Hope For Autism
A Message from the Author
Jamie’s Watch is more than a story about autism—it is a message of hope. I would like to tell you what it means and why I wrote it.
I have an autistic son named Kevin. Jamie’s Watch reflects my deep personal conviction that someday Kevin—and others like him—will be made whole. This hope is based on the following spiritual beliefs:
Life before birth. Before we were born on the earth, we lived as spirit beings in the presence of God, our Heavenly Father. He is the father of our spirits, and his first-born son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer. We had our own personalities and made our own choices in the pre-earth life. All of us—including those who suffer from disabilities here—were whole and capable there.
Life on earth. We came to the earth to obtain a body. We agreed to come under different conditions. Some would have limitations and disabilities; others would care for them. While here, we would gain experience and prove whether we would follow our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ while separated from them in a world of trials and opposition. Our lives would be judged according to what we did with what we had been given.
Life after death. Because of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all who live on the earth will be resurrected after death. Those who keep God’s commandments will have the additional blessing of living in God’s presence. Resurrection means to have our spirit and body reunited in an immortal condition. In the resurrection, every crippled body and every disabled mind will be restored to a perfect state.
And so, just as Jamie is made whole in the book, I believe that my son Kevin will have a perfect body and mind in the next life. This is a great comfort to me and my family as we deal with the daily challenges of having an autistic son. This hope is not an idle wish but is based on scripture and inspiration from the Holy Spirit of God.
That is what I believe. I invite you to read Jamie’s Watch and think and pray about its message. Perhaps you too can obtain this comforting hope. And if you would like more information about my beliefs, please contact me (through the Share Your Comments box) or visit mormon.org.
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