BEYOND THE VEIL

 

Arms of Faith by Yongsung Kim

To say that the scriptural accounts of those who have had visions of God’s kingdom beyond the veil are easy to comprehend would be an understatement. We have no reference to describe such experiences and we simply lack the language also. The Prophet Joseph Smith provided a perspective on this when he said:

“Could we read and comprehend all that has been written from the days of Adam, on the relation of man to God and angels in a future state, we should know very little about it. Reading the experience of others, or the revelation given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Knowledge of these things can only be obtained by experience through the ordinances of God set forth for that purpose. Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 324)

Even the Saviour had difficulty explaining the workings of the universe and the kingdoms that existed within it in a revelation given to Joseph Smith and contained in Doctrine and Covenants 88. You can almost feel His frustration in reading His words: “Unto what shall I liken these kingdoms, that ye may understand?” (v 46) And then His summation of the difficulty of the task: “Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power.”  (v 47)

Isaiah endeavoured to describe what he was permitted to see of the celestial sphere in chapter 6 of his book (vs 1-4) by using images and terms with which his readers could identify, but even he sensed how much he fell short of communicating the reality of his experience. The description of his experience is definitely beyond my understanding or appreciation because I cannot relate to it.

Others who have had visions of the celestial realms have cited Isaiah’s somewhat adequate summation of such an experience which readers of all generations and time-lines can understand:

“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” (Isaiah 64:4)

Paul refined Isaiah’s explanation to the Corinthians by saying: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Perhaps the testimony of the Nephites is the greatest of the glories beyond the veil:

“And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvellous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.” (3 Nephi 17:16-17)

The joy is an incentive to those who want to experience the reality of the glories beyond the veil…..

Some days, Father, I cannot bear,

The absence of Your touch.

I cannot wait for Your embrace

That I have missed so very much.

 

In this abyss of worldly darkness

I stumble but I fall into the arms of Him

Who lifts me higher than I can go.

 

I fly to You, Father, on my wings of faith,

I sail through stormy skies,

Seeking for Thy face.

Look Father, no hands!

Only trust in these strong arms

Of my Saviour’s loving grace.

 

-      CATHRYNE ALLEN

BEYOND THE VEIL

 

“President Heber J. Grant told a wonderful story about work for the dead:

"There were three young men who were as intimate, I think, as any three young men who ever lived could be.  They were Heber J. Grant, Feramorz L. Young and Richard W. Young. 

Feramorz L. Young had been in the East and had been graduated with honors from the Troy Polytechnic Institute, then went on a mission to Mexico, where he died and was buried in the Gulf of Mexico. 

“It always seemed to me a strange thing that a boy with all the education he had, who had made a wonderful success should be taken from us...He had to fight for the Church and its doctrines all the time he was in the East.

I thought that with his faith and knowledge and with all the information he had gained, it was too bad he had to lay down his life while in the Lord's service.

“I do not think that Fera Young in his life ever listened to an unclean story.  If anyone started to tell such a story he would excuse himself and walk away.  I never heard an unchaste word uttered by him.  If there ever was a clean, sweet, absolutely pure young man upon the earth, he was that young man.

“When he died his mother said she could not remember a word or thought or act of his life that would bring her the least sorrow or uneasiness. 

“What in the providence of the Lord is the result?...A woman came to Sister Young, his mother, with photographs of one of this lady's near and dear friends, a very beautiful woman, and said:

"Now Mrs. Young, I do not believe a thing of what I am going to tell you.  This girlfriend of mine was one of the noblest, finest, choicest kind of girls and young women that ever lived. 

“She has come to me in this city of Salt Lake on three separate occasions at night in dreams, and has given me this information: the date of her birth, the date of her death, and all this is necessary, she says, for a record in the temple; and she has told me that your son, Feramorz L. Young, has converted her, and that in addition to converting her he has proposed marriage to her. 

“She has said to me, "I want you to go to Mrs. Young and give her this information and vouch for my honesty, virtue, integrity and upright life, and have the work done for me and have me married for eternity to her son, Feramorz. L. Young."

“This woman who visited Mrs Young said:  "I do not believe a word of it but the last time this friend of mine came - which was the third time - she said: "There is nobody in Salt Lake City who knows me and can vouch for me except you." 

"You might just as well go to Mrs. Young and give her this information, because I am going to come, and come, and come, until you do it". 

“This beautiful girl was sealed to Brother Fera Young and I am convinced that my dear friend lost nothing by dying in his youth.

("Comforting Manifestations": Excerpts from Funeral Sermon delivered by President Heber J. Grant from the Improvement Era February 1931)

There is not one righteous soul that will miss out on any fruits of the Plan of Salvation. To this end was the Saviour born and to this end He sacrificed His all that we might have ALL. The price has been paid, the ordinances of salvation put into place. Has he not secured eternal happiness and blessings of eternity for you and me and for all who seek Him???

All honour and glory be to His name forever and ever…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Salt Lake City Temple by Brent Borup)