Heavenly Manifestation

Written by Heber Q. Hale, President 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 on October 1920, requested by the Presidency of the Church of 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 12.00 and 7.30 on the night of January 20, 1920, while alone in a room at the home of W. R. Rawson in Carey, Idaho, this glorious manifestation was vouchsafed to me.  I was not conscious of anything that transpired during the hours mentioned except what was 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 spirits, 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 whole heartedly accept.  I consider this vision as 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 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 in 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 reference to the transition from mortality to immortality which word I do not 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 spirits 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, and 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 spirit world.  A mere film but impassible until the person himself was changed.  The world of spirits is the temporary abode of all spirits 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 numerously inhabited.  I could only be in one place at once, could do only one thing at a time, could only look 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 all those whom I desired to meet unless they were especially summoned to receive me.  All men and women are appointed to special and regular service under a well organized plan of action directed principally towards preaching the gospel to the unconverted, teaching those who seek for 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 of ordinances may be vicariously performed for the departed in the Temples of God on the earth.

The authorized representatives of families in the world of spirits have access to our temple records and are kept fully advised of the work done therein, but the vicarious work done there does not become automatically effective.  The recipients must first believe, repent and accept baptism and confirmation, then certain consummating ordinances are performed effectualising these saving principles in the lives of these regenerated beings.  And so the great work is going on...  They are doing work there which we cannot do here, and we a work here that they cannot do there for the salvation of all God's children who will be saved.

I was surprised to find that there were no babies in arms there.  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 respects, 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 by the fact that entrance into the world of spirits is not an inhibition to growth but the greatest opportunity for development.  Babies are adult spirits in the infant bodies.

I presently beheld a might multitude of men.  The largest I had ever seen gathered in one place, who I immediately recognized as soldiers, the millions who died, who had been slaughtered and rushed to the spirit world during the first world war.  Among them moved calmly and majestically a great general in supreme command.  As I drew nearer, I received the kindly smile and generous welcome of a great, loving man, General Richard V. Young.  Then came the positive conviction to my soul that of all the men living or dead, there is no one who is more 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 labour 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 and his vast army of men completely organized with officers over successive divisions, and he was preaching the gospel on 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 saying that she would see me again soon.

I moved forward covering an appreciable distance and consuming considerable time, viewing the wonderful sights of landscapes, parks, trees, and flowers, and meeting people.  Some I knew, but many thousands I did not recognize.  I presently approached a small group of men standing in a path lined with spacious stretches of flowers, grasses, and shrubs, all of gold and hue, marking the approach to 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."  This remark I understood as a declaration and not 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 to be in my mind.  On the other hand I found the latter to be taller than I expected to find him.  Both they and the president were possessed of a calm and holy majesty which was at once kind and friendly.  We then traced 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 the earth and what was going on there, there was no limitation of my vision and I was astounded to this.  I saw my wife and my children at home, I saw President 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 upon correct principles and designed to endure, but beset by evil and sinister forces that seek to lead man to thwart the purpose of God.  I saw towns and cities, the sins and sickness 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 put 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 the 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, bout their old haunts, and exalt in the sins and wickedness of degenerated humanity.

To this extent they are still tools of satan.  It is these idle mischievous and deceptive spirits who appear as miserable counterfeits at spiritualist seances, table dancing and ouija board operations.  The noble and great ones do not respond to the call of the mediums and to every group of meddlesome enquirers, they would not do it in the world of mortality.  These wicked and unrepentant spirits are allies of satan and his host, operating through willing mediums in the flesh.

These three forces [Satan, his host, and the unrepentant spirits] 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 glorying in the indescribable peace and happiness that abound in everybody and through everything.  The further that 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 in uniforms, in this little group of holy men my eyes centered upon one more splendorous 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 quickly answered "Yes I know him, my eyes behold my Lord and Saviour."  "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 on 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 thy ministry.  From this time on never doubt that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Son, the Saviour of the world, that the Holy Ghost is God of spirit and the messenger of the Father and the Son.  Never doubt the resurrection of the dead and immortality of the soul—that the destiny of man is eternal progress.  Never again doubt that the mission of the Latter-day Saints is for all mankind, both the living and the dead and that the great work in the Holy Temples for the living and the dead has 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 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 you will not be permitted to repeat when you return.  Thus saying he bade me good bye and God bless you."

