The Other Side and Back
Cover image: “She will find what is lost,”©Brian T. Kershisnik, 2012. Used with permission.
This life is a continuum from pre-mortal existence that transitions into the life here on earth, then life after this. I want to share some poignant accounts people have shared with me concerning departed friends and family who have momentarily returned to give support and to verify the next frontier…
It is SO WONDERFUL!
Terry Christensen shared a thrilling experience of seeing her deceased father. She wrote,
‘My dad and l were always very close. We enjoyed visiting about everything, but especially spiritual things. I remember asking Dad one time,
‘When you die someday, will you come back and tell me what it’s like?” He said he would try.
“Many years later he was diagnosed with cancer. I reiterated that question from long ago,
“‘Dad, when you die will you come back and tell me what it’s like?’ He smiled and nodded. He passed away at the age of 87.
“A night or two after he died he came to me in a dream. He was dressed in white and was very young. He stretched his arms out toward me and simply said, “It is wonderful. It is SO wonderful!”[1]
How beautiful! I love that description, because, after all, we’ll be going there someday…
I appreciate the scripture that confirms the fact that angels can at times choose to visit us.
“…as the angels of God,…shall pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus they can show themselves unto whatsoever man it seemeth them good.”[2]
“Don’t Worry About the Kids”
Terry also shared another poignant experience, but this time it was her husband she saw. She felt his love as if he were still living. She said,
“My husband passed away in August. We had gone to Maui every year for the past 20 years. This was my first year without him. One afternoon I was sitting in the shade near the ocean listening to the lull of the waves. I closed my eyes to relax and immediately I knew he was sitting next to me. I could “see” him plainly, khaki shorts, Hawaiian shirt, baseball cap. He said,
‘It is very important to be good; keep the commandments, and keep your covenants. When you do, you’ll be able to handle hard things.” Then he added, “Don’t worry about the kids. I’ll take care of them.’
“We have 5 grown children. A few days after this experience my only daughter’s husband was killed in a car accident. I felt like my husband had let me know he was there to help us through these difficult times.”[3]
The spirit world is very near, and how wonderful that at times we can be allowed to perceive our beloved departed friends and family’s concern for us…
They Can See Us Better than We Can See them
President Joseph Fielding Smith taught,
“I believe we move and have our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings. We are not separate from them… We live in their presence, they see us, they are solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than ever. For now they see the dangers that beset us;… their love for us and their desire for our well being must be greater than that which we feel for ourselves.” [4]
In short, they continue to love us and at times they communicate with us…
You Don’t Need to Worry
Ava Holley’s former boss and good friend suddenly died. She says,
“I was tormented over the fact that Greg had died so suddenly. I had hoped he was okay. I had asked the Lord if he would let me know that Greg was okay.
“Greg was buried on a Friday. On the following Monday or Tuesday night, I had a dream about him. I was sitting in my office at work, a place where I had seen Greg many, many times. He walked into the office. He had on his overalls, and was carrying paperwork and mail under his right arm. I was so surprised to see him. I asked,
“’What are you doing here, Greg? Are you okay? I have been so worried about you!’
“Greg told me that there was no need to worry about him, that he was okay.
He told me that he knew I had been worried about him and reiterated that he was fine. When I asked him how he knew about my worries, he said,
“’Ava, I can see in to this world. It is very close to where I am. I can see what is going on and know what you are feeling. You don’t need to worry about me anymore, I am okay.’
“With that, he turned and walked out of my office, and I woke up.”[5]
That edifying dream brought Ava great peace during her time of trial.
Bruce R. McConkie shared an illuminating thought, by writing,
“…Are we not commanded: Ask and ye shall receive; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened? Why, then, should we smother a desire to heal the sick or raise the dead or commune with friends beyond the veil?” [6]
Something to ponder on…
They Are Near Us and At Peace
Jenny Svendsen relayed to me a precious story of feeling her son shortly after he died. She writes,
“The night he died, I was filled with such a peace! I was up very late and decided to play Yahtzee on the computer, Jonathan liked to play that with me. I just started the game, when I felt his arms around me and in my mind heard him say:
“‘I am fine, I am at peace and love you’.
Wow, what a rare but beautiful blessing! Jenny continues,
“One day we were in the Temple, my husband was performing baptisms, baptizing our grandson and I was sitting beside his sister Kira observing, when I spiritually saw Jonathan on the other side of the font, I told Kira that her uncle Jonathan was there, and she said: ‘Yes, I know. He always lets me know that he loves me and is doing well.’”[7]
They Help Us More than we Know
Elder Charles A. Callis stated:
“We believe that there is consciousness of the spirit in the life hereafter, between death and the resurrection…Death does not congeal the lips of those who go before us; they are not far from us and they help us more than we know.[8]
This life is a continuum from pre-mortal existence that transitions into the next life after this. It’s just comforting to know that our loved ones may be privy to our circumstances and are sometimes allowed to communicate with us. We can also know that our departed loved ones are in good hands until we see them again.
You Can CONTACT ME with your stories at annehpratt@hotmail.com
[1] Terry Christensen, personal correspondence. Used with permission.
[2] 3 Ne 28:30.
[3] Terry Christensen, personal correspondence. Used with permission.
[4] Joseph F. Smith, in Conference Report, Apr. 1916, 2–3; also Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. (1939), 430–31.
[5] Ava Holley, personal correspondence. Used with permission.
[6] Bruce R. McConkie, New Witness for the Articles of Faith, Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, 1985, pp. 367-68.
[7] Jenny Svendsen, personal correspondence. Used with permission.
[8] Elder Charles A. Callis, (Apostle 1933 to 1947) October 1939 General Conference.
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