ABOUT THE BOOK
Life. Death. Life.
Not everyone who visits the spirit world stays
there. The Magnificent World of Spirits:
Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die, gives fascinating glimpses
of life beyond the veil by people who visited the spirit world during the early
years of the LDS Church.
Filled with stories of insight and inspiration, The Magnificent World of Spirits is a stirring book that combines
documented personal experiences with scripture, commentary, and quotes from
latter-day prophets and other leaders. This book will bring you peace as you
come to understand what awaits on the other side of the veil. After reading this book, you will never think of life—or
death—in the same way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marlene Bateman Sullivan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and graduated
from the University of Utah with a Bachelor's degree in English. Marlene loves
reading, camping, and flowers, and has a super-sized iris garden with over 75
different varieties. She also loves animals and has a pudgy Westie and an
energetic Welsh Corgi who somehow manage to co-exist with her four cats.
Marlene has written a number of non-fiction books, including: Latter-day
Saint Heroes and Heroines, And There Were Angels Among Them, Visit’s From
Beyond the Veil, By the Ministering of Angels, Brigham’s Boys, Heroes of
Faith, Gaze Into Heaven; Near-death
Experiences in Early Church History, and
The Magnificent World of Spirits. Marlene also wrote the best-selling novel,
Light on Fire Island, as well as three other
mysteries, Motive for Murder, A Death in the Family, and Crooked House.
REVIEW
One of the things I love about reading about the spirit world is the possibilities of eternity. Each individual story gives a glimpse at a world different from and yet similar too our own. I find it comforting to read about death not being the end, of seeing loved ones again, of seeing the prophets and the Savior Himself. Each story is fascinating, the leaving the body, what each person sees and experiences. I appreciate the way Sullivan has combined these stories into an organized framework looking at what we know and have learned about the spirit world. I find it restful to consider the beautiful nature of spirit paradise and the thought of leaving pain and suffering behind. I recommend this book to those who like me, wonder about life after death.
Excerpts
from The Magnificent World of Spirits
Sometime in 1867, John Powell wrote; “My spirit then left
my body and went with my guide . . . Here I beheld the inhabitants. The houses
and trees were beautiful to behold. I was so amazed and so delighted that I
requested my guide to permit me to stay and dwell there, for all things were
far in advance of this world.”
While in Philadelphia, Edward Southgate found
himself in the spirit world. He says; “I found myself standing in the midst of
a vast assembly of people all dressed in white robes. I was greatly
impressed—awed is perhaps a better word—by their appearance. Somehow, in a way
I cannot describe, their faces seemed to radiate love and happiness and
something far deeper and more powerful than happiness—JOY!”
When Brother Pettersson visited the spirit world,
he said it resembled the world he knew on earth. He then added, “There were
cities and villages, lakes and rivers, fields and gardens, houses and mansions,
temples and palaces, flowers and animals of great beauty and variety. The
people were busy. Some were building, some were planting, some harvesting.”
Lorena A. Wilson said; “Before us lay a vast city
or realm . . . Everything was clean and beaming with radiant beauty. . . . We
walked, or seemed to walk, but without apparent effort, a long distance through
pleasant streets, lined with beautiful buildings, over paved walks which were
bordered by well-kept lawns. The lawns were set with pretty trees and shrubbery,
with here and there beds of gorgeous flowers, which were a delight to behold.”
TO PURCHASE
The Magnificent World of Spirits is published by Cedar Fort Inc. and is available at physical bookstores such as Deseret Book, Seagull Book, and other LDS bookstores. It can also be purchased online at:
Amazon:
http://goo.gl/qqI20J
Books and Things:
http://goo.gl/OBNGSR
Blurb for Gaze into Heaven (prequel to The Magnificent World of Spirits)
Gaze Into Heaven;
Near-death Experiences in Early LDS Church History, is a collection of more than 50 near-death experiences that
occurred during the early years of the LDS Church. These documented
accounts give fascinating glimpses into the spirit world by those who have
actually been there. What happens when we die? What does the spirit
world look like? Will we see departed
family members and friends? What do people do there? All of these
questions and many more are answered in Gaze
Into Heaven.
