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"

A Vision of President John Taylor (1951)

The Vision of John Taylor  ...(Vision 2)
     As related by Edward Lunt     

     Cedar City, Utah, Jan 1951

A prophetic incident occurred at my father’s home at Cedar City, Utah, at the time a conference was being held there, at which Pres. John Taylor and George A. Smith were present. Elder George A. Smith was asked to conduct the morning session of the conference, as Pres. Taylor wished to rest, as he had held meetings with the different wards and stakes between Salt Lake City and Cedar City. Pres.

Taylor did not attend the morning session of the conference, but remained at our home to rest in order that he might attend the afternoon session. He, with all of the authorities, stayed at my father’s home during this conference.

Pres. Taylor wished to go to his room and lie down and rest, and asked my mother to tell him if he should oversleep by the time the morning session was over. My mother was busy preparing dinner for the visitors and was surprised when Pres. Taylor came walking into the kitchen. She asked him if he was not able to rest, as he hadn’t been gone long; whereupon he related a vision that he had in his room. He saw Salt Lake City become a great and beautiful city with cement streets and roads and the people had become wealthy. Great beautiful homes covered the city, and he said that the city was extended almost to the point of the mountain (south of the now, 1951, state prison. The people had become indifferent to the counsel and advice of the authorities of the Church, and were more interested in the accumulating of wealth than they were in living their religion and …at this time there began to be war and bloodshed.

He saw blood running down the gutters of Salt Lake City as though it were water. People were fighting among themselves until it became so serious that the entire Church records were all taken across the Colorado River.

President Taylor said to her: “If you are alive at that time, be sure that you are not far behind the records, because after the Church records leave and are secure, the very powers of hell will be turned loose, and there will be such destruction that but very little life will remain. Not only Salt Lake but other adjoining cities will be destroyed, and in the east, in Missouri, in Jackson County, civilization will become entirely extinct. All means of transportation, such as railroads and highways, will be destroyed; the only means of travel will be on foot, and all manufacturing of all kinds will be entirely destroyed. Be sure when you see these things come, see that you have buttons, needles and things to work with in order to make yourself clothing, thread and cloth as far as possible because all tools and every kind of machinery will be destroyed.

It will become such a destructive war that the sufferings and driving of the people from Nauvoo will only be as a drop in the bucket as compared with the suffering that will take place at this time, until one-half of the people will not follow the leaders and one-half of the others will die and turn because of the sufferings they will have to go through; but the Lord will bless those who stay with the authorities, and they shall not all be destroyed.

They will travel south and will finally form a circle something like a horseshoe before they return to Jackson County, Missouri. Those who will be privileged to help build Jackson County will be those who are willing and glad to obey the counsel and advice of the authorities placed over them, and they will not only be willing to listen to their counsel and advice, but will ask that they might receive it in order to be guided and protected out of this great time of want and distress. The Saints will be taxed so heavily that they will cry to the Lord day and night for deliverance. He said also that we would be few in numbers and would assist the Lamanites in building the New Jerusalem in Jackson County.

The vision was so terrible that he asked the Lord to close it, but he saw that those who would keep the commandments and adhere to the authorities of the Church would survive and He would protect them as He did the children of Israel.

After telling of this vision, he said to my mother, “Sister Lunt, see that you always listen and obey the counsel of the authorities and stay with them.”

The above experience my mother told me many, many times and she held this experience sacred.

          In witness that the above is true, I hereunto sign my name this 9th day

          of January, 1951, at Mesa, Arizona.O/S Edward Lunt

          (From the Lundwall Rare Manuscript File, Microfilm Roll 2)

Note: The above account of John Taylor’s vision was first obtained from Edward Lunt by N. B. Lundwall. 

A Vision of President John Taylor (1877)

A Vision of the Apostle John Taylor

     As related by Wilford Woodruff

     Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec 16, 1877

I retired to bed about half past nine. That evening I had been reading a revelation contained in the Doctrine and Covenants and my mind was calmer if possible than usual. I could not sleep. I felt a dreamy feeling coming over me, and soon I became partially unconscious as to where I was.

Presently I discovered that I was in the Ogden Tabernacle sitting on a back seat to avoid being called upon to speak. After the second hymn was sung, I was called to the stand. I arose and said that I did not know that I had anything special to say further than to bear my testimony as to the truthfulness of the Gospel. Then I seemed to be lifted, as it were, out of myself and said, “Yes, I have something to say which is this: Some of the brethren have been asking me concerning coming events, and I will now tell you some of the things which will shortly come to pass.”

