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The Message
On Christmas Day, 1998, Lance Richardson was involved in an accident which later left him in a comatose state for several weeks. While his body was being kept alive by medical support equipment, his spirit passed into the world beyond. In "The Message," Lance describes his experience in the world of spirits and delivers to us a message giving a greater understanding of the importance of families and the future of America. He was also taught concerning a most important principle of their society of peace, which, if followed by the people of this great nation, would rescue us from self-destruction.
157 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2000
113 people are currently reading
1760 people want to read
About the author
Lance Richardson
11 books15 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 730 reviews
July 17, 2008
This book has a great message. I was truly inspired by this account of the life hereafter and the lessons he learned I could hear ring true. I actually appreciate the length of the book and how Lance doesn’t mess around with adding a lot of extra stuff. He gets strait to the point and tells it like it happened. I was really surprised at everything he was able to remember and I am ashamed to say the skeptic in me was trying to break free but I honestly believe this story to be true and I am excited in the changes I am making in my own life because of it. My wife is reading this book now and I am already planning our next vacation where we plan to do as much service as we can. Overall this was a very inspiring tale with a simple message that all of us can benefit from.
December 20, 2010
I have read in the neighborhood of 2000 "Near Death" experiences in books, videos, interviews, articles, television reports, etc. Most of the stories I have read are on the websites NDERF and ILANDS. I consider myself an "expert" on the NDE, at least as far as having been exposed to a broad spectrum point of view on them, and at least more reading done on them than the average person. Also having been an active Mormon for several decades has given me somewhat of a not-so-easily-discounted opinion on this book by Lance Richardson--a Mormon who claims to have had a Near Death Experience which he reports in this book.
I was assured by my best friend who loaned the book to me, an LDS man who knew of my interest in the NDE, that it was indeed my hobby, that this book was not LDS oriented, that it did not even mention the LDS Church.
My friend was correct in saying that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon Church) was never mentioned in it's pages. (After reading it, I'm now of the opinion that Mr. Richardson should have mentioned in the Foreword or Preface at least, that he was/is a member of that "every-member-a-missionary" church in order to give the reader some honesty and some hint as to possible bias.
I didn't get through the first three chapters before I realized that this book is PACKED to the hilt with LDS phraseologies and words detectable only by one who was familiar with LDS Doctrine, history and culture. I am.
As I continued to read, a feeling came over me that somehow this book seemed eerily familiar, and I shortly realized why.
I was a missionary for the LDS Church at one time and it was common for our group of missionaries to get together occasionally and listen to taped speeches/presentations by some of our leaders. One of our favoritee speakers was Elder Paul H. Dunn, a member of the Seventy and a General Authority and a great speaker and an inspirational character with an endless array of personal and very motivational and entertaining stories to tell (all with an LDS theme, of course). Then some 20 or so years later the bottom fell out for Elder Dunn, as it inevitably does for all liars! He was exposed by a Salt Lake City Journalist as having fabricated most of his faith promoting stories. Elder Dunn later admitted that he had made up those stories to "help build the faith and testimonies of the LDS membership". Was this book, "The Message", a repeat of Dunn's antics? It certainly seemed so. The more I read the more convinced I became that it was. Do I have "smoking gun" evidence of Richardson's story being a fabricated tall tale? No.
However, having read as many NDE stories as I have I was able to construct what amounts to a "composite NDE"--one containing most of the more common elements. ALL NDE'S are different in some small details such that an NDE steps outside that composite to a significant degree I discount that NDE as not legitimate--especially if the the author of the story is making a buck or 2 on the telling of it.
"The Message" to me is clearly outside the bounds of a "normal" NDE that I had established for myself. I won't go into all the reasons for those violations of NDE "boundaries" committed by this book--except to mention one, "The New Jerusalem to be established in America". The LDS Church is the ONLY church in the world that teaches such a concept (with the possible exception of some of the LDS offshoot religions. NO OTHER NDE that I have ever read EVER refers to this idea of a "New Jerusalem in America". In fact most NDE's report that God is not interested in what religion one belongs to. Add to that the reality that 15 to 20% of all NDE'rs end up LEAVING the religion they grew up in--INCLUDING 2 Mormon who did have rather standard NDEs. Why? Because the reality of their personal experience with God and "heaven" was so far removed from what mainstream, organized religion has to say on those subjects, that people of integrity cannot abide the lies they see in organized religion versus what they observed with their own eyes via their explosive NDE experience.
My personal conclusion is this: If you want to read for entertainment and escape with a fairly skilled and entertaining writer this book is better than just okay. If you're interested in reading about real NDE experiences by real people this book is probably not for you. I'd suggest the stories of Melon Thomas, or Howard Storm or Danion Brinkley for helpful spiritual content, entertainment and believability these are among the best in my opinion.
Thanks You,
DG
I was assured by my best friend who loaned the book to me, an LDS man who knew of my interest in the NDE, that it was indeed my hobby, that this book was not LDS oriented, that it did not even mention the LDS Church.
