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).

     http://visionsandtribulation.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-vision-of-sarah-menet.html. 

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"

        http://woodyoubelieveit.blogspot.com

"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"

        http://woodyoubelieveit.blogspot.com

"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"

The Vision of Alma Erickson (1930)

Vision of Alma Erickson (early 1930’s)

The voice of warning crying unto me, concerning the great and dreadful day of the Lord and the destruction of the wicked, which shall shortly come to pass.

The voice of the Great Spirit does reveal these things unto me, even the Holy Ghost that does bear witness of the Father and the Son. Therefore, I call unto all to repent of their wrong doings and their wickedness, and join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It is essential that ye be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, that ye may receive instructions and be taught the truth by the Spirits which are in Heaven.

Thus declareth the voice of the Great Spirit which is within me, even the Holy Ghost. For thus saith the Spirit unto me, it is your burden and responsibility that these things made manifest unto you shall be made known unto the world.

Prophesy unto this people, for their sins have come up unto me, and they are not of me. He, who will not hearken unto the Law of My Word, shall sink into unquenchable fire. Therefore, I extend a warning unto all who will hear the word of their Great Creator, to repent of their sins and evil doings, lest God's judgment come upon them and destruction overtake them.

All these things I make known unto you concerning the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord, and the destruction of the wicked, which shall shortly come to pass, and is even now at our doors.

Behold, this people, they esteem one another according to their possession of wealth, and not according to the value of the soul. They look upon the wonders of the earth and marvel, but fail to see the poor people who suffer in want around them and among them.

The whole earth is now ripe for destruction, and it shall shortly and speedily come upon the inhabitants of the earth, for God shall hasten His work, and great destruction shall quickly overtake the evildoers, and who is there among them that can escape God's holy law and His chastening hand?

I see our church represented by a high building, and we are in the top thereof, or the most recently constructed portion, which is very shaky; and I perceive that this last constructed portion is going to fall, and we must get down to the lower part of this great structure, which rests solidly upon its foundations. And while I am thus viewing it, the top, or last part built, does crash with a loud and fearful crash.

I see sheep grazing in the valley and on the mountain side. My Master tells me to watch them and not let them graze too far away from camp, because the sky gathers blackness and a bad storm is drawing near. I call three times, and the last time they hear me and come swiftly toward camp.
And thus does declare the Holy Ghost unto me: Beware, lest ye be destroyed with the wicked, for these things shall shortly come to pass.

Poverty and starvation shall sweep the land, and there shall be large masses of destitute people, masses of humanity starving. And as a witness to this truth, you shall see large headlines in the newspapers declaring starvation and hunger; and pictures of masses of humanity but a short way off who are starving. I warn you all to look to God; call on the Mighty One, even your Heavenly Father. Keep His commandments and lay up supplies against this time.

Starvation shall sweep the country, and in certain places, people will even harvest cactus and prickly pears, and prepare food for themselves and to sell. And I see that food becomes so scarce that soldiers are stationed to guard the plates of those who are eating, that the hungry may not steal their food.

Because of the wickedness of this people, they are brought down into bondage, and their money which they have prized so highly, becomes increasingly worthless. I see the time when a cheap room in a hotel will cost $9.00. Then I see a law passed declaring U.S. money is of no value; and the rich bemoan the loss of their great piles of money. I see silver coins lying around in the dirt, and I look around and see still more of them, and in certain places, they are in piles on the dirt. Greenback bills become worthless scraps of paper, and have no value. And thus it shall be that U.S. money becomes worthless.

I see industries collapse. The gasoline and oil industry is symbolized to me by a great pipeline that extends out of the earth a mile or so into the sky, thence a mile to the north, and thence down to the earth. Then I see this great man-made structure is leaking badly at the south, and then it springs a leak at the north, and then it falls northward with a mighty crash.

Thus it shall come to pass that the gasoline and oil business shall first fail in the south, and it shall spread to the north, until there is a complete oil and gasoline failure. And none shall be hauled over the rails because of the great failure. Traffic and industries shall cease because of the want of oil and gas, and great consternation shall seize upon man.

