welcome!"

Thank you again for sharing your son's talk, I know you all miss your Emma very much but also after hearing his talk and hymn know that JOY is there for your family too.

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eddified's avatar

This child is wise beyond his years! I’m very impressed.

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Jacob Z. Hess's avatar

He teaches me so much!

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