A Vision Given to
Heber Q. Hale
President of the Boise Stake
A
heavenly manifestation given to Heber Q. Hale, President of the Boise
Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as related by
him at the Genealogical Conference held in the Auditorium of the
Bishops' Building, Salt Lake City, Utah, October, 1920. (Requested by
the Presidency of the Church in 1920.)
It is with a very humble
and grateful spirit that I attempt to relate on this occasion, by
request, a personal experience which is very sacred to me. I must of
necessity be brief. Furthermore, there were certain things made known to
me which I don't feel at liberty to relate here. Let me say by way of
preface that between the hours of 12 and 7:30 in the night of January
20, 1920, while alone in a room at the home of W.F. Raween in Carey,
Idaho, the glorious manifestation was vouchsafed to me.
I was not
conscious of anything that transpired during the hours mentioned,
except what I experienced in this manifestation. I did not turn over in
bed, nor was I disturbed by any sound, which indeed is unusual for me.
Whether it be called a dream, an apparition, a vision or a pilgrimage of
my spirit into the world of sprits, I know not. I care not. I know that
I actually saw and experienced the things related in this heavenly
manifestation, and they are as real to me as any experience of my life.
For me, at least, this is sufficient.
Of all the doctrines and
practices of the Church, the principle of vicarious work for the dead
has been the most difficult for me to comprehend and wholeheartedly
accept. I consider this vision is the Lord's answer to the prayer of my
soul on this and certain other questions.
I passed but a short
distance from my body through a film into the world of spirits. This was
my first experience after going to sleep. I seemed to realize that I
had passed through the change called death and I so referred to it in my
conversation with the immortal beings with whom I immediately came into
contact. I readily observed their displeasure at our use of the word
death and the fear which we attach to it. They use there another word in
referring to the transition from mortality to immortality, which word I
don't recall and I can only approach its meaning and the impression
which was left upon my mind, by calling it “the New Birth.”
My
first visual impression was the nearness of the world of sprits to the
world of mortality. The vastness of this heavenly sphere was bewildering
to the eyes of the spirit-novice. Many enjoyed unrestricted vision, and
unimpeded action, while many others were visibly restricted as to both
vision and action. The vegetation and landscape were beautiful beyond
description; not all green as here, but gold with varying shades of
pink, orange, and lavender as the rainbow. A sweet calmness pervaded
everything. The people I met there I did not think of as spirits, but as
men and women, self-thinking and self-acting individuals, going about
important business in a most orderly manner. There was perfect order
there and everybody had something to do and seemed to be about their
business.
That the inhabitants of the spirit world are classified
according to their lives of purity, and their subservience to the
Father's will, was subsequently made apparent. Particularly was it
observed that the wicked and unrepentant are confined to a certain
district by themselves, the confines of which are as definitely
determined and impassable as the line marking the division of the
physical from the spiritual world. A mere film, but impassable until the
person himself was changed. The world of spirit is the temporary abode
of all sprits pending the resurrection from the dead and the judgment.
There was much activity within the different spheres, and appointed
ministers of salvation were seen coming from the higher to the lower
spheres in pursuit of their missionary appointments.
I had a very
pronounced desire to meet certain of my kinsfolk and friends, but I was
at once impressed with the fact that I had entered a tremendously great
and extensive world, even greater than our earth and more abundantly
inhabited. I could be in only one place at a time, could do only one
thing at a time, could look only in one direction at a time, and
accordingly it would require many, many years to search out and converse
with all those I had known and those whom I desired to meet unless they
were especially summoned to receive men.
All men and women were
appointed to special and regular service under a well organized plan of
action, directed principally toward preaching the gospel to the
unconverted, teaching those who seek knowledge and establishing family
relationships and gathering genealogies for the use and benefit of
mortal survivors of their respective families, that the work of baptism
and the sealing ordinances may be vicariously performed for the departed
in the temples of God upon the earth. The authorized representatives of
families in the world of sprits have access to our temple records and
are kept fully advised of the work done therein, but the vicarious work
done here does not become automatically effective.
The recipients
must first believe, repent and accept baptism and confirmation; then
certain consummating ordinances are performed effectualizing these
saving principles in the lives of those regenerated beings. And so the
great work is going on—they are doing a work there which we cannot do
here, and we a work here which they cannot do there, for the salvation
of all God's children who will be saved.
