Do we see our family members when we die? If you could talk to your ancestors, what would they tell you about your time here on earth? My family shares why Heaven was initially dark and dreary, and a warning about how we use our time.
Will I see my family when I die?
The short answer is, yes! We do see our families when we die. But there is a bit more to it.
Families are central to God's plan for his children. They have been since the beginning, when Adam and Eve were married (Gen 2:23-25) and commanded to have children (Gen 1:28).
Regardless of how you feel about your family, the family unit exists to teach us important lessons.
Maybe you're hoping you'll be with your family in eternity. Or maybe you hope you never see some of your family members ever again! But let's expand our thoughts past our immediate family.
What about your ancestors from 3 or 4 generations ago, or even farther back? Do you ever wonder what they are doing in the spirit world? Would you like to know what they see as important lessons, no that they have died? Are you curious if you'll get to meet them someday?
Personally, I look forward to meeting many of my ancestors. I want to hear their stories. I want to know what life was like for them, to hear about their joys and sorrows. I'd love to hear their perspective on life here on earth, now that they have gone through their time here.
Where do our families go when they die?
Before sharing the conversations with my ancestors, let's get a basic understanding of the spirit world.
The most important factor is whether or not people know of and believe in Jesus Christ when they die.
On this site, there are many stories from spirits who have died without knowing who Jesus was (read about Janet, Kathryn, Peter, Sharon, and Peter). They all shared how the place they went to after death was dark, yet they found spirits of light, who were missionaries. These missionaries taught them about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This place of darkness is called Spirit Prison.
"The Apostle Peter referred to the postmortal spirit world as a prison, which it is for some (see 1 Peter 3:18–20).
In the spirit prison are the spirits of those who have not yet received the gospel of Jesus Christ. These spirits have agency and may be enticed by both good and evil.
The spirits may progress as they learn gospel principles and live in accordance with them.
The spirits in paradise can teach the spirits in prison (see Doctrine and Covenants 138).
If they accept the gospel and the ordinances performed for them in the temples, they may leave the spirit prison and dwell in paradise." (Source.)
The spirits with whom I have met first went to spirit prison, where they met the missionaries, and accepted the gospel.
These are the first stories I have been prompted to share from my own ancestors. You will notice the same pattern as the other spirits had. They all started in spirit prison.
Counterfeit or real family?
As usual, it's early. It is 3:16am, and I'm sitting at my computer, ready to receive. I start with a prayer, and sense my granduncle, Dale, who lived from 1887-1954.
I am familiar with him and his family, but I go to Ancestry and Family Search to review his information. I think of how I have met with ancestors at their gravesites once before.
Dale is sitting across from me. He says, speaking slowly, "You could go to my gravesite to speak with me. Or, you could just talk with me right now, as I am here."
He is dressed in a collared, button down top and a pair of slacks. Brown hair. Kindly. I feel good in my heart. I think how silly I look for this meeting. I wear a scarf around my long hair when I sleep. I haven't bothered to get dressed, so I'm in my pajamas with this scarf.
"I've been watching you your whole life," Dale says, in response to that thought. He is a quiet and soft spoken man. I return my attention to him, and he continues.
"I, and many others, have been watching and waiting. We were waiting for you to accept the gospel. Then we worked to ensure your sealing to Rodger. There was much opposition to your union, you know."
"Now, I want to share with you my story. Will you receive it?"
As I say yes, I am attacked. "Dale" is actually a dark spirit with large claws.
He lunges across the desk at me. Quickly, before he reaches me, I capture it, wrap it up, and discard it. Deception is common, and dark spirits often show up first when we seek for the light.
Family is important, on earth and in the spirit world
A new Dale appears. He is coming in a bit of a hurry, dressed the same, and excited to see me. He is more animated and lively.
I ask him for and he bears his testimony of Jesus Christ. Now I know he is not a counterfeit.
"Jennifer!" He gives me a big hug and is teary. He is thin, about 5'7". He sits back down.
"Thank you. Thank you for meeting with me, and most especially thank you for doing this work. Oh, it is so very important. It is critical."
"We (your family) are so exceedingly grateful for you and for the time you have put in to us. Saving us. Do you know the importance of the work you have done, and are doing? You must understand! How can I explain it?"
"When I arrived here, I expected to see everyone from my family. I felt quite lost. Where were they all?"
"I was in a place of peace and rest, but was also lonely. I didn't understand. I thought I was supposed to be with Jesus."
"However, very quickly, I found the missionaries. It felt peaceful, and I know I belonged with them. This is when I learned about you."
"I didn't realize how important family was. I didn't really pay attention to that part when I was a spirit, before we were born. There were simply too many other things for me to explore and search out. I was just having fun, I wasn't really taking things seriously. So when I returned here, it didn't make much sense to me."
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels
A key lesson: How we spend our time matters, a lot
"This is what I want to convey to you now. Take your time on earth seriously. It is very, very important."
"Have fun, yes, definitely. That is important, to infuse your days with the energy of fun. But do not squander your time."
"Once you have discovered your purpose, the work you have to do, dedicate yourself to it. Apply yourself. Go to work. Go to work diligently, seriously, be devoted. It is ever so important."
"Christ will bless you in all you do, he will give you strength for your tasks. Develop that relationship with him. He is the power and the light and the life."