I traveled quite a distance through various scenes and passing innumerable people before I reached the spheres which I first entered.  On my way I was greeted by many friends and relatives certain of whom sent word of greetings and counsel to their dear ones, my mother being one of them.  One other I will mention, I met Brother John Adamson, his wife and his son James and their daughter Isabelle, all of whom were killed by a foul assassin in their home at Carey, Idaho in the mortality and immediately said, "Tell the children that we are very happy and very busy and they should not mourn at our departing, nor worry their minds over the manner by which we were taken.  There is a purpose in it, and we have 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 were 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 being 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 be wearing apparel.  Observing my inquiring countenance one of the women remarked, "We are preparing to receive Brother Phillip Worthington very soon."  As I gasped 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 perils, man 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 yet live among 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 not whether he lives or dies as 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 to 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 ones, 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 of 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 experience, that God is 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 spirits is on or near this earth, that the principles of salvation are now being taught to the spirits and the great work of joining the Father's family among the living and the 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 been established upon the earth with all of its keys, powers, authority, and blessings through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, that this is the power that will not only save and exalt everyone 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 of no less importance than the work for the living.

MARRIAGE - Seven Ways to Happiness

To Our Daughter about to Marry: 7 Ways to Happiness

By Maurine Proctor · September 3, 2015

Dearest daughter,

In a few days you will be married and I will watch you close the door on your childhood with poignancy. You will pack your youth away like a dress you outgrew, and I confess I will miss everything about your presence in this house. I think I will run into your room to tell you something, and I’ll be surprised that you’re not there.

I want to give you a parting gift—my thoughts on how to be joyfully happy in marriage. These keys are easier to say than to accomplish, but I trust that in the journey ahead you will understand what to do—and perhaps in just the right moment they will come back to you.

This counsel I give to both.

Marrying across an Altar

The altar in the temple at which you will kneel is profoundly significant. It is an altar that symbolizes the great, atoning sacrifice of our Savior. Why would the Lord have us sealed across this altar? This is the great secret.

You know that His atonement means at-one-ment, and it is through this stunning, unimaginable gift that we can again be reconciled to God, made at-one with him, our face turning home again, the veil rent.

Surprisingly, it is also through the Lord’s atonement that we become one with each other, that two who have lived their lives separately and singly can be joined for eternity, never to be entirely separated again.

Oneness in marriage is actually made possible through the atonement and the gradual change and expansion in us that is promised if we accept this gift. We are to leave behind our old, smaller selves.

Satan’s work is to scatter and divide us. The Greek word for Satan is “diabolos” meaning to divide or separate. This name means “He who places division.”

It was Satan’s work to scatter the Children of Israel, and the Lord’s to gather them in one again. Those who ultimately live in Zion will be of one heart. Satan sows division. The Lord invites us to oneness.

So there you’ll be, kneeling across an altar symbolizing that opportunity for the oneness you seek—and it will come if you are both willing to accept the Lord’s gift of grace that this altar symbolizes.

The Lord says, “I will take you on a journey to wholeness. The broken things in you I can mend. The incompletion, I can complete.”

We come to each other in marriage incomplete and somewhat fragmented. We are still children about so many things. The Lord says, “I will take you on a journey to wholeness. The broken things in you I can mend. The incompletion, I can complete.”

The promises for this journey are more than finite minds can comprehend, but the sacrifice is not just Christ’s–it will involve your sacrifice as well—the sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. You must be willing to grow, discard the parts of you that are small and contracted. You must shed parts of yourself that are burdening the way—even your favorite, most habitual, and long justified weaknesses.

Oh, that is hard! Happiness is built on repentance and changing–and expanding yourself is happily not your job alone. Christ has taken that on long ago.

It may be tempting to think that you have come to this altar to change your new husband. If you don’t think it now, there may be times in the future you might be convinced that is your job.

It is tempting to think you have a better plan for his way of being.

It is tempting to think you have a better plan for his way of being.But be very wary of having a plan for how anyone can change. When you are dealing with another person’s identity, you are on sacred ground. Take off your shoes where you stand.

If you will both remember this temple altar and be devoted to the Lord who unites you, He will change both of you as you submit your heart to Him. You don’t need to do His work for your spouse.

A repenting couple is a happy couple–repenting particularly in the sense that you are both humble and willing to enlarge your understanding and perspective, willing to change what is trivial and weak about yourself.

Both of you can remember that you are coming to marriage to take a journey together back into the Lord’s presence. That means you are both committed to finding an expanded, better version of yourself and you trust that the Lord’s gift can work this in you. It is, in fact, only the Lord’s gift that can work this in you.

Create Holy Habits

Couples create a culture together. It is their own new world that they create. You’ve seen couples who become fat together or sloppy together or mean spirited together.

From this moment onward, you will be the greatest influence in each other’s life. Decide to become devoted disciples of Jesus Christ together. Pray together morning and night. Life will be hectic and demanding. You may feel that there is so much to do that you have to just hit the ground running to even survive. But build into your very system this unshakeable habit of talking to the Lord together.

This comes with some really practical advice. Go to bed at the same time. That bedtime practice matters because this is your time to talk, to download your day, to share your sorrows and find your solutions—and, of course, say your prayers.

