Latter-day Prophets Ministering to the Saints after Death

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Harold B. Lee, the 11th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, understood the proximity of heaven to our lives on Earth. President Lee, knew that God would show His children the miracle needed to strengthen testimonies and move the work of God forward on the Earth. President Lee had a folder he kept with him of recorded miracles that involved him. There were over 60 miracles recorded in this folder, it was a special record for President Lee. When people wrote to the Prophet about miraculous experiences from his visit as an apostle or prophet, President Lee would often write back to them, and place these letters in his "miracle file" as a reminder of Gods blessing to his Saints.

In 1954, then Apostle Harold B. Lee was at a conference for Seminary and Institute teachers. This conference lasted 5 or 6 weeks, it was a "grueling summer" when President Lee learned great lessons, along with the attendees. At the end of the seminar they held a large banquet, all the speakers were seated at the front of the room so that everyone could get a view of the speakers before them. When the banquet was over one of the Seminary teachers took President Lee aside and came with "glistening tears in his eyes and was almost trembling when he said 'Come over here in the this corner Bro. Lee, I have got to tell you something. My wife and I were sitting over there at that table we were looking over into this corner suddenly there appeared the faces of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. I thought, isn't that marvelous to see the picture of those two men together. As I watched that picture faded, it wasn't there anymore. I turned to my wife and said 'did you see that picture?' She replied 'I didn't see anything.' but even though there is no picture there now, Bro. Lee, it was there, I saw it, I wasn't dreaming."

"I'm not surprised I said, are you aware of the fact that all through our summer course we have been quoting from the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith and President Brigham Young? Why wouldn't they want to be here? Where else would they rather be on such an occasion, then to be permitted to come here at the conclusion of this great seminar, where you are going out to influence 150,000 youth from all over this church. I wouldn't be surprised that they are very close to let their spirits attend such a gathering perhaps most haven't seen them, but have no doubt there were here. Heaven isn't a million miles away, its here."

In the book "Faith Precedes the Miracle" a quote by Wilford Woodruff expands on what President Lee taught. Wilford Woodruff said:

"After the death of Joseph Smith, I saw and conversed with him many times in my dreams in the night season. On one occasion he and his brother Hyrum met me when on the sea going on a mission to England. I had Dan Jones with me. He received his mission from Joseph Smith before his death; and the Prophet talked freely to me about the mission I was then going to perform. And he also talked to me with regard to the mission of the Twelve Apostles in the flesh, and he laid before me the work they had to perform; and he also spoke of the reward they would receive after death. And there were many other things he laid before me in his interview on the occasion. And when I woke many of the things he had told me were taken from me, and I could not comprehend them. I have had many interviews with Brother Joseph until the last fifteen or twenty years of my life; I have not seen him for a length of time. But during my travels in the southern country last winter I had many interviews with President Young, and with Heber C. Kimball, and George A. Smith and Jedediah M. Grant and many others who are dead. They attended our conference, they attended our meetings. And on one occasion, I saw Brother Brigham and Brother Heber ride in a carriage ahead of the carriage in which I rode when I was on my way to attend conference; and they were dressed in most priestly robes. When we arrived at our destination I asked President Young if he would preach to us. He said "No, I have finished my testimony in the flesh, and I shall not talk to this people any more. But(said he) I have come to see you; I have come to watch over you and see what the people are doing. Then(said he) I want you to teach the people- and I want you to follow this council yourself-that they must labor and so live as to obtain the Holy Spirit, for without this you cannot build up the kingdom: without the Spirit of God you are in danger of walking in the dark, and in danger of failing to accomplish your calling as Apostles and as elders in the Church and the Kingdom of God. And, said he, Brother Joseph taught me this principle." I will hear say, that I have heard him refer to that while he was living. But what I was going to say is this: The thought came to me that Brother Joseph had left the work of watching over this Church and Kingdom to others, and that he had gone ahead, and that he had left this work to men who have lived and labored with us since he left us. The idea manifested itself to me, that such men advance in the spirit world. And I believe myself that these men who have died and gone into the spirit world had this mission left with them, that is, a certain portion of them to watch over the Latter-day Saints."

The work of the Lord does not stop at death, but carries on into the next life. The faithful members of the church and its leaders are continuing to work on the other side of the veil. In the book "In the Lords hands" the biography of President Dallin H. Oaks, President Oaks was away from Salt Lake when his good friend and fellow member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostle, Neil A. Maxwell was very sick and on the verge of death. President Oaks called to say 'goodbye' to his good friend, because his time on Earth was running out. The two had a pleasant conversation and chatted about different assignment they had both been assigned to work on. Elder Maxwell told Elder Oaks that he would continue to work on these assignment with Elder Oaks, but he was not sure at which side of the veil he would be assigned to.

The work of the Lord is everlasting, and it is the most exciting work happening on the Earth today. Although, in our mortal tabernacles we are subject to illness and even death, these too are part of the plan of our loving Heavenly Father. He is aware of us and our situations, he sends angels on both sides of the veil to help us. The work continues and at certain, special times the veil can be very thin, and we are able to see the special messengers allowed to come help us. What a beautiful work we are blessed to be a part of, and will always be, as long as we desire.

References:

"Harold B. Lee, Remembering the Miracles" compiled by L. Brent Goats

"Faith Preceds the Miracle" by Spencer W. Kimball

"In the Hands of the Lord, the Life of Dallin H. Oaks" By Richard E. Turley