I was surprised to find
there no babies in arms. I met the infant son of Orson W. Rawlings, my
first counselor. I immediately recognized him as the baby who died a few
years ago, and yet he seemed to have the intelligence and, in certain
respect, the appearance of an adult, and was engaged in matters
pertaining to his family and its genealogy. My mind was quite contented
upon the point that mothers will again receive into their arms their
children who died in infancy and will be fully satisfied, but the fact
remains that entrance into the world of spirits is not an inhibition of
growth but the greatest opportunity of development. Babies are adult
spirits in infant bodies.
I presently beheld a mighty multitude
of men, the largest I had ever seen gathered in one place, who I
immediately recognized as soldiers, the millions who had been
slaughtered and rushed so savagely into the world of spirits during the
great world war [WWI]. Among them moved, calmly and majestically, a
great general in supreme command. As I drew nearer, I received the
kingly smile and generous welcome of a great loving man, General Richard
W. Young. Then came the positive conviction to my soul, that of all the
men living or dead, there is not one who is so perfectly fitted for the
great mission unto which he had been called. He commands immediately
the attention and respect of all the soldiers. He is at once a great
general and a great High Priest of God. No earthly field of labor to
which he could have been assigned, could compare with it in importance
and extent. I passed from this scene to return later when I found
General Young had this vast army of men completely organized with
officers over successive divisions, and all were seated, and he was
preaching the gospel in great earnestness to them.
As I passed
forward, I soon met my beloved mother. She greeted me most
affectionately and expressed surprise at seeing me there, and reminded
me that I had not completed my allotted mission on earth. She seemed to
be going somewhere and was in a hurry and, accordingly, took her leave
with saying that she would see me soon again.
I moved forward
covering an appreciable distance and consuming considerable time,
viewing the wonderful sights of landscape, parks, trees and flowers and
meeting people, some of whom I knew, but many thousands of whom I did
not recognize as acquaintances. I presently approached a small group of
men, standing in a path lined with spacious stretches of flowers,
grasses, and shrubbery, all of a golden hue, marking the approach of a
beautiful building. The group was engaged in earnest conversation. One
of their number parted from the rest and came walking down the path. I
at once recognized my esteemed President Joseph F. Smith. He embraced me
as a father would his son and after a few words of greeting, quickly
remarked: “You have not come to stay,” which remark I understood more as
a declaration than an interrogation. For the first time I became fully
conscious of my uncompleted mission on earth and, as much as I would
have liked to remain, I at once asked President Smith if I might return.
“You have expressed a righteous desire” he replied, “and I shall take
the matter up with the authorities and let you know later.”
We
then returned and he led me toward the little group of men from whom he
had just separated. I immediately recognized President Brigham Young and
the Prophet Joseph Smith. I was surprised to find the former a shorter
and heavier built man than I had pictured him in my mind to be. On the
other hand I found the latter to be taller than I had expected to find
him. Both they and President Smith were possessed of a calm and holy
majesty which was at once kind and kingly. We then retraced our steps
and President Smith took his leave, saying he would see me again.
From
a certain point of vantage I was permitted to view this earth and what
was going on here. There was no limitation of my vision and I was
astounded at this. I saw my wife and children at home. I saw President
Heber J. Grant at the head of the Great Church and Kingdom of God and
felt the divine power that radiates from God giving it light and truth
and guiding its destiny. I beheld this nation founded as it is on
correct principles and designed to endure, but beset by evil and
sinister forces that seek to lead men to thwart the purposes of God. I
saw towns and cities; the sins and wickedness of men and women. I saw
vessels sailing the oceans and scanned the battle-scarred fields of
France and Belgium. In a word, I beheld the whole world as if it were
but a panorama passing before my eyes.
Then there came to me the
unmistakable impression that this earth and scenes and persons upon it
are open to the vision of the spirits only when special permission is
given or when they are assigned to special service here. This is
particularly true of the righteous who are busily engaged in two fields
of activity at the same time.
The wicked and unrepentant have
still, like the rest, their free agency, and applying themselves to no
useful or wholesome undertaking, seek pleasure about their old haunts
and exalt in the sin and wickedness of degenerated humanity. To this
extent they are still the tools of Satan. It is these idle, mischievous
and deceptive spirits who appear as miserable counterfeits at
spiritualist seances, table dancing and ouija board operation. The noble
and great ones do not respond to the call of the mediums and to every
curious group of meddlesome inquirers. They would not do it in the world
of mortality, certainly they would not do it in their increased state
of knowledge in the world of immortality. These wicked and unrepentant
spirits are [tools] of Satan and his host, operating through willing
mediums in the flesh. These three forces constitute an unholy trinity
upon the earth and are responsible for all the sin, wickedness, distress
and misery among men and nations.
