William's Vision of the Spirit World

Do you believe in visions, angels, Sarah Pallin or one putts? To me they all take an act of faith sometimes beyond rational thinking. My mother, Ondulyn Eckersell Weiser, would tell me often about her great grandfather William Wallace Raymond who in August of 1881 had a vision about the spirit world. My conceptions about how things are there are often based on this vision. I think that a man almost ready to die wouldn’t make something like that up. He had no agenda or reason to do so. I personally believe it is true. I don’t just hope that there is a spirit world from which we came and into which will pass when we die I have faith that such is true. Faith is beyond hope.

This is what the prophets say about faith. The Apostle Paul taught that “faith is the substance [assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Alma made a similar statement: “If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21). Faith is a principle of action and power. Whenever we work toward a worthy goal, we exercise faith. We show our hope for something that we cannot yet see.


Account of Vision of William Wallace Raymond, Ondulyn Eckersell Weiser’s Great-Grandfather on her Mother’s Mother’s Side.

Early in the forenoon on the same day I was called to go and see him as he was very sick and appeared strange. After talking for some length of time with him about his affliction and what he had suffered the night previous, he said he did not think that he could stand it another night, But prayed to the Lord and had talked with Him as a child would talk with a father on earth and was satisfied that He would answer his prayers. I left the room and about twelve O’clock returned at half past two in the afternoon and found him stranger than ever. I also noticed him watching the clock and often asking what time it was. One of the family informed me that he had said there would be a change in him about 3 O’clock. At that time be became more feeble and desired to lie on the bed. He called his family to his bedside.

He lay there about half an hour. We stood by thinking every breath would be the last. His feet were cold, eyes dull and countenance much changed, but to our great surprise he arose from his bed and said, “I am a well man, no more sick, I am all right.” His appearance demonstrated the truth of his statement.

He said, “You do not know where I have been. I have been to the Spirit World and have seen many things and many people that I know. I saw Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young and members of the twelve that are dead. I also saw my parents, children and many of our neighbors. One sister from this place, with whom I was personally acquainted, had charge of a number of small children similar to a class in Sunday School, but I did not see any that did not belong to the church but was informed that they could come and visit friends but not stay.”

“They live in beautiful cities, with fine streets pave as it were with fine carpet but it was rock. The inhabitants are numerous and are natural so much so, that I could distinguish them by their nationality. They all look young and beautiful and dress quite naturally and the material looks like white silk. They eat, drink, and hold meetings, as we do and I ate with them. They all live in perfect order such as I have never seen on earth and move quite naturally from place to place, but I did not see any one riding, but was informed that there were conveyances whenever they desired to go a distance.”

“Brother Joseph Smith presided over the Latter Day Saints. Brother Hyrum Smith has the marks of the bullets and will wear them as Jesus to show that he fell a martyr for the truth. Outside of the beautiful cities are lovely parks abounding with all kinds of animals. The people are acquainted with our doings on earth but they said it was not wisdom for us to know much about them.”

“Society is graded something as we are but money and this world’s plenty does not constitute the grade, but it is governed by ability and position in the Holy Priesthood. Should any doubt my veracity let them ask any question, and I will answer it to satisfy any reasonable person. I am still mortal and subject to imperfections and I did not have the promise of getting well or that I should tarry long on earth.”

After Brother Raymond had said what I have written and answered numerous questions to relatives and friends he put on his hat and went out in the orchard, and returned when his former affliction in part returned. He lived only one week after seeing this vision. Died 9 Aug 1881 in Plain City, Weber, Utah