My friend was correct in saying that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon Church) was never mentioned in it's pages. (After reading it, I'm now of the opinion that Mr. Richardson should have mentioned in the Foreword or Preface at least, that he was/is a member of that "every-member-a-missionary" church in order to give the reader some honesty and some hint as to possible bias.
I didn't get through the first three chapters before I realized that this book is PACKED to the hilt with LDS phraseologies and words detectable only by one who was familiar with LDS Doctrine, history and culture. I am.
As I continued to read, a feeling came over me that somehow this book seemed eerily familiar, and I shortly realized why.
I was a missionary for the LDS Church at one time and it was common for our group of missionaries to get together occasionally and listen to taped speeches/presentations by some of our leaders. One of our favoritee speakers was Elder Paul H. Dunn, a member of the Seventy and a General Authority and a great speaker and an inspirational character with an endless array of personal and very motivational and entertaining stories to tell (all with an LDS theme, of course). Then some 20 or so years later the bottom fell out for Elder Dunn, as it inevitably does for all liars! He was exposed by a Salt Lake City Journalist as having fabricated most of his faith promoting stories. Elder Dunn later admitted that he had made up those stories to "help build the faith and testimonies of the LDS membership". Was this book, "The Message", a repeat of Dunn's antics? It certainly seemed so. The more I read the more convinced I became that it was. Do I have "smoking gun" evidence of Richardson's story being a fabricated tall tale? No.
However, having read as many NDE stories as I have I was able to construct what amounts to a "composite NDE"--one containing most of the more common elements. ALL NDE'S are different in some small details such that an NDE steps outside that composite to a significant degree I discount that NDE as not legitimate--especially if the the author of the story is making a buck or 2 on the telling of it.
"The Message" to me is clearly outside the bounds of a "normal" NDE that I had established for myself. I won't go into all the reasons for those violations of NDE "boundaries" committed by this book--except to mention one, "The New Jerusalem to be established in America". The LDS Church is the ONLY church in the world that teaches such a concept (with the possible exception of some of the LDS offshoot religions. NO OTHER NDE that I have ever read EVER refers to this idea of a "New Jerusalem in America". In fact most NDE's report that God is not interested in what religion one belongs to. Add to that the reality that 15 to 20% of all NDE'rs end up LEAVING the religion they grew up in--INCLUDING 2 Mormon who did have rather standard NDEs. Why? Because the reality of their personal experience with God and "heaven" was so far removed from what mainstream, organized religion has to say on those subjects, that people of integrity cannot abide the lies they see in organized religion versus what they observed with their own eyes via their explosive NDE experience.
My personal conclusion is this: If you want to read for entertainment and escape with a fairly skilled and entertaining writer this book is better than just okay. If you're interested in reading about real NDE experiences by real people this book is probably not for you. I'd suggest the stories of Melon Thomas, or Howard Storm or Danion Brinkley for helpful spiritual content, entertainment and believability these are among the best in my opinion.
Thanks You,
DG
November 13, 2008
Yes, I read an "inspirational" book and the worst part was that I liked it and I was inspired. Geez. What's wrong with me?
This story is about a man who has a near-death experience and writes down what he saw. I have read other books like this and this tends to be similar (regardless of faith if any), so I can't help but believe that they're telling the story the way they remember it.
I found several points interesting: First, I liked the idea that when we on earth need help it's our loved ones in the spirit world who do our bidding. What a beautiful idea.
Secondly, I liked the part where Lance tells about the "hugs" they give each other in the spirit world. "When they embrace, an amazing experience occurs. It is as if each spirit can transfer a feeling and synopsis of their life to others. Suddenly, one knows and understands another more deeply and thoroughly than could ever be possible through verbal communiation. It creates an instant bond of closeness and friendships to build foundations for loving one another more perfectly." The reason this is so important to me is because shortly after my dad died, each of us kids and my mom had a dream where there was little to no substance in the dream, but my dad was there and he hugged us. It was one of those hugs. I feel I can understand his hug a little better now.
Another interesting idea is that our friends from before we came down to earth can have visited the earth at different times than we did. For example, Lance's two friends were Samuel (who had lived on earth thousands of years before Lance) and Ben (who had come to earth hundreds of years earlier). Now, I saw the note scribbled into my library book that Samuel was Samuel the Lamanite and that Ben was supposed to be Ben Franklin. While I believed most of the rest of this story, I have a hard time believing these were his actual friends. Okay, maybe this part could have been a dream. Okay, back to the stuff I believed. . .
I do believe there is an afterlife. This is something I've doubted maybe just a little at times, but it's good to read accounts that make me believe a little more. I liked the ending where Lance knows the way to feel that feeling he had in the spirit world was to be a service to others. I read something similar to this in another non-faith account of a near-death experience and I can't help but believe it. I'm inspired to do more service.
This story is about a man who has a near-death experience and writes down what he saw. I have read other books like this and this tends to be similar (regardless of faith if any), so I can't help but believe that they're telling the story the way they remember it.
I found several points interesting: First, I liked the idea that when we on earth need help it's our loved ones in the spirit world who do our bidding. What a beautiful idea.
