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.
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