11 year old boy describes heaven after near-death experience

[ChelC]

I do believe in near death experiences. I've heard accounts from a few family members as they've neared death and saw loved ones. I know they weren't delusional. I even know of a personal account I'm not at liberty to tell, wherein a recently departed family member appeared to someone very close to me.

I don't know this boy, but I think he's telling the truth. It's possible some truth is mingled with some imagination... he was four! When my youngest was three or four he fell off his bike and hurt his arm. We thought he'd fractured it so we took him in for X-rays. Depending on who asked, he said "I was hit by a deer" or "a moose bit me.".

All that to say the wings part and possibly other parts could be the child's imagination. I doubt he'd be able to separate reality from imagination this many years later.

I still vividly remember riding on an elephant. It never actually happened, but I remember every detail. I had quite the imagination also.

[notjamesbond003.5]

freedomfighter-

If you watch all of the videos, the little guy mentions that what I wrote. If you're really interested click on the link again and he does say the things I mentioned in some of the later videos-there are about 3-4 videos all linked together.

He did say everyone had wings, but I don't think that should be taken literally. You'll also hear where he mentioned the Holy Ghost was a 3rd person.

Before you respond to this be sure you watch all the videos and not be so quick to dismiss a child's spiritual experience.

njb

[freedomforall]

freedomfighter-

If you watch all of the videos, the little guy mentions that what I wrote. If you're really interested click on the link again and he does say the things I mentioned in some of the later videos-there are about 3-4 videos all linked together.

He did say everyone had wings, but I don't think that should be taken literally. You'll also hear where he mentioned the Holy Ghost was a 3rd person.

Before you respond to this be sure you watch all the videos and not be so quick to dismiss a child's spiritual experience.

njb

First of all, it's not a matter of believing or disbelieving the boy's account.

What I have a hard time with is that the boy states that he meets his sister, and in doing so, leaves us to conclude that we, as families, will be together after death. If this is true then why do temple work? Isn't it the ordinance of "Sealing" that bonds people together making families? Somebody needs to explain this one.

I watched all three videos and did not hear one thing about the "Holy Ghost." He did mention Gabriel.

The boy said this: He told his dad that, unlike numerous other paintings and pictures of Jesus he’d been shown, this one by Akiane looked like the Jesus he saw in heaven. The astists name is Akiane Kramarik.

Here the boy states that God is so big that the world fits into His hands.
http://www.dlisted.com/node/39692" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The boy said everyone has wings except Jesus. He also said he had wings while there.

I don't disbelieve the boy saw something. I just wonder if he wasn't coached just a little in some of the claims as time went by.

Just my oppinion.

[ChelC]

Freedom Fighter said:

What I have a hard time with is that the boy states that he meets his sister, and in doing so, leaves us to conclude that we, as families, will be together after death. If this is true then why do temple work? Isn't it the ordinance of "Sealing" that bonds people together making families?

This is an interesting topic by itself. In what manner would families who were not sealed interact with each other? I don't know the answer, but I don't believe their earthly bonds simply vanish. The temple sealing is the covenant of marriage accepted of Heavenly Father. It's what allows creation to take place. The purpose of sealing, IMO, isn't because without it we'll cease to know and love our earthly family, but because without it we cannot live as a family - with a recognized marriage, the ability to create, and live together as a family unit.

[ChelC]

Too lazy to edit... forgive my redundancy and poorly worded response there!

[tribrac]

Sorry can't believe it:

1- He mentions Jesus and John the Baptist, where were Brigham Young and Moroni?
2- Wings?
3- The family is not Mormon so clearly they are only motivated by money.
4- The account was not published in the Ensign or The Church News.

http://www.amazon.com/Return-Tomorrow-E ... 080078412X" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Invest ... 010&sr=1-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Prophet Joseph Smith once said: "Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject" (TPJS, p324).

[freedomforall]

Freedom Fighter said:

What I have a hard time with is that the boy states that he meets his sister, and in doing so, leaves us to conclude that we, as families, will be together after death. If this is true then why do temple work? Isn't it the ordinance of "Sealing" that bonds people together making families?

This is an interesting topic by itself. In what manner would families who were not sealed interact with each other? I don't know the answer, but I don't believe their earthly bonds simply vanish. The temple sealing is the covenant of marriage accepted of Heavenly Father. It's what allows creation to take place. The purpose of sealing, IMO, isn't because without it we'll cease to know and love our earthly family, but because without it we cannot live as a family - with a recognized marriage, the ability to create, and live together as a family unit.

There are also live children to parents sealings, one such occasion I attended.

[SpeedRacer]

This is an old post, but I just read this book.

I am conflicted as you are on the Wings, but I have held that at bay because it is more than likely a symbol.

The proofs for me are:
The boy describes a non-trinitarian god head believed in by Mormons and no other religion. His father, a trinity based pastor, does not mess with this detail.
The fact the he went to Jesus first is in accordance with the BoM.
The miscarriage is a tough one, but as the parents are not sealed, any child of theirs that dies would inherit celestial glory, and the "adoption" by God would be necessary for such glory.
The fact that the boy was under 8 explains his ability to encounter God the Father before judgment day.
The Grandfather was in his prime.