In your prayers remember to express your gratitude for each other in the most specific ways.

In your prayers remember to express your gratitude for each other in the most specific ways. Be grateful for the gifts you gave each other that day and the service that was rendered. Watch each day for the inspiration that the Lord has given you. Remember it and thank him aloud and specifically in your prayers for His gift to you this day.

Of course read your scriptures, attend the temple, watch for opportunities to serve. Say to yourselves from the beginning, this is who we are, this is what we do.

This is like a mission statement for you as a couple. Put it in place as a foundation and then when the winds blow, when life is wearying, when you are overwhelmed, you have these holy habits in place—and then everything is easier.

Never Underestimate Your Power for Good in His Life 

We may rise and fall according to the reflection we see of ourselves in each other’s eyes.

Though each of us are grand, eternal spirits, lit by God Himself, here on earth we are fragile, our view of ourselves constantly evolving. We may rise and fall according to the reflection we see of ourselves in each other’s eyes. You will have the greatest influence on how your new husband comes to see himself (and, of course, he will have this same impact on you.)

This is a surging power for good or ill in each other’s life which you must never underestimate. The problem, of course, is that in the rub and grind of every day life your spouse’s weaknesses become clear. Sometimes you have strengths where he doesn’t and you see solutions to a problem that he continues to enlarge. Or vice versa.

How tempting it is to take out life’s difficulties on each other.

How tempting it is to take out life’s difficulties on each other. This is especially challenging when you live with relentless difficulties in part sponsored by your spouse.

You won’t need to remind your husband of his weaknesses. He already knows. And he’ll know yours as well. Just as you hope he will see past your flaws, look past his as well. Marriage is a union of two flawed human beings who are making the most important journey together. In spite of those flaws, we forgive each other, we build each other, and yes, sometimes we even compensate for each other’s weaknesses as part of the journey.

Watch for the good things he does and remind him that you noticed. Reflect his strengths back to him. See into his soul for the greatness that lies there. Be his ally and friend—not only to him but to others as well.

Some are degrading to their spouse—and just as bad—they complain to others about their spouse. Your Dad and I decided a long time ago that we would never do this. I am absolutely confident that he will watch out for me in every situation and that he will use any conversation about me to build me in the eyes of others.

More importantly he always makes me think better of myself. When life is hard and I feel disappointed in my weaknesses, I know exactly where to go to feel better. I look in his eyes and I see reflected there the very best idea of myself. “I know you. I believe in you.” He says it and lives it and makes me believe it. What a profound service from a spouse.

I try to return that service. Once life became very financially challenging for us. This is common in marriage, but it played upon a weakness of mine. I have been sometimes quick to fear, anxious, in this case, about those bills that never stop arriving.

I’ve learned that in fear you can make the very worst speeches, lashing out because you are worried—almost as if your emotions are a pressure cooker, seething and committed to boil over. In a day when we felt keenly the shift in the larger economy, Dad turned to me and asked, “Are you OK?” I reached deep down, past the rumbling of fear to my deepest self and answered, “I know we will be fine because I know how well you solve any problem.” Dad has told me many times how much I built his confidence that day.

We are each made larger by the way the other sees us. Find every good thing about your spouse and reflect it back to him.

Be Each Other’s Safe Harbor

Oh, the inexpressible comfort of having a safe harbor on earth, a place where in all your vulnerabilities and plainness and heartache there is shelter from the storm. Sometimes those storms are outside and life is just too tough. Sometimes those storms are inside and you keenly wish you were more. To have a place of ultimate safety when the winds blow is what one spouse can do for another.

Of course, you hope your spouse is a safe harbor for you, but you must also learn what it takes to be a safe harbor for him. To be someone’s safe harbor you have to develop strengths you’ve never had to call upon before. You must rise above the temptation to moodiness. You will have to rise above ego and fear and pettiness and so many of the weaknesses attached to mortality. For all of us that is a wrestle, but we work at it because we love our spouse and know they deserve our best.

Being a safe harbor means:

You don’t use his vulnerabilities against him.

You are aware of his sensitivities and don’t go trampling there.

You listen, even if you are listening to the same angst you’ve heard so many times before.

You help him find the deepest wisdom in himself.

You help him find the deepest wisdom in himself.

You shore him up for another day.

Be Wise in Dealing with Differences

When two people come together, it is more like two universes coming together with galaxies and whirling worlds, stars that have arisen and then sunk to darkness. Each of you is huge, a collection of memories and things forgotten that still press upon your consciousness, and, what’s more, pre-mortal existences that you can’t remember but have shaped who you are.

Now you are seeking to become a union of one—which means you are bringing all of this enormity that is yourselves together. In this, your planets may collide.

