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Foreword, 11
Introduction, 13
Ann's Angel, 13
Why Another Book on Near-death Experiences?, 14
The Search for Truth, 15
How the Research Was Conducted, 16
Are the Stories True?, 18
Why the Comparison with LDS Scriptures?, 19
How This Book Is Organized, 19
Part I—The Experiences
1. Two Left—One Came Back, 23
Eloise Weaver—Background and an Early Experience, 23
A Premonition, 24
A Terrible Accident—Strange Visitors, 25
An Embrace Out-of-Body, 26
Further Questions About the Experience, 27
Final Thoughts on the Experiences, 29
2. A Child's View of Jesus, 30
Cynthia Prueitt—A Troubled Child and a Remarkable Experience, 30
A Special Blessing—Analysis of the Experience, 32
Final Thoughts by Cynthia, 35
Florence Susan Cornish, 35
An Interesting Painting—Susan's Dream, 36
Questions About Susan's Dream, 37
3. New Beginnings, 38
Barry E. Kirk—A Bad Accident, 38
Lost Memory, a Tunnel, and a White Light, 40
A Twenty-three-year-old Baby—Analysis of Experience, 41
A Final Message—Importance of Personal Histories, 43
Vern G. Swanson, 44
A Tragic Trip, 45
Problems of Severe Melancholy—A Beautiful Visitor, 46
Some Aftereffects—Questions About Experience, 48
4. Multiple Experiences, 50
Julie—Visit by a Deceased Vietnam Soldier, 50
Instructions About a Wonderful Place, 5 1
Aftermath, 53
A View of a Previous Existence, 54
Dreams and Precognition Experiences, 56
A Concept of Previous Knowledge and No Time, 58
Interview with Julie's Mother, 61
5. An Extensive Experience, 62
Elane Durham, 62
A Terrible Illness and Prayers, 63
Out of Her Body—An Incredible Light, 64
Life's Review, 66
Teacher, and a Remembrance of Knowledge Long Forgotten, 67
Questions about the Bible and the True Church, 69
Other Knowledge, and a View of a Pre-mortal State, 70
A Beautiful Place—Visit by Deceased Relatives, 72
Finding "The People, 75
6. A Courageous Man, 77
Bill, 77
A Nasty Accident, 78
Medical Complications, 79
Healing Hands, 80
Through an Archway, 81
Recovery, 82
Analysis of Bill's Experience, 83
7. Two Women Who Saw the Light, 86
Louise—A Premonition and an Accident, 86
Two Men in White, 87
A Visitor from the Other Side—Questions, 88
Joyce—A Difficult Birth—A Strange Experience, 91
Analysis of Joyce's Experience, 92
8. Children's Experiences, 94
Eileen Pitcher and Jennifer, 94
Spiritual Warning and a Reassurance, 95
Terrible Accident, 96
Visit by a Great-grandfather, 97
A Conversation with Jennifer, 99
Rocky and Berta, 100
A Bad Fall and a Prayer, 101
Recovery, and a Story of a Visit to Heaven, 102
Questions of Berta, 105
A Visit with Rocky, 106
9. A Man With a Mission, 107
Jack, 107
An Experience that Changed His Life, 108
A Strange Sign in the Sky—A View of Hell, 109
A Dangerous Assignment, 111
Questions about Jack's Experiences, 114
10. A Lesson in Pain, 117
DeLynn, 117
A Father's Blessing, 118
Health Crises, 119
A Trip in a Tunnel, 121
A Familiar Voice, 123
A Pre-mortal Choice, 124
A View of Gethsemane—A Familiar Home, 125
Out-of-Body in the Hospital Room, 127
Questions About DeLynn's Experience, 128
11. Two Who Tried Suicide, 132
Karen—Her Suicide Attempt, 132
Questions About the Suicide Experience, 134
A Devastating Experience—Cancer, 135
Spiritual Guides, 137
Dallas, 138
Despair and a Suicide Attempt, 139
Out-of-Body to a Marvelous Place, 140
A Conversation with the Lord, 140
Physical Recovery, 142
Another Medical Emergency—Final Thoughts, 144
12. A Man and a Boy, 146
Chuck, 146
