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The Magnificent World of Spirits: Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die
This detailed guide to the spirit world gives fascinating glimpses of life beyond the veil by people who visited the spirit world during the early years of the Church. Filled with stories of insight and inspiration, this stirring book combines fascinating personal experiences with scripture, perceptive commentary, and quotes from latter-day prophets and other leaders. This book will bring you peace as you come to understand what awaits us on the other side of the veil.
- GenresLds
208 pages, Paperback
Published April 12, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 3, 2016
Some books entertain us. Some books teach us. Some books change us. Marlene Bateman Sullivan’s Magnificent World of Spirits: Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die, does all three.
Bateman has written extensively on the Spirit World and angelic visitations as recorded in the journals of early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In Magnificent World of Spirits, she offers carefully researched accounts of Latter-day Saints who visited the Spirit World through dreams and visions. These accounts are almost identical to the experiences of people who actually crossed the veil, visited the Spirit World, and returned, which she chronicled in her first book on the subject, Gaze Into Heaven; Near-death Experiences in Early Church History. Both books remind us where we came from, why we’re here on earth, what really matters, and why we want to make it Home.
The Magnificent World of Spirits: Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die is a well-documented, fascinating read that’s hard to put down. Sullivan’s research has earned her accolades from other respected LDS scholars. The book opens with an acknowledgment by Lee Nelson (Beyond the Veil Series.) The extensive foreword was written by Duane S. Crowther, the prolific and highly respected author of over fifty LDS titles.
Adding to the veracity of these accounts is the era in which they were give. Before our media-driven days, these stories were personally recorded in private journals, and initially shared with family and ecclesiastical leaders to strengthen and teach, Sullivan supports the context of the accounts by interspersing correlating scriptural content and passages from modern revelation, adding further substance until the overall effect is powerful, convincing, and educational.
She explained that while researching the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for another book, LDS Heroes and Heroines, she came across touching accounts of people who had visited the Spirit World. After completing that book, she returned to the LDS libraries to search for similar accounts and found scores of them.
Though each experience shared is unique to the individual, the personal accounts contain many similarities—concourses of people dressed primarily in brilliant white, feelings of love, a sense of familiarity, a longing to stay in Heaven, the sense of freedom from the burden of the body, acute awareness of the separation between the co-existing worlds of spirits and mortals.
Most touching to me was the reminder that mortality is a time to prepare for eternity where what matters most are our relationships—to God, and to others—further reminding us that matters most in heaven should be the primary subject of our concern here on earth.
Though the accounts are from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the messages are universal. There is peace in these pages. The Magnificent World of Spirits:Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die is a comfort to those who have lost someone, to those suffering through illness, and to anyone who wonders whether Heavenly Father and Jesus are real.
As a family reference book, it would be a source of easy devotionals, scriptural dessert before bed, a gift for peace for those providing bedside comfort to the ailing, and a source of beautiful stories to support favorite scriptural passages.
For me, it provides a challenge to keep eternity close, like a ruler by which we measure the way we use this precious time. I can highly recommend any of Marlene Bateman Sullivan’s books, but The Magnificent World of Spirits: Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die is a resource every family would return to many times.
Bateman has written extensively on the Spirit World and angelic visitations as recorded in the journals of early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In Magnificent World of Spirits, she offers carefully researched accounts of Latter-day Saints who visited the Spirit World through dreams and visions. These accounts are almost identical to the experiences of people who actually crossed the veil, visited the Spirit World, and returned, which she chronicled in her first book on the subject, Gaze Into Heaven; Near-death Experiences in Early Church History. Both books remind us where we came from, why we’re here on earth, what really matters, and why we want to make it Home.
The Magnificent World of Spirits: Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die is a well-documented, fascinating read that’s hard to put down. Sullivan’s research has earned her accolades from other respected LDS scholars. The book opens with an acknowledgment by Lee Nelson (Beyond the Veil Series.) The extensive foreword was written by Duane S. Crowther, the prolific and highly respected author of over fifty LDS titles.