You will have differences.

You will have differences. Your preferences may diverge. Your ideas about what really, really matters may sometimes clash. At the most basic level, in some vital areas you may not see the world the same way.

What makes things particularly challenging is that we are convinced that the way we have come to see the world is reality. We believe that what we perceive is the absolute truth about existence. After all, it is has worked for us so far. Or at least, it has somewhat worked.

You think, “What I see is absolute truth. It’s the way things are.” You’ve never before had to so closely associate and be shoulder to shoulder with someone who undoubtedly thinks absolute truth looks different than you do. This can either be frightening and irritating or a chance to grow.

You see it in small things, of course. He says, “Keep it cool, I’m so hot.” She says, “I’m freezing.” He says, “Early to bed for a great start the next day.” She says, “I love to stay up late. It’s my only personal time of the day.” He says, “I love blue Christmas lights.” She says, “Nobody would think of decorating at Christmas with blue lights.”

These are tiny examples, but life is full of much bigger ones. Much. Some people deal with differences by fighting. Some seek to overpower the other by will. This can take a number of forms like pouting, whining, undercutting each other. Oh how unfortunate this is.

Instead of going into the ring and fighting out differences, sit down together and talk. Ask, “How do you see this? Why does this matter so much to you? How important is this? What can we do to meet both of our needs?” Learn to give each a chance to talk about why something matters so much. Find solutions that accommodate both.

Neither is always right. Neither should dominate.

Truly seek to understand each other’s viewpoint.

Truly seek to understand each other’s viewpoint. It may turn out that what you thought was reality, is only your opinion. You will grow to see things in a much richer way when you listen to each other and come up with ideas that bring in the best of both of your perspectives.

What stands in the way of this is if your opinion is charged with a lot of emotion. People always used to give the advice, “Never go to bed angry.” I think it is a much better idea sometimes to get your rest and talk about something in the morning. Fatigue, fear, worry are all expressed sometimes in anger. Be careful when you are battling these states. They can erupt in unnecessary anger.

Don’t forget to use laughter as your secret weapon to defuse a situation.

Here’s two phrases you must never forget and will probably use often:

“I see this must be so.” 

“You may be right.”

Your differences can be your strength and enlarge your personal universe.

Watch for Opportunities to Serve Each Other 

You get to develop an eye for how to serve somebody else—namely that person you are pledged to love. Watch for those opportunities because they come every day.

Dad has a repeating event that shows up every day on his calendar. It is, “Have I made Maurine happy today?” Neither of us actually think that anyone can make you happy. That is your own responsibility. Yet, how sweet to think your father remembers every day to think about ways to please me and help me and lift my life. It makes life a little piece of heaven.

One key way to serve each other is to keep the romance alive.

One key way to serve each other is to keep the romance alive.Think of ways to say I love you. Plan surprises. Be light hearted. Nobody says that because you become married you have to be sober and adult. Hold on to your youthful exuberance about life and love. It’s contagious.

Believe that Things Work Out

Some people think that as you get mature, you become less hopeful. In reality, optimism is the gift of the spiritually mature. It is because they have come to see how very much they can rely on the Lord to carry them. They know that He is completely trustworthy.

It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out.

If you are worried in a coming day, if you feel a bit hopeless or fearful, remember President Gordon B. Hinckley’s line, “It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us.”

We used to have a quote like that from President Hinckley on our bathroom mirror. It kept us going. I read it every day. I reminded myself often that “Things work out.”

You know what? They do. Even if things look temporarily difficult—they work out. Believe that together and you will be fueled with energy, productivity and hope.

—

So dear daughter, rejoice. You have seen some of the world, but I know that marriage will be your greatest journey yet.

I love you.

Mom

THIS IS AWESOM!! "Hello" Parody!!!

Adele - Hello (Mormon Missionary Parody)

Did Lincoln Read the Book of Mormon?

Original here

byTimothy Ballard | May. 02, 2014

The story of how I ended up working against child trafficking—an industry some have called abolitionism—is long and complex. The more interesting story, perhaps, is how I have been able to deal with such a difficult thing physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. First and foremost, I have turned to the Lord, and I have had the unwavering support of a wonderful family. But there is something else I have turned to: American history.

As an undercover operative working with governments throughout the world to fight child trafficking, I fight for freedom on a daily basis. Recognizing that my favorite American heroes were asked to do far more difficult things than I must do, I have turned to them to learn how they did it. Two of these American heroes of mine are Joseph Smith and Abraham Lincoln. 