And it shall come to pass that wickedness shall increase, and many women in general shall partake of whoredoms for hire, for women shall exceed the men in number. And I see many men turning to robbery, and to liquors and strong drink, and their children are deprived of the teachings of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The Lord God shall send forth flies extra early, and they shall attack the evil doers, the children of the devil, and fear shall fall upon the wicked, insomuch that they shall not move out of their places.

But the more righteous shall flee unto Zion. And I see large crowds coming to Utah in such great numbers that they have to be handled in masses, or in herds like cattle.

And again, I see this same fly as it is revealed to me by the Great Spirit. It is quite a large and fiery red or brass colored fly sent to attack the wicked

.. Pestilence shall spread from its bite, insomuch that the flesh shall fall from off the bones, and the eyes from the sockets, and the tongue shall not speak. I also saw a dog and a gray bitch wolf, and the wolf is exceedingly heavy with pups to be born. They shall increase in numbers, and shall be ravenously hungry, and they shall not hesitate to attack man; and because of their great numbers, they shall overpower and devour him. Man shall try to tame these beasts, but to no avail. Their purpose is to destroy.

And tornadoes shall come right here in our own west; and I see a dark colored rainbow appear in the Southern sky, followed by another great sign across the whole sky like a checkerboard, and the Lord God shall speak with a mighty voice of fierce and sweeping winds, and buildings, automobiles and people shall be swept away. And I see also that written words shall appear in the sky as a sign and a warning of great destruction.

High winds shall spread over the country with tornadoes and cyclones in various places. Houses shall be blown to pieces and some carried up into the air. The government will issue tents to the homeless. I see a great storm that shall come suddenly, sweeping up glass and causing it to rain down on many, causing much bloodshed. Fire and smoke shall spread over the land and many strange sights shall be seen.

The ocean shall become exceedingly rough in the winter months, and a fear shall arise in the hearts of the people for the safe return of their relatives and friends and those who must go to sea; for it becomes impossible to cross in the winter months, and all must cross by or before the last ship of the season, or wait until the next season when the ocean calms. And at this time, the ocean shall be out of its bounds, or regular water levels, and shall rise up and wash away many towns along the seashores. And afterwards, other people will come in and reinhabit these towns, bringing with them food that is not produced in the ocean-swept country. And I see the water mark on the side hills, high above the towns.

I look up above the eastern horizon and see a woman dressed in a white robe, which also encloses her head, excepting her face; and she is sitting at the foot of a great white cross, which has golden stars in it. As I look upon this scene, it moves toward the north, and I am told to write of great and bloody wars to come.

Again the vision of my mind is opened and I see two emblems through dark clouds; they are the emblem of the American Legion and the American flag. And as I look at them, they appear to be on a government building. They begin to fade away until they have completely vanished from my sight. I see only the government building without either of these emblems.

And I see a crowd of people looking at this great wonder in the sky, and they are somewhat afraid, but not enough that they repent of their wickedness. And I see one man make an effort to pray to the Lord when he sees this great sign, but he makes a failure or mockery out of it, and everyone at the gathering breaks up and leaves in confusion.

I see that the judgments of the Lord are poured out upon all flesh, and it is shown to me that this great sign and wonder marks the time when great signs and wonders shall appear in the sky; and this is the time when the wicked shall be destroyed.

Then I see the U.S. flag with all its bright colors in the northwestern sky; and then it disappears and another flag appears in its stead, which is plain and without colors; but made up of many different parts. And the meaning of it is made clear, that the people of the U.S. will disagree and divide up and split up, forming many separate organizations, until the central government is completely overthrown, and the nation is in civil chaos--without civil administration or leadership.

And it shall come to pass, that the French nation shall bomb the eastern seacoast of the U.S. with a deadly poison gas, and it shall spread over the land like a blanket of thick heavy smoke of a dirty white or a light yellow color; and it does spread over the land with wind and carries with it to all it touches.