Secondly, I liked the part where Lance tells about the "hugs" they give each other in the spirit world. "When they embrace, an amazing experience occurs. It is as if each spirit can transfer a feeling and synopsis of their life to others. Suddenly, one knows and understands another more deeply and thoroughly than could ever be possible through verbal communiation. It creates an instant bond of closeness and friendships to build foundations for loving one another more perfectly." The reason this is so important to me is because shortly after my dad died, each of us kids and my mom had a dream where there was little to no substance in the dream, but my dad was there and he hugged us. It was one of those hugs. I feel I can understand his hug a little better now.
Another interesting idea is that our friends from before we came down to earth can have visited the earth at different times than we did. For example, Lance's two friends were Samuel (who had lived on earth thousands of years before Lance) and Ben (who had come to earth hundreds of years earlier). Now, I saw the note scribbled into my library book that Samuel was Samuel the Lamanite and that Ben was supposed to be Ben Franklin. While I believed most of the rest of this story, I have a hard time believing these were his actual friends. Okay, maybe this part could have been a dream. Okay, back to the stuff I believed. . .
I do believe there is an afterlife. This is something I've doubted maybe just a little at times, but it's good to read accounts that make me believe a little more. I liked the ending where Lance knows the way to feel that feeling he had in the spirit world was to be a service to others. I read something similar to this in another non-faith account of a near-death experience and I can't help but believe it. I'm inspired to do more service.
December 13, 2007
I don't give 5 stars very often. But this is a must read. It is short and you can finish it in a day. This is a true story about a man who was in a coma for two weeks and wasn't suppose to live. He visited the spirit world and was sent back to earth to read this book. I know that it sound suspicious but even the harshest critics have read it and liked it. It is written by an LDS man and follows the LDS beliefs. I walked away with a sense of overwhelming love that our Heavenly Father has for each of his children. It is a must read!
July 12, 2013
I had mixed feelings about this book. My Dad has been trying to get me to read it for years, and I finally caved when suddenly everyone else I knew was reading it. My inner skeptic was beating against the bars of its cage pretty violently at times, but at the end of the day, whether I believe everything in this book really happened or not, it has a really great takeaway message.
The Message is a really quick read--only a matter of hours. It isn't what I would normally consider well-written, but I think that's actually one of its strengths. It makes it feel less like something Richard Paul Evans would tie up in a neat little package with maximum heart-string pulling, and more like something a real guy would write after a life-changing experience.
The premise of the book is that after a near-fatal accident, Richardson visits the Spirit World while in a coma, then returns to life with the injunction to pass his message on to the world. Some of his ideas about the hereafter--and its interactions with the here--are very beautiful and are things that I am happy to believe. Others seemed a little strange to me, but I'm willing to give the author the same benefit of the doubt that I give to John in Revelations: I think God speaks to us in terms we can understand, and thus encounters with the afterlife tend to reflect our preconceived notions of what it should look like. I got mightily uncomfortable when the angels started telling Richardson about the holiness of the American Constitution and how modern man had trampled all over it, etc., etc., but fortunately that encounter was brief and did not seem to impact the overall message.
Now, about that message. It was service. Richardson's message of vast importance was that we need to serve each other more. He ends the book by talking about some of the ways he and his family put into practice that call to action, and that, more than anything else, was what touched me about this book. The message is that, whatever the problems plaguing us are, the answer is service. And I think that's a standard we can all rally behind.
The Message is a really quick read--only a matter of hours. It isn't what I would normally consider well-written, but I think that's actually one of its strengths. It makes it feel less like something Richard Paul Evans would tie up in a neat little package with maximum heart-string pulling, and more like something a real guy would write after a life-changing experience.
The premise of the book is that after a near-fatal accident, Richardson visits the Spirit World while in a coma, then returns to life with the injunction to pass his message on to the world. Some of his ideas about the hereafter--and its interactions with the here--are very beautiful and are things that I am happy to believe. Others seemed a little strange to me, but I'm willing to give the author the same benefit of the doubt that I give to John in Revelations: I think God speaks to us in terms we can understand, and thus encounters with the afterlife tend to reflect our preconceived notions of what it should look like. I got mightily uncomfortable when the angels started telling Richardson about the holiness of the American Constitution and how modern man had trampled all over it, etc., etc., but fortunately that encounter was brief and did not seem to impact the overall message.
Now, about that message. It was service. Richardson's message of vast importance was that we need to serve each other more. He ends the book by talking about some of the ways he and his family put into practice that call to action, and that, more than anything else, was what touched me about this book. The message is that, whatever the problems plaguing us are, the answer is service. And I think that's a standard we can all rally behind.
April 14, 2011
I first read this book when my son was first diagnosed with cancer. I read it to him just a few weeks before his passing. He had started to read it about 6 months before, but didn't finish it. This was the one book he wanted me to read it to him. It was very comforting to him and myself. So many things in this book I know to be true. I know that my son is doing great things not only for our family but other children who face things similar battles like his own. I recommend this to anyone who has lost someone close and dear to them.
April 24, 2017
Good story. Good message.
My dad personally knows the son of the author, who is now dead, so it was cool
reading a story by someone I can somewhat connect with.
My dad personally knows the son of the author, who is now dead, so it was cool
reading a story by someone I can somewhat connect with.