As I studied their lives, I could not help but recognize some powerful similarities between the two men: both were born a few years apart from each other, both were raised under the humblest of circumstances, and both reached an unlikely national prominence. Both their names were known for good or ill to their countrymen, both were cut down in their prime by an assassin’s bullet, and both were laid to rest in neighboring cities. But these are the least of their similarities. There was something else—something that seems almost impossible—that provided me with the inspiration I sought. It is something that places Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War into an unlikely partnership with that which I hold dearest of all—the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Lincoln’s “Conversion”

To explain this connection, I must first reveal perhaps the most important secret about Abraham Lincoln. In the middle of the war, he passed through a pivotal transformation, even a conversion. He called it “a process of crystallization” during which he “constantly prayed.” Others called it a “Damascus Road experience.”  Though at the war’s beginning, Lincoln promised not to touch slavery where it existed, and though at the beginning he did not see the conflict as God’s doing, all of that changed.

His conversion began with the death of his sweet 11-year-old son, Willie, which left an already war-humbled Lincoln completely shattered. The tragedy brought Lincoln to his knees in prayer like never before. That, and the powerful spiritual encouragement he gained through the teachings of a Christian nurse brought in to care for the family in the wake of Willie’s death, left him a changed man forever. The result: he began receiving revelations from God. He started to see the war in a different light—a spiritual light. Much to the concern of his cabinet, Lincoln began claiming, “I talk to God,” and he began believing and testifying that “God’s purpose is something different from the purpose of either party. . . . God wills this contest, and wills that it shall not end yet.”

At one point in September 1862, he even made what he called “a covenant” with God. Give us victory in this upcoming battle, he pleaded to heaven, and I will turn this war into a holy endeavor. I will begin with freeing the slaves—I will issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Sure enough, during the very battle over which Lincoln prayed and covenanted (the Battle of Antietam), one of the most astonishing miracles in American history occurred, which led to Union victory and prompted Lincoln to make good on his promise to God. It was an event that acclaimed Civil War historian James McPherson declared to be “a million to one” chance opportunity for the North. It was a miracle that played out with the simplest of tools—three cigars, an empty field, and a wandering soldier—yet it brought great things to pass.

Joseph Smith’s Civil War Prophecies

But this story runs so much deeper than just the conversion and the miracle. It appears that this change in Lincoln, which caused an even greater change in the national heart, is eternally tethered to powerful prophecies stemming from my other favorite hero, Joseph Smith. Indeed, in a manner quite stunning, it appears that Smith saw it all, his prophecies and visions written, documented, and hiding in plain sight. They were “hiding in plain sight” because without reading the prophecies with Civil War history in mind, it’s easy to miss. Yet the prophecies are abundant, and they become clear upon examining Lincoln’s side of the story.

Brigham Young certainly did not miss the spiritual message and connection when, in the middle of the war, he declared: “God has come out of his hiding place and has commenced to vex the nation that has rejected us, and he will vex it with a sore vexation. . . . [Joseph Smith’s] prediction is being fulfilled, and we cannot help it.”

Smith had indeed spoken of the mighty vexation that would befall the nation should the people not repent. American sin was piling up high in the land. And not just private sin being committed by individuals. It was sin being carried out by the collective—legislated and codified in the land. Slavery—the most brutal form of tyranny—was growing and spreading like a cancer.

Religious minorities, like Mormons, were often treated just as badly, and there was no legal recourse for the oppressed. Wicked men had hijacked the divinely given principles of the Constitution. Something needed to change fast because not only was slavery abounding in the land, but temples were being confiscated and burned, or their building was not permitted in the promised land created for their very existence. The Lord had a plan to fix this problem, and He revealed it to His prophet.

As Smith was facing false charges and witnessing the persecution of his people, he inquired of God as to what he should do. God’s counsel for him is found in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 101. First, the Lord acknowledges that He ultimately had inspired the Constitution (verses 76–80), then He instructed Joseph Smith to seek redress from the judge (verse 86). If that did not work, he was told to go to the governor (verse 87). Finally, if the governor failed him, he was told to go to the president of the United States (verse 88). Should that not work, the Lord revealed a most frightening contingency:

“And if the president heed them not, then will the Lord arise and come forth out of his hiding place, and in his fury vex the nation; and in his hot displeasure, and his fierce anger, in his time, will cut off those wicked, unfaithful, and unjust stewards, and appoint them their portion among hypocrites, and unbelievers” (verses 89–90).

The Lord was speaking directly about Joseph Smith’s generation when He declared that “there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they see an overwhelming scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land.” The Lord then described this scourge in part, leaving little room to imagine what He was referring to: “And they will take up the sword, one against another, and they will kill one another” (D&C 45:28–33).

Indeed, Joseph Smith knew the war was coming. Among a vast number of similar prophecies Smith and others revealed concerning the war, one revelation even noted where the first shots of the war would be fired: South Carolina (D&C 87:1–5).