Adding to the veracity of these accounts is the era in which they were give. Before our media-driven days, these stories were personally recorded in private journals, and initially shared with family and ecclesiastical leaders to strengthen and teach, Sullivan supports the context of the accounts by interspersing correlating scriptural content and passages from modern revelation, adding further substance until the overall effect is powerful, convincing, and educational.
She explained that while researching the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for another book, LDS Heroes and Heroines, she came across touching accounts of people who had visited the Spirit World. After completing that book, she returned to the LDS libraries to search for similar accounts and found scores of them.
Though each experience shared is unique to the individual, the personal accounts contain many similarities—concourses of people dressed primarily in brilliant white, feelings of love, a sense of familiarity, a longing to stay in Heaven, the sense of freedom from the burden of the body, acute awareness of the separation between the co-existing worlds of spirits and mortals.
Most touching to me was the reminder that mortality is a time to prepare for eternity where what matters most are our relationships—to God, and to others—further reminding us that matters most in heaven should be the primary subject of our concern here on earth.
Though the accounts are from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the messages are universal. There is peace in these pages. The Magnificent World of Spirits:Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die is a comfort to those who have lost someone, to those suffering through illness, and to anyone who wonders whether Heavenly Father and Jesus are real.
As a family reference book, it would be a source of easy devotionals, scriptural dessert before bed, a gift for peace for those providing bedside comfort to the ailing, and a source of beautiful stories to support favorite scriptural passages.
For me, it provides a challenge to keep eternity close, like a ruler by which we measure the way we use this precious time. I can highly recommend any of Marlene Bateman Sullivan’s books, but The Magnificent World of Spirits: Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die is a resource every family would return to many times.
April 28, 2016
As a child, I grew up fearing death, but as I grew older, that fear faded. And once I came to understand God's plan for us, I became fascinated by the personal accounts of others of the the spirit world during their own near death experiences. Marlene Bateman Sullivan's book sheds so much light on death by sharing with the reader what others have experienced after leaving the body and coming back. The book brings so much peace and hope, two things that are greatly needed at a time when the world is so troubled. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
November 28, 2018
I have read many of these types of books. The most interesting thing that set this book apart was the time frame of all these stories. The collection of NDE's from the late 1800's to the early 1900's was a treasure trove I had not read before. It was interesting to see how these stories separated from our modern culture told the same stories of our day and age.
November 5, 2018
Life after death
A compelling book of true experiences answering the age old question of where we go after death. I enjoyed the book very much and gained much food for thought.I definitely recommend it to anyone seeking answers.
A compelling book of true experiences answering the age old question of where we go after death. I enjoyed the book very much and gained much food for thought.I definitely recommend it to anyone seeking answers.
June 22, 2017
Great book about the afterlife.
April 25, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book! I always think that it's fun to be able to read about things that have actually happened to people and reading about people's trips into the Spirit World was really a fun way to spend some time. I really liked that most of the examples were from a really long time ago, I'm sure people still have visits to the Spirit World, but with the way the world is getting, people probably don't talk about it as much as they would have in say pioneer times.
I like the way this book is set up, in each chapter there is kind of a statement about what happens to people when they die or have trips to the Spirit World, one example was that all the people talk about being met by a guide, a person that stays with them, and then there are true life stories to illustrate the statement.
This is a really well-written, interesting book that I didn't want to put down!
I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I like the way this book is set up, in each chapter there is kind of a statement about what happens to people when they die or have trips to the Spirit World, one example was that all the people talk about being met by a guide, a person that stays with them, and then there are true life stories to illustrate the statement.
This is a really well-written, interesting book that I didn't want to put down!