May 27, 2011
After I read The Message, I read the reviews on Amazon. Because it was poorly written, doubts were cast in many people. I believe he is honest and actually experienced what he says he did. It's a shame he didn't have someone (else) read it before it went to print.
The overall message is good and inspirational: serve others, God knows and loves us, liberty came at a price; we need to protect the nation from self destruction by doing our part. My favorite thing from this book: I love the idea of my departed grandpa and grandma whispering things in my spiritual ear, guiding and protecting me.
The overall message is good and inspirational: serve others, God knows and loves us, liberty came at a price; we need to protect the nation from self destruction by doing our part. My favorite thing from this book: I love the idea of my departed grandpa and grandma whispering things in my spiritual ear, guiding and protecting me.
July 30, 2013
You may not like my review. I’m afraid I’m like some of the one-star folks on Amazon. I felt there was something wrong with the book the moment I read it. It felt contrived. It seemed packaged. It was slick even though it was in need of further editing. I don’t know how else to say it. I know 95% of people who reviewed it said it was wonderful. I think that’s because the message is so focused on…well, on the message of the LDS Church today. To me, it was a bit over the top in hammering the point of the family. Did Lance really die? I won’t call it cheap inspirational fiction, but I was put off by The Message. I didn’t feel I gained any unique insights from it like I have from others who share their NDEs. Lance passed away in 2004 from complications of Crohn’s disease. If you enjoyed this book you may be interested in a follow-up book by Ron McMillian, And Should We Die.
Source: http://latterdaycommentary.com/2013/0...
Source: http://latterdaycommentary.com/2013/0...
August 1, 2024
After my son died, I searched for answers about what happened to him afterwards. Some of those answers came from the scriptures and friends and family. Others came from my own searching. Reading this book gave me a hopeful glimpse into one man’s experience he had after going into a coma. From somebody who lost a child way too soon, Llame Richardson’s story is worth reading.
March 17, 2022
Well I just finished the collected volume of “The Message” and “From Our Side.” I appreciated Lance’s description of the afterlife, and how the spirits there help the living. I believe and hope that is the case with my wife’s passing as well.
But as a widower myself, I think I appreciated Jozet Richardson and her children’s writings in the second half, “From Our Side” even more than “The Message” itself. Jozet’s experiences as a widow and her feelings about life’s challenges after Lance’s passing and on falling in love again resonated deeply with me. I hope our children come out as wonderfully strong as theirs did after their father’s passing.
But as a widower myself, I think I appreciated Jozet Richardson and her children’s writings in the second half, “From Our Side” even more than “The Message” itself. Jozet’s experiences as a widow and her feelings about life’s challenges after Lance’s passing and on falling in love again resonated deeply with me. I hope our children come out as wonderfully strong as theirs did after their father’s passing.
December 28, 2009
I know that current circumstances in your life affect how you feel when reading a book. I wasn't feeling well while reading this book. Maybe that is what happened, but maybe not. I wanted to like this book, to be impressed, to be touched. I wasn't at all. There was no whispering of Spirit, no tingle, no touching of my soul. I wasn't amazed or moved in any way. It wasn't that I disagreed with anything or found it unbelievable, it was just flat..... flatter than a pancake, maybe more like a crepe....maybe a piece of paper....
I am sometimes disappointed with myself that I can't get past the author's voice when reading a memoir or other life-account, but the voice really affects me and I just wasn't impressed with Richardson's voice. I had issues with him telling me what someone else's intent was when, as a true experience, he doesn't know what their intent was unless they told him and then it should be stated as such. A little thing, but it annoys me. Some people have a gift for relating a story and others don't. Those with the gift just tell it. Those without try to embellish, to manipulate, try to use language to force a reaction (Nicholas Sparks, anyone?) and I resent the overt attempt of those authors.
I would say don't waste your time with this one, but then again, it is a short read and maybe it WILL touch you.
I am sometimes disappointed with myself that I can't get past the author's voice when reading a memoir or other life-account, but the voice really affects me and I just wasn't impressed with Richardson's voice. I had issues with him telling me what someone else's intent was when, as a true experience, he doesn't know what their intent was unless they told him and then it should be stated as such. A little thing, but it annoys me. Some people have a gift for relating a story and others don't. Those with the gift just tell it. Those without try to embellish, to manipulate, try to use language to force a reaction (Nicholas Sparks, anyone?) and I resent the overt attempt of those authors.
I would say don't waste your time with this one, but then again, it is a short read and maybe it WILL touch you.
August 4, 2019
The version I read is The Message by the late Lance Richardson, From Our Side by Jozet Richardson and their children, so it has a second part to this book that I am writing the review for. I am always intrigued by Near Death Experiences. I am prone to believe but can also be a bit skeptical. What I got from the first portion of the book is a message of love and service, and that is always a good thing. He said “service is the action form of love”, and I don’t know how anyone could disagree with that. So, believe it, or don’t believe it, there are some good messages.
