ACTS 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams

Sunday, December 22, 2013

The Dream of Plagues

The Dream of the Plagues  (1884)

Author unknown. “Vision of Plagues”. The Contributor. August 1884, 5:411

The present times seem to be more than usually prolific of prophetic dreams among the Latter-day Saints. In nearly every settlement the people have been warned of events soon to occur; and visions of the future glory of the Kingdom of God upon this earth have passed like a panorama before many of those who love God and obey His commandments.

Some two or three years ago, I had retired for the night, when suddenly a glorious messenger appeared at my bedside and awoke me from my slumber. The light of his presence filled the room, so that objects were discerned as clearly as at noonday.

He handed me a book, saying, “Look, and see what is coming to pass.” I took the book in my hands and, sitting up in bed, examined it carefully and read its contents. In size this book was about seven by ten inches, opening like a copybook and bound in beautiful cover, on the front of which was stamped in gold letters its title, which was The Book of the Plagues. The leaves were printed only on the front side of each, and were composed of the very finest quality of pure white linen, instead of paper. The typography throughout was in the finest style of the printer’s art. Each page was composed of a picture printed in colors as natural as art can copy nature, which occupied the upper half of the space, below which was the printed description of the scene represented.

On the first page was a picture of a feast in progress, with the long table set upon a beautiful lawn, over which were interspersed clumps of fine shrubs and towering trees. In the background through the foliage, could be discerned a stately suburban villa, adorned with all the ornaments of modern architecture. The landscape presented the appearance of midsummer. The sky, and indeed the whole atmosphere, appeared of a peculiar sickly brassy hue, similar to that which may be observed when the sun is wholly eclipsed, and the disc is just beginning again to give its light. Throughout the atmosphere small white specks were represented, similar to a scattering fall of minute snowflakes in winter. About the table a part of richly dressed ladies and gentlemen were seated in the act of partaking of the rich repast with which the table was laden. The minute specks falling from above were dropping into the food apparently unheeded by all, for a sudden destruction had come upon them. Many were falling backward in the agonies of a fearful death; others drooping upon the table, and others pausing with their hand still holding the untasted food, their countenances betraying a fearful astonishment at the peculiar and unlooked for condition of their companions. Death was in the atmosphere; the judgments of God had come upon them as silently and swiftly as upon the proud Sennacharib and his host of Assyrians.

In one corner of this picture was a small circular vignette, showing the front of the store of a dealer in pork. The wide sidewalk was covered by an awning supported on posts at the outer edge, and on this walk were shown barrels of pork, long strings of sausages, fresh slaughtered hogs, piles of smoked bacon and headcheese; and along the edge of the walk, next to the store, beneath the front windows, leaned a number of large hams and pieces of side meat, reaching across the whole front, except a small space at the doorway. There were twelve of these pieces, and on each piece was painted a large letter, in order to make as a whole the word ABOMINATIONS.

Below this scene was the description: A Feast among the Gentiles, commencement of the Plague. And in smaller type below [was] a note saying that the particles of poison, though represented in the picture, are so small as to be invisible to the naked eye.

On the next page was another picture. It was a street scene in a large city. In the foreground were the residences of wealthy city merchants. The character of the buildings gradually changed; along the view and in the distance were shown the great buildings of trade and commerce in the heart of a large metropolis. On the sidewalks throughout the long vista, the busy, throbbing rushing crowd had been cut down like grass before the mower.

Again it was a midsummer scene. The same atoms of poison were falling through the air, but their work was done; the same sickly brazen atmosphere that seemed thick with foul odors laid upon the earth, in which no breeze stirred a leaf of the foliage. Upon the balconies of the richly decorated residences, across the thresholds of the open doorways, along the walks and upon the crossings, lay the men, women and children, who a few days before were enjoying all the pleasures of life. Further on, the dead were everywhere. Houses of business that had been thronged with customers stood with open doorways, frowning upon streets covered with the dead. Across the thresholds of the banks lay the guardians of wealth, but no thieves were there to take the unlocked treasures within. The costly merchandise of a thousand owners laid untouched upon the counters and shelves. In the noonday glare of the sickly sun, not a soul was shown alive; not one had been left to bury the dead—all had been stricken or had fled from the death-dealing plague and the doomed city. Along midway upon the street, a hungry drove of those horrible ugly slaughterhouse dogs, (which may be seen in the pens attached to the filthy slaughtering places in the outskirts of many cities), was tearing and devouring the dead and feasting upon the bodies of rich and poor alike with none to molest them.

Below this picture was the description: Progress of the Plague among the Gentiles. A street scene in a large city. Nearly fifty of these pictures I carefully observed, wherein the fearful effects of this and other plagues were almost as vividly portrayed as if I had actually seen them.

The last scene in the book was descriptive of the same plague as the first. A beautiful park-like, grassy prairie was surrounded by elm and cottonwood trees, the area embraced being about eighty rods across. In the center of this enclosure was a large cone-shaped tent of a bright purple color, about thirty feet in height by twenty in diameter at the base. Midway in height in this tent was a floor dividing the inside into two stories. Near this tent was another, a round wall tent, about thirty feet in diameter, and nearly as high as the first. This was clean and white. Leaving a space of about a hundred yards from these central tents were hundreds of small rectangular wall tents in rows, reaching as far as the surrounding trees, each tent clean and white, and appearing to be of a size suited to the wants of an ordinary family. Not a human being, animal, bird or vehicle was in sight. Not a breath of air appeared to be stirring. The same atmosphere as in the previous pictures, with the atoms of poison, was represented, and the same time and season of the year.

Below this picture was the description: “A camp of the Saints who have gathered together and are living under the daily revelations of God, and are thus preserved from the plague.” I understood from this that each family was in its tent during the hours of the day that the poison falls, and thus were preserved from breathing the deathly particles.

Handing the book to the messenger, who all this time had remained by my side, he vanished from my view as suddenly as he had appeared. I awoke my wife, who was soundly sleeping, and commenced to relate to her what I had just beheld. After telling her the description of the two pictures at the beginning of the book, and commencing on the third, this third picture and all up to the last was suddenly taken from my memory, so that I have never been able to recall them; but still I remember that they were scenes about the plagues and judgments.



UPDATE 


http://www.prisonplanet.com/silicon-valley-artist-strikes-at-the-heart-of-obamas-oligarch-infatuation-a-feast-in-time-of-plague.html


Interesting modern day symbolism here!


Silicon Valley Artist Strikes at the Heart of Obama’s Oligarch Infatuation – “A Feast in Time of Plague” Screen Shot 2014 07 29 at 1.57.58 PM 774x1024





Saturday, December 21, 2013

The Vision of Charles D Evans

Charles D. Evans - Vision of The Future
Digitized by Glen W. Chapman Dec. 2000
(Taken from the book "Visions of The Latter Days" 6th printing 1998)
     Pioneer Press,
     3332 Ft Union Blvd.
     Salt Lake CY Utah, 84121

     Charles D. Evans was Patriarch to the Church in Springville, Utah and was a school teacher by profession.
     In 1893 his vision was published in Volume 15 of the Contributor Magazine- later known as The Improvement Era.

“While I lay pondering in deep solitude on the events of the present, my mind was drawn into a reverie such as I had never felt before-a strong solitude of thought for my imperiled country utterly excluded every other thought, and raised my feelings to a point of intensity which I did not think possible to endure.

