--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Snow, LeRoi C. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 32 number: 12 published: 1929-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "LeRoi C. Snow, “Raised from the Dead,” *Improvement Era* 32, no. 12 (October 1929): 972–980." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera32012unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera32012unse start_page: 972 end_page: 980 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1929-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera32012unse publication_year: 1929 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1929, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Raised from the Dead Raised from the Dead (Conclusion) By LeRoi C. Snow of the General Board of Y. M. M. I. A. AFTER being visited at about four o'clock in the morning by her dead uncle, who informed her that messengers would come at ten o'clock to conduct her into the spirit world, Ella continued to grow weaker. At about half past nine her brother Budd, now residing in Salt Lake City, was sent to get Dr. Nelson, a good sister who spent most of her time waiting upon the sick. Ella realized the end was very near and summoned her folks to kiss and bid them good- bye. She called each one by name as they came to the bed- side. But her brother Budd had not returned, and she felt she could not go until she had seen him. She was gasping for breath and exerting all her strength to hold on until Budd should come back. Grandma Jensen, who had been sent for, arrived and just as Ella had em- braced and kissed her, Budd and Mrs. Nelson came in. Ella threw her arms around her brother's neck, kissed him and fell back on the pillow- — dead. After Ella's father, Uncle Jake, had gone to report to Pres- ident Snow and consult him regarding arrangements for the funeral, Sister Nelson washed and laid Ella out, dressed her in clean linen and Budd took the doctor back to her home. In the previous article I have told of the administration by President Snow and President Clawson, the remarkable command to "Come back and live," and what happened in the home during the following hour. ELLA JENSEN AND FIVE OF HER EIGHT CHILDREN Oct.. 1929 RAISED FROM THE DEAD 973 Regarding the more than three hours that Ella spent in the spirit world she says: "I could see people from the other world and hear the most delightful music and singing that I ever heard. This singing lasted for six hours, during which time I was preparing to leave this earth, and I could hear it all through the house. At ten o'clock my spirit left my body. It took me some time to make up my mind to go, as I could hear and see the folks crying and mourning over me. It was very hard for me to leave them, but as soon as I had a glimpse of the other world I was anxious to go and all care and worry left me. "I entered a large hall. It was so long that I could not see the end of it. It was filled with people. As I went through the throng, the first person I recognized was my grandpa, H. P. Jensen, who was sitting in one end of the room, writing. He looked up, seemed surprised to see me and said: 'Why! There is my grand- daughter, Ella.' He was very much pleased, greeted me and, as he continued with his writing, I passed on through the room and met a great many of my relatives and friends. It was like going along the crowded street of a large city where you meet many people, only a very few of whom you recognize. "The next one I knew was Uncle Hans Jensen with his wife. The Jacob Jensen Home. Brigham City, as it Appeared at Ella Jensen's Restoration to Life the Time of 974 IMPROVEMENT ERA oc. I9Z9 Mary Ellen. They had two small children with them. On inquir- ing who they were, he told me one was his own and the other was Uncle Will's little girl. Some seemed to be in family groups. As there were only a few whom I could recognize and who knew me, I kept moving on. "Some inquired about their friends and relatives on the earth. Among the number was my cousin. He asked me how the folks were getting along and said it grieved him to hear that some of the boys were using tobacco, liquor and many things that were injurious to them. "This proved to me that the people in the other world know to a great extent what happens here on the earth. "The people were all dressed in white or cream, excepting Uncle Hans Jensen, who had on his dark clothes and long rubber boots, the things he wore when he was drowned in the Snake River in Idaho. "Everybody appeared to be perfectly happy. I was having a very pleasant visit with each one that I knew. Finally I reached the end of that long room. I opened a door and went into another room filled with children. They were all arranged in perfect order, the smallest ones first, then larger ones, according to age and size, the largest ones in the back rows all around the room. They seemed to be convened in a sort of Primary