The second half of the book discusses how his wife and family coped with his actual death 5 years later. My brother just recently died, which is why I was given this book. I really got a lot of comfort from Jozet’s account. We had some interesting little miracles surrounding my brother’s death as well, including his 2 year old playing peek-a-boo with apparently no one. So, for me, I like to believe that our family members that have passed on can help us in times of need. I tend to think they are not just hanging out bored watching us all day, but during those times that help is needed, they are there. Just my thoughts. I recommend this to those struggling with the loss of a loved one.
The second half of the book discusses how his wife and family coped with his actual death 5 years later. My brother just recently died, which is why I was given this book. I really got a lot of comfort from Jozet’s account. We had some interesting little miracles surrounding my brother’s death as well, including his 2 year old playing peek-a-boo with apparently no one. So, for me, I like to believe that our family members that have passed on can help us in times of need. I tend to think they are not just hanging out bored watching us all day, but during those times that help is needed, they are there. Just my thoughts. I recommend this to those struggling with the loss of a loved one.
August 20, 2009
My favorite part
the young soldier looked back at his friends and fellow warriors. Then turning back to me, he looked directly into my eyes and said, "We have given our all for the preservation of the United States of America, in order that Zion of the last days may one day be built upon her soil. We continue to serve God in this effort, working upon the people of the nation to continue to choose sovereignty, peace, and freedom based upon the inalienable rights grantee by God. We have and still are giving our all. Now what are you doing for the cause?"
I was moved to tears. I was touched deeply and significantly. I knew I would never again take lightly the sacrifices these and other men made for the freedoms we enjoy. I felt a passion to stand up for our great nation. And I felt a humble gratitude and, most especially, Liberty. Our lives are full of happiness, peace, and material prosperity because of the sacrifices made by so many. And so I must herald their message and echo the question they posed to me, "Now what are you doing for this cause?" Someday, I believe, we will answer at the very judgment bar of God concerning how we have used these profound blessings.
the young soldier looked back at his friends and fellow warriors. Then turning back to me, he looked directly into my eyes and said, "We have given our all for the preservation of the United States of America, in order that Zion of the last days may one day be built upon her soil. We continue to serve God in this effort, working upon the people of the nation to continue to choose sovereignty, peace, and freedom based upon the inalienable rights grantee by God. We have and still are giving our all. Now what are you doing for the cause?"
I was moved to tears. I was touched deeply and significantly. I knew I would never again take lightly the sacrifices these and other men made for the freedoms we enjoy. I felt a passion to stand up for our great nation. And I felt a humble gratitude and, most especially, Liberty. Our lives are full of happiness, peace, and material prosperity because of the sacrifices made by so many. And so I must herald their message and echo the question they posed to me, "Now what are you doing for this cause?" Someday, I believe, we will answer at the very judgment bar of God concerning how we have used these profound blessings.
September 19, 2013
Contrived? Honest? Experience with misinterpretations? Exaggerations? I just don't know. I liked this book the first time I read it but then I wondered...."If God really wanted us to know the things that were discussed in this book...wouldn't he pass along "the message" through a living prophet?"... Just saying
There are better NDE's out there. Had he just shared his experience without his thoughts on the future, I probably would have given this short story 5 stars. We have the scriptures and living prophets for a reason.
Don't get carried away in the experience and start sharing this book like its gospel doctrine. It's spiritual and uplifting and it will inspire and when it has the stamp of approval from the church I may bump up my rating but since that will never happen I think 3 stars is sufficient.
There are better NDE's out there. Had he just shared his experience without his thoughts on the future, I probably would have given this short story 5 stars. We have the scriptures and living prophets for a reason.
Don't get carried away in the experience and start sharing this book like its gospel doctrine. It's spiritual and uplifting and it will inspire and when it has the stamp of approval from the church I may bump up my rating but since that will never happen I think 3 stars is sufficient.
February 12, 2013
I believe strongly in life with God after our earthly life and have read many accounts of near-death experiences as well as scriptural references. After the death of our son in 2010 I was having a very difficult time finding peace in my life. Reading this book was the beginning of true healing for me. Although I already knew intellectually many of the things described in his experience, the detail was so vivid and real that it bridged the gap for me between believing and truly knowing. The interactions described between our life here with those who have gone on reaffirmed some of my own experiences and helped me to be more sensitive and aware of these occurrences.
January 13, 2021
It was a very interesting read. I have always believed in life after death, but hearing how wonderful the experience of seeing the spirit world and then coming back is even more comforting. Knowing we are constantly being looked after and aided by things and people we can't see is a wonderful thing to know or even just believe. I've read a few different books about life after death (both LDS and non) and I would have to say this one is my favorite.
Read it again with the kids. It really is a great book. We enjoyed some interesting discussions from our reading.
Read it again with the kids. It really is a great book. We enjoyed some interesting discussions from our reading.
March 17, 2013
I've read a couple accounts of near-death experiences that are really hard to follow ... This is not one of them. I loved the way Lance shared his story, without trying too hard to be profound or over complicating things. The story in and of itself is profound. The principles he shared of life in the next realm agree with LDS doctrine and just made sense to me. I especially liked his emphasis on the importance of families and how family members on both sides of the veil are working together to help loved ones. An uplifting, insightful read.
December 14, 2015
My friend gave me this book after my Mom passed away and I found it comforting and reassuring.