As prophet, Smith knew what he had to do. In an effort to do as the Lord commanded, he went to the judge, the governor, and the president and practically shouted to them of the need to repel slavery and bring protection to religious minorities. He warned that if they did not listen, “they shall be broken up as a government.”  They refused to listen.

The 13th & 14th Amendments

Knowing the calamities that would befall the nation should it continue in grave sin, Joseph Smith even ran for the presidency of the United States in 1844 to give voice to his concerns. His platform would represent the solution to the national crises: the eradication of slavery and the end to what Smith called “the states’ rights doctrine”—a constitutional theory that allowed states (like Missouri) to ignore the Bill of Rights and persecute Mormons and other minorities without consequence. “The states’ rights doctrine,” declared Smith, “are what feed mobs. They are a dead carcass, a stink and they shall ascend up as a stink offering in the nose of the Almighty.”8 What Joseph Smith the candidate was seeking is what we finally got—in essence, he was asking for the 13th Amendment (eradication of slavery) and the 14th Amendment (the tempering of the states’ rights doctrine). Smith was very candid about his belief that the Constitution needed amending: “the Constitution is . . . not broad enough to cover the whole ground,” he declared.

He also knew that the nation could choose these solutions on its own, or it could wait for the Lord to unleash the frightening prophecies that would bring national humility and lead to the required national repentance. In short, America could turn to God and create the 13th and 14th Amendments peacefully, or God would bring them about the hard way: through a scourge and vexation upon the land. 

The national choice was symbolically revealed on June 27, 1844, at 5 p.m. While in the middle of his presidential campaign against slavery and “the states’ rights doctrine”—indeed, at the height of his warnings to the nation—Joseph Smith was killed. Not only was he martyred, but as a budding politician entering the national stage, he was assassinated. The murder was followed by silence from the state and the nation. Shortly thereafter, the temple was burned to the ground. Again, silence and apathy followed. As was its right, America at large had chosen to ignore God’s prophet.

As was His right, God would then mete out the consequences of that decision.  With the prophet and his brother dead, the temple in ashes, and the Saints being hauled out of America, the Lord revealed to Brigham Young:

“Thy brethren have rejected you and your testimony, even the nation that has driven you out; And now cometh the day of their calamity, even the days of sorrow. . . . For they killed the prophets, and them that were sent unto them; and they have shed innocent blood, which crieth from the ground against them” (D&C 136:34–36, emphasis added). 

The Civil War came. And it worked. It brought to bear the precise fruit indicated by the prophecies—it brought humility, repentance, and the 13th and 14th Amendments. And it fulfilled one incredibly specific prophecy Smith gave concerning Jackson County, Missouri—a fulfillment almost too shocking to believe (D&C 121:11–24).

In the end, slavery would be done away with. And temples would survive.

But it is the way in which the prophecy was fulfilled that represents the most amazing part of this story of God, country, and scripture. I believed Joseph Smith was a prophet before I discovered the truth about the Civil War. But seeing how his prophecies were fulfilled to the letter has bolstered my personal testimony of him. Furthermore, I always felt Abraham Lincoln was an inspired man. But seeing what he did relative to Joseph Smith’s words and revelations puts him in the realm of other inspired men like Christopher Columbus and George Washington.

Lincoln and the Book of Mormon

In 1862, Lincoln’s conversion really heated up. What exactly was he being converted to? He was learning what Joseph Smith knew. He began seeing the Civil War the way Joseph Smith and Brigham Young saw it. Lincoln surprised the nation with the Emancipation Proclamation in the wake of his conversion and that powerful battlefield miracle. But the most important thing to understand is that the Proclamation represented the beginning of national repentance; it was the initial link in a chain of events that would lead to the 13th and 14th Amendments—to the end of slavery and to the constitutionally binding protection of temples in the land. “In giving freedom to the slave,” pronounced Lincoln, “we assure freedom to the free.” Lincoln was fulfilling Joseph Smith’s prophecies and bringing forth the national solutions the prophet had sought.

As a result of his conversion, Lincoln started to believe that God actually wanted this war in the land. Let us not take this for granted. It is a most bizarre thing for a president of the United States to believe—bizarre, that is, until coupled with the promises and prophecies of Joseph Smith. Lincoln was only saying what Joseph Smith had said. “And insomuch as we know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world,” declared Lincoln, “may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?” 

Smith of course had read such things in the Book of Mormon—the story of the covenant land of America. The story tells of how, in a covenant land, a wicked people may expect the humbling power of national calamities to befall them: “Except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea except he doth visit them with death and with terror . . . they will not remember him” (Helaman 12:3).

Similarly, Lincoln declared to the nation: “It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness . . . let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country.”

Something must have influenced Lincoln to see America like the prophet Joseph did—to see America like an ancient Nephite prophet had.