I then found myself wandering about the streets of Salt Lake City and noticed on the doors of every house, including my own, badges of mourning, and said to myself, can it be possible that I am dead? Just then I heard a voice say, “No, you will live through it all.” No one seemed to be passing along the streets and everything was as still as death, except the prayers of the people that could be heard in the houses. I saw no funerals, and the scourge or whatever it was, seemed to be under control. I then looked over the country; in every direction as far as I could see, a similar condition prevailed. I then passed eastward above the earth and looking down saw many people coming west, mostly women who were carrying small bundles on their backs, and I thought it strange that there were so few men among them. They were on their way to the mountains, and I wondered how they could get there as the railroads were abandoned and the rails were in bad condition. I continued on my way passing through Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Iowa, and saw many women moving about in an excited manner

Sickness and death prevailed on all sides. The inhabitants of Illinois and Missouri were (were) in dreadful condition, the men and women killing each other in the most brutal manner.

Next I visited the City of Washington, D.C., and found the place deserted and in ruins. From there I went to Baltimore and on the square, where stands the monument of 1812, dead bodies of the inhabitants of the place were piled in heaps. While there I saw mothers cut the throats of their own children and drink the blood in order to quench their thirst. The waters of the Chesapeake Bay were so befouled from the effect of dead bodies that the water could not be used. Sickness and death prevailed throughout the city and the stench was something awful. I thought surely that this must be the end of suffering, but when I visited the City of Philadelphia, I found the place in ruins and the smell from dead bodies was beyond anything one could imagine.

In New York I saw men crawl out of cellars, ravish beautiful women, kill them and rob them of their jewels. I saw parents eating the flesh of their own offspring and then roll over and die. Looking back while on my way to Central Park, I saw fire break out and a heavy wind carried the flames over the city, and all the buildings, wharfs and ships in the harbor were burned. The stench from the burning bodies was carried by the wind across the Hudson River spreading death and destruction wherever it went. The sights that met my view on all sides were so horrible to look upon that it would be impossible for me to describe them.

After these scenes had passed, I found myself standing on the left bank of the Missouri River, just opposite to where stood the City of Independence and soon discovered that the states of Illinois, Missouri, and part of Iowa had been swept clean of its inhabitants and the surrounding country was a complete wilderness.

A short distance across the river, I beheld twelve men dressed in their temple robes standing in a square with their hands raised, and it was made known to me that they represented the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem. They then consecrated the grounds and laid the cornerstones of the city and temple; and while they were doing so, I saw myriads of heavenly angels hovering over them. I heard the most beautiful music and singing that I ever listened to and these were the words they repeated:

“Now is established the Kingdom of our God and His Christ which shall no more be thrown down or given to another people.”

I then saw a multitude of people coming from various directions to take part in the upbuilding of the city and temple and even the angels were on hand to assist in the glorious work. A great cloud arose above them and many of the saints were clothed in their temple robes.

All of a sudden I found myself standing at the pulpit of the Ogden Tabernacle, yet I could see the building of the city of Zion and temple going on and the cloud that hovered above the place.

I had become so animated by this time that I called upon the congregation to listen to the sweet music and singing of the angels that seemed to fill the house. Then I heard a voice say, “Now has come to pass that which was spoken by the mouth of Isaiah the Prophet, where he declares that `Seven women shall take hold of one man saying, We will eat our own bread and wear our own apparel, only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach.’”

By this time I was so exhausted that I staggered backwards, and Brother Franklin D. Richards and some of the other brethren caught me before I fell. I then asked Brother Richards to apologize for me stopping so abruptly in my remarks, and to tell them that I had not fainted, but was overcome from exhaustion. I then rolled over in bed and the clock in the City and County Building struck twelve.

Source: Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, June 15, 1878, “A Vision, Salt Lake City, Night of Dec 16, 1877″

The Vision of Heber C. Kimball (1868)

Vision of Heber C. Kimball 

An army of elders will be sent to the four quarters of the earth to search out the righteous and warn the wicked of what is coming. All kinds of religions will be started and miracles performed that will deceive the very elect if such a thing were possible. Our sons and daughters must live pure lives so as to be prepared for what is coming.

“After a while the Gentiles will gather to this place by the thousands, and Salt Lake will be classed among the wicked cities of the world. A spirit of speculation and extravagance will take possession of the Saints, and the result will be financial bondage.

“Persecution comes next, and all true Latter-day Saints will be tested to the limit. Many will apostatize, and others will stand still, not knowing what to do. Darkness will cover the earth and gross darkness the minds of the people.

“The judgments of God will be poured out upon the wicked to the extent that our elders from far and near will be called home. Or in other words, the gospel will be taken from the Gentiles and later on will be carried to the Jews.

“The western boundaries of the State of Missouri will be swept so clean of its inhabitants that, as President Young tells us, when we return to that place, `There will not be left so much as a yellow dog to wag his tail.’

“Before that day comes, however, the Saints will be put to a test that will try the integrity of the best of them. The pressure will become so great that the more righteous among them will cry unto the Lord day and night until deliverance comes. Then the Prophet Joseph and others will make their appearance and those who have remained faithful will be selected to return to Jackson County, Missouri, and take part in the upbuilding of that beautiful city, the New Jerusalem.

        (“Deseret News” May 23, 1931, Heber C. Kimball)