Although parts of it feel more like a fiction story, I believe in life after death. I felt comfort in thinking it would be so great to have family meet me when it's my turn to die -- especially my Mom :)
It's a comforting book for those who have lost a loved one :)
Although parts of it feel more like a fiction story, I believe in life after death. I felt comfort in thinking it would be so great to have family meet me when it's my turn to die -- especially my Mom :)
It's a comforting book for those who have lost a loved one :)
July 31, 2012
This is a wonderful and inspiring book. It can give great comfort to anyone who has lost a loved one. I would recommend this book to anyone and if they will read it with an open heart and mind they will be touched and know of its truth.
September 13, 2021
I had quite a few issues with this book, I'll just say it is not my kind of book. I felt like I was at Education Week. I know it means a lot to a lot of people, and I respect that.
December 14, 2011
Cody Kramer
My opinion of the book is that I really lked it. This book was a true story about a mans life and how he died and returned to us. In the beginning of the book it tells us about how Lance is about to go to college for a football scholarship, but when he suffers a wrestling injury which destroys his chance of getting a college scholarship. Instead he and his friends go to Sweden and while there he eats some raw samon and he gets a infection which causes him to get Crohns Disease. So then the story skips ahead in his life to when lance is waking up on christmas morning 1998, one that he is particularly excited about because Lance has spent many of the last several Christmas in the hospital. This year he feels great. Lance has boughten his kids a new snowmobile and motorcycle for Christmas. After the family opens up their presents and plays for a bit Lance takes the kids to see the snowmobile and motocycle. After they ride the snowmobile the kids want to make sure the motorcycle will start. When it wouldn't start the kids ask their dad to call the mechanic/neighbor to make it start. The friend is able to fix it and Lance tries to test it out in his driveway. As he is turning around he slides on ice and falls and breaks his hip. Lance is taken to the hospital and in taken in to emergency hip surgery. while he is in the hospital they learn that lance has contracted the ARDS diseas. Lance is in extreme pain and his lungs are filling up with blod clots and infection. after a couple weeks go by, with oxygen on high he still is unable to breath without a struggle. He thinks he is dying and calls his brother and tells him to get his wife and kids to the hospital. He passes out and he is finds himself in a dark room with a veil and is greated by all his dead family and friends. Through-out the next three weeks that show him around spirit world (pardise). They teach him the importance for life and they show him about how in spirit world people are happy and continualy working. Lance learns that when we learn to heavily father that it is our richeous famiy members and closest friends that answer our prayers. Back when lance passed out he was taken into emergency surgery to clear out his lung infection he is then put into a drug induced comba. Over the next three weeks he traveled from the spirit world then back to his body several times. Lance is told that e was chosen to come to spirit world because there is important work that needs to be done on earth. One things he was told is that the United States was chooses by God to be the a Zion in the last days, but that the people are be self destructing, due to crumbling of our morals and values. He was told that America needs to get back to the founding fathers way of teaching. He also was told that family and service are the most important things that people should be doing to have love towards one another, creating the paradise or Zion. me families and friends told him that he needed to return to earth to do their work. Finally, he was told that it was time for him to return to his body and do this work.
When he returned to his body he could not speak, he had a ventilator breathing for him and had a severe staff infection. He spend five weeks in the hospital learning to talk all over again. When he eft the hospital he still could not walk. It took him another full year to fully recover. Then he and his family dedicated themselves to service of other and watched as their actions of service towards others always had a huge ripple effect.
A. I would recommend this book. It has a great lesson about what life on earth is really about and it helped me to understand what happens when we die. This book was intense. Lance had to deal witha lot of pain and suffering through out his life. It was cool to hear about his experiences in the spirit world. I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this book to all adult and teenagers. I think you have to be at least 12 to really understand all the concepts in this book.
My opinion of the book is that I really lked it. This book was a true story about a mans life and how he died and returned to us. In the beginning of the book it tells us about how Lance is about to go to college for a football scholarship, but when he suffers a wrestling injury which destroys his chance of getting a college scholarship. Instead he and his friends go to Sweden and while there he eats some raw samon and he gets a infection which causes him to get Crohns Disease. So then the story skips ahead in his life to when lance is waking up on christmas morning 1998, one that he is particularly excited about because Lance has spent many of the last several Christmas in the hospital. This year he feels great. Lance has boughten his kids a new snowmobile and motorcycle for Christmas. After the family opens up their presents and plays for a bit Lance takes the kids to see the snowmobile and motocycle. After they ride the snowmobile the kids want to make sure the motorcycle will start. When it wouldn't start the kids ask their dad to call the mechanic/neighbor to make it start. The friend is able to fix it and Lance tries to test it out in his driveway. As he is turning around he slides on ice and falls and breaks his hip. Lance is taken to the hospital and in taken in to emergency hip surgery. while he is in the hospital they learn that lance has contracted the ARDS diseas. Lance is in extreme pain and his lungs are filling up with blod clots and infection. after a couple weeks go by, with oxygen on high he still is unable to breath without a struggle. He thinks he is dying and calls his brother and tells him to get his wife and kids to the hospital. He passes out and he is finds himself in a dark room with a veil and is greated by all his dead family and friends. Through-out the next three weeks that show him around spirit world (pardise). They teach him the importance for life and they show him about how in spirit world people are happy and continualy working. Lance learns that when we learn to heavily father that it is our richeous famiy members and closest friends that answer our prayers. Back when lance passed out he was taken into emergency surgery to clear out his lung infection he is then put into a drug induced comba. Over the next three weeks he traveled from the spirit world then back to his body several times. Lance is told that e was chosen to come to spirit world because there is important work that needs to be done on earth. One things he was told is that the United States was chooses by God to be the a Zion in the last days, but that the people are be self destructing, due to crumbling of our morals and values. He was told that America needs to get back to the founding fathers way of teaching. He also was told that family and service are the most important things that people should be doing to have love towards one another, creating the paradise or Zion. me families and friends told him that he needed to return to earth to do their work. Finally, he was told that it was time for him to return to his body and do this work.