I moved forward feasting my
eyes upon the beauty of everything about me and glorying in the
indescribable peace and happiness that abounded in everybody and through
everything. The further I went, the more glorious things appeared.
While standing at a certain vantage point, I beheld a short distance
away a wonderful beautiful temple, capped with golden domes, from which
emerged a small group of men dressed in white robes who paused for a
brief conversation. They were the first I had seen thus clad. The
million that I had previously seen were in uniforms. In this little
group of holy men, my eyes centered upon one more splendid and holy than
the rest. While I thus gazed, President Joseph F. Smith parted from the
others and came to my side. “Do you know him?” he inquired. I quietly
answered, “Yes, I know him. My eyes behold my Lord and Savior.” “It is
true,” said President Smith. And, oh, how my soul thrilled with rapture,
and unspeakable joy filled my heart!
President Smith informed me
that I had been given permission to return and complete the mission
upon the earth which the Lord had appointed to me to fulfill, and then
with his hand upon my shoulder, uttered these memorable and significant
words, “Brother Heber, you have a great work to do. Go forward with a
prayerful heart and thou shall be blessed in your ministry. From this
time on, never doubt that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Son, the
Savior of the World, that The Holy Ghost is a god of spirit and the
messenger of the Father and Son; never doubt the resurrection of the
dead, the immortality of the soul; that the destiny of man is eternal
progress. Never again doubt that the mission of the Latter-day Saints is
to all mankind, both the living and the dead; and that the great work
in the holy temples for the living and the dead had only begun. Know
this, that Joseph Smith was sent of God to usher in the gospel
dispensation of the fullness of times, which is the last unto mortals
upon the earth. His successors have all been called of and approved of
God. President Heber J. Grant is at this time the recognized and
ordained head of the Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth. Give him
your confidence and support. Much you have seen and heard here you will
not be permitted to repeat when you return.” Thus saying he bade me
“Good bye, and God bless you.”
Quite a distance, through various
scenes and passing innumerable people, I traveled before I reached the
sphere which I had first entered. On my way I was greeted by many
friends and relatives, certain of whom sent words of greeting and
counsel to their dear ones here—my mother being one of them.
One
other I will mention. I met brother John Adamson, his wife, his son
James and their daughter Isabelle, all of whom were killed by the hand
of a foul assassin in their home, at Carey, Idaho, in the evening of
October 29, 1915. They seemed to define that I was on my way back to
mortality and immediately said, (Brother Adamson was speaking) “Tell the
children that we are very happy and very busy and they should not mourn
our departure, nor worry their minds over the manner by which we were
taken. There is purpose in it, and we have a work to do here which
required our collective efforts, and which we could not do
individually.” I was at once made to know that the work referred to was
that of genealogy on which they are working in England and Scotland.
One
of the grandest and most sacred things of heaven is the family
relationship. The establishment of the complete chain without any broken
links brings a fullness of joy. Links wholly bad will be dropped out
and either new links put in or the two adjoining links welded together.
Men and women everywhere throughout the world are being moved upon by
their departed ancestors to gather genealogies. These are the links for
the chain. The ordinances of baptism, endowments, and sealings performed
in the temples of God by the living for the dead are the welding of the
links. Ordinances are performed in the spirit world effectualizing the
individual recipient for their receiving the saving principles of the
gospel vicariously performed here.
As I was approaching the place
where I entered, my attention was attracted towards a number of small
groups of women, preparing what appeared to me wearing apparel.
Observing my inquiring countenance one of the women remarked, “We are
preparing to receive Brother Phillip Worthington very soon.” As I
grasped his name in repetition I was admonished, “If you knew the joy
and the glorious mission that awaits him here you would not ask to have
him longer detained upon the earth.” Then came flooding my consciousness
this awful truth, that the will of the Lord can be done on earth as it
in is heaven, only when we resign completely to His will and let His
will be done in and through us. On account of the selfishness of many,
persons who might have otherwise been taken in innocence and peace, have
been permitted to live, and have lived to their own peril, men and the
assertion of the personal will as against the will of God. Phillip
Worthington died January 22, 1920, for which I was advised by telegram,
and returning to Boise, preached his funeral sermon on January 25, 1920.
Men,
women and children are often called to missions of great importance on
the other side, and some respond gladly while others refuse to go and
their loved ones will not give them up. Also, many die because they have
not the faith to be healed. Others live and pass out of the world of
mortals without any special manifestation of action of the divine will.
