Sara Sofia

Sara Sofia was born on July 31, 2018.  On this night, I had the opportunity to bring dinner Melinda and Javi at Shady Grove Hospital.  On the way to the hospital, I was listening to General Conference music. All of a sudden, I received an epiphany of sorts. I felt an overwhelming peace exude through my whole body, from head to toe. I received the reassurance that Heavenly Father was real. He lives. The birth of this special girl, like other births, was very sacred. Her birth has helped me re-orient my life, has re-energized my testimony, and has kindled my desire to seek my Heavenly Father. She has been born in a very special time of the earth history. She is a Saturday’s warrior. She has been born in the dispensation of the fulness of times and in the age of advanced technology. This time is the battle between good and evil. She has to be strong. I know that God has sent Sara Sofia to the earth at this time to help build his kingdom. Her parents need to teach her well and prepare her for her mission in life.

That evening I felt inspired to write this letter to Melinda and Javier.

My dear Melinda and Javi,

By the providence of a benevolent God, He has afforded you the privilege of becoming parents to little beautiful baby girl named Sara Sofia.  Ever since, my mind has reflected on this pivotal event on me and my family and the whole earth.  I have pondered on the great mercy and love of our Heavenly Father in sending you and entrusting with such a sweet spirit as Sara.  She is a cherished miracle, a sign of God’s omnipotent hand.  It has been impressed upon me that when a baby is born into this world, it is not a random act of chance or the whimsical creation of a crazy monster.  Whether scientifically, logically, philosophically, or by any faculty of the human intellect, it is utterly inconceivable that a child can appear out of nowhere and become an amazing human being.  A child so precious and amazing can only arrive in your hands from a loving God, who sent her to you by divine design.  So it is with every child.  Each child, especially now Sara, has been sent here to this earth by an intelligent being.  When Sara was born, I felt the Spirit so strongly revealing to me that Heavenly Father is real, that Sara is His daughter, that He loves all of his children, and that this is His great work and glory.  I have felt the great peace and love from our Father, this time more powerfully than ever.

Kahlih Gibran beautifully penned these inspired words:

“Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.”

(Kahlih Gibran, “On Chilidren”)

You are now parents with a special mandate from God to take care of His daughter.  She is yours temporarily to teach and guide aright.  Love her, teach her, bear pure testimony to her.  Pray for her every day of your life.  One day when she reaches adulthood, you will no longer need to take care of her physically and maybe not even emotionally or mentally.  Then she will become your friend and associate, as you two are now mine.

May the Lord bless you with the inspiration, stamina, and integrity to be righteous parents.  May God bless you with more patience, humility, kindness, and charity as you learn how to become parents.  May He lead you through life’s battles and triumphs as you organize your family and raise your family in righteousness, is my fervent prayer for you and for all of my children.