A Revelation

As a fourteen year old boy, only becoming somewhat aware of the evils that exist in the world, I found myself despairing. I was discovering I was capable of greater sin than I had ever supposed. I was truly beginning to feel the effects of mankind's spiritual separation from God and Heaven. I was sorrowful. I went to my room, knelt beside the foot of my bed, and plead with God for help and forgiveness. I was worried about my spiritual future.

After praying, I climbed into bed and fell asleep. At some point during the night, I began to dream. In my dream, I was a fully grown man. I was in the wilderness with a bunch of other men, who were clearly American. We were under what seemed to be some sort of makeshift structure held up with logs. There were no walls, but there was a roof, which protected supplies such as ammunition and food from the rain. All of us there were armed with rifles. We wore jackets and hats to protect us from the wet weather. Our makeshift structure was surrounded by beautiful, green woodland.

Suddenly, a cry went up and the men readied themselves for a fight, raising their rifles and shouting, running toward what was the front of the structure. Some men left the cover of the roof and positioned themselves in the woods. In the distance, enemy soldiers came into view. They were far enough away that I cannot describe to you their appearance, other than that they wore earthen, camouflage type colors.

Guns roared. The men who were with me were dying. Before long, while I still stood protecting supplies under the roof of the structure, I was shot and fell onto my back in the dirt. I was still conscious, but soon, one of my companions was shot and fell on me. As far as I could tell, everyone else who was with me had been killed. In that moment, I faded away.

Suddenly, the dream became so vivid, it was more powerful even than real life, and not by just a little bit, but immensely so. The sensations were so incredibly tangible that they not only existed on the surface, like so many of the sensations in this life, but flowed through my entire being like wind through the air. I was no longer in the flesh, but was rather in the spirit. The sensation that was carried through me like a gentle wind can only be described as sincere, overpowering peace. In the same instant that this sensation overcame me, a brilliant light, which was pure white with a crystalline blue as an outer bloom, opened from the darkness before me. I could literally feel myself moving into a different plain of existence. I was happy. Happier than I think any word among mortals can convey. And I anticipated my destination. I couldn't wait to see it. The light grew brighter and closer, and then the vision ended.

I opened my eyes, and found myself sitting upright upon my bed, looking upward. The feeling of peace, and an overwhelming sense of sacredness, was still over me. It was tangible. It was not a mental conclusion to a mere night-dream. It was real, and I knew it was more than a simple dream. I knew it was from God. I knew that I would live to see a violent conflict on American soil, and assumed I would die in the conflict, though now I believe that true repentance and true companionship with God could alter my course to a higher calling.

My study of the scriptures eventually opened to my mind the state of those who die, based on their worthiness. The Book of Mormon relates the indescribable joy of those who pass away with a conscience that is clear before God. I knew that God had shown me what that is like, at least initially. Of course, He didn't show me what was on the other side of the veil. Just what it was like to leave the body witness the beginning of moving into the next realm. Even this cursory experience was greater than anything I have yet experienced in the world.

This is one of several prophetic dreams I have received, but this one was the most powerful as far as feeling a real connection to the Spirit and Heaven.

Of Wizards That Peep and Mutter

An old man steps from the darkness, dressed in the fineries of his time, black and white. He grins. A lot. A great hall looms before him as thousands and millions besides pause to hear his voice. 

The thousands and millions do not know it, but he is afraid.

"I have powers," he assures them. "Powers which you are forbidden to hold, or to witness. They are too great for you. My friends and I, we are too good for you."

No one says a word. They continue to listen. 

The old man is still afraid.

"I have gifts," he assures them. "They are very expensive, but they are available to all of you, for a price. These gifts are better than anything you have. If your child goes hungry, it matters not. Pay me for these gifts, or you will die forever."

The audience takes note. Don't pass up the gifts. Pay up.

"I have friends in high places," the man assures them. "They will do my bidding. They are better than you. They know more than you are allowed to know. If you speak ill of me or of them, they will retaliate."

The audience fears him. They will obey, and many shall never utter a disagreement.

"I am perfect," the old man says. "I don't make any mistakes, you can count on it. Some say I make mistakes. They are evil, fear them. Adam and Eve? Mistakes. Jonah? Big mistakes. Peter? Plenty of mistakes. Joseph Smith? He was stupid and unschooled in our wisdom, though he did God's work.

"I don't make mistakes, and I am learned and wise. Don't worry about me. Don' t think about it. I'm incapable of fallacy."

The old man speaks God's sacred name. 

"Amen," he says.

He steps back into the darkness, not to be seen again for months.

The thousands and millions say, "We are a great people, for we have perfection at our head."

They walk into the streets. Scrawny men with shaggy beards ask for money and food. Children languish without fathers. Fathers sit behind bars, though they did not offend God. All these and more cry up to God for deliverance.

"We have not got any money," the thousands say, and walk by. They are priests, they are officials in the fine buildings.

Then they give thousands and millions in money to the old man in the darkness, and the old man buys them expensive gifts. Castles of marble and gold are built around the world as a testimony of his greatness.

Some have no money, and they give not to the old man, for they suffer hunger and are in want of shelter. They beseech the old man, saying, "Pray, let us enter your castles. We wish to know God as well as the others."

"Have you any money?" The old man asks.

"No," they say. Some say their money was stolen. Others that they have nowhere to find or earn money. Others that great tragedies cost them all they had.

"You do not love me enough," says the old man, and slams the doors of his castles in their faces, then lifts his hands to God in prayer.

"We thank thee that we are a chosen people," he says.

And two books open, and in their pages, written over and over again, are the words,

"You are a people chosen by yourselves to be delivered up unto the flood of fire."

And the old man covers his ears and sends his minions to destroy all those who read those words from the books.