While in this solemn profound and painful reverie of mind, to my surprise a light appeared in my room which seemed to be soft and silvery as if diffused from a northern star. At the moment of its appearance, the acute feeling I had experienced so intensely, yielded to one of calm tranquility. Although it may have been at the hour of mid-night, and although the side of the glove on which I was situated was excluded from the sunlight, yet all was light and bright and warm as an Italian landscape at noon, but the heat was softer and more subdued.

As I gazed upward I saw descending through my bedroom roof, with a gentle gliding movement, a personage clothed in white apparel, whose countenance was smooth and serene.

His features regular and the flashes of his eyes seemed to resemble those reflected from a diamond under an intensely illuminated light, which dazzled but did not bewilder. Those large, deep, inscrutable eyes were presently fixed on mine as he instantly placed his hand on my forehead. His touch produced a serenity and calmness--not of an earthly character, but a touch that was peaceful, delightful and heavenly. My whole being was imbued with a joy unspeakable. All feelings of sorrow instantly vanished; and those lines and shadows which care and sorrow create, instantly vanished and were dispelled as a fog before the blazing sun.

In the eyes of my heavenly visitor, for such he appeared to me, there was a sort of lofty pity and tenderness, infinitely stronger than any such feelings I ever saw manifested in ordinary mortals. His very calm appeared like a vast ocean stillness, at once overpowering to every agitated emotion.

By some intuition or instinct, I felt he had something to communicate to me to sooth my sorrow or allay my apprehensions. Thereupon addressing me, he said: "Son, I perceive that thou hast grave anxieties over the perilous state of thy country, that thy soul has felt deep sorrow for its future. I have, therefore, come to thy relief and to tell thee of the causes that have led to this peril. Hear me attentively!

"Seventy one years ago, (in 1823), after an awful apostasy of centuries, in which all nations were enshrouded in spiritual darkness; when angels had withdrawn themselves, the voice of prophets hushed, and the light of Urim and Thummim shone not, and the vision of the seers closed, while heaven itself shed not a ray of gladness to lighten a dark world; when Babel ruled, Satan laughed, and Church and Priesthood had taken their upward flight, and the voice of nations possessing the books of the Jewish prophets had ruled against the doctrines of the Church of the Apostles and Prophets, thou knowest that then appeared a mighty angel with a solemn announcement of the hour of judgment. The burden of whose instructions pointed to dire calamities, which thou seest, and the end of the wicked hasteneth."

My vision now became extended in a marvelous manner, and the import of past labors of Elders was made plain to me. I saw multitudes fleeing to our place of safety in our mountain heights that was established in the wilderness. Simultaneously the nation had reached an unparalleled prosperity. Wealth abounded, new territory was acquired, commerce extended, finance strengthened, confidence was maintained, and people abroad pointed to here as a model nation--the ideal of the past now realized and perfected-the embodiment of the liberty which was sung by poets and sought for by sages.

"But", continued the messenger, thou beholdest a change. Confidence is lost, wealth is arrayed against labor, labor against wealth, yet the land abounds in plenty of food and raiment, and silver and gold in abundance. Thou seest also the letters written by a Jew have wrought a great confusion in the finance of the nation; which together with the policy of many wealthy ones, has produced distress and do produce further sorrows."

Factions now sprang up as if by magic. Capital had entrenched itself against labor, and throughout the land labor was organized in opposition to capital. The voice of the wise sought to tranquilize their powerful factors in vain. Excited multitudes ran wildly about, strikes increased, lawlessness sought a place in the regular government.

At this juncture, I saw floating in air a banner whereupon was written, 'Bankruptcy, famine, floods, cyclones, blood, and plagues.' Mad with rage, men and women rushed upon each other. Blood flowed down the streets of cities like water. Thousands of bodies lay entombed in the streets. Men and women fell dead from terror inspired by fear. This was but the precursor of the bloody work of the morrow. All around lay the mournfulness of a past in ruins. Monuments erected to perpetuate the names of the noble and brave men, were ruthlessly destroyed by combustibles.

A voice now sounded these words: 'Yet once again I shake not only the earth, but also heaven, and this word once again signifies the removing of things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things that cannot be: shaken, may remain.'

Earthquakes rent the earth in vast chasms which engulfed multitudes. Terrible groanings and wailings filled the air. The shrieks of the suffering were indescribably awful. Waters rushed in from the tumultuous ocean, who’s very roaring under the mad rage of fierce cyclones, was unendurable to the ear. Cities were carried away in an instant. Missiles were hurled through the atmosphere at a terrible velocity, and people were carried upward only to fall. Islands appeared where ocean waves once tossed the gigantic steamer. In other parts, voluminous flames emanating from vast fires, rolled with fearful velocity, destroying life and property in their destructive course.
The seal of the dread menace of despair was stamped on every human visage. Men fell exhausted, appalled and trembling. Every element of agitated nature seemed a demon of wrathful fury. Dense clouds, blacker than midnight, obscured the sunlight with a thunder that reverberated with intonations which shook the earth. Darkness reigned unrivaled and supreme.

Again the light shone revealing an atmosphere tinged with a leaden hue, which was the precursor of an unparalleled plague, whose first symptoms were recognized by a purple spot which appeared on the cheek or on the back of the hand, and which invariably enlarged until it spread over the entire surface of the body, producing certain death. Mothers, at the sight of it, cast away their children as if they were poisonous reptiles. This plague in grown persons rotted the eyes from their sockets and consumed the tongue as would a powerful acid or an intense heat. Wicked men, suffering under its writhing agonies, cursed God and died while they yet stood on their feet, and birds of prey feasted on their carcasses.

I saw again in my dream the Messenger appear with a vial in his right hand. He addressed me, saying, 'Thou knowest somewhat of the chemistry taught in the schools of human learning. Behold now a chemical sufficiently powerful to change the waters of the sea.' He then poured out his vial upon the sea and it became as the blood of a dead man, and every living thing died. Then other plagues followed which I forbear to record.

A foreign power had inroad the nation, and from every human indication, it appeared as if it would seize the government and supplant it with monarchy.

I stood trembling at the aspect, when a power arose in. the west which declared itself in favor of the Constitution in its original form. To this suddenly rising power, every lover of constitutional rights gave hearty support. The struggle was fiercely contested, but the Stars and Stripes floated in the breeze, and bidding liberty to all, waved proudly over the land.

Among the many banners, I saw one inscribed thus: 'The government based on the Constitution now and forever!'

On another there was: 'Liberty of Conscience' and there were several others, both religious and political.

The light of the Gospel, which had but dimly shone because of abominations, now burst forth with a luster that filled the earth. Cities appeared in every direction, one of which was in the center of the continent. It was an embodiment of architectural science after the pattern of eternal perfection. Its towers glittered with a radiance emanating from the sparkling of emeralds, rubies, diamonds, and other precious stones set in a canopy of gold, and so elaborately and skillfully arranged as to shed forth a brilliancy which dazzled and enchanted the eye. It excited admiration and developed a taste for the beautiful beyond anything man had ever conceived.
Fountains of crystal water shot upwards through transparent jets, which, in the brilliant sunshine, formed ten thousand rainbow tints at once, so delightful to the eye. Gardens, the perfection of whose arrangement confound all our present attempts at such genius, were bedecked with flowers to develop and refine the taste and strengthen man's love for these--nature's choicest endowments.

Schools and universities were erected to which all had access. In the latter, Urims were placed for the study of the past, present, and future, and for obtaining a knowledge of heavenly bodies and of the construction of worlds and universes. The inherent properties of matter, its arrangements, laws, and mutual relation, were revealed and taught and made plain as the primer lesson of a child.

