Views of Heaven?

O my Father, thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place,
When shall I regain thy presence
And again behold thy face?
In thy holy habitation,
Did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood
Was I nurtured near thy side?

For a wise and glorious purpose
Thou hast placed me here on earth
And withheld the recollection
Of my former friends and birth;
Yet ofttimes a secret something
Whispered, “You’re a stranger here,”
And I felt that I had wandered
From a more exalted sphere.
When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.
by: Eliza R Snow
Hymn #292

I posed the question-What does heaven look like??
I think its interesting that the scriptures are surprisingly quiet on this subject.
The topic is a prime one for speculation.
Are the interiors of our temples close to reality or are the walls of Zion (the Park) a better replica of heaven?
A favorite author of mine, Laurel Thatcher Urlich has shared with her readers what her grandpa thought of heaven..."that it is a sea of glass, and that nourishment could be plucked from the air." That is most definitely NOT my heaven. My heaven will be warm, in actuality and in comfort. And my heaven will have food...lots and lots of food, tables loaded with feasts to share with friends and family. My food most definitely wont be floating in the air.
Is there some mystic, hocus pocus manner in which heaven will be to each of us just what we desire? hummm...I wonder.
We understand that there will be no infirmities, which means that hair will be restored to my Builders head, which will result in one less thing that he'll have to worry about. My dear neighbor who has had the incredible challenge of dealing with 2 children with MD, im sure sees heaven with a completely different perspective than I. Heaven will be just that for that dear family!!!
My heaven comes with all the best things that this world offers. For there certainly are treasures here, to relish and enjoy!

But what about relationships??
We have such a mix of family stews here on earth. All unique and tasty and one of a kind.
*Husband and Wives
*ex's
*Mothers and Fathers
*Brothers and Sisters
*Parents and Children
*Grandparents and Grandkids

How will we resist ripping our loved ones apart like the two women in the Old Testament who stood before King Solomon an argued over a child. Wont we selfishly not want to share the precious 'fruit of our loins' with the in-laws? Who hasnt thought about this...be honest!!!

My bet is that we mortals just are not capable of imagining what is divine.
But I do have a passel of very wise and wonderful friends and family to learn from.
And so I thought it would be a gas to share some of their thoughts on heaven with you.
Enjoy!!
Let us know what you think!!
Dont be shy!!


"hhhhhmmmmm...heaven. what is heaven like? for me it would have to a place of peace and family and friends. when my granddad died ten years ago, the preacher said he could just see Mr. Johnnie (my granddad) tending his rows of crops and sharing it with all his friends. that has always stuck with me, not only because it's so befitting my granddad, but also b/c some other religion takes a similar view as mine. family and friends and still taking care of one another. i'm not so sure about the working, but maybe working in a different way for different reasons/outcomes. i think there will still be a transference of knowledge, i.e. learning and growing and in order to that we must work to maintain and build. i think it will be physically pleasing in whatever way is personal to us. my granddad would have crops, my mom all kinds of plants, me pretty things to look at or neat things to read. there would scents that make me happy and help me remember, maybe luxurious things to feel/touch. there would have to be love and friendship and familiarity and camaraderie. it would be just the best place ever, here on earth, only better and peopled with all those we love."
By:Lynley Sharp, graduate student, who really can write, cousin and friend


"Heaven is having the capacity to completely understand, completely forgive and completely love."
By: Jan Petty, RN and best bud!!


I have to start with what it isn't for me before I say what it is. Heaven is not an etheric place where everyone gets what they always wanted because they were so good. It isn't even seeing all our passed loved ones, not because they are not important; but in that heavenly place we are not separated by personalities and egos, rather we are a part of each other without separation. It isn't a place to look up at a throne with the kindly or severe (depending on your dogma) old gent dispensing grace and suffering. Heaven is a place where all things are a part of all that exists, consciousness in its purest form, a place of no right or wrong, judgment and acceptance are meaningless because beingness is without such labels. Heaven persists in a state of Agape, the love without condition, the kind of love that turns the other cheek when wounded, loves the "sinner," encompasses the least deserving, and raises up the desolate. I imagine everything there vibrating with an energy and a sound that is at once pleasing and vital, splendid and bright. I see you without eyes, I hear you without ears, I understand you without brain, I am you and you are me.

By: Kendell Rhodes- whom I met as we hiked together for Fitness Ridge; he's a dear friend and expands my thinking whenever we talk.

I think heaven is full of people who, by their very nature, are full of love; the kind of love that breeds itself exponentially because it is rooted in the joy created by the giving of service. These people, who, through individual work and sacrifice have developed a great capacity to serve, value it soooo much that they love to serve and allow others the same joy. I imagine the kind of unity where all
the colors of various lives, each unique and special, come together into one great picture that is far superior to any color standing alone by itself. To me it is an idealistic utopian society achieved through the work and sacrifice of every individual there and none present were exempt of those experiences that pushed them past their limits and beyond into this better world! Every one gave their all like the “widow gave her two mites.” The sacrifice of each individual was rewarded with concatenate levels of appreciation worthy of heaven… and achievable anywhere!
By David Sherwood, Anna's good friend, that's a boy and a Farmer, grad student and all around nice, smart guy.

To me, heaven is a continuation of this life but where we are able to be content,
 happy, with our family, and progress in the gospel.  I will also be able to eat pizza,
 brownies, breadsticks, wheat thins, cheese, caramel, and apples, and not gain any
 weight because i will be in my "perfect state."  :) :) :)  
I will have infinite happiness that I cannot experience in this life.  
I will be happy because I will be with my family and all those I have ever loved,
 as well as my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  I CAN'T WAIT!!!!
By: Carly Stephenson, beautiful niece, BYU student, and all-around great gal!!

That's an interesting question and I'm sure I don't have the answer, but there is one aspect of heaven that I have heard described by Neal A. Maxwell and a friend who had a near death experience. There's no time there. Everything is in the present. It's hard to understand, but my friend described our life now as a river passing by with things happening over time and heaven is like a pond. You are in the middle and everything is all around at the same time. I've heard people say that it won't be heaven without golf or some other sport. I don't know how it would be possible to play a sport if no one makes any mistakes and everyone has a perfect body. Here's another question I think about sometimes. When the 10 tribes come back, will they bring some new foods or inventions that we didn't think of? Do they have potato chips? What kinds of candy? Do they have computers and an internet? Have they found a different way to create electricity? We could be in for some real interesting experiences exchanging cultures and inventions.
By:Paul E. brother-in-law; engineer and a really great, wise man!!

I've actually been thinking on this for awhile, my response
is not flippant and there  are several draft essays that
I've chucked.  My idea of heaven:   "What is heaven like?"
Look out your window.
from my brother Joe, commander in the Navy, husband,
 father, and a hero of mine.

Look for more comments to follow next Sunday!!