Dream of Elder Keith A. Whately

Many Saints are very impatient, as was the case after 1844, and believe the only hope is to create another vehicle [church] that will bring all the branches, groups, and Saints under a "new" umbrella and start afresh. I suggest that such action is contrary to the will of the Lord and outside any divine authority.

I feel a real need to share the following testimony that answered my needs and questions regarding these matters back in 1986....With grave concerns weighing on my heart and urgent prayers seeking for enlightenment, I retired for the night about 10:00 P.M. and shortly drifted into a sound sleep. During the night I had a "dream," or what might be termed a "night vision," and the clarity and power of it has remained as vivid today as when it was first received. This was the content:

With many other people, I was approaching a great walled city through mighty double gates, and as I entered the city I was aware of a large edifice partly destroyed, resembling a war-ravaged, bombed-out building. The roof was blown away, no rafters nor windows remaining, yet with walls and the large double-entry door still intact. As I paused to view this building, I was aware that a few other people were doing likewise. However, as we stood thus, a very well-dressed man approached me, and I noticed he was immaculately groomed with dark, thick, brushed-back hair, dressed in an expensive, three-piece business suit. Stopping before me, he asked if I would like to look inside, and I readily agreed.

With me following, he turned to the entry doors, at the same time withdrawing a great ring of keys (like jailers possess) from his pocket, unlocked one door and ushered me inside, together with the other few. I started to wander throughout the building, marvelling at its once-magnificent grandeur. Yet, even in its shattered state, it held a presence hard to describe.

My admiration and concentration, which completely absorbed me, was suddenly broken by a sneering, jeering laugh, difficult to describe. Turning in apprehension, I beheld the well-dressed man departing, closing and locking the doors behind him. My fellow "prisoners" were greatly fearful at this turn of events, as we discovered that there were no other exits. After some time had elapsed, and with any escape seemingly unlikely, a mighty force raised me up until I was able to see over the wall of the building and look outside, and over the entire city itself. I was horrified at the scene that lay before me. It was dirty, grim, gray, and exceedingly unlovely, with massive throngs of people rushing everywhere, shoulder to shoulder, streaming throughout the dingy streets, but without any apparent aim or goal. After surveying this scene for a short time, a voice, quiet but vibrant, filled my whole being, saying, "Be patient, all will be well."

The dream closed and I immediately awoke with a peaceful spirit filling the room. The time was 1:30 A.M. ... The interpretation was as follows:

The gates to the city were the entry to this world (life). The building partially destroyed was the true Church of Jesus Christ -- the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The well-dressed man was Satan, who believed that he had completely eliminated and destroyed the Church. Therefore he was claiming victory by capturing the world, now in chaos and with no hope or saving goals. The people rushing through the streets (I was made aware) included many who had been Saints, but having become lost due to the precepts of men, were now partakers of worldly things. However, though the scenes were harrowing and hopelessness pervaded everything, I was sustained by the knowledge that Christ would again reclaim His Church -- that Satan had not completely overcome nor dominated it, and never would (see 2Thessalonians 2:3-12).

(Quoted in Vision #35, September 2000, pp. 3-4)

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