"Oh, child. I am so very glad to see you. I would like to tell you much more, but my time is up for today. I am not the only one who is to meet with you. There are many. Be blessed, and I look forward to the day we are together again. I love you. Thank you, good-bye!"
Families are together when we die
Next, I'm aware of Dale's grandmother, Sally. She lived from 1832-1918. By my estimations, she had a difficult life. She, and many people of her day, experienced more loss than most of us do now.
Her mother died when she was 18. Her first child was stillborn, then she lost her second and third children at ages 3 and 4. Another daughter died at age 18. She was widowed at age 51, and lived to be 86.
She sits down, wearing a simple dress. I say to her, "You had a difficult life."
"Ah, did I? I supposed by some I did. But really it wasn't that difficult. Isn't it interesting that we can all have such a different experience, and yet it is exactly the same, and what we need, to bring us to Him."
"Isn't this beautiful, that we can be here to meet?"
She is quite kind and has a very positive way about her.
"I was slow to come to understand who Jesus was and why he mattered. I never was much of a seeker. I've always been content with what I have and what I was given. Accepting things as they are, if you know what I mean."
"But when I died, I didn't like what I saw. I don't know what I thought I would find, but it was quite dark and dreary. I thought that's just the way it was going to be."
"But then I was met by my family. It was quite a relief to see them. Now I had others, and I wasn't so alone. They took me under their wing, and helped me grow. In time, I came to understand that there was more to this new life."
"I started to see these beings of light. They were dressed in all white, and they had a glow about them. I hadn't noticed them before."
"Did you know that they are always there? Yes, it's true. So odd that I hadn't seen them! But now I was ready."
"Anyway, they taught me more and more, and then it was simply a matter of waiting for someone to do my work for me. That was a glorious day! By then, I was very ready to leave that dreary place behind. There is absolutely no comparison with where I am now. It is exceedingly joyful and makes my heart so happy!"
Photo by L Veit of Rexburg, ID temple, from Pexels
A key lesson: Search for Jesus
"Please do all you can to tell others about Jesus. They have some knowing of him in their hearts, but the world is dark, and many seek astray. They don't understand how much it matters what they look for."
"We each have our own disposition, and will do what we will. But we can be enticed. We can all be guided and directed to the truth. Our very natures can be changed."
"Mine has been, but it is better if you can have that experience while you are there on earth. It will make your days so much more joyful to behold!"
"Please bring others to the truth. You have found it, and must hold it fast. Do not delay in sharing our stories and all that you know."
"Time is short, you know. There is so much going on here, and there is much commotion all around. I must stay focused to do my own work, too."
"Well....it is time for me to be going. Thank you for listening! This was quite an interesting experience for me. I am still learning so much. Blessings to you! Good-bye!"
Families are together because of Jesus Christ
My last visitor this morning is Jonas, Sally's father, who lived from 1800-1872.
Jonas appears as an older man to me. He looks weary. He tells me that there is a lot of work to do in the spirit world, and that they don't rest, sleep, like we do.
"You see what we feel," he explains. And yet he is kindly and smiling and seems happy.
"Thank you for meeting with me. I am glad to have someone to talk to who understands and can share what I have. This is quite an exciting experience, you know. While we are quite busy here, we do miss you, and look forward to the day when we will all be reunited in Jesus. That will be glorious!"
"Now, I understand that I am to share a story with you. What would you like to know?"
I explain to Jonas that I have been instructed to collect and gather the stories from my ancestors that are waiting to be shared. I tell others about Jesus and about the gospel, to help them believe.
"Of course you do! Let me gather my thoughts."
"In the beginning, when I came here, I felt very lost. I was thankful to be greeted by family. But it wasn't quite what I was expecting."
"I thought I would be in paradise, surrounded by hosts of angels, singing praises. I looked for these things, and was very confused by what I did find. There was so much to explore and to discover. Much of what I found wasn't anything I wanted."
"My family and I stayed together, and we made a plan. We decided to search for these angles. We thought that they must be here somewhere, since we knew our Bible and had heard of heaven."
"It took some time, but one day, I heard some people preaching of Jesus. They weren't angles as I expected to see them, but they were white and bright and beautiful and glowing. They had the message I was familiar with and then some."
"They had so much more to share. It was all beautiful to my heart, and it brought me joy. Now I have found the rest and peace I was originally searching for."
Image by Chil Vera from Pixabay
A key lesson: Commit to your purpose
"The world is a beautiful place, child. There is so much good there. Help others to see the good. Their hearts are heavy and their eyes are dim with sadness. Help them to see."
"Now, I must return to my work."
"Oh, yes. Do your own work. We all have a work. When you find it, commit to it. Accept your work and put your heart into it."
"That's all for now. Thank you for this opportunity. This was a nice experience for me."
Anticipating a happy reunion with our families when we die
It's 4:56am, and the room is quiet. I feel calm and peaceful, and very grateful for this time with my ancestors.
I know that because of the Plan of Salvation, we will see our families again. Not just our immediate family, but all of our ancestors. We can all be together, through Christ. When we accept him, we are his.
Christ is gathering his people. The time has come to choose to come unto him and develop a closer relationship with him.
Like Sally and Jonas said, we find joy and peace through Christ and his gospel.