The conflicting theories of geologists regarding the foundation and age of the earth, were settled forever. All learning was based on eternal certainty. Angels brought forth the treasures of knowledge which had lain in the midst of the dumb and distant past hidden from the world. The appliances for making learning easy surpass all conjecture. Chemistry was rendered extremely simple by the power which Urim conferred on man of looking into the very elements themselves. A stone furnished no more obstruction to human vision than the air itself. Not only were the elements and all their changes and transformations plainly understood, but the construction, operation and laws of spirit elements were also rendered equally plain as those which govern the coarser elements.

While looking through the Urim and Thummim, I was amazed at a transformation, which even now is to me marvelous beyond description, clearly showing the manner in which particles composing the inorganic kingdom of nature, are conducted upward to become part of organic forms. Another astonishing revelation was a view clearly shown to me of the entire circulation of the blood, both in men and animals.

After seeing these things and gazing once more upon the beautiful city, the following sounded in my ears:
'Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined!'

On this I awoke to find it all a dream, whereupon I wrote the foregoing, which is based on
true principles."

Friday, December 20, 2013

The Vision of 'Spencer'

The Vision of  Spencer is an account of one mans's near-death experiences and subsequent visions of the days leading up the the millennium.  The book was co-authored and written by John Pontius, a well known published LDS author. If you have not had a chance to read the book I highly recommend it.  

  Spencer's Vision closely parallels the end times calamities also seen by Sarah Menet 
                            (see Vision oF Sarah Menet posted on this Blog).


A quick summary of the Great Tribulation: 

-Devastating earthquakes along the west coast
-Earthquakes spawn worldwide tidal waves.
-Another earthquake widens the Mississippi River from the Gulf to the Great Lakes by several miles, effectively dividing the more wicked part of the nation from the relatively more righteous
-Multiple waves of biological attacks that wipe out much of the nation
-Water shooting out of the ground in SLC with great force (Spencer talks about the causes of this in some detail) and flooding the city (including the temple)
-Roving gangs killing people
-Plagues that spread throughout much of the US and then to the world
-Foreign troops on our soil.  Spencer says they are U.N. "peacekeepers" from various foreign countries who initially come under the guise of relief workers, but usurp local and national govt. as time goes on and establish martial law.  That was their plan from the beginning.
-Nuclear bombs go off in Utah.  Spencer says they appear to have been placed here rather than from the tip of a missile.  
                       _____________________________________________________________

        This is only a short synopsis of the calamities that are mentioned in the book.  It would be difficult to mention everything in detail and I highly recommend reading the complete book. 

        There is some contention around the book Visions of Glory: One Man's Astonishing Account of the Last Days.  I imagine there will always be those that will contend with another persons spiritual experience.  I personally felt the spirit very strongly as I read it.  The two scriptures at the head of my blog summarize my personal feelings on the matter.  ...In the last days God will pour out his Spirit upon all flesh... the sons... the daughters... the young men... and the old men... and they shall see visions ...and they shall dream dreams.  

        It is obvious from this scripture that visions and dreams, are not limited to the Prophets and Apostles. It is up to us to "...seek diligently and teach one another, words of wisdom...".  I have sought learning and knowledge but I also rely heavily on the Spirit of Truth to guide me in my understanding.  

                        _____________________________________________________________



Here is an example of a comment from someone who disagrees with Spencer's Vision.
        -borrowed from a fellow blogger I greatly admire: 
                       "The Wood Zone"


"I agree with the above comment. Far too much focus on America, Utah, and the west coast. The Church is BIG. I agree with being prepared, not a question for me. There must be 2-3 million LDS's on the west coast. I don't think the Lord is going to waste all those mostly good people. While this blog has a lot of good information, and much that is factually based, I find it disturbing that so much weight is placed on "Spencer", as if he is the Prophet. He is not. Much of the stuff "Spencer" says is wrong, but people continually defend what he says as the truth. These folks do not understand priesthood authority and how doctrine is established apparently. Over all, I find a rather unhealthy reliance on "Spencer" in this blog, rather than what the LIVING PROPHET's have to say on matters concerning the last days. Remember, the Living Prophet trumps ancient prophets. Yet, bad things will happen, I just think they will be much different than what "Spencer" says. I still say the best thing to do is to follow your local leaders direction (stake president) and the direction of the Brethren, and basically look at "Spencer" as a fictional character with an interesting story to tell. Keep things in proper perspective...The Living Prophets are First."


Here is an example of a comment from someone in defense of Spencer's Vision.
                -also borrowed from:
                   "The Wood Zone"

"Dear Wood Zone,

I feel compelled to address some of the issues regarding "Visions of Glory" (VoG) brought up in your blog by a few of its readers.  Normally, I wouldn't say anything.  However, some of the statements made are either unjustifiably judgmental or dangerously deceptive, and hence deserve some comment.

First, there's a lot of judging going on regarding Spencer.  I seriously doubt those who have judged him have spent any time with him; I have.  A lot.  Thus, their judgment is based on opinion and flies in the face of the Master's admonition to "Judge not, let ye be judged."

One of the requirements to righteously judge is to have all the facts, which (naturally) God has, and we do not.  To think otherwise is presumptuous at best and more than likely spiritually dangerous.  And with respect to VoG and Spencer, three facts are inescapable and indisputable:

1.  Seagull Book sells VoG (http://www.seagullbook.com/lds-products-766173.html).  Seagull Book is owned and operated by Deseret Management Corporation, a company owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (http://www.seagullbook.com/page-FAQ.html).  If the VoG is so bad, then why is the Church selling it?  Either the church has made a grievous mistake, or not -- it's as simple as that.

2.  To ascertain whether or not it was a mistake, we need to examine what effect VoG has had on people, or in other words, it's "fruits".  Fact: hundreds of people who've posted on the Unblog (unblogmysoul.wordpress.com) and read VoG have been more -- not less -- motivated to repent, change their lives for the better, attend the temple more frequently, pray harder, love deeper, search the scriptures more diligently -- in other words, love Christ and his gospel more.  Can a bad tree produce such good fruit?  It's either a good tree, or Satan's doing an awfully good job of shooting himself in the foot.  

3.  The commenter states that it's best to consider Spencer "a fictional character".  Ummm, wrong.  He's not.  He's real!  He's alive and well in Utah.  I have known him for quite a while.  I have his cell, home and work phone numbers and e-mail address.  He works, has a family, goes to church, pays his tithing and goes to the temple twice a week.  Again, the facts make contrary statements look foolish.

Second, a commenter recently said, "There must be 2-3 million LDS's on the west coast. I don't think the Lord is going to waste all those mostly good people."  With all due respect, again, we are seeing judgment without a command of the facts.  First, simply being LDS does not make a person "good".  Second, Isaiah and several Book of Mormon prophets are deeply, deeply critical of the Lord's people in the last days.  We LDS are still (collectively) under several condemnations, and in the ebb and flow of society, we are trending away -- and not towards -- the rescinding of those condemnations, especially so in the West Coast (and in America).  Go read Isaiah to see what happens next.

Third, the same commenter stated, "the Living Prophet trumps ancient prophets" and "I still say the best thing to do is to follow your local leaders direction (stake president) and the direction of the Brethren...Keep things in proper perspective...The Living Prophets are First."

