Brand Spankin' New Nephew

Last weekend in CA I got to see the first time this side of the veil my new wittle nephew, Forster Kuzmich Paget. He's one healthy baby who loves his momma and didn't mind all the grabbing for attention as long as there was plenty of food and good burpage included. And something I heard this week reminded me about the fascinating transistion into mortality. As LDS church doctrine goes, we believe that before this earth life we all lived as spirit children with our Heavenly Father, learning the true principles of His gospel and what would eventually be our next step in our eternal progression (i.e. coming to earth, getting a body, *eating In-N-Out burgers, etc...).

I've always had the distinct impression when I see a newborn that they carry with them a clear memory of their heavenly home. Apart from their cries and other gurgling petitions, what if their tongues could be loosed just for a moment and they could speak to our understanding? What would they tell us or remind us of?

Last year I helped out in the primary with all the kiddos during church and during our brief lessons when we could actually keep their attention away from screaming their lungs out for Mom or running wildly around the room, we would occasionally hear some simple yet powerfully deep thought uttered from their little mouths in response to whatever the lesson happened to be on. It reminds me of the scripture in Alma 32:23 "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." Very cool indeed. General Conference weekend is upon us and I'm excited to hear some more inspirational thoughts from apostles and prophets.

Here's Rhys and Liz aka the "A team" with baby Forster:



* - not essential but definitely worth it if you have the chance.