Melvin J. Ballard’s Vision of Jesus Christ

I found myself one evening in the dreams of the night in that sacred building, the temple. After a season of prayer and rejoicing I was informed that I should have the privilege of entering into one of the rooms, to meet a glorious Personage, and, as I entered the door, I saw, seated on a raised platform, the most glorious Being my eyes have ever beheld or that I ever conceived existed in all the eternal worlds. As I approached to be introduced, he arose and stepped towards me with extended arms, and he smiled, as he softly spoke my name. If I shall live to be a million years old, I shall never forget that smile. He took me into his arms and kissed me, pressed me to his bosom, and blessed me, until the marrow of my bones seemed to melt! When he had finished, I fell at his feet, and, as I bathed them with my tears and kisses, I saw the prints of the nails in the feet of the Redeemer of the world. The feeling that I had in the presence of Him who hath all things in His hands, to have His love, His affections, and His blessing was such that if I ever can receive that which I had but a foretaste, I would give all that I am, and that I ever hope to be, to feel what I then felt. (Recorded in his diary or May 14, 1917, as cited by Jay A. Parry and Donald A. Parry, Understanding Death and the Resurrection [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], 185)