A peaceful landscape, not directly relevant but serene \u00a0 \u00a0(Wikimedia Commons public domain image)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
I can say with regard to parting with our friends, and going ourselves, that I have been near enough to understand eternity so that I have had to exercise a great deal more faith to desire to live than I ever exercised in my whole life to live. The brightness and glory of the next apartment is inexpressible. It is not encumbered so that when we advance in years we have to be stubbing along and be careful lest we fall down. We see our youth, even, frequently stubbing their toes and falling down. But yonder, how different! They move with ease and like lightning. If we want to visit Jerusalem, or this, that, or the other place\u2014and I presume we will be permitted if we desire\u2014there we are, looking at its streets. If we want to behold Jerusalem as it was in the days of the Savior; or if we want to see the Garden of Eden as it was when created, there we are, and we see it as it existed spiritually, for it was created first spiritually and then temporally, and spiritually it still remains. And when there we may behold the earth as at the dawn of creation, or we may visit any city we please that exists upon its surface. If we wish to understand how they are living here on these\u00a0western islands, or in China, we are there; in fact, we are like the light of the morning. . . . \u00a0God has revealed some little things, with regard to his movements and power, and the operation and motion of the lightning furnish a fine illustration of the ability of the Almighty.<\/strong> \u00a0(Discourses of Brigham Young,<\/em>\u00a0380)<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Compare these quotations from John Burke, Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God\u2019s Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You<\/em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015):<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was more like flying than walking. \u00a0We were talking while suspended in midair. \u00a0There is no weight or gravity in Heaven, so there\u2019s no need to touch the ground.<\/strong> \u00a0(Dr. Richard Eby, cited at 135)<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
It is possible to move by the speed of thought. \u00a0You have to go somewhere and just like that you\u2019re there. \u00a0But there is a mode to move slowly. \u00a0You have the sensation of moving which in itself is delightful. \u00a0When you ride down a scenic road, you can look out and see the scenery whereas travelling by thought you wouldn\u2019t see that because right away you\u2019re there. \u00a0But to travel, you see, you learn as you travel, oh it\u2019s delightful to learn. . . . \u00a0And then you just appear to be floating through space. . . . \u00a0While we don\u2019t have any wings we just float through space.<\/strong> \u00a0(cited at 135)<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
There is no distance, as we know it here on earth. \u00a0I seemed to be far from things and yet near. \u00a0If I wanted to be somewhere else in Heaven I just had to think it, and I<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0was there.<\/strong> \u00a0(Dean, cited at 136)<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clearly, Brigham Young knew whereof he spoke. <\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 \u00a0 I can say with regard to parting with our friends, and going ourselves, that I have been near enough to understand eternity so that I have had to exercise a great deal more faith to desire to live than I ever exercised in my whole life to live. The brightness and glory of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-66876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"Somewhere](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2016\/01\/800px-Peaceful_nature.jpg\")
<\/a>