This is dangerous ground to be standing on.  If I had a nickel for everytime the Lord said (or a passage of scripture taught) "Trust not in the arm of flesh", I'd be e-mailing you from my mansion.  Now, don't get me wrong -- I sustain our Prophet and the other 14 apostles.  Still, we are on sandy, not fertile, ground if we trust in the arm of flesh.  Case in point: There have been several instances in church history where prophets contradicted each other in points of doctrine.  In fact, disciplinary courts were held and members were censured for not believing in a doctrine which was passionately espoused by one prophet, only to be condemned as false doctrine by another prophet 100 years later.  In this case, which prophet do you believe?

The bottom line is, “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm.”  Here's what the head of our dispensation would say in response to this commenter's thoughts:

“We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark that they would do anything they were told to do by those who preside over them [even] if they knew it was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself, should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, until he turns from his folly. A man of God would despise the idea. Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the saints were told do by their presidents they should do it without any questions. When Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves" [Joseph Smith, Millennial Star, vol. 14, #38, p 593-595]

Joseph's successor also said:

"What a pity it would be, if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken the influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. This has been my exhortation continually." [Brigham Young, JD 9:150]

Fourth and finally, the commenter states, "Much of the stuff 'Spencer' says is wrong, but people continually defend what he says as the truth. These folks do not understand priesthood authority and how doctrine is established apparently."  Spencer never sought to establish doctrine.  Not at all.  In fact, he never asks for acclaim, attribution, followers or even to be believed.  VoG is strictly Spencer's account of what he was shown. He makes nothing from this book, and he asks for nothing from readers other than to look up and follow Christ.  

The bottom line is this: Before you start publicly judging someone and making statements that fly in the face of facts, do a little homework.  Then take whatever judgmental statements you are considering posting, and delete them.  

This world is already under terrible, terrible judgment.  

We latter-day saints can and ought to do better.

And we can start by not adding to those judgments, lest we -- collectively and individually -- reap even more judgments.

Thanks,

-- A Concerned Reader"


Thursday, December 19, 2013

The Vision and Warnings of Iohani Wolfgramm

The great Tongan missionary, Iohani Wolfgramm was a humble man who was beloved by the people of Tonga.  He served 8 full time missions to Tonga and once stated that he had visited the huts or doors of every person in Tonga, even the King and Queen.  Tonga is now predominately Mormon and some of that success is due the the efforts of the Lord working through Iohani.  

There are documented incidences where Iohani even raised two people from the dead; one of these being his daughter.  The miracle of her healing is referenced by Elder Dallin Oakes, in the June 2001 Ensign.


Someone who was a close friend of Brother Wolfgramm's recounted an experience that she had had around 1989, with Brother Wolfgramm. It was a dream of the cleansing of America.


”A few years ago, I met an elderly lady. She had come to hear me speak and to see if I had the right spirit about me. After she felt that she could trust me, she invited me to her house to show me a few interesting things. Her late husband had worked for the church and had been the head of a unique historical church documents that were not available to the public. After his death, his wife was asked to help finish some of his work. She was assigned one of the apostles to help her. She had the same access to those same documents and allowed me to read through them. I visited her multiple times to read and discuss the documents. On one of those visits, she told me an interesting story about Patriarch Wolfgramm. She was acquainted with the patriarch, and during a serious illness somewhere around the year 1989, she asked him to give her a blessing. In the blessing, he told her that she would recover and yet have a great work to do. He foretold other things as well, which prompted some questions in her mind about the future. So, after the blessing, she began asking him to clarify some of the things he said in the blessing.


He said in the last year of the second term of President Bush, the U.S. economy would collapse, which in turn would cause a series of events, including the invasion of foreign troops on U.S. soil.”


This lady then commented to the patriarch that it must mean that President Bush would be re-elected. Patriarch Wolfgramm then replied that it wasn't that Pres. Bush, but that it was the son of Pres. Bush who would become president that he was referring to.


Here are a few salient points that he mentioned:


a. The big economic collapse which leads to chaos will occur in the last year of the 2nd term of the son of George Bush who will become president.


b. There will be a great drought at about this same time all over the country.


c. Many in the Church will become unrighteous and apostatize.


d. There will be a nuclear bomb or bombs go off in Northern Utah that will have an effect as far south as the Salt Lake Valley.


e. Hundreds of millions of foreign troops will invade America.


f. The main foreign force in the Utah area will be Chinese or Chinese-looking troops mixed with Latin American troops.


g. Great upheavals will occur all over. In the Wasatch front area, a tremendous earthquake will occur. The mountains and valleys will be rearranged.


h. The righteous will be spared while the unrighteous will be cleansed from the land by earthquake, flood and plague.


i. The rocky mountain area will then become a sacred, fruitful place where the righteous will gather.


Iohani's Tape from the Mission field

From Iohani Wolfgramm: Man of Faith and Vision, pp. 113-121
Compiled by: Tisina Wolfgramm Gerber

December 1980


This is Iohani speaking on the tape. First I would like to express my love to my heavenly father for all my many blessings. We are in good health and want to send you all our love. Thank you for the letters, tapes, money, etc. that you share with us.

It worries me to hear from your letters and tapes of the problems that some of you are going through right now. The family has missed us, but we want to let you know that everything is fine and we are doing great and from your letters it sounds like everyone is worrying about me for I have been sick lately. The Lord has blessed me according to my faith and many prayers. And through those prayers and faith the Lord has given me good health, especially the fasting that some of you have done for me and the Lord was very pleased that you have given your time to pray and fast in my behalf.
Salote and I received a missionary call from the prophet Spencer W. Kimball in June 1980 to go on a mission to Old Mexico City. We went to our stake president for an interview and he had lined up someone who could help us learn the Spanish language. The first thing he asked us was, "Can you say Ola?" and we said "Ola" fast. The next word we could not pronounce. Then the telephone rang.
President White of the Wilford Stake, answered the phone and it was President Kimball. He asked if the Wolfgramm's were there to let them know that their mission had been changed and they were to serve in the Tongan mission. They were so excited and thanked the president, were set apart, and then came home. The next morning Salote had a beautiful crocheted bed cover she had made and wanted to give it to the prophet. So they contacted Rose Calder, a sister of Sister Camilla Kimball, to know how to reach the prophet to deliver the gift. She made arrangements for us to go to the prophet's home. They called security and we got cleared to go in. As we came closer to his home it was a big surprise to find the Prophet outside with his arms open to welcome us. He had tears in his eyes and gave me a big hug and told me how he loved me, and then Salote, then Tisina and Leilani who accompanied us. And again he told us, do you know how much we love you? We went inside and met his wife. He said he really loved the Polynesian people. You know our Father in Heaven loves you too and saying to his wife, "I want you to meet my good friends from Tonga."
Pres. Kimball went on to say that I should take with me my genealogy to Tonga and teach even the Royal family, and bring the Scale of Time to show them how short the time is for them to go to the temple and redeem their dead. Before we left the prophet told us that two days after arriving in Tonga I would be visited by Christ and he would let me know of my mission to the Tongan people.
We went to Provo for missionary training and eventually arrived in Tonga. In the training center we were very popular and every time there was a break missionaries came into our room and wanted to hear more and more of what I had to say.
But today I want to let all my family know what happened to me. From here I will explain to you why I was sick, but in reality I was not sick. Rather it was the vision that I saw with my eyes that caused me to feel like that. It was during the night that I saw the vision before I retired to bed.
There were two personages that stood inside our living room. Their feet did touch the ground and I didn't know where they came from. They said to me, "Stand up, we have come to take you with us and would like you to see the dwelling place of the Lord." I took a deep breath and we were on our way. We went on a very speedy trip. I was frightened and thought they were going to destroy my life. As we traveled we passed many planets and other celestial bodies. I asked them where they were taking me, and they told me to where the Lord resides.
I was taken to a place unknown to me. I didn't understand where we were. In a short time I heard the thunder and saw lightning and rain. It looked like we were facing the west as the sun went down-then it was all dark. At that time it seemed to me like 8:00 p.m. but it was after midnight when I was getting ready to retire. We saw the light, though it was raining and saw the lightening hit and then saw another lightening hit, and one of the men said, "See, in a few moments you will see a vision from the heavens and the appearance of Christ in his glory." Everything was so light and beautiful and shining. While I was standing there I felt the rain, the lightening hit me and the darkness disappeared and everything was light. That light never disappeared. Then I saw the rainbow and the rainbow encircled the light and there was no end of the brightness-brighter than noonday sun.
Then the voice spoke to me and asked if I understood about the rainbow. I said, "Yes, that was the covenant that was made between Noah and Father in Heaven that he would never again destroy the earth by water."
Then the voice said, "Iohani, have you repented enough?" Then the voice spoke of this world, "Have all mankind repented enough? Indeed it is true, I will not destroy this earth again by water, but I will destroy it with fire if they will not come unto me." Then I saw the light circle around the rainbow. He told me to look and see what was written. What I saw was:

     THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS


written in gold. Again the voice spoke to me, "See." The writing was full of lights and very brillirant. I heard a voice speaking from that light saying, "Iohani, go and call repentance unto your people. Call them to repent and to repent and to repent. Go and call everyone that lives on these islands to repent and repent and repent. The time is so short that they must repent and repent and repent. Let the people that you will meet in this life know that the time is so short that they must repent and come unto Christ. You must go and call repentant unto your people in Tonga, including the royal house of Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, Mata'aho and the Crown Prince Tupou To'a. The Lord told me that a few months after Salote and I touch the American soil, a destruction will come to Tonga-not to destroy them completely, but as a warning to let them know that he, Jesus Christ, rules on earth and in the heavens. I was sent to Tonga by God so I could be an instrument or a mouthpiece for him so I could cry repentance unto my people and if they hardened their hearts to the words of God, and repented not of their iniquities, a tidal wave would come to their beaches and it would cause damage to their crops and plantations. Some of their homes, power lines, and trees, would be uprooted. Floods would come to some places. Rocks and coral would be tossed like feathers in the air. But this problem will only come if they fail to hearken to voice of his servants and repent not. I was filled with the Spirit of the Lord and I started my mission where Christ told me to begin at Ha'atafu in the western district, then all the way up to Niutoua in the eastern district. "In my anger I will send destruction to them because they have not listened to my servants nor repented of their iniquities. Because they will not listen to my voice, they will destroyed and no one will be left." In his loud voice Christ spoke and said to me that I must go and teach them, to speak to them with kindness but not hurt them and for them to repent.. No one will live when I send my destruction upon the islands of the sea, even those who are not members of the Church that have not listened to my servants will be destroyed. Christ spoke to me and used the word repentance 16 times.

This was shown to me at the very first part of our mission. After He spoke to me the light disappeared, and I stood there alone. I was confused, not knowing what was going on, and again wondering where this light came from. From where He was speaking to me it was about 30 or 40 feet away. Again the light came back only about 2 minutes after it disappeared, and again I heard the voice speaking to me. This second time it was louder. Christ stood behind me cupping my ear and spoke to me, "Go and speak to the people and tell them I am Jesus Christ-and have sent you to those who live on this island and those you meet in your daily work. Call them quickly to repent because I am coming soon to destroy this world and no one will be left behind-they will all be destroyed." Also, for the third time he again spoke the same thing to me. "Go to them and call them to repentance. I am coming to this world to destroy it if they do not repent and repent and repent and wait no more, for I will come to punish them-those that will not keep my word nor abide by the scriptures."
"You must speak even to those missionaries you are serving with-that are working daily with you-call them to repentance also. I am Jesus Christ, who called for you to call them to repentance. Command the missionaries not to be ashamed or fear but to preach repentance also. Most of them will hate you and won't believe what you say to them, but you must let them know that they must repent or they will be destroyed."
He urged me to go and speak to the missionaries, not tomorrow, but right now." Then the light disappeared again. At that moment I still stood there. Then the lightening came again and hit me right under my feet and started to work its way up through all my body like a ball of fire starting from my feet. I could see myself standing and the power that came from that light was like an electric shock. It first affected my flesh and entered my bones. I immediately felt the pain in my whole body with that power inside. I looked at my hands and my whole body was illuminated. I felt that I was going to faint-with the heat and the strong power. Even my eyes. I was like the sun standing there. My body was changed.
I almost fell to the ground, but the angels held me up and said, "Iohani, you have the same power with which the Lord created the whole earth with and same power will stand firm for you when you meet the Savior. The Lord called me from the side, "Iohani." I turned and Christ put his arms around me and hugged me and kissed me and told me how much He really loved me and wanted to introduce me to his father Eloheim. Then He took my and introduced me to Eloheim in the place where they dwell. It was more beautiful. The place was full of light and was clear like crystal and pure and holy. It was a beauty that I cannot explain, but I felt a warmth and spirit of love in that place. He kissed me and hugged me and told me, "I wish that all my children on the earth would do the same as you have been doing in giving your time, your talent, your faith and sharing your love with others." And again he embraced me, hugged and kissed me, and Jesus did the same to me. Jesus Christ and Eloheim laid their hands on my head and ordained me to my calling. After that they hugged me again.
Immediately I heard someone speak behind me with his mouth to my ear. "I tell you right now, go and speak to your people. You don't have much time to call your people to repentance. Those who haven't received the gospel must come unto Christ and be baptized. There will be many diseases and people will die from them and destruction will come to them. Don't hesitate, but straight way talk to the missionaries, they must call the people to repentance also."
Christ spoke again in my ear and said, "Iohani, look behind you and see what's going on." I slowly turned my head to see what was behind me. I looked at my own hands and body and it was full of electric power and I saw thousands and thousands of people behind me. The understanding that I had was that they were not members of the Church and they were full of evil-all kinds of evil, and had not yet repented. Again the voice spoke into my ear. "Iohani, turn around and continue to preach to these people. Go to these people behind you and call them to repentance. Speak to them like right now."
When I was told to do that I obeyed the voice. I turned around, walked straight at them, and as I started to speak to them, it was like my whole body was in a flame of light. I didn't know where I was standing, but lit it was daytime. As soon as I started to speak, the people started to fall to the ground. Some started to cover their faces. They couldn't withstand the power that came from me. Some fell on their back on the floor, some didn't want to look at the light and turned their heads away. When I spoke to them, it looked like the people were wilting. Some were sitting against some boards and when I spoke, they fell to the floor. Some of them fell from the wall they had been sitting on. That's how powerful the spirit was. Again they tried to hide their faces of fall on their stomach. They were even falling from the houses. Some on their knees. The people were beginning to get frightened-you could tell by their eyes. As I was talking I told them to repent-then Christ told me to speak out louder-three times. Repent, be baptized, and come to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so you can have eternal life. I did as I was told. Christ said, "Iohani, speak up louder." Again for the second time I began to speak to them very loudly with all my strength. The third time Christ spoke again to me and said, "LOUDER." Be obedient to the Lord or your life will be taken. Some didn't have clothes, some had torn clothes, and were very frightened. I don't know how many people were there, but many thousands.
When I was told by Christ to tell them to repent-I raised my hand and brought it down firmly and told them to repent. "Say it louder and louder," I was instructed. I called them to repentance with all my power and the Lord was very pleased with me."
When I was returned back to my home I wanted to wake up Salote to tell her, but the spirit said it was not the right time. I wanted her to massage my back because the pain was still in my body, my bones, my flesh, my muscles and I needed a massage. But she slept on and didn't hear me call for help.