When he returned to his body he could not speak, he had a ventilator breathing for him and had a severe staff infection. He spend five weeks in the hospital learning to talk all over again. When he eft the hospital he still could not walk. It took him another full year to fully recover. Then he and his family dedicated themselves to service of other and watched as their actions of service towards others always had a huge ripple effect.
A. I would recommend this book. It has a great lesson about what life on earth is really about and it helped me to understand what happens when we die. This book was intense. Lance had to deal witha lot of pain and suffering through out his life. It was cool to hear about his experiences in the spirit world. I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this book to all adult and teenagers. I think you have to be at least 12 to really understand all the concepts in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2010
The Message by Lance Richardson
My good friend and former VT highlyrecommended this amazing book to me a few months ago and found that my regional library had a copy, so checcked it out. Since I wanted my own copy and two of Lance's other b ooks, I called Lance's widow Jozete to request review copies and she sent them to me. I read the library copy and loaned my copy to my caregiver and close friend from another ward here.
Since I have read several near death experience books over the past serveral years, I found this book so inspiring, and so comforting, since I am a recent widow. For those who have strayed or lost their faith, this is the book to bring your life around, as it gives us strength and hope to what lies ahead after we leave this frail existence.
While in Finland years earlier, Lance contracted Crohn's Disease, which left him severely ill, having to go through over 30 surgeries and several others for other problems, having 100 stays in the hospital. On Christmas Day 1998, Lance had bought a used snowmobile and motorcycle for his two oldest sons and because the motorcycle wouldn't start, got his neighbor to fix it, so he decided to try it out, when it slid on some ice out of the driveway going only 5-10 mph. He was always told not to overdo, but this time, he ended up in more serious condition than ever before.
While in the hospital, after surgery, Lance, while in a coma for three months, experienced three different journeys to the spirit world, being able to reunite with his deceased cousin who was his spirtual guide through many glorious truths regarding the afterlife. He was able to find through his journies a better understanding of the importance of families and America's future. He was taught through some spirits that served in long ago wars the most important principle of their society of peace, which if followed by the people of Our great nation, would rescue us from self-destruction.
Lance was totally amazed at how we in the spirit world can communicate through our thoughts with each other and the same with animals. The scriptures tell us we will be able to lie down with the lamb and the lion peacefully and be able to communicate our feelings with one another with hugs.
Since I recently became a widow, this book gave me so much more than hope, it has given me a more deeper understanding of what I will experience when reuniting with my eternal companion and my otherfamily relatives and ancestors. I can hardly wait, though I now know that Bob is here for me when I need his guidance. The veil is so ever thin, brothers and sisters. This is a must read for anyone who doubts about an after-life, or those who just need that affirmation that we are that close to the Lord and Savior coming to earth again in all His glory.
Forever Friends Rating A Huge 5 Stars by Teri
Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook.
I checked this book out from my Mid-Columbia Library,
also received a Review Copy from Jozete Richardson,
Lance's widow, who has recently remarried.
Published by: American Family Institute
Date Published: December 2000
ISBN: 1-889025-04-6
155pp
March 8, 2013
A friend lent me this book recently and I think it is so encouraging! If you’ve ever wondered what happens after we die, this book is amazing. The author suffered severe complications after an accident that left him comatose for some time. During this time, he visited the Spirit World three times and returned with a message to share. God lives and He loves us as His precious children. I loved the idea that we will speak spirit-to-spirit, as well as verbally, on the other side of the veil. There are times when we feel a hint of that closeness even here on earth…when we hold a child or sit with a loved one. How wonderful to contemplate that this intimacy and feeling of ‘oneness’ is just a sample of what we will enjoy in the hereafter.
I’ve read reviews that said that the book is disjointed and poorly written. I disagree. The book is well written given that Mr. Richardson isn’t a writer. It is clear that he is telling the story of what happened to him in an honest and straight-forward way. He was instructed to share some things and he is obeying that instruction in his writing.
I was surprised to read a message specifically directed at Americans in The Message. Mr. Richardson writes that Liberty (free-will, free-agency, agency, free choice) is one of the, if not THE, most precious gift God gave us apart from His Son. Without the freedom to freely choose right or wrong, we are simply fancy pawns in a supernatural chess game, at best. Likewise, our nation is built on the principle of Liberty and we are tasked with protecting that divine right.
