people hugging

Grief

Overview

Grief is a sense of loss and suffering. It is a common part of mortality as we lose loved ones or experience other tragedies. Everyone experiences grief in different ways, although it is common to experience feelings of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. We can be comforted and healed as we pray to Heavenly Father in Jesus Christ’s name and rely upon the Savior’s power to heal us.

Because Jesus Christ descended below all things, He has divine empathy and knows how to support us in our trials. Empathy is the ability to sense others’ emotions and understand what they might be thinking or feeling. Empathy is not simply feeling for someone but feeling with them. The Savior’s divine empathy was described by the prophet Alma, who taught that the Savior will “take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:12; see also Doctrine and Covenants 88:6).

Scriptures

• Isaiah 53:3–10

• 2 Corinthians 2:7–8; 12:7–10

• Doctrine and Covenants 42:45

• Doctrine and Covenants 121:1–10

• Doctrine and Covenants 127:2

Additional Resources

• “Grief” (Gospel Topics)

• “He Heals the Heavy Laden,” President Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 6–9

• “Mountains to Climb” (video)