NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES AND OUR LITTLE BOY

Dr. Melvin Morse is a good man - even though he seems to be in some sort of trouble and the press is crucifying him - probably for his pro-God stance and plan of salvation-related research.  By chance, we happened to have him as our pediatric physician when our little Dallin departed this world.  In fact, the morning Dallin died, a 10am doctor's appointment had been made by his mother to see the foremost expert on children's near death experiences - who can make this stuff up?  We had to cancel last minute - what a phone call.....  Shock on the other end of the line when you discover the patient will not be in as scheduled because he is dead.....

One other thing that Melvin Morse believed in and wrote about in his books was that he believed that parents and other affected people were allowed to have profound spiritual experiences in order to comfort and build faith (not destroy it) while simultaneously going through horrifying pain and suffering of spirit.  Even with gospel knowledge and all that accompanied our amazing brush with the divine, I would not wish it upon my worst enemy.  It was that bad and life shattering for a minimum of 6 months - and with effects that you never forget until you meet them again in heaven.  It was not that people die - that is part of the process of life.  It is the shock of it that is so overwhelming.  Had God decided to take Dallin by way of a slow succombing cancer, I feel it would have allowed more time to allow the reality and sadness to dissipate - it was the sudden magnitude of the event that was overwhelming for me.  The suddenness really was the factor.  Had he died in sudden unexpected car wreck, the effect would have been the same for me.  It was the suddenness of it.

Many non-members who do not have the gospel or have not viewed the freak show of life that is the Wood Zone do not have a basis for judgment of their experiences, if they have one similar to ours.  So when we have something we do not understand - just give it time.  That is part of the purpose of the Wood Zone is to get the wild stuff out there in the view of people.  When they know that there is someone else out there whom they can relate to, they will begin to put their odd experience in perspective and do not feel so alone.  In reviewing the google analytics of this blog, I cannot say how many google searches have led people to my blog who were "feeling someone else's pain".  Once here, they get a refreshing view of what they may be experiencing - and maybe some exposure to correct gospel principles that they might not have otherwise had.  I hope to hear one day in a comment or something, that someone did a deep dive after coming to this blog and found gospel hope and joy.  Most people here are LDS, but many are not.  The deep satisfaction I get from knowing that others have been positively impacted is a great source of joy.  The youngest son of one of the first families I baptized down in Brazil contacted me the other day to say that he is putting his papers in to serve a mission - WHAT A PROFOUND JOY seeing a portion of  the fruit of that short two year 'non-sacrifice'! 

So back on topic - after the shock of losing Dallin was over and we had perspective based on the dream and we slowly put the pieces together and realized the magnitude of the mercy of God in the whole process, we set up an appointment with Dr. Morse.  He is an incredibly busy man - but was more than happy to blank out an entire hour to interview us and take our story for his next book.  I asked him where he was in his faith.  He let us know that he was raised Jewish.  Then went to college - and like so many, became too learned and smart for such a foolish notion as a belief in God.  He became an athiest at that point.  He then started his practice after medical school and began seeing patterns.  If you are intelligent and observant, you cannot help but notice them (which is why apostates drive me crazy - I want to shake them and tell them to open their eyes - or repent or whatever the case may be.....).  He said he can no longer deny the existence of a Creator and that there is life after death.  What a testimony to us as grieving parents - to add that to our own witness - and then to be able to share our story with the world and hopefully build the faith of other suffering souls.

Now he is pointing out his findings with other awake people and is providing a salve to the wounded who do not have the gospel perspective.  If I remember rightly, we either gave him a Book of Mormon, or had one at the ready if we felt prompted in our meeting to do so.  In spreading the word - a gospel message of sorts - Dr Morse appears to be taking some serious heat - the adversary will do anything to silence the truth.  If you propound the truth - be prepared to encounter some stiff headwinds in your life.

Here is his site on NDEs:    http://spiritualscientific.com/

As a side note, after the autopsy of our little guy was completed (and we were officially cleared of having been party to his demise), I had the wonderful (and I mean WONDERFUL) experience of chatting with the assistant King County Coroner about what they discovered in the autopsy and why they had to be so obtrusive with his body (he looked like Frankenstein when we got him back for the funeral).  She was a kind soul and explained the details and then I shared what I had experienced the night he died.  It will probably stand as one of the sweetest missionary experiences I have had (outside the mission).  The Spirit was present in spades as I shared my belief that God lives with- and that there is more out there than what we can see and feel with our physical senses.  She, in that spiritual environment, then opened up and told me that what we experienced was common of parents of children who departed early.  She was at a special place where she could share in all of these experiences - even though she lived in a county where the average church attendance is around 40%.