Cons:
Wings.
Dad fighting a dragon
Power shot down
Blue Holy Ghost

[thechip]

Ok, I'm new, but I have a few things to clarify, first, the wings, couldn't they just be the robes billowing out behind the people? His wings could be small because he had small robes. When I was younger and saw that picture of Jesus in the clouds, and at first I thought that the clouds behind him were wings. I'm sure that a four-year-old could easily make that mistake. Second, the dad fighting the dragon, really, he could have just been comparing the monsters to dragons. He says that he was fighting monsters, like dragons, a simile, comparing two things. Or it could have just been his four-year-old imagination, he could easily have misinterpreted the monsters for dragons. Third, the shooting-down-of-power, it could just be his interpretation of Jesus speaking through us, or something like that, though it still does confuse me. Fourth, with the holy ghost being blue thing, in the book it describes Colton having to think about it first, I mean how would you describe a spirit, he has no body, so it would be kind of hard, especially for a four-year-old, when he said blue maybe the holy ghost just had something blue behind him. I, personally have always thought of the holy ghost as kind of opaque, or transparent, so that could be a possibility. And everyone keeps saying that the only reason that they made the book was to get money, and for personal gain, whereas in one of the videos on youtube they specifically say that they did not want to write a book, and that the neighborhood encouraged them to.

The miscarriage is a tough one, but as the parents are not sealed, any child of theirs that dies would inherit celestial glory, and the "adoption" by God would be necessary for such glory.

But I do totally believe in what SpeedRacerLFF says about the miscarriage.

[freedomforall]

According to God's time, we're all near death. Something to ponder.

Oh, by the way, does everybody here believe in the "Here After?"

I was told this: if you're "here after" what I'm "here after", you'll be "here after" I'm gone. ) ) )

Just thought I'd throw this in the mix.

[Raindrop]

The miscarriage is a tough one, but as the parents are not sealed, any child of theirs that dies would inherit celestial glory, and the "adoption" by God would be necessary for such glory.

A miscarriage is not the same thing as a child dying. A miscarriage is not an earthly probation. As was said earlier, a baby must take a breath of life.

[AshleyB]

freedomfighter-

If you watch all of the videos, the little guy mentions that what I wrote. If you're really interested click on the link again and he does say the things I mentioned in some of the later videos-there are about 3-4 videos all linked together.

He did say everyone had wings, but I don't think that should be taken literally. You'll also hear where he mentioned the Holy Ghost was a 3rd person.

Before you respond to this be sure you watch all the videos and not be so quick to dismiss a child's spiritual experience.

njb

First of all, it's not a matter of believing or disbelieving the boy's account.

What I have a hard time with is that the boy states that he meets his sister, and in doing so, leaves us to conclude that we, as families, will be together after death. If this is true then why do temple work? Isn't it the ordinance of "Sealing" that bonds people together making families? Somebody needs to explain this one.

I watched all three videos and did not hear one thing about the "Holy Ghost." He did mention Gabriel.

The boy said this: He told his dad that, unlike numerous other paintings and pictures of Jesus he’d been shown, this one by Akiane looked like the Jesus he saw in heaven. The astists name is Akiane Kramarik.

Here the boy states that God is so big that the world fits into His hands.
http://www.dlisted.com/node/39692" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The boy said everyone has wings except Jesus. He also said he had wings while there.

I don't disbelieve the boy saw something. I just wonder if he wasn't coached just a little in some of the claims as time went by.

Just my oppinion.

I just happened to read this book right before my Father unexpectedly passed away in the begining of Feb of this year. He was only 50 years old and healthy. He died of a massive stroke. As I look back I can see several instances where HF was warning me and preparing me for this event that has turned out to be the hardest thing I have ever gone through. My dad and I have always been close. I have always been a daddy's girl and losing your dad at 25 years old is still quite young to lose your only stable parent. This book helped me a lot and eventually caused me to seek out others like it and all were a great comfort to me as I was dealing with death. I have no doubts about the boys experience because I felt the spirit many times very strongly while reading it and I knew when my dad was dying it was no accident that I happened to have been reading it right before. That being said, I cant discount the story even if I have questions about it... or dont understand everything.

But on the subject of family members and sealings... I was curious about this once. I was talking to my Bishop because I was curious about my Grandparents. I asked him do you think my grandmother and grandfather can see each other and talk to each other before they are sealed? His reply was; " Could you and your husband see each other and talk to each other and even spend time together before your sealing? "
I said well yeah. So it really made me think. I think there are things about sealings that we still don't understand. I think sealings are more than what we perceive them to be and also not quite what we think.

[gruden2.0]

Thanks, Sun.

After all the hullabaloo in this thread about the book, I decided the next time I went to the book store I'd take a look at it to see what it was about. I scanned through the book enough to see where he was coming from and the 'message'.

Bottom line, I think it's a nice story and I think the boy saw what he said he saw. An NDE, like most other experiences, is very subjective, and in this case is being filtered through the personality of a young boy. I found the story very positive. I think we sometimes get very dogmatic about things instead of looking at spiritual things with a sense of wonder and curiosity. The Lord said he'd return with healing in his wings. What wings was He talking about?

The only thing that concerned me was that the book was written by his father. Whether intentional or not, I suspect some things were filtered, which probably distorted the story in some spots. Sometimes us adults can ruin a perfectly good thing.

[LukeAir2008]

Angels do not have wings. Angels are resurrected humans. Do humans have wings?

When wings are mentioned in the scriptures they are purely symbolic of power etc. - as the Prophet Joseph Smith revealed:

Q. What are we to understand by the eyes and wings, which the beasts had?
A. Their eyes are a representation of light and knowledge, that is, they are full of knowledge; and their wings are a representation of power, to move, to act, etc. (D&C 77:4)

[shadow]

A miscarriage is not the same thing as a child dying. A miscarriage is not an earthly probation. As was said earlier, a baby must take a breath of life.

Is the unborn child made of matter? Does all matter have spirit? If not then abortions shouldn't be a big deal...

[gruden2.0]

...their wings are a representation of power, to move, to act, etc. (D&C 77:4)

Works for me.

Again, through the eyes of a child.

[SpeedRacer]

You can tell there were liberties taken to make it tiny book length when they said who is on the left hand of God.