Birth Announcement

I have often wondered what would happen if the method of introducing a father to his newborn child were different. Instead of a doctor saying, "It's a girl" or "It's a boy", how would we react if each time a child was born our Father in Heaven made this kind of introduction to the parents:

"Thank you for preparing this little body for the spirit I have created. Now I present him to you for a season to care for. Please teach him of me and of my Son. I so much want him back with me some day. It all depends on you. Remember this: He is loving. He will respond to teaching. He wants to learn. Please treat him with respect. The road will not be easy. Some of the time it will be most difficult. I want to help you raise him. Please call on me often for advice and counsel. Together we can help him fulfil his purpose on the earth."

or

"Thank you for preparing this little body for the spirit I have created. Now I present her to you for a season to care for. Please teach her of me and of my Son. I so much want her back with me some day. It all depends on you. Remember this: She is loving. She will respond to teaching. She wants to learn. Please treat her with respect. The road will not be easy. Some of the time it will be most difficult. I want to help you raise her. Please call on me often for advice and counsel. Together we can help her fulfil her purpose on the earth."

-- Bishop H. Burke Peterson, speaking at 142nd Semi-annual General Conference, January, 1973.