A Dangerous Assignment and a Shooting, 147
Out-of-Body, 148
Recovery, 149
A Beloved Father—Life Threatening Situations, 150
Final Thoughts, 153
Mike—A Prayer, a Hunting Trip, and a Fall, 153
Out-of-Body and a Visit to the Stars, 154
A Place of Light and a View of the Future, 155
Rescue and Recovery—Questions About Mike's Experiences, 156
13. Diverse Experiences, 160
Lavor Allen—Heart Failure, 160
Visit to Another World, 161
Questions About Lavor's Experience, 162
Barbara, 163
A High Fever—Out-of-Body, 164
Questions Concerning Barbara's Experience, 165
Patricia, 166
A Dangerous Experiment-A Strange Outcome, 167
A Strange Force, 168
14. Learning Experiences, 170
Elizabeth Marie—A Youthful Mistake , 170
An Astonishing Experience—Indescribable Love, 171
Questions of Elizabeth Marie, 172
Other Spiritual and Out-of-Body Experiences, 176
A Message for Others, 177
Lori—A Serious Illness, 178
Other Out-of-Body Experiences, 181
15. Three Who Felt the Love, 184
Mary—A Hunger for Love, 184
A Tunnel, and a Rainbow-colored Room, 185
A Second Experience, 186
Recovery—Questions About Mary's Experiences, 187
A Serious Illness and a Healing, 188
Maria, 189
A Ruptured Appendix and a Beautiful Experience, 190
Debbie—A Difficult Operation, 192
Cradled by Christ, 193
Questions About Debbie's Experience, 194
Debbie's Recovery, and Her Final Thoughts, 196
16. A Profound Experience, 197
David Chevalier, 197
A Terrible Wound, 198
Medical Treatment, and Strange Happenings, 200
The Savior—An Amazing Valley, 201
Recovery, 202
Questions About David's Experience, 203
Thoughts on the Meaning of the Experience, 205
17. A Genealogy Experience, 207
Renee Zamora—A Precursor Experience, 207
An Improperly Diagnosed Illness, 208
Strange Visitors, 209
Trip to an Unusual Place, 210
A Frightening Man, 212
The End of Renee's Experience, 213
18. A Life's Review in the Light, 215
Roger Smith—A Volkswagen Crash, 215
Journey to Another World, 216
A Visit With the Lord, 217
A Detailed Life's Review, 218
Further Analysis of Roger's Experience, 219
Return to Life—Other Strange Experiences, 220
Part ll—The Meaning
19. Are The Stories True?, 225
Commonly Asked Questions, 225
Authenticity of the Experiences, 226
The Varied Nature of the Experiences, 230
Motivation of Those Telling Their Stories, 232
What About Reincarnation?, 233
What Do Carol and Arvin Gibson Believe About NDEs?, 235
20. Freedom of Choice, 236
The Plan of Salvation, 236
Some Aspects of Choice, 238
Pre-mortal Choice, 241
Some Teachings and Some Speculations—Summary, 244
21. Negative Experiences, 248
The Nature of Negative Experiences, 248
Some Negative Examples, 250
Visions of Hell, 252
Evil Spirits Trapped Souls, 253
Trapped Souls, 254
Why Not More Negative Experiences?, 255
LDS Teachings and Scriptures Concerning Evil, 257
Summary Concerning Negative Experiences, 260
22. Patterns and Parallels, 262
Statistical Summary, 262
Other Patterns and Parallels, 271
23. Families, 278
Examples of Family Ties, 278
Genealogy Experiences, 282
Thoughts on Renee's Experience, 286
Families Are Forever, 288
24. Appearances of Deity, 290
NDE Accounts of Deity, 290
Scriptural Descriptions Of Christ and Heavenly Father, 295
Later Accounts of Christ's Appearance, 297
Summary, 299
25. Some Final Thoughts, 302
Finding the Truth, 302
The Lord's Church, 304
Human Destiny, 308
Appendix—Two Book Statistical Data, 312
Notes, 316
Selected Bibliography, 321
Index, 325
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