I crawled to the bathroom and buried myself in the cool water to get some relief, but it was no comfort. My body was on fire, especially my bones and my flesh was in pain. Again I ran the shower over my heard, but nothing helped. I said a prayer and asked it it would be alright to relate the story to my wife, but the spirit told me not now. I suffered that day and throughout the next night until morning. I couldn't even move my hands.

Salote woke up and thought I had the flu so went after some aspirin. While Salote was out two sister missionaries walked into our missionary home to see if they could have breakfast with us. I crawled to the kitchen, cooked them a pot of rice. While they were eating Salote arrived with two Elders to administer to me. After the blessing I felt a little relief, but not much. I still had that pain and my body was so hot, and especially all the joints. I never experienced sharp pain like that my whole life. It began with my toes, all the say to the top of my head. There was no part of my body that was not in pain. I felt like I was inside a furnace of fire-the pain in my body was tremendous.
I started to get up and try to sit down, but couldn't discover a way to relieve the pain and heat from my body. Salote went after some more aspirin. I took it but no relief. Again she went after the same Elders to administer to me again. While they were blessing me I was taken away somewhere and don't know how long I was gone, but during that time the Savior again saw me. After I returned I was able to explain to my wife and the two sister missionaries what had happened to me.
The same day, the Lord spoke to me and said, "Why are you waiting? You need to go now because I have ordained you as my mouthpiece. Get up and go now." Though I had almost no strength in my legs and they were very shaky, I was determined to go to Ha'atafu where I was directed to go first and take Salote with me. "You are not to turn away from what you are to say to the people. When they do not what I say, there will be tidal waves, there will be bad storms, and the water from the ocean will destroy their plantation, and will come over the beaches. It will be a testimony to them that I am Jesus Christ who have sent you, and you will be my mouthpiece to your people. I am the one who created this earth and everything therein."
I was filled with the spirit of our Father in Heaven and no one could stop me. I could speak to the people with power and ask them to come unto Christ and repent and be baptized. I spoke to the people at Ha'atafu and as I spoke to the people I was full of the spirit and started to prophesy many things that would come to their life they didn't change and come unto Christ. The spirit of Christ was within me that day. I felt a great love for the Savior. And the love in my heart for my Tongan people caused my heart to ache because they hardened their hearts and I bore testimony and prophesied many things that some of the old prophets had told them in the scriptures. I preached to them Joseph Smith and authority was given to him and all the keys in the last dispensation of time. He was truly a prophet of God. They must listen to the missionaries and repent and be baptized and come unto Christ and join his church, if they really want to have eternal life. If they don't they will be destroyed.
And I did the same from Ha'atafu all the way to the next town and the next village Kanokupolu.
As I returned home in the evening a van from mission headquarters arrived to take us to a missionary meeting. When we arrived at the meeting I was very ill and they took me anyway and as I got there I fainted. They rushed me to the doctor at Vaiola Hospital thinking I had a heart attack. The severe heat had never left my body and my whole body was like a furnace of fire. The doctor couldn't find anything wrong with me except my body was heated and they couldn't get rid of the heat. I was told I must go back to Te'ekiu and run a cold shower on my head and body. Again the Savior came and spoke to me. I must go again on to the next town and was told not to fear for my life for I would be protected. Many people will hate you and many will call you names, but angels will protect you. At this time also, he reminded me that angels have heard the prayers of your forefathers and want their work done in the temple. For I was to include calling those people to bring their names to the temple and get their work done. Those forefathers had died before the gospel was brought to the islands. Lastly, when you preach to them they will swear at you, they will call you all kinds of names and hate you for telling them the truth, but don't give up but continue on preaching.
The next day I almost died again. We went out again and continued on to the next village. My body was full of the spirit of our Father in Heaven. I couldn't imagine all the words that filled my mind and my spirit-words to be used when I spoke to these people. And when I said those, I heard voices back from them saying, "You are a liar, you stop spreading lies." I expressed to them my love and the love of our Savior to them and bore them my testimony. I felt like I was going to die again. Especially my joints and bones were killing me.

Again the missionaries arrived in their van to check up on me. They had a welfare meeting we needed to attend in Nuku'alofa. Again I fell down and passed out. They took me again to Vaiola Hospital. I couldn't get rid of the pain. I asked my mission President Hopoate and another Elder to give me a blessing. After that they thought I had the flu, which was prevalent in Tonga at that time. I stayed in the shower all night, but didn't get any relief. I got up very early and went to Kanokupolu and started to preach to the people. The people were mean to me again over there. We walked to Kolovai. The same treatment.


Not my words, but from the Lord that spoke in my ear. Repent. Also He says that He will punish those in His house first before He punishes others. If the destruction comes to the house of the Lord, what about your house? Are you ready to receive the Lord when he comes? Have you repented enough? What He has told me is that He will completely destroy this whole world by fire and not to be slow about repenting because it will come to your house before it goes to others. Especially to my own family at home.

I am your father speaking to you. You can come unto Christ. I am very concerned about you. Are you ready to change your life? Don't wait any longer. The Lord won't speak any lies to me. It is the truth. We must change our lives for the better. I'm doing this because of my love and concern for you because I want to make sure that you will be protected and hope that you'll be obedient. The voice of warning is from Christ.

I want to thank you for all you have done for your mother and me, and share all my love with you. The only thing I worry about is if you are not prepared. I don't want to see you die. Forgive me if I am too harsh with you, but I won't be able to stand between you and the punishment that the Lord will mete out to those that don't repent. You must be humble before the Lord and the Lord will put his arm around you and he will protect each and every one of you. All of you are members of the Church. I humbly ask of you to please give up the smoking, your alcohol, and attend you church meetings. Most of you are not attending your sacrament meetings. Take your families when you attend your meetings.


I fear for you life if the World War III comes. It will go on until the Savior comes. There will be no more peace upon this earth until the Savior comes. That is the Lord's words and he said read Doctrine & Covenants 103:4.. This is not my word, but came from the Lord. As a father I know that you are not living up to the great knowledge that we have and being obedient to the commandments.

When we do not obey and live unrighteously, this is what will happen to you: 1 Peter 4:16-18. This is not my work, it is the Lord's work. The Lord again warns us who have been baptized in the Church, that we must keep the commandments.
The Lord can pour out the destroying angel on you-it's up to you. None of you know the time the United States will be destroyed by an atom bomb. None of us will know about the great earthquake that is to come. Some of you will be buried under the ground with it and many tidal waves, hurricanes, lots and lots of rain. There will be many disasters yet to come. The cup of the Savior will overflow with the evils of this world and he will not withhold his judgments. Compare it to the ripe grape, that is taken down and trampled under foot and good for nothing after that. In the future there will be many people fighting each other.

To the grandchildren: Why are you still living in unrighteousness, Doctrine & Covenants 41:1-7. This is the Lord speaking, if we don't change our lives, those that have been baptized in the church and have taken Christ's name, if we do not live as we should, your name will be taken away from the records of the church if you are not abiding. We should treat the gospel with love and understanding and respect, but here in the scriptures it says we should not share the gospel with dogs and pigs.


