The Wisdom of Youth

Recently, the youth in my life have been reminding me of beautiful, simple truths. One of those truths is fasting and miracles that was shared with me by my cousin Paige. My Grandpa Smith passed away on May 12, 2026, after being sick in the hospital the week previous, before coming home to hospice. This loss sucks, but I am forever grateful for the gospel and the fact that I know I still have him; he is eternally my grandpa. In the last few days we had with him, though my cousin Paige taught me something I will never forget, and I want to share it with you all.

The Sunday he entered the hospital, we had a family fast for him. That next Friday, he was put in hospice, before passing away Tuesday evening. Sunday, Mothers day, I was at my aunt’s house, with her two daughters, changing out of my Sunday clothes before going back to my grandparents. Before we changed, we were sitting on the stairs, just being there with each other, knowing that we couldn’t change the hurt, but we could be there for one another. In this moment, Paige shared with Amber and me a challenge that she had been given in seminary and what she had learned from it.

In seminary, her teacher had requested that they all seek to know that fasting works, the coming fast Sunday. That is also the fast Sunday my family fasted for my grandfather. I can’t account for any of my other 40+ family members, but I was fasting that my grandfather would get better and live. When he got put on hospice, I knew that it was not the Lord’s will for my grandfather to continue his journey on this earth and that he was graduating from the trials of this earth. Now, in my brain, that had meant the fasting hadn’t worked, but Paige taught me that it had. On those stairs, Paige shared her testimony of fasting, saying, “It works, we got a few more days with him.” Yes, it was still my grandfather’s time to return home, but my cousin reminded me of our Heavenly Father’s love. Our Heavenly Father loved us enough to give us a few extra days with him. To allow us to speak with him and for him to share his testimonies with us one more time. I’m forever grateful for those days and for the fact that I know I will get to see him again in the future.

This is my grandparents’ favorite scripture. John 14: 2-3

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Reference:

Bible (King James Version). The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge UP, 1769.

Smith, Paige. Personal interview. 10 May 2026.