Right in the middle of his conversion, while Willie was dying, while the Christian nurse was teaching, while he was passing through what he called his “process of crystallization,” Lincoln had a copy of the Book of Mormon, which he himself had requested from the Library of Congress. Having kept it for nearly eight months, Lincoln finally returned it to the Library a mere seven days after issuing his first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet. Was this merely a coincidence? Did Lincoln begin to insert Book of Mormon principles—even Book of Mormon language—into his speeches and policies? After having the book, did he actually change his opinion on Mormons and begin to treat them more kindly than any American president up until that time? The evidence seems to add up to the affirmative, suggesting that the Book of Mormon had influenced the president. This might have been at least partially responsible for the fundamental shift in American policy during the war: the eradication of slavery and the constitutional protection for God’s people. Or, as Lincoln declared at Gettysburg, “under God . . . a new birth of freedom.” 

The Lincoln Hypothesis

While I know I would not be able to prove my hypothesis beyond a reasonable doubt, I had already discovered too much evidence to be able to ignore the possibilities. 

As it turns out, the same first edition copy of the Book of Mormon Lincoln had checked out is likely the copy the Library of Congress still possesses. Does the book have answers? It’s just a quick trip to Washington, D.C., to find out.  

                                        

The Lincoln Hypothesis: A Modern-day Abolitionist Investigates the Possible Connection between Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and Abraham Lincoln

Timothy Ballard explores the crucial role that President Lincoln played to bring this nation closer to heaven. We love this fascinating read from Deseret Book. Who knew that our doctrine and Lincoln's political decisions could have been so intertwined? Grab your copy at deseretbook.com.

Did the Angel Moroni Appear to George Washington?

George Washington. Engraved image from a 1876 magazine.

Original Here

Did the Angel Moroni Appear to George Washington
byTimothy Ballard, adapted from "The Washington Hypothesis" | May. 19, 2016

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The following excerpt from The Washington Hypothesis is a small piece of what the title describes, a hypothesis about George Washington and what he may have known about America as a land prepared by God. As stated in the Publisher's Note at the opening of the book, “A hypothesis is not a statement of fact, though it often reads like one. It is, rather, a jumping-off point, a tentative assumption made that provides a framework for examining and organizing facts.” This book includes both “demonstrable facts” and “bold conjecture” based on historical documents, published accounts, the author's own investigative research and, admittedly, some speculation. The author is not a historian. The following excerpt is speculative, both second-hand and anecdotal, told years later by an aging gentleman whose identity and credibility has been questioned. Whether you agree with the author's hypothesis or not, we hope that “readers will gain a new appreciation for the events that shaped America as a nation and for the greatness of its first president, George Washington.”

On July 4,1859, Anthony Sherman—one of Washington's soldiers at Valley Forge who was now 99 years old—was one of the last remaining veteran soldiers of the Revolution.

Before he died, he wanted to tell someone of an event he had witnessed at Valley Forge. So he asked his friend and journalist Wesley Bradshaw to meet him at Independence Hall—the place where the Declaration of Independence had been signed.

They sat down on a bench inside the hall, and the old man recounted a vision and prophecy Washington reportedly had received at Valley Forge. The prophecy spoke of a series of conflicts America had faced and would face, including wars and rumors of wars, whose descriptions sounded a lot like the war for independence, the American Civil War, and other future conflicts. The point of the vision was to tell Washington that America was God’s creation and would endure and be victorious over all these conflicts.

George Washington's Vision at Valley Forge

Below is an excerpt from the report entitled “Washington’s Vision,” as told directly from the memory of Sherman while sitting in Independence Hall:

The darkest period we had, I think, was when Washington, after several reverses, retreated to Valley Forge, where he resolved to pass the winter of 1777. Ah! I have often seen the tears coursing down our dear commander’s careworn cheeks, as he would be conversing with a confidential officer about the condition of his poor soldiers. You have doubtless heard the story of Washington’s going to the thicket to pray. Well, it was not only true, but he used often to pray in secret for aid and comfort from God, the interposition of whose Divine Providence brought us safely through the darkest days of tribulation.

One day, I remember it well [in Valley Forge], the chilly winds whistled through the leafless trees, though the sky was cloudless and the sun shone brightly, [Washington] remained in his quarters nearly all afternoon alone. When he came out I noticed that his face was a shade paler than usual, and there seemed to be something on his mind of more than ordinary importance.

Returning just after dusk, he dispatched an orderly to the quarters of the officer I mentioned who was presently in attendance. After a preliminary conversation of about half an hour, Washington, gazing upon his companion with that strange look of dignity which he alone could command, said to the latter: “I do not know whether it is owing to the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful female. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed, that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause of her presence. A second, a third, and even a fourth time did I repeat my question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor . . . . By this time I felt strange sensations spreading through me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered volition impossible.