or Sunday School presided over by Aunt Eliza R. Snow. There were hundreds of small children. Hears the Command to Return IT WAS while I was standing listening to the children sing 'Gladly Meeting, Kindly Greeting' that I heard your father, Pres- ident Lorenzo Snow, call me. He said: 'Sister Ella, you must come back, as your mission is not yet finished here on earth.' So I jus't spoke to Aunt Eliza R. Snow and told her I must go back. "Returning through the large room, I told the people I was going back to earth, but they seemed to want me to stay with them. I obeyed the call, though it was very much against my desire, as such perfect peace and happiness prevailed there, no suffering, no sorrow. I was so taken up with all I saw and heard, I did hate to leave that beautiful place. "This has always been a source of comfort to me. I learned by this experience that we should not grieve too much for our departed loved ones and especially at the time they leave us. I think we should be just as calm and quiet as possible. Because, as I was leaving, the only regret I had was that the folks were grieving so Oct.. 1929 RAISED FROM THE DEAD 975 much for me. But I soon forgot all about this world in my delight with the other. "For more than three hours my spirit was gone from my body. As I returned I could see my body lying on the bed and the folks gathered about in the room. I hesitated for a moment, then thought, Yes, I will go back for a little while.' I told the folks I wanted to stay only a short time to comfort them." The Pain of Coming Back ELLA'S oldest sister, Meda, now Mrs. Ernest E. Cheney of Brig- ham City, says that Ella frequently told of the terrible suffering which she experienced when the spirit again entered the body. There was practically no pain on leaving the body in death but the intense pain was almost unbearable in coming back to life. Not only this, but for months, and even years afterward, she experienced new aches and pains and physical disorders that she had never known before. "About the first thing she told us, after being brought back to life," says Uncle Jake, the father, "was that she met Grandpa Jensen. He was sitting by a desk writing in a book, making out some records. He got up and welcomed Ella, calling her by name and then she said: 'I went down the large room, where I met a number of my relatives and friends.' "I know there were some whom she had never seen in life. She described to me just how they looked and told me their names. Among these were aunts and second cousins long since dead. There is no question that they were the ones whom we had laid away before she was born. "Then she told us about going into a large room where many children were assembled. They were singing under the direction of Sister Eliza R. Snow. She did not mention that any parents were there. While listening to their beautiful music she heard the voice calling her to come back, and telling her that her mission was not ended. "After she opened her eyes and told us these things she wanted to get up, but it was two or three days before we would let her try to move around. Converses With Friends and Relatives THE next day Aunt Harriet Wight, who lost two daughters, Phoebe and Betsy, came into the room to visit Ella and asked how she felt. Ella said she was feeling all right now. Aunt Harriet broke down and cried, and Ella then said: 'Why, Aunt Harriet, what 976 IMPROVEMENT ERA Oct., 1929 are you crying for. You need not cry for your girls who have gone. I saw and talked with them, and they are very happy where they are.' Aunt Harriet was very much affected. "Many relatives and others visited Ella and she told them the same things that I have re- lated to you, and told them much more, about meeting their relatives and friends over there, how happy they were and that they asked about their loved ones here. "My daughter is still liv- ing, is perfectly well and strong and has reared a large family." Leah Rees, who stayed with Ella the night before this remarkable visit to the world of departed spirits, came the fol- lowing evening. Let us listen to her own words: "When I came again to stay with Ella the next night she told me all about where she had been. She mentioned having seen my father and several others of my people who had passed away, as well as her own Grandpa Jensen. Everyone appeared busy and very happy." ella jensen's daughter and son-in-law and Their Children Meets a Little Friend but a Few Hours Dead ALPHONZO H. SNOW, now living in Salt Lake City, the writer's brother, relates his experience as follows: "My wife, Minnie, and I heard of Ella Jensen's death and restoration to life and called at her home to see her. As we entered the room she said: 'Oh! Come here, Alphonzo and Minnie, I have something to tell you. After my return to earth I told my parents of some of the remarkable experiences which I had while in the spirit world. But there was one experience that