I'm humbly asking you girls that have left your husbands. Work your problems out. Go back to your husbands and make peace with your families. Have family home evening, study the scriptures, pray, and repent. The time comes soon that you waste your time running around, looking for safety, but you won't find it. But those that have repented, the Lord will protect your lives.

For those that have hardened their hearts, they will be destroyed. It comes to me in my mind because for I am your father. Out here in Tonga I preach repentance to the Tongans, but imagine my children living in sin and not changing and repenting in America. My heart cries out for you. I'm here to help non-members and they listen to the voice of warning, but my own children reject the teachings of the Savior including your parents' teachings.
In the book of Ezekiel it tells you there that when you see the wrong in your family, you should speak to them. Why am I wasting my time teaching others and neglecting my own family. Dear children, forgive me and listen to me. With all my heart and with love I beg of you that God lives and God will remove you from this earth if you do not keep all his commandments. And I ask you to all stay away from temptation and be active in the Church. Spend your time in the Church so we can have eternal life. If you don't abide by this, you may end up [with] rats. Ezekiel 33:7. My children, I wish you could listen to my voice, with love, come unto Christ. Together I speak with Christ and especially those that have hardened your hearts and closed your ears. It's not to frighten you but to help you and council you. I am the doorkeeper in the house of Israel and am here to speak to you. All of you living in sin must repent. I am not preaching to you thinking I am better than you. Come back to the Church. I wish you could read all the scriptures that I have mentioned to you.
Salote, read Ezekiel 18:21-22 and Doctrine & Covenants 43:17-27. Listen what the Savior says to us. How many times has the Savior given us the information and asked the missionaries and families to help them get back to the Church. Watch out and be prepared, for the Lord's punishment. A few years from now it will begin. The Lord will pout out his wrath and you won't be able to stand the fire. 
You won't be able to stand still because he will shake the whole earth with an earthquake. It will cause the ground to open and many towns will be swallowed up in the earth. Those that live by the ocean won't be able to stop the tidal wave. It will fill the whole area. Where in the world can you be safe.
I'm telling you, my children, don't harden your heart against the Lord's work. Be humble and become active in the Church. I am very frightened what the Lord's going to pour out upon the world. It is unbelievable what is to come, especially the fire will be like rats. The only thing that will stop you from the fear is to repent and come unto Christ. I beg of you to come and change your ways and do not fear but to be happy and live in harmony with the Lord and his teachings.
Sad days are ahead of you. Many worry. But if you are on the right hand of God you find happiness, but if you chose to be on the side of Satan, he is happy when he is able to drag you down to rats. Most of all, I urge you to pay your full tithing and fast offerings. Attend your meetings and make it a full tithing and not a part-tithing so you will be safe from the destroying fire that is to come. In observing the law of tithing you will be safe from that fire. The line of fire will be in front of you and from the back and there is no way for you to run away. Only one way is to repent. That's what I'm trying to explain to you from the beginning. Isaiah 33:13-16.. Where are you going to be safe? Where are you going to turn? It will come to Zion, to people in Utah, and people in America. You will hear the voice of those that do not repent, screaming, "Where can we be safe?" It will come to those that do not repent. They will burn them up and take their life away. That's what the everlasting fire is about.
When you choose Satan and his ways, then you can see the difference between the ways of Satan and Christ. There is no peace in sin and there is confusion in your life and you don't know where you are headed. Most of you, when the war comes, where will you get your water from? The Lord has told us we must have our food storage. He has promised us that those that live and prepare themselves have no need to worry. If ye are prepared, ye need not fear. Those who come to the Rocky Mountains of Utah, the Lord has prepared also for them bread and water and the teaching of the prophet that we must prepare.
This is what the Lord told us he is going to do. He will destroy from one end to another end. All the people. If they forsake the Lord's work, you will end up with the rest of them. Ezekiel 39:17-29. Jeremiah 25:27-34. Remember we have come to the promised land to get our blessings. Choose the way you should go-the Lord's way or the other way. And again, I call all of you to repent. With all my love, Iohani Wolfgramm.

Given at a later time:

As our mission time was drawing to a close, there were only two towns in all of Tongatapu that hadn't been visited, Mu'a and Ha'akame. During this time we dedicated the rest of our time knocking at the doors, proselyting. There was not one night that we didn't call repentance to some village. After the problems some towns hardened their hearts, there were others that were ready to receive the gospel. We arranged a day meeting, a mid-day meeting, an afternoon meeting, and at night we did genealogy. Most of the time we were out teaching, there were many requests for us to explain to them about the last days, genealogy and how to do it, how the many lines are connected, how the gospel was sent to the earth and then taken away again. Most of them couldn't believe all the information that I was able to expound to them. It made them anxious to learn more about the Book of Mormon. They want to know what would happen to them if they failed to repent. They were asking me about the second coming and what they should do to be saved.

Iohani Wolfgram Miraculous Healing of Daughter




Here is the story of Tisina as told in Iohani Wolfgram's Journal:

(This story is also referenced in by Dallin H. Oaks, “Miracles,” Ensign, Jun 2001, 6)


"I was finishing up the monthly reports for the Fo'oi Branch when the Spirit told me to stop and look out the window, but I was too busy. The second time the Spirit spoke to me, he said, 'Iohani, stop now and look out the window.' Still I went on working. The third time I felt like someone was pushing me off the chair and told me to stop and look out the window. I was surprised to see a group of people hovering over something in the road and rushed out to find my family in trouble.

Many people, all at once, were trying to tell me what had happened. I could only see the body of my little girl Tisina with her head crushed and lifeless body laying in the street. My wife Salote had crossed the street to go to the home of Lolo and Mataele about 2:30 in the afternoon after sacrament meeting. Malina, Ana, Sale and Tisina were told to wait until the road was clear to cross. They couldn't figure out how Tisina came loose from Malina's hand and tried to run after her mother, but she ran into the road and was hit by a car. The driver was unaware that he had hit Tisina and that her lifeless body was laying in the road. The next car was full of American soldiers who had just returned from a sight seeing tour of the Village of Ha'Atafu and stopped immediately to help. Malina was the first one to try to pick Tisina's body off the street. Sale ran to hold her little head up but was too scared. Ana ran over and started to lift Tisina's body and saw the blood coming out through her mouth, nose, ears, and eyes. She was so frightened she dropped her and ran off. Salote came running and saw the blood on her face. She fainted by the roadway. Friends and neighbors came with a bucket of cold water to pour over Salote's face, then she finally came out of it.

My missionary companion, Samuela Vehikite, brought a mat to carry Tisina's body inside their house. A van arrived with American soldiers and offered to take Tisina back to the army hospital at Houma where an American doctor could see what could be done for the child. I agreed, so they put Tisina inside their truck and started for Houma, about a mile away. Though shocked, I finally got my composure and ran after the truck and said, Please stop, please! ...I just changed my mind. I forgot something very important to do for my daughter right now.

In my mind, I had forgotten to give Tisina a priesthood blessing. I asked the soldiers if they would please back up their truck and bring Tisina into the home right away. At this time, other churches had just barely let their members out from church. Sekona, a Samoan, call out and said, 'Iohani, don't try to act like God, but send your daughter to the hospital and see if a doctor can help her.' Many were afraid and some were very upset with me, but I understood something that non-members did not.

I called Samuela Vehikite to assist me by anointing the consecrated oil on Tisina's head and as I began to utter the prayer, I couldn't say a word. My mouth was locked. My mind was blank. No words would come. But in a few minutes the Spirit spoke to me in my mind that there were so many unbelievers in and out of the house that had no faith that Tisina would ever recover from her accident, that I should send the people home.