“Presently I heard a voice saying ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn’ while at the same time my visitor extended her arm eastwardly. I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a strange scene. Before me lay spread out in one vast plain all the countries of the world—Europe, Asia, Africa and America. . . . ‘Son of the Republic,’ said the same mysterious voice as before, ‘look and learn.’ At that moment I beheld . . .[another] angel, standing or rather floating in mid-air, between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each hand he sprinkled some upon America . . . . A second time the angel dipped water from the ocean, and sprinkled it out as before . . .”

Was the Angel Moroni One of the Angels?

Before continuing with the report of this vision, I want to pause and take you to Salt Lake City. It was July 4, 1854, five years to the day before the old man Sherman recounted his witness of what happened to Washington at Valley Forge. Orson Hyde, an ordained Apostle of God, stood at the pulpit in the Tabernacle and boldly declared that the angel Moroni was in the camp of Washington. He stated

“It was by the agency of that same angel of God that appeared unto Joseph Smith, and revealed to him the history of the early inhabitants of this country, whose mounds, bones, and remains of towns, cities, and fortifications speak from the dust in the ears of the living with the voice of undeniable truth. This same angel presides over the destinies of America, and feels a lively interest in all our doings. He was in the camp of Washington; and, by an invisible hand, led on our fathers to conquest and victory; and all this to open and prepare the way for the Church and kingdom of God to be established on the western hemisphere, for the redemption of Israel and the salvation of the world . . . . Under the guardianship of this same angel, or Prince of America, have the United States grown, increased, and flourished, like the sturdy oak by the rivers of water.”

Could this corroborate Sherman’s account? The principal angel in Valley Forge was, of course, described as a woman. But it was a male angel (or male angels) who anointed the land.

As Washington’s vision continues, the Moroni hypothesis becomes ever more interesting. After the principal angel described to Washington what sounds like yet another conflict to hit the land—“thundering of the cannon, clashing of swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat”—the male angel performed a familiar act, familiar to the LDS student, at least.

“Son of the Republic,” said the female angel, “look and learn.” Washington then beheld a male angel and, according to Sherman, told of how he watched as the angel “placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long, fearful blast.”

Washington continued

“Instantly a light, as of a thousand suns, shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud, which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel . . . who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by legions of bright spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks, and renewed the battle.

“Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict, I heard the mysterious voice, saying: ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious.

“Then once more I beheld the villages, towns, and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice: ‘While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union last!’ . . . while the people, kneeling down, said ‘Amen.’”

I cannot read this account without thinking of the biblical prophecy of the angel Moroni found in Revelation 14:6–7: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”

The Restoration of the gospel did not simply begin in 1820. The foundation was being laid years earlier in the battlefields of America—in Boston, Long Island, Saratoga, and Valley Forge. George Washington was a power player in the story of the Restoration, as he was building the nation, the foundation, for Christ to return, that He might bring His priesthood and truths of salvation.

Indeed, the forthcoming Restoration had nowhere safe to land. God needed to create the asylum, and Washington knew that he was helping God do just that. Writing from Valley Forge, he declared: “Even if the rest of the world continues to ignore us, we will fight on. For we are fighting not only for ourselves, but for all mankind. We are fighting for freedom and human dignity and the right to worship the God of our choice.”

Washington, no doubt, was doing his part to get this message out. Like Joseph at Liberty Jail, and like Lincoln in 1862, Washington was compelled to his knees while in the darkness of Valley Forge. And he was blessed for it. He had received an assurance from the Lord about the fate of America. As he led the nation in righteousness, he would be victorious. He needed to know this. Now he did.

Learn more about the inspiration and miracles surrounding George Washington in Timothy Ballard's new book, The Washington Hypothesis. Available at Deseret Book stores and deseretbook.com.

We know that George Washington was a moral man and an inspiring leader, but did he possibly know more than we suppose? Was he a national covenant maker like Moses, Abraham, Lehi, or Captain Moroni? Did he understand that he was fighting for the liberty of a promised land protected by God, a place where the Lord's holy temples could be built? The Washington Hypothesis explores the intriguing evidence that Washington and the other Founding Fathers knew the Lord had a greater purpose for America. It takes us on a fascinating historical journey through the miracles of the Revolutionary War to the foundational documents of this great nation to the symbolism evident in every corner of the nation's capital. Exploring how Washington's beliefs framed his every action, author Timothy Ballard draws compelling conclusions about the divinity of that great leader's calling. As we see the evidence of the Lord's hand in Washington's life, we may discover a much grander design at work in the founding of our nation—and thus a greater desire to strive to preserve those promised blessings.