When a man is stricken ill, the question of prime importance is not “Is
he going to live, or Is he going to die?” What matter is it whether he
lives or dies, so long as the will of the Father is done? Surely we can
trust him with God. Herein lies the special duty and privilege of
administration by the right and authority of the Holy Priesthood,
namely: it is given the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ to divine
the will of the Father concerning the one upon whose head their hands
are laid. If for any reason they are unable to presage the Father's
will, then they should continue to pray in faith for the afflicted one,
humbly conceding supremacy to do the will of God, that His will may be
done in earth as it in done in heaven.
To the righteous person,
birth into the world of sprits is a glorious privilege and blessing. The
greatest spirits in the family of the Father have not usually been
permitted to tarry longer in the flesh than to perform a certain
mission; then they are called to the world o f spirits where the field
is greater and the workers fewer. This earthly mission, may therefore,
be long or short, as the Father wills.
I passed quietly out where
I had entered the world of spirits and immediately my body was
quickened, and I was to ponder over and record the many wonderful things
I had seen and heard.
Let me here and now declare to the world
that irrespective of the opinion of others, I do know of my own positive
knowledge and from my own personal experiences that God in the Father
of the spirits of all men and that He lives; that Jesus Christ is his
son and the Savior of the world, that the spirit of man does not die,
but survives the change called death and goes to the world of spirits;
that the world of spirit is upon or near this earth; that the principles
of salvation are now being taught to the spirits and the great work of
saving the Father's family among the living and dead is now in progress,
and that but comparatively few will ultimately be lost; that spirits
will literally take up their bodies again in the resurrection and that
the gospel of Jesus Christ has again been established upon the earth
with all of the keys, powers, authority, and blessings, through the
instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith; that His is the power that
will not only save and exalt every one who yields obedience to its
principles, but will ultimately save the world; that the burden of our
mission is to save souls unto God, and that the work for the salvation
of the dead is no less of importance than the work for the living.
THIS BLOG ATTEMPTS TO SHOW HOW SCIENCE IS CATCHING UP WITH REVEALED RELIGION
THIS BLOG IS AN ATTEMPT TO PUT ALL THE COOL STUFF THAT I BUMP INTO ABOUT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST AND EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO IT INTO ONE LOCATION.
THE CONTENTS WILL BE FROM AN LDS PERSPECTIVE. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING IN HERE, I DO NOT PARTICULARLY CARE TO ARGUE, UNLESS YOU CAN ADD TO THIS BODY OF WORK. I HAVE AN OPEN MIND, THAT IS WHY I READ STUFF FROM ALL DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND SEEK LEARNING FROM THE BEST BOOKS. I JUST AM NOT HERE TO ARGUE ABOUT IT - BUT TO PUT IT OUT THERE WHERE OTHERS CAN PERUSE/PURSUE IT. I TAKE PARTICULAR INTEREST IN HONEST SEEKERS OF TRUTH AND BELIEVE THAT SCIENCE IS REVEALED RELIGION'S BEST ALLY. YOU WILL SEE ALOT OF TOPICS IN THIS BLOG THAT SHOW SCIENCE BACKING - AND SLOWLY CATCHING UP WITH - REVEALED RELIGION.
ENJOY!!
THE CONTENTS WILL BE FROM AN LDS PERSPECTIVE. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING IN HERE, I DO NOT PARTICULARLY CARE TO ARGUE, UNLESS YOU CAN ADD TO THIS BODY OF WORK. I HAVE AN OPEN MIND, THAT IS WHY I READ STUFF FROM ALL DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND SEEK LEARNING FROM THE BEST BOOKS. I JUST AM NOT HERE TO ARGUE ABOUT IT - BUT TO PUT IT OUT THERE WHERE OTHERS CAN PERUSE/PURSUE IT. I TAKE PARTICULAR INTEREST IN HONEST SEEKERS OF TRUTH AND BELIEVE THAT SCIENCE IS REVEALED RELIGION'S BEST ALLY. YOU WILL SEE ALOT OF TOPICS IN THIS BLOG THAT SHOW SCIENCE BACKING - AND SLOWLY CATCHING UP WITH - REVEALED RELIGION.
ENJOY!!
I first saw an account of this experience in 1968 while serving a mission (age 23). I have enjoyed re-reading it many times through the years. When some time afterwards I first read of people having near death experiences with marvellous revelations, I thought, "There are also great visions and views given to many faithful people without the trauma of sickness, injury and dying. Brother Heber Q. Hale's is one of those. Thanks for posting!!
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