A war shall come in this land, for I see a war in the west. I see a mighty gun that shoots from the mountains of the Lord toward the east, drops of rain, as it were, each drop carrying death wherever it hits. First a beam of light comes out of the west and extends across the sky towards the east, and then I see two lines of clouds come out of the west following along each side of the beam of light. And I see them in the east fortifying themselves against these raindrops of death.

Salt Lake County shall be colored red with many light snows, and northern lights shall come in these times, and be seen out of their regular bounds, and shall show in regions where they have never been seen before. And in that day, the sun shall lose its brightness, and darkness shall fall upon the face of the earth; but it shall come to pass that in certain places of the more righteous, the countryside shall be lighted by a miracle line unto a beautiful lamp in the sky, for it is the will of the Lord that certain crops of the righteous shall not fail, and the interior of rooms shall be lighted by a miracle, and even the inside of buildings and mines.

I see hay come down out of the sky like manna from heaven to feed hay-eating animals, and many haystacks of the righteous increase of themselves by the power of God.

But upon dense populations of the wicked, smoke and vapor and dampness and a dark cloud shall settle down and encompass their houses, and shall not rise. When these low clouds appear, there shall be lightning and explosions in the air, the worst that have ever been heard. I see these rapid swirling clouds moving swiftly close to the ground, causing great friction and noise; but to the west, they play out, and toward Utah the sky remains clear.

And thus it shall be when the Lord begins to hasten His work in the destruction of the wicked. There shall be a great sign and all shall see it, for low clouds shall be seen floating low to the ground.

And the Great Spirit or the Holy Ghost declared unto me, Alma Erickson, that the very time of these low clouds is the time appointed by the Lord when the wicked shall not stand. Therefore, know ye that when these low clouds shall come, the wicked of the earth shall be destroyed; and the sun shall lose its brightness, and the earth shall become cooler as a result; causing more clouds to form and come low to the ground, indicating the beginning of the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord.

And I see these low clouds coming down over the hills and moving with the wind, causing intervals of dimmer sunshine and cooler temperatures. And I begin to hear thunderings and see tornadoes coming over the hills and across the valleys.

And when the temperatures of the earth have fallen because of the low clouds, people will be obliged to go into one room of their houses, and to huddle about their heater to keep warm, and cold and hunger shall come upon man, for this is the time when the wicked shall be destroyed from off the face of the earth.

The word of the Lord came to me, saying that books containing the word of our Heavenly Father and Savior and the Holy Ghost, shall be speedily transferred to Zion, just before the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

It is revealed to me by the Holy Ghost that in a deep narrow gorge, in a southeasterly direction from Salt Lake, hidden records are concealed. This gorge is newly made, geologically.

And it shall come to pass that the climate will not follow its proper seasons, and the leaves shall fall from the trees in the spring. I see a mighty hail storm coming, and it shall come upon the ungodly and destroy the crops of the earth. A frozen hail stone is shown to me of enormous size, it being several feet thick.

And in that time, rain shall beat against houses with fierce and sweeping winds. Thunder will roar continually, and lightning shall flash with blinding streaks. Quick moving clouds shall appear, and giant hail stones raining down from the sky shall pierce big holes through buildings and automobiles; and the hearts of men shall be filled with fear.

People's bodies are now charged with downward flows of electricity instead of upward flows. The downward flows have a destructive influence upon their bodies, while the upward flows have a good influence. For this reason shall great distress be caused among the people.

I see carrots brought in out of the field freshly dug, yet they are wilted and become soft, having lost their freshness and good flavor, because of the wrong charge of electricity.

The sun shall be seen to fail to follow its true course, and the earth shall be thrown out of its regular way, and the hills shall crumble down and rocks shall fall from their places, and the whole earth shall tremble and shake. I see the sun, and it is sinking low in the northeast, and I see two kinds of clouds, those that are split up by conflicting currents of air, and those that travel with the wind. I see bright sunshine and then dust comes in whirlwinds over the ground. Then darkness suddenly comes and I see the stars, and some appear like they are falling. Thus a great darkness shall come in the daytime, and it shall cause great confusion to many. Cities will be without light, and so great shall be the darkness that many caught away from home shall not be able to find their way back.

