Fathers

I've only watched this video 5 times, but it's made me choke up each time

Just beautiful.  I'm so thankful to be married to a man like this.  I'm thankful for my father and my Heavenly Father.  A righteous man is more precious than gold - Isaiah 13:12.

Visions of Glory

I read this book over the Christmas holidays when I was sick and in bed most every day.  Really excited when I got it as I ordered it before it was published on Nov. 1st, and then it was on back order and I had to wait for over a month, so sad!  I read through it quickly - I really enjoyed the first part of his first 2 near death experiences, then the last part with his vision left me a little lost, maybe lost isn't the right word, it got to be a little long and repetitive, or maybe too much details and not enough insights really on the "Therefore, what?" so I was left scratching my head a little.

So, I'd say that Visions of Glory is really two books and would prefer to briefly review separately. The first book is the Near Death Experiences of Spencer, a devout LDS living in the Salt Lake City region. The second book is his visions (or rehearsals?) for his mission at the end of days. Pontius and Spencer are careful to note that only the Church Authorities can receive revelations for the whole church, and offer the latter's visions as a soft warning of what may soon happen.  Also, I don't really know much about Spencer, but totally loved Pontius' other two books, Triumph of Zion and Following the Light of Christ into His Presence, so I do trust Spencer's experience cause I trust John's opinion.

So, as NDE, Spencer's insights are typical and ring true as to what I've read in other books - seeing spirits good and evil compete to influence, control, or use us.  I liked the part when he walked through furniture and had a complete knowledge of all the material it was made with, like knowing about the lives of the cows that had been used for the leather, and how the animals and trees were all grateful that they could be used in a way that benefited man.  Again, good stuff that all rang true.

As Prophecy book, for me it's two/three stars, mostly got me watching out and preparing mentally for an earthquake that devastates Salt Lake City during the fall, yikes, so keeping that on my mental watchlist, yet still taking all with a grain of salt, cause we don't know how much of it was symbolic or instructional, although Spencer believes (I think) that it was a vision of his future life, so again, his experience, not sure how it pertains to what I'll experience in my future if these events are the future for Utah/North America.  (Maybe we'll move back to Chile - haha)

All in all, the book is a very interesting read.  Corey read it too.  I recommend it although as Corey said when he was done, which is like me, we're not sure what to do with all the information.  Some of it I get and agree with, other parts I'm left curious and/or confused.  I perceive that I am weak (3 Nephi 17:2-3) - so, I'll keep seeking, pondering, and asking the Lord.  :)

Proof of Heaven

Corey's grandmother passed away in 2008 just a few weeks shy of her 99th birthday.  She had been anxiously awaiting her death and moving on to the next life for over a decade.  Each Christmas, to help her get more excited about what was coming, Corey got her a near death experience book.  Trying to keep her hopes up that her time would come and she hadn't been forgotten. 

Since she passed, I've been happy to take over the role of recipient of the NDE Christmas book.  So, continuing with that tradition, Corey got me another one for Christmas this past year.  Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander. It was ok, I'll give it 2.5 stars.  It wasn't among my favorites.

So Mr. Alexander wasn't much of a believer in God or the afterlife before this experience.  And I could understand how his coma helped him realize that there had to be a spirit and we weren't all physical brain and neurological activity, but I still couldn't totally relate to most of his other conclusions. I also found his whole experience to be a little weird and confusing, maybe it's just how he described things?  He kind of lost me in his talking of hell (?) or something, I'm not sure, as "the Realm of the Earthworm's-Eye View" - and calling God "Om" and describing places he visited/saw as "the Spinning Melody," "the Gateway", "The Core" - I don't know, some of it I just didn't really understand, left me a little confused.  Not sure if he was just trying to truly and purely describe what he saw in a new and/or accurate way or if it's cause of his education or previous disbelief that he was trying to describe it to non-believers by not using just normal words or descriptions typical of other NDEs.  Anyway, that's my basic/overall take away, left me a little confused and didn't really resonate with me.  One thing I did really like was on page 132:

I was the quintessential good-natured, albeit skeptical, doctor.  And as such, I can tell you that most skeptics aren't really skeptics at all.  To be truly skeptical, one must actually examine something, and take it seriously.  And I, like many doctors, had never taken time to explore NDEs.  I had simply "known" they were impossible. 

I loved that, cause it reminded me how I believe lots of skeptics of the LDS Church are - they really aren't skeptical at all, cause they never look at it and give it a chance, they just don't believe it outright. 

So, again, this book might be interesting to people unfamiliar with religion, spirituality, and life after death experiences, but for anyone who's read about these topics elsewhere - there's nothing new, profound or thought-provoking in this book. Dr. Alexander describes his experience and this book may be a starting point for scientifically-minded skeptics but it is NOT written for spiritual seekers. It does sound like a valid experience written by a previous skeptic, however.  :)

Your Potential, Your Privileges