Encounters

“Every member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles should have, and I feel sure have had, the knowledge of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This does not have to come by direct visitation of the Savior, but it does come from the testimony of the Holy Ghost…The testimony of the Holy Ghost is the strongest testimony that can be given. It is better than a personal visit.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, DS, 3:153)

Okay, I admit it, when I first read this statement many years ago I was flabbergasted. My first thought was “only those that have never had a visit would say such a thing.” Only I didn’t know if I’d had such a visit or encounter with Him, no matter how small.

I love the Holy Ghost and all that is offered by the third member of the Godhead. But to actually suggest that a witness of the Holy Ghost is more powerful than being visited by the Savior. We are not talking about what so many have had, an experience “seeing” Him, in vision or whatever. I’m talking the full enchilada, receiving Him in a sacred embrace, feeling the prints in His hands and feet. Then feeling His side. An encounter where His entire being would imprint in every cell in your mortal and immortal body. A feeling or witness from the Holy Ghost is more powerful and important than this?

These past nine days or so I traveled back to Kentucky with my good friend that occasionally lets me drive for him. We discussed this concept and he gave me the references. I was after one main reference which we will discuss later. But first I wanted to share some encounters from my past with Him and others. No, I have not received the full enchilada and been redeemed by my Savior. Nevertheless, let’s visit some encounters and concepts in no particular order.

As we drove past a location east of Green River, Utah, I was reminded by my friend of the time we pulled of the freeway and slept at the exit. After some sleep we both found ourselves outside our bodies fighting a host of evil entities. We had swords and were working our behinds off trying to destroy the dark entities. What was unusual was we were both in the same encounter and were talking telepathically. We knew we were about to lose the battle and realized if we could keep going until the Sun came up we’d be okay. It worked, as the dark entities went away as the Sun came over the horizon. Our mortal bodies then “woke up” and we looked over at each other and started to share what had happened. It was true, we both were in each other’s experience. Later my sighted friend told me it wasn’t a dream, it had been real. The entities had been sent to destroy us. What an encounter. I can still feel it and see it as it was incredibly vivid.

On this recent trip I had what I call a vivid dream. I like those because I can usually control what I do and see. In this one I was outside a building, a meeting house. I watched as a young man of about 14 years of age was walking by. Then I noticed another “man” come towards the youth. He had very dark skin and looked horrible, zombie like. Instantly I knew he was a dark being, perhaps a dark translated being, on a mission to destroy the youth. I quickly walked over and put one hand on the entities chest and the other on his back. This stopped him cold. But then I realized that I was paralyzed. I couldn’t move and knew the entity was about to destroy me. Quickly I called on my Savior Jesus Christ for help and was saved. The vivid dream then went inside the building where I saw the young man on a bench near the window being instructed by Snuffer. I was really surprised to see him. I didn’t go over and interrupt them. Later my sighted friend helped me with the interpretation of the encounter by telling me the reason I had been paralyzed was because I had not asked the Savior permission to do what I did to the entity. Remember, it is always His will, not ours, even in battle in regards to what is done.

I can still vividly see that entities face and features. I’ve related here about the mini god Source coming to my property and not being able to get in. He changed from a man form to his “scary” form with horns. That was an encounter and is also vividly imprinted in my mind.

I had an encounter with my sighted daughter in a vivid dream I had. I was in a theatre watching “The Work and the Glory.” The real Joseph Smith was on the screen talking to some men in Nauvoo. Suddenly my sighted daughter walked into the scene from the left side. Cool, I thought, she will be in my movie. As she got to Joseph’s side she turned to me and said, “Hi Dad.” I was shocked and later the next day asked her if she had consciously entered my dream. Her answer? “Yes, it is easy to do that.” Now that was a strange encounter. Kind of made me think if it is that easy for her to enter my dream, how easy is it for dark entities? Good question.

When we did our first book review for My Peace I Give Unto You back in 2001 in Payson, Utah I had an encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ. I was so scared to do the book review I spent much of the afternoon in a bathroom. I kept begging the Savior to not have me do it. Finally, I told Him I’d do the meeting if He came and was with me. I received a yes.

Later I found myself scared witless standing in front of a group of some thirty people. I felt Him to my side. He was extremely warm and it was wonderful. But after five minutes He disappeared. I was a little disconcerted, but kept going. After the book review was over several women came up and asked if I knew that Jesus Christ was standing next to me when I had started the review? I told them yes, but then He left. “Oh no,” they said, “He went behind you and held you up.” What was funny about that is I thought I was leaning against the wall, but it was Him that I had encountered and was leaning against. That feeling still remains to this day. I can recall it whenever I want because it was real and affected my mortal and immortal being, my soul.

There was not one book review that we did where I didn’t feel Him by my side. Those were encounters, not just the Holy Ghost. It was physical and spiritual.

It got to the point that I knew when He came by the feel of Him, His peace, and the literal heat that was there. One time I didn’t feel well before a book review in Cedar City, Utah and asked Him for permission to not talk that night. He said that I had agreed to carry out what He asked of me. I told Him that I had, but then asked if He would give the book review. I felt Him overpower me. Even that is not the right way to say it, because it wasn’t power, it was love and peace. I watched as the 70 plus people listened for 90 minutes without moving or making any noise, even the children. I couldn’t tell you what He taught, just that He did it through me. After the review was over a friend came up and asked if I wanted a towel. I asked what for? He told me to look at myself. My shirt was drenched, as were my pants down to the knees. My hair was as wet as if I’d just come out of the shower. I know what His heat feels like.

Let me clarify one thing, these were my encounters with Him. Yours could be entirely different and probably will be. Just be sure you know it is Him that has come.

There were some book reviews where people asked about Him being there. We would have them come up and put their hand where He was standing. Many of those broke down in tears. They would say things like, “I’d hoped He was real. Now I’ve felt Him.” They had an encounter with Him and it was pretty cool, enough to change their paradigm I believe.

We are training some people to be observers in generational healings. They have to be able to take the “packet” of emotions and results of sins from the proxy’s ancestors. The last time we did one, a woman actually felt the packet and the pain associated with taking such things. She had an encounter in a very small way of what He did and does for us. If she thinks back on the experience or encounter she will never be the same. It wasn’t just a witness, which is awesome so don’t get me wrong, it was a physical and spiritual encounter that can and does change a person’s paradigm.

It all starts with baby steps. Feeling, hearing, and seeing takes time. It requires keeping His commandments. Are many of us wanting the entire enchilada right now, this minute? Have we put in the time and received the experience needed? What I’ve related above are baby steps. They are thrilling none the less, but still baby steps.

Why? Because He needs to know us. He needs to prove us. Are we willing to do all things He requires of us? No matter the inconvenience.

All of this was a progression and learning for me. Finally one day my sighted daughter and I went to a funeral service in Santa Clara, Utah. As the transitioned woman’s grandchildren were singing songs about Christ I saw Him standing behind them. Later in the car I told my sighted daughter about it. I don’t know if she believed me until I mentioned how round His face was. “Oh,” she said, “you did see Him.”

Was going out every day and doing what He asked an inconvenience? Many days, yes. Was doing Ezekiel seminars an inconvenience? Yes. Was writing books and this blog an inconvenience? Absolutely.

If you have an encounter with Him and He gives you a commission to act, to do, to speak or whatever, does that make you a disciple? Are we to seek Him, to encounter Him? If men tell you no to this question, does that make them anti-Christ? I believe so.

We will finish this tomorrow.