Water shall spring forth out of the ground with much pressure, and shall rush down over cliffs and down canyons in increasing volume until it floods the lower lands. And the ground shall cave in with deep and wide cavings, and water shall rush into them; and fire and smoke shall be seen.

I am shown, and I look up into the sky and see another planet slightly towards the north or in a northerly direction; and I see that it is similar to our own earth. I see that it is a land of green vegetation, and streams, and creeks of water like unto our own planet. As I look upon it, I see that it is close enough to our earth that its clouds and the clouds of our earth come together and mix and pass by one another. I see a dark strange cloud with whitish smaller clouds around it, and it comes down low over the hills leaving a white snow covered strip of country underneath it and behind it.

And now after this time, I see a lowland country in the region of the North Pole, and it is overshadowed and surrounded by mountains of ice, excepting one outlet where the ice is melted away. I see that this land is warm, that it is cultivated and its vegetation is abundant, and that it is inhabited by many of the Lost Tribes.

I see the last of many dwellings finished in Salt Lake Valley, and I see the water rising up until the buildings are submerged and the people are forced to leave. I even see the great Temple of the Lord half under water, and the water still rising. Later on, the water subsides, and the valley is reoccupied.

After the time of desolation, the same land that was desolate shall now become rich in vegetation, and I see the whole land luxuriant with vegetation, trees and undergrowth, which before was desert wasteland.

I see Salt Lake in the near future with her habitation numbered by the mile, or miles, instead of blocks. I also see around about a new beautiful country of choice vegetation, especially of fruits and food stuffs, growing rank, large and rich, with no noxious weeds.

I suddenly see the Lord Jesus Christ come in a cloud out of the Eastern Heaven with great brightness. I am taken up suddenly from those around me to meet Him, not even having time to tell them that the Lord is coming to redeem the earth. I see that He has come surprisingly quick, and that this time is shortly before us. I see that He is wearing about a four-inch red stripe over His shoulder and down across His breast, and that the rest of His robe is very white. I see that His coming is very soon, and that because of the suddenness of His coming, many of us will not have the time to properly dress ourselves to meet Him. Thus is the glorious coming of Christ to rule and reign on the earth for a thousand years as King of Kings, Lord of Lords.

I see immortal people walking forth from low clouds. I shake hands with them and recognize them as of many nationalities. I see many resurrected women, some with babies in their arms who were taken from them by death, but now are theirs again to raise to maturity.

The Indians or Lamanites shall become a white and delightsome people. They will move north into Canada where they will have more range for their cattle. I see three generations; a grandmother who is quite dark, a mother who is not quite so dark, and a daughter who is white.

A new and different kind of airship shall come that shall have no wings and no gasoline motors, nor carry fuel of any kind; its shape being something like a ball which carries within itself the necessary electrical instruments which control the power of gravity over it so that the ship may be maneuvered through the air at a snail's pace or very swiftly as preferred. And I see many finer ships come after it with many new improvements, but of the same flying principles. These are heavier than air machines and very commonplace.

God has given some men double the brains of others, to develop and increase in knowledge. To some He has given seven-fold, with sufficient periods of time for development; and unto others He has given more, and unto others less. And this He has given unto them before they were born into the world.

I see ancient men compared with our present-day men, and the ancient man is far superior to our present-day man in faith, in truth, and in the ways of God.

I see an old gray headed man who has the mind of a 16-year-old; he has patterned his life after his own ignorant desires. I also see another man who is around 90 years old, or a hundred, who is not gray, but looks young. He has kept the commandments of God and obeyed the word of wisdom in all things.

And now I, Alma, do declare unto you my brothers and sisters, that these things are all true, and shall shortly come to pass according to the Word of God, for they are made known unto me through the Holy Ghost, which does bear witness of the Father and the Son. And now, do not thank me for these things, but thank God, your Father in Heaven. Even so, Amen.

     (Referenced in “Visions of the Latter-days" by Kevin Kraut 1983)