My Beliefs

Donny Osmond

“As I’ve traveled all over the world, the fact that I’m a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has caused a lot of interesting questions. I’ve received so many letters and e-mails asking things like, What are the basic beliefs of Latter-Day Saints?”

Donny Osmond

My Testimony

Listen

…Some want to know how Debbie and I have been able to maintain a strong marriage — over all these years — while living in the world of show business. Others want to know how we dealt with the challenges of raising a close and happy family in such difficult times.

How do we maintain a balance between work, and family life? Well, you know it’s not always easy, but the following pages are my attempt to explain a way of life that helps answer these kinds of questions. It gives me stability in a world, and in a business, that can be uncertain, compromising, and stressful. It’s the pattern that gives me direction in my life. And, I hope that this information will help answer some of your questions.

Questions & Answers

  • Our Little Girl Died, Was She Old Enough to Believe

    Our little girl died from cancer at the age of 11. Though she certainly had been taught who and what Jesus was, was she old enough to really believe and accept? Is there an age of accountability? Is she in heaven with Him? Also, at her request, we had her cremated. I am really regretting that decision as the more I read the bible, the more I see she will be resurrected and given a new body. Can that still happen if she is only ashes? I have never been able to find a scripture that prohibits cremation.

    thank you so much for your time

    I am so sorry that you lost your little girl. I cannot imagine how difficult that would be. I truly hope you will believe me and be comforted because the truth is that her spirit, which gave her little body life, has gone to Paradise in the world of spirits where she will continue to have a chance to learn and prepare for the resurrection. Note that Jesus on the cross promised the repentant thief hanging beside him: “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) Another passage indicates what Jesus did while his body lie in the tomb: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;” (1 Peter 3:18 – 19) Though this passage indicates that Jesus preached to the spirits in spirit prison we know that the word prison refers to a condition in which progression is limited compared to our earthly sojourn. I am confident that your daughter is in Paradise, a place of peace and rest, but I am also confident that she is able to learn all about Jesus and his gospel.

     

    The promise of the resurrection is this: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22) This promise will not exclude anyone, those who were buried at sea whose remains were scattered, those whose bodies have become part of the earth over the thousands of years of humanity and yes, even those who have been cremated. All will be resurrected with a perfected and immortal body, including the elements of the mortal body we had during this existence. I have no doubt that the God who formed the earth and even the universe, has the power to command all of these elements, where ever they may be to be gathered and refined into an incorruptable, immortal body that will live forever in some state of glory (see 1 Corinthians 15:40-45).

     

    We have an additional belief regarding the resurrection of the children of worthy parents, and that is that the child will be resurrected in the body, though now immortal, that was laid to rest and that the parents will be blessed to rear that child to maturity. The key word here is worthy and that, to me, means genuine followers of Jesus Christ. My friend lost a grandchild and wrote the following poem reflecting this belief:

     

    DIMENSIONS

     

    I saw some pictures in a book That were fairly nice to see, But some, with a long and staring look Could see them in 3-D.

     

    Sure, I can look at you and see You’re worthy of attention, But some discern that you must be Of a more divine dimension.

     

    You were one time a “morning star” Of great potential worth, Who only could progress so far Until you came to earth

     

    Where here we grow and serve and love And fall and rise and learn, With eyes fixed on our home above ‘Til we’re finished with our turn.

     

    Some “morning stars”, it’s our belief, Before their mortal life, Were brighter, so their turn is brief To avoid the pain and strife.

     

    Then after time, we’ll rise again In an atmosphere of light, Reached our divine potential then, Of glory and of might.

     

    Those whose lives were brief will rise As children that we’ve known, To hold and love and soothe their cries ‘Til they are fully grown

     

    I hope this will help you.