The pain of losing a loved one is understood only by those who have experienced it. Without the gospel of Jesus Christ, such a tragedy is truly devastating. Without the message of salvation, death is a final, tragic separation. Only through the Atonement is this pain lessened. Mormon states that amidst the sorrow of the Nephites, their only joy was because of the light of Christ unto life (v. 14).
LeGrand Richards
“In an interview the author had with a prominent minister, the minister admitted that his church held out no hopes of the reuniting of family ties beyond the grave. Then he added: ’But in my heart I find stubborn objections. Take for instance the kitten. When you take it away from the cat, in a few days the mother cat has forgotten all about it. Take the calf away from the cow and in a few days the cow has forgotten all about the calf. But when you take a child away from his mother, though she lives to be a hundred years old, she never forgets the child of her bosom. I find it difficult to believe that God created such love to perish in the grave.’” (A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, p. 198)
Joseph Smith
“More painful to me are the thoughts of annihilation than death. If I have no expectation of seeing my father, mother, brothers, sisters and friends again, my heart would burst in a moment, and I should go down to my grave. The expectation of seeing my friends in the morning of the resurrection cheers my soul and makes me bear up against the evils of life. It is like their taking a long journey, and on their return we meet them with increased joy.” (Teachings, p. 296 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 292)
Joseph F. Smith
"I rejoice that I am born to live, to die, and to live again. I thank God for this intelligence. It gives me joy and peace that the world cannot give, neither can the world take it away. God has revealed this to me, in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it to be true. Therefore I have nothing to be sad over, nothing to make me sorrowful...
"On the contrary, it is cause for joy unspeakable, and for pure happiness. I cannot express the joy I feel at the thought of meeting my father, and my precious mother, who gave me birth in the midst of persecution and poverty, who bore me in her arms and was patient, forbearing, tender and true during all my helpless moments in the world. The thought of meeting her, who can express the joy? The thought of meeting my children who have preceded me beyond the veil, and of meeting my kindred and my friends, what happiness it affords! For I know that I shall meet them there. God has shown me that this is true. (Conference Report, Oct. 1899, pp. 70-71)
Russell M. Nelson
“Our limited perspective would be enlarged if we could witness the reunion on the other side of the veil, when doors of death open to those returning home…We need not look upon death as an enemy…I know by experiences too sacred to relate that those who have gone before are not strangers to leaders of this Church. To us and to you, our loved ones may be just as close as the next room—separated only by the doors of death.” (Ensign, May 1992, pp. 72-3 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 292)