Babies and dreams - #58372

[Carrapicho]

I've never started a thread before, and I've kinda been MIA on the board board for awhile (work's been busy), but I just had to comment on this question. When I first read the question, I thought immediately of babies dreaming of pre-earth life, but then Mico said that "we are taught that we pass through the veil of forgetfulness as soon as we are born." And now I'm a little confused.

When my brother was just a week or two old, my mom was sitting out in the church foyer during stake conference because he was a little fussy. A visiting authority just happened to pass by, and inquired after the little one. Upon learning that he was just a newborn, the man said something to the effect that, if this little baby could speak, he could tell us all about our Heavenly Parents and where we lived before. But, he said, by the time he does learn to speak, the veil will have fully drawn and he will have forgotten everything. I know that's one person's opinion, but I've always liked the idea that the veil isn't a sudden we-forget-everything-all-at-once kinda thing. I think babies would have a MUCH tougher time adjusting to a human body if they didn't have memories of before, or if they didn't feel the influence of angels or maybe even see them from time to time (ever wonder why it seems babies stare blankly at a wall? Maybe they can see someone we can't!).

Anyway, I just wanted to hear thoughts on this. Anybody care to share their opinion? Or even what they think babies dream about (I know that was the real topic of the initial question)? Please share!

[Marduk]

My dad and I actually had a discussion related to this on Sunday. He presented a concept of the veil that I think is accurate, and would explain the apparently conflicting information here. He said that we shouldn't think of the veil as a solid wall, but more of a partition. It grows thinner and thicker depending on our need to know things from beyond it (or our need to forget, as the case may be.)

It would not conflict with my understanding at all to suggest that although a veil may be in place at birth, that it grows thicker as the child grows and learns.

[Carrapicho]

I really like that, Marduk--you always hear people saying things like, "the veil is really thin for me right now," so I wonder if that is the case. Like I said, I love the idea that the veil gradually slips away from babies as they grow and become more aware of their mortal existence, and it's also comforting when you hear of people dying experiencing a similar thing, like they can see things beyond the veil that we can't. It's just a fascinating concept to me.

[NerdGirl]

I've always thought something similar, based on these scriptures:

14 And it came to pass that he did teach and minister unto the children of the multitude of whom hath been spoken, and he did loose their tongues, and they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things, even greater than he had revealed unto the people; and he loosed their tongues that they could utter.
16 Behold, it came to pass on the morrow that the multitude gathered themselves together, and they both saw and heard these children; yea, even babes did open their mouths and utter marvelous things; and the things which they did utter were forbidden that there should not any man write them.

[Unit of Energy]

These statements go along with what my mom mused when my younger siblings would be fascinated by the lights. She always liked to think that the lights reminded them of where they had just come from.

[Carrapicho]

Oooh, right, I completely forgot about those scriptures! Really, it makes perfect sense in that respect. If babies could talk and tell us all about our pre-earth life, of course that would be forbidden to be written because we all need to have faith, right? I like this discussion!