Choice spirits born with disabilities?

I’m not sure about “incredibly righteous” but I do believe “righteous” certainly fits.

My Brother in law was a member with special needs. I believe that he was completely innocent while in this world.

He died a few year ago. I believe that when he crossed into the next world, he was completely whole. Without any blemish.

I had the overwhelming feeling that he was as “Royalty” to our relatives that greeted him.

And, they rejoiced when they saw him in his true form.

Having said that…this is my own feelings & beliefs. I don’t claim any special knowledge or revelation.

To me, it makes sense. All of us have come into this world with challenges or short comings. (I don’t want to use the word “disability”.)

It is the next life when we will have the complete answers.

(I hope this makes sense.)

Mike from Milton.

…Do you believe that people that have mental or physical disabilities were incredibly righteous in the spirit world? …. believe Heavenly Father gave these conditions for a reason. What do you believe?

I don’t think the gods have anything to do with it.

I think it stems from biological and chemical factors…just basic genetics 101.

I believe it is very feasible that we retain our spiritual gifts and spiritual talents from previous lives, but I don’t think the gods meddle with our DNA just to prove a point…

It is why we should be more compassionate to others, and not make the mistake of comparing situations or judging how others are dealing with their condition in this life. God will judge all according to His knowledge of their test, and what they did with their circumstances (as taught in the parable of the laborers in the field, where not all were “hired” for the same exact measure of work…but had different circumstances, but all received the same reward.)

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This privilege of obtaining a mortal body on this earth is seemingly so priceless that those in the spirit world, even though unfaithful or not valient, were undoubtedly permitted to take mortal bodies although under penalty of racial or physical or nationalistic limitations….

It never ceases to amaze me what kind of crap people can come up with when left to their own devices. “Undoubtedly” … please 🙄

Those are good points. I personally believe that all who are on this earth were valiant in the spirit world in some way or another.

The notion that your premortal life has some impact on where and what you are today I find to be a logical concept. We know agency was a part of that life (third of the hosts of heaven and all that) and so it is quite possible that those who stayed on God’s side had differing levels of commitment. However, anything that goes beyond this is just speculation. I’ve often heard that people with mental disabilities are the noble souls that God wanted to make sure would return. I also remember an accident in the town where I lived that took the life of a baby less than a year old. I heard later that the parents stated that they always had a “feeling” that they wouldn’t have the baby for long. I’ve been to a couple of funerals for young children who have passed away where the speakers state something along the lines “God needed them back to do His work.” Many of these speculations are nothing more than stories that people make up to comfort themselves when faced with the kinds of cruelties that life can impose(and I’m certainly not going to be the person who challenges such stories). I think we don’t want to accept that a good portion of our life is random. Not all, mind you. I do believe that God intervenes from time to time but I’m not a big fan of the kind of theological determinism that some members advocate.

I’ve often heard that people with mental disabilities are the noble souls that God wanted to make sure would return. I also remember an accident in the town where I lived that took the life of a baby less than a year old. I heard later that the parents stated that they always had a “feeling” that they wouldn’t have the baby for long. I’ve been to a couple of funerals for young children who have passed away where the speakers state something along the lines “God needed them back to do His work.”

I struggled with just this concept. When we lost DD (Emory), I felt strongly that her soul was welcomed back into the loving arms of our Savior. It was jarring to me that she should “be saved,” without any baptism or temple covenants or being good (jarring to my concept of semi-earned salvation). I was very familiar with the reasoning that these spirits that die before the age of eight were more advanced in the pre-mortal realm but that idea did not resonate with me, did not bring me comfort.

SWK gave a talk titled “Tragedy or Destiny.” He talks about a hypothetical toddler that drowns in a canal and asks if fate or the divine hand might have played a role in the events. He says, “Answer, if you can. I cannot, for though I know God has a major role in our lives, I do not know how much He causes to happen and how much He merely permits.” This was a deviation from what JS and others had said about these spirits being too perfect for this messy existence. I interpreted SWK’s words to mean, “We don’t really know.”

Although I’ve had these problems, my patriarchal blessing, other blessings I’ve received, dreams I’ve had I’ve received inspiration that in the spirit world I was an incredibly choice or righteous spirit. The spiritual gifts I have have indicated this.

Ilovechrist77, I believe in the power of inspiration and revelation to help us better understand ourselves. I have no doubt that you were an incredibly choice and valued spirit in the kingdom of our Father – that part is certain. The part that we can’t know is how you compare in that department to the remainder of God’s children.

I have come to understand that even in the wake of my grief, there is a silver lining. If nothing else, I am more compassionate and understanding of people going through difficulty. Perhaps this is a spiritual gift that might enable me to better lift my brothers and sisters in hard times.

Whatever spark you were blessed to come into this world with, let it shine. You are unique, you are beautiful (in a completely non-feminine way), you are His.

Is it anymore “crap” than the original poster’s question?

In a word, yes. I think “crap” is being kind.

As you correctly point out, any notions about pre- or post-mortal existence are all pure speculation. When that speculation has the intent to buoy up those who are less fortunate or who otherwise bear an unequal burden, I can be okay with that. However, when it’s based on misguided, hateful, chauvinistic, paternalistic condescension, I’m not afraid to point that out. Let me paraphrase the quotation in question:

If you are not a healthy Caucasian (male, I suppose) born in the USA, that is a good indication that you misbehaved in some way in the pre-existence.

… which of course is complete and utter nonsense, or in other words, crap. It was notions such as these that were used to justify things like the Crusades, slavery, and the Holocaust. I thank God I live in a day when such ideas are more or less universally recognized to be evil. Now whether or not HBL actually said those horrid things is another matter.

Welcome, by the way. 🙂