I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2016
Consoling and very helpful read at a time of loss. Although The Magnificent World of Spirits focuses mainly on Mormons who visited the spirit world, it offers comfort to people of anyone who has lost a loved one. This book is a continuation of Marlene’s first book, Gaze Into Heaven; Near-death Experiences in LDS Church History, which had over 50 accounts of near-death experiences. Both books provide fascinating insights about life after death and the spirit world. The Magnificent World of Spirits shows that there is no need to fear death, since life continues on in a place of tremendous beauty—a place where there is love, peace and joy, and where we will be free from all the pains and handicaps that torment us here on earth. I loved the book and have to confess that even if I wasn’t married to the author, I would recommend it highly!
May 5, 2016
Another look into near-death experiences and a look into the past. If you haven't read the book Gaze Into Heaven, that is fine, this just expands on more experiences. But I would recommend that book as well.
These experiences were had by people early on in LDS church history. Back then (even today) people have been looked down upon and are called crazy for having dreams, visions, and near death experiences. How do we know that what they saw is worth believing? For me it's what the spirit speaks to me.
What happens when we die? Well we will all find out when that time comes. These stories shared are personal experiences. They are all different, yet give hope for a life with peace, love, and forever families.
These experiences were had by people early on in LDS church history. Back then (even today) people have been looked down upon and are called crazy for having dreams, visions, and near death experiences. How do we know that what they saw is worth believing? For me it's what the spirit speaks to me.
What happens when we die? Well we will all find out when that time comes. These stories shared are personal experiences. They are all different, yet give hope for a life with peace, love, and forever families.
May 4, 2016
This story would be enjoyable to anyone who is curious about inspiring near-death experiences. But I think it may be particularly comforting for someone who has recently lost someone close, and needs to be reminded that the essence of who a person is does not cease to exist at the end of the life of the body, but continues on another plane of existence; not only that, but that the person retains the same consciousness and personality that he or she had before. The book was well-researched, and skillfully put together. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading inspiring, faith-affirming stories.
April 21, 2016
"The Magnificent World of Spirits" is one very interesting reading. It takes the reader on a journey into the Spirit World, giving him/her an amazing opportunity to understand more about death and the post-mortal life . . . which means this is not a fast read. Instead it's a teaching opportunity for the reader in receiving some very valuable facts concerning what happens after death--facts given by those who have actually had the opportunity to visit the world of Spirits and learn many eternal facts for themselves.
May 27, 2016
Ms. Sullivan has once again masterfully compiled a wonderful book! I truly love the way she arranges the stories, and the personal insights she includes. I have read many near-death experiences, but I feel that with the accounts that she has included in this book, my horizons have expanded, and I feel I truly have gained a greater understanding of Heaven and of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
June 18, 2016
I never tire of reading first-hand accounts of glimpses of the Spirit World after this life. It gives me hope and peace that God lives, our Savior Jesus Christ has paid the price for our sins so we can dwell in their presence and the work of salvation is what everyone is busily involved in there.
December 29, 2019
Enjoyable
This book really strengthened my Testimony about what happens after we pass. I’m grateful for the experiences shared here. Your heart will be touched and the spirit will bare witness to you that life exists beyond the grave. Awesome book.
This book really strengthened my Testimony about what happens after we pass. I’m grateful for the experiences shared here. Your heart will be touched and the spirit will bare witness to you that life exists beyond the grave. Awesome book.
May 18, 2016
I totally enjoyed this book. It gave me such a wonderful feeling of calm, order, and peace. Wonderful!
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September 30, 2016I found the experiences very interesting, especially because I know I have family members in the spirit world. They are all experiences from at least 100 years ago, but still valid.
March 25, 2017
I loved the works the author collected that made this compilation. I loved reading these people's near death experiences from 100 plus years ago. The synopsis between accounts was fine. One thing I disagree with was when the author said the veil is lifted after death. That is not necessarily true, otherwise there would be no need for missionary work because all men would remember the pre-earth life. However, I don't understand how it plays into many of these people meeting and recognizing people from another life. Anyway, i'm sure it's more complex than if the veil is lifted right after death for everyone or not.
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