I immediately opened my eyes and asked the people if they wanted Tisina to come back to life to please leave my home now so we can pray for her. Oh my! Non-members were furious and started to spit at me. Some picked up rocks and started throwing them at the house as they were leaving, calling me names. I knew the American doctor might help Tisina walk again, but how about her brain? I knew that only God who created her, who gave her life, would be the only one who could help Tisina completely recover and bring her memory back to normal again.

I asked Salote to go ahead and fix supper for the family, but I would go and pray for Tisina. I prayed and prayed and thanked the Lord for all His blessings to us, for sending us on a mission, but how I wouldn't like to part with any of my children yet because we have no white material for her burial nor funeral cloth in Tongatapu, but in Vava'u we did. I reminded the Lord of how He saved the Israelites by parting the waters of the Red Sea, how Christ raised people from the dead, and of the simple faith of a missionary who just had his daughter run over by a car and had been killed, you can understand of my love for her. I reviewed how Lazarus was raised after being in the tomb for four days, through faith and the power of the priesthood. I prayed and thanked the Lord for those great prophets of old and their faith and special callings in the church from Adam down to the prophet Joseph Smith. I said, 'I don't want a funeral away from all my family, and if this little girl has a special mission on earth to do, please spare her life so she can fulfill that blessing and her mission.' I was on my knees over four hours that evening. Finally the Lord heard my prayer and said to me, 'Tisina won't be with you tonight, but tomorrow.' A humble and very sweet warm feeling came over my heart and a great worry and fear was lifted from my shoulders that evening. I thanked God for the answer that I received.

I opened my eyes slowly, filled with deep gratitude and tears of joy. I went over to Salote and said, 'Not tonight, but tomorrow.' Salote and the children didn't touch any food that evening. Everyone was shocked and felt so bad about Tisina.

Samuela Vehikite and I waited and waited all night long and about 3:00am, we felt the Spirit fill our souls and knew that this was finally the right time for us to give Tisina her priesthood blessing. Samuela Vehikite anointed her and I sealed the blessing, I thanked the Lord and expressed his love to me in answering my prayers and said, 'Tisina, by the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood which we hold, we ask Thee, our Heavenly Father, to bless Tisina from the top of her head all the way down to her toes, that every bone, muscle, nerve, blood vessel, skin, nails, hair or any part of her body that has been broken, lost or damaged, through the power of the priesthood which we hold, we command it to return to it's normal place and start to function and to do their work, that she will be able to stand and her body will be returned and renewed with all its parts and start to function as they were before. We promise you through the holy power of the priesthood that when the sun rises in the morning, you will be raised up together with the sun. And when other witnesses hear this testimony of Tisina, they will also testify that Jesus is the Christ and through Him the Lord healed Tisina. Not tonight, but tomorrow, Tisina will walk with the rest of the family as the Spirits whispers.'

After the blessing everyone knelt down before they went to bed and in a circle offered a prayer, then we retired. I came into the room where Tisina still had her face covered with the cloth. She was still dead. I picked her up and laid her little broken head on my arm and kept her body close to me. Hours seemed to pass. I finally dozed off and on for about two more hours and about 6:00 a.m. I felt someone playing around my face and touching my hair. I slowly opened my eyes and to my surprise saw Tisina standing up playing with my face and hair with a big smile on her face.

I slowly reached out to feel Tisina's head. It was normal. I started to feel her hands, legs, face, everything that had been promised had come true. Samela Vehikite remembered that in her priesthood blessing that when the sun rose up in the morning she would rise up together with the sun. So he opened the window shades and sure enough, the sun had just barely risen in the sky. How excited we were to have our little daughter back with us again. We sang a special hymn to thank God for her return and said a long prayer of thanksgiving by me. A few minutes later a knock came to our door. Our Aunt Marie and Uncle Maile Niu, brought Tisina's burial clothing and her burial box and asked where the dead child was. I said she was the one that answered the door.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

The Vision of Sols Guardisto (1923)

Vision of Sols Guardisto 

     This is a vision of Sols Guardisto, written to President Wood of the Cardston, Alberta Temple.

"We have been to the temple erected by your church, wherein the sacred rites are to be performed in accordance with your faith. The first time I was strongly impelled to describe to you my impressions.

It seemed as though the Temple was filled with the actual spiritual bodies of these previous leaders of the Church, each seeming to have a definite work to do, automatically taking up in the spirit world the work that person was engaged in whilst in the flesh. In that Temple I saw persons who were leaders of your Church, during its march across the American Desert, now engaged in helping those patriarchs under whose orders they seemed to be working. It was these leaders of your Church, or spiritual leaders, if I may use that term, who seemed instructed to show me the scenes here recorded.

I can give no time as to the happenings except that the impressions I received were of the actual present or immediate future.

I saw first a brief but comprehensive sketch of the present state of the world, or, as you would term it, the Gentile Kingdom. Each country in turn was shown its anarchy, hunger, ambitions, distrusts, and warlike activities, etc., and in my mind was formed from some source the words, "As it is today with the Gentiles."

I saw next international war break out with its center upon the Pacific Ocean, but sweeping and encircling the whole globe. I saw that the opposing forces were roughly divided by so-called Christianity on one side, and by the so-called followers of Mohammed and Buddha upon the other. I saw the great driving power within these so-called Christian Nations was the Great Apostasy in all its political, social, and religious aspects. I saw the world-wide dislocation and devastation of production and slaughter of people occur more swiftly and upon a larger scale than ever before. I saw an antagonism begin to express itself from those so-called Christian nations against your people. I saw those of a similar faith to yours in the Far East begin to look toward Palestine for safety.

I saw the international world war automatically break down, and national revolutions occur in every country and complete the work of chaos and desolation. I saw geological disturbances occur, which helped in this work as if it were intended to do so. I saw the Cardston Temple preserved from all this geological upheaval. I saw the international boundary line disappear as these two governments broke up and dissolved into chaos. I saw race rioting upon this American continent on a vast scale.

I saw hunger and starvation in this world granary of the American continent sweep off vast numbers of the conflicting elements. I saw disease produced by hunger, strife, and chaos complete the end of this present order or epoch…"

Mrs. Guardisto goes on to describe the preparations allegedly made by the future Church leaders to endure catastrophic conditions in the world.

"I saw Cardston and the surrounding foothills, especially West and North, for miles being prepared for a refuge for your people, quietly but quickly.

I saw artesian wells bored and other wells dug all over that territory, so that when the open waters were polluted and poisoned, the people of the Church and their cattle would be provided for. I saw the fuel resources of the district developed in many places, and vast piles of coal and timbers stored for future use and building.

I saw the elders, still under divine guidance, counseling and encouraging the planting of every available acre of soil in this district, so that large supplies could be near the refuge. I saw the Church property under cultivation of an intensified character, not for sale or profit, but for the use of the people. I saw the inspired officers giving instructions as to what would be the best crops to plant and cultivate, not for profit but for use in storage at the time of chaos. I saw the territory carefully surveyed and mapped out for the camping of a great body of people of the Church. I saw provisions also made for a big influx of people who at present do not belong to the Church, but who will gather in their tribulation. I saw inspiration given the elders whereby the quality, quantity, and kind of things to be stored were judged, which might not be attainable in this territory during the time of chaos."


     As quoted by Duane S. Crowther in Inspired Prophetic Warnings, pp. 196-201. 
     See also: Robert W. Smith and Elizabeth A. Smith, The Last Days, pp 44-54