seemed very strange, and I could not understand it. ' 'You know your little son, Alphie, has been in my Sunday School class in the First ward. I have always loved him very much. While I was in Aunt Eliza R. Snow's class of children in the spirit Oct., 1929 RAISED FROM THE DEAD 977 world, I recognized many children. But all of them had died excepting one, and this was little Alphie. I could not un- derstand how he should be among them and still be living. When I told this to mother, she said: 'Yes, Ella, little Alphie is dead, too. He died early this morning while you were so very sick. We knew you loved him and that it would be a shock to you, so we did not tell you about his death.' "It was very consoling, indeed, to hear Ella tell of seeing our dear little boy and that he was very happy. She said it was not right for us to grieve and mourn so much for him and that he would be happier if we would not do so." Perhaps President Rudger Clawson, who assisted Presi- dent Snow in the administra- tion, received the most complete account from Ella. This is what he says: "Sister Ella Jensen, in re- lating to me her very remarkable experience, said that during all the morning of our visit, and going back into the night, the veil between this world and the other seemed to be growing thinner and thinner. She heard singing all through the house from the unseen world and seemed herself to be about to step into the spirit world. And this is what actually happened, for her spirit left her body and went into the beyond. Work to do on the Other Side A GUIDE was there to meet her and by him she was conducted -*~^- into a very large building where there were many people, all of whom appeared to be extremely busy, no evidence of idleness whatever. Hans Peter Jensen, her grandfather, was one of the first persons she met. He seemed pleased to see and bid her welcome, but let her understand that he was very busy and could not give her much of his time. "After a brief chat with her grandfather she passed on through the building, glancing at the people as she walked along. Finally her eye rested upon the familiar face of Hans Jensen, her uncle. Ella Jensen's Sunday School Class 978 IMPROVEMENT ERA Oc..i9i9 When she saw him, what to her and others had been an enigma, was now clearly explained. "Sometime before this advent into the spirit world her Uncle Hans, who lived in Brigham City, counseled with me as president of the stake as to the propriety of moving into the Snake River country, Idaho, to engage in salmon fishing. His idea was that if he was successful he could ship salmon from the north to Brigham City at a good profit and thus benefit himself financially. He needed the help that such a business would bring him. "I said if it was his wish to engage in that business it was all right with the stake presidency and a matter entirely for him to decide for himself. "Later he left for the north and at once turned his attention to salmon fishing. One morning he went from the home where he was staying, clothed in a jumper and overalls, with gum boots, to fish; but he never returned. His oldest brother, Jacob Jensen, came to me greatly alarmed, said that no word had been received from Hans for some time and nobody seemed to know where he was. He was greatly excited about it and feared that his brother had been drowned in the Snake River. "Jacob organized a posse of men and at once instituted a search covering a period of some two or three weeks, at the Snake River, but their efforts were fruitless. No trace could be found of Hans and he was never again heard from until his niece, Ella Jensen, met him in the spirit world. She said that he was dressed in a jumper and overalls with gum boots. The mystery was solved. "There seemed to be no doubt thereafter that Hans Jensen was drowned in the Snake River. It is said that when the dead manifest themselves to the living they usually appear as they were last seen on earth so that the living will recognize them. If that be true it accounts for the strange habit that her uncle was wearing." Lorenzo Jensen, of Salt Lake City, now agent for the Bene- ficial Life Insurance Company, tells the following interesting in- cident: "The night that Hans Jensen disappeared, his mother, Grand- ma Jensen, awakened her youngest son, Willard, by calling in her Danish accent: 'Vill, Vill, you get right up and open the door and let Hans come in the house.' Willard came to his mother's bedside saying: 'Why, mother, Hans cannot be here, he is up in Idaho fishing, you know.' 