The end of the book has a wonderful chapter devoted to our task “in the mean time”: Service. We are to serve one another, and in doing so emulate Christ.
I loved the book (much preferred it to the current “best sellers” about near-death experiences). It was easy reading (I finished it in about 3 hours with interruptions) and has a powerful message, not only about what life will be like after we die, but about how we should live while we’re HERE.
I’ve read reviews that said that the book is disjointed and poorly written. I disagree. The book is well written given that Mr. Richardson isn’t a writer. It is clear that he is telling the story of what happened to him in an honest and straight-forward way. He was instructed to share some things and he is obeying that instruction in his writing.
I was surprised to read a message specifically directed at Americans in The Message. Mr. Richardson writes that Liberty (free-will, free-agency, agency, free choice) is one of the, if not THE, most precious gift God gave us apart from His Son. Without the freedom to freely choose right or wrong, we are simply fancy pawns in a supernatural chess game, at best. Likewise, our nation is built on the principle of Liberty and we are tasked with protecting that divine right.
The end of the book has a wonderful chapter devoted to our task “in the mean time”: Service. We are to serve one another, and in doing so emulate Christ.
I loved the book (much preferred it to the current “best sellers” about near-death experiences). It was easy reading (I finished it in about 3 hours with interruptions) and has a powerful message, not only about what life will be like after we die, but about how we should live while we’re HERE.
September 16, 2009
I really loved this book. it is a quick easy read and the author gets right to the point of the experience, which i appreciated. there are many aspects of this book that were so interesting. i don't want to give them all away--and stop reading now if you want to read it for yourself and be surprised, but i loved how Lance (the author) says that before we are even born some of us agreed to die early in life so that we could become spiritual helpers to those family members and friends that we left here on Earth. so interesting. comforting. i have always believed that our loved ones who pass on look down on us but are busy with other matters in the heavens. now i beleive they are very much still apart of our lives. we just need to try and be in tune with their whisperings. of which i could use a few whisperings about now---LOL!! he talks about music as being a way of teaching spiritual matters on the other side, how we interact and communicate on the other side, and much much more. i think this would be an enjoyable read for all! :)
January 1, 2009
Just before Christmas I went to visit a friend of mine who just lost her son not too many months ago, she sent me home with this book to read. My husband and I read it together. It was soooo inspiring. I am so thankful that this man shared his experience with us. I was intrigued with many parts of his story. I loved the part where he talks of his grandfather and himself going in the spirit to his dad to inspire him to come quickly and give his son a blessing. Another idea I loved was a quick comment in there about how members of our families agreed to come back to heaven to help their family members get through the things which are about to commence on the earth, how they could help them more in heaven, and how they have already helped on a continual basis is such a comfort and a solidifier to feelings I have already had that we are not a lone.
December 21, 2010
I shouldn't be so severe, but I am not a fan of afterlife accounts. I guess you can call me a believing skeptic. I don't doubt that someone has had an afterlife experience and returned to tell about it. But I don't believe every account I hear. This one sounded more like a dream where the man's mind recalled a lot of good things he has learned over the course of his life and put them together into a scenario/dream while he was in a coma. I might even agree that his spirit left his body for a time and visited members of his living family...but I found his afterlife account very trite and annoying. I had to read this book for my book club, so don't get me wrong, I am glad I was forced to read it and broaden my horizons. There's now way I would have picked this book up on my own.
August 24, 2009
I love life after death experiences. I enjoy reading them, although as a member of the LDS church I tend to be wary when someone is "sent back" to deliver a message. I don't mind it so much for family and friends, because that I believe would be the proper order. When it comes to the world I am not so sure.
"The message" he brings back is nothing not said by our church leaders so it fits with what many of us frequently hear.
Not the best of the life after death experience books, but not the worst either. For the most part members of the church interpret too much, I love nonmember stories because often they are descriptive leaving the reading to come to their own conclusions.
"The message" he brings back is nothing not said by our church leaders so it fits with what many of us frequently hear.
Not the best of the life after death experience books, but not the worst either. For the most part members of the church interpret too much, I love nonmember stories because often they are descriptive leaving the reading to come to their own conclusions.
March 8, 2017
This is an account of a near death experience. I thought it was interesting how Richardson was allowed the opportunity to continue his life and had a mission to complete, yet he had such a long road to recovery after awakening from his coma. That rings true for all of us, having important work to do, but having obstacles in our way, testing our characters and putting us through the refiners fire. I could tell that Richardson made a concerted effort to write from a more neutrally religious perspective. I wish that he had written a separate book specifically from his LDS perspective to hear those insights.
February 24, 2011
I read this book last year. I was interested especially because Kev actually bought it and wanted to read it. When he was selling one summer, he talked to a convert of the church that said this was the book that made him want to know more about the gospel. It's an outter life experience. I found it very interesting and incredible of the love of our Savior and the great Plan of Happiness. It made me really think of what this life will be like after we pass. I'm grateful for the knowledge I have and the testimony I have of eternal families.
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