'Yes, but I know he is here, I heard him calling me. I have not been asleep. I know he is outside and wants to come in.' "Willard went to the door, opened it, walked entirely around the house, returned to his mother and said he was sure that Hans was oc.,1929 RAISED FROM THE DEAD 979 not there. The mother replied: 'Then Hans is dead, because I know that he came to me and called me.' A few days later word came telling of Hans' disappearance." Commanded to Come Back PRESIDENT CLAWSON continues: "Ella passed on down through the building and met many others, some of whom we shall speak of later. Finally she came into a very large room that was completely filled with small children, all dressed in white, with Eliza R. Snow Smith presiding. She sat and listened to the Sunday School songs which they sang, being songs which are now sung in Sunday Schools among us, and she was perfectly contented and happy. It was a heavenly place, she said. She felt that she never wanted to leave it. "While sitting there a very strange thing happened. She heard a voice coming to her in commanding tones, apparently from a long distance, which said: 'Come back, Ella, come back! Your work on earth is not yet completed.' "She had no desire to come back and felt determined not to leave the beautiful place. But this voice was so authoritative in manner that it seemed to draw, yes actually did draw, her spirit out of that room. She was compelled to follow it, and so she turned her face earthward on the return' journey. She kept going and going, apparently a long distance until, all at once, she found herself in the room at home, where her body was lying. "Then she realized that her spirit must again enter the body which was lying there, to all intents and purposes, a lifeless one. Her spirit entered and the next moment her eyes opened and her lips moved. Then it was her parents realized that she was no longer dead. They spoke to her and she to them. Proves That She Was Rational SHE began to tell them of her wonderful experience in the other world, what she had done and seen. Her father whispered to the mother: 'Do you hear what she is saying? Why, the girl is cer- tainly delirious. She is out of her mind.' Ella looked up and said: 'Father, you think then that I am out of my mind, do you? I will very soon prove to you that I am perfectly rational.' "She turned to her mother: 'While in this large building in the spirit world, I met a woman who greeted me and said she was Aunt Mary arid told me that she died while I was a baby.' The mother asked: 'Can you describe her?' The answer was: 'Yes, she was a tall woman with black hair and dark eyes and thin features.' 980 IMPROVEMENT ERA Oct., 19Z9 'Yes,' the mother answered, 'surely you have described your Aunt Mary.' ' 'I also met another woman there, who said she was my Aunt Sarah and had died just before I was born.' 'Will you describe her?' the mother asked. 'Yes, she was rather short and somewhat fleshy, with round features, light hair and blue eyes.' 'Why, yes, Ella, that is your Aunt Sarah. You have described her perfectly.' Ella turned to her father saying: 'Do you now think that I am out of my mind?' 'No,' he answered, 'you have had a very wonderful experience.' "It may well be thought that Ella Jensen's work on earth was not yet completed, as indicated by President Snow, for she after- wards became president of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association in Brigham City. Afterwards she married and became a mother in Israel, and surely a woman can do no greater work in the world than to become a mother of men." Ella Jensen was born August 3, 1871. The experience re- lated in this article occurred March 3, 1891, in her twentieth year. She married Henry Wight, March 20, 1895. They are now living in Juniper, Idaho. Of their eight children six are living and they have six grandchildren. Contemptible Tobacco Testimonials By Will H. Brown A leading tobacco company published an advertisement of a cigarette brand, in which was a testimonial showing how little the company cares for common honesty. It was signed by a man in a hospital, who had been operated on for appendicitis. His doctor had strictly forbidden him to smoke, and it was also against the rules of the hospital to smoke there. In the testimonial this man boasted that he induced the nurse to close his door and open the window while he smoked, and followed the practice for two weeks. Notice the contempt of the whole proceeding: He deliberately violated the doctor's orders and confidence. He broke the rules of the hospital. He induced the nurse to break those rules. To cap the climax of his brazenness, he boasts of it all by signing his name to a testimonial to the kind of cigarette smoked — all for the gratification of a slavish habit, and to get a little money from the tobacco company. The tobacco firms are after ads., of course. The more prominent the individual they can induce to sign a testimonial, the better it suits them. Kirk L. Simpson, noted writer, in one of his syndicated Washington letters, says letters of protest have been received by the War department against army men giving their pictures and testimonials for cigarette advertisements. Mr. Simpson declares that the friends of one army officer signing such a testimonial say he never used that brand of cigarette, or any other.