It is truly unfortunate what has become of this book and it's reputation. Not to mention the grief felt by Brother Harrison over it! I'm one of the few souls that was truly touched by his experiences and was finally brought back to my Savior! I grew up in the church, but I struggled for twenty years with grievous sins and identity confusion. I have no doubt the Lord led me to this book at just the right time in my life (I had never even heard of it until early last year. I'm certain if it was sooner, I would not have received it well). I understood then just as I understand now that the book is not scripture. I could discern the intended purposes of the book and I can recognize the reality that not everything is going to be accurate or interpreted correctly, either by the author or the audience. But regardless, the fact is I owe my mighty change of heart to this book and the Lord for putting it in my path! I've never had a greater desire to be His disciple, keep His commandments, keep sacred covenants, follow the living prophet, and consecrate myself to God more so than I have after reading that book! Obviously, it doesn't replace the holy scriptures or teachings of the prophets, but I will always treasure it for what it is; a faithful person's beautiful experiences with our precious savior. I hope someday I can hear the corrected version of Brother Harrison's visions! I'm sure they are still powerful and beautiful!
Ditto! I read it with the Spirit. Consider these apocryphal dreams & visions! Truth is in there but it doesn't mean it's all true for all people or that corrupt souls won't be tried & be found woefully lacking! It's ridiculous. We don't throw the baby out because of a few poopy diapers!d I love John & Tom. I have benefited from the works of John & Terri Pontius, including Visions of Glory! It is life & faith affirming! 🙏💜😇
From Spencer’s perspective, distancing himself from the book is understandable. There were things he approached the publisher to modify, and they wouldn’t. Members have been screaming that he’s a false prophet trying to lead people away. He was dragged into a disciplinary council in 2014 because of the ugly rumors. Notice he never says the book was false. He says it has been a source of grief for him. There are parts of the book where it’s clear John makes interpretations that he shouldn’t. But the book has been valuable to me and opened my eyes to how real the last days might become in my lifetime. I made many changes for the better and I’m grateful for the book. However, I don’t attach myself to any specific interpretation of it, but merely watch current events with interest, and I look to the prophets and apostles like never before.
@@aprilpark7223 Interesting. I'm not sure when that philosophy crept into the church; that there can be no "back door" (aka personal) revelation. I'm puzzled about how one could have a testimony of the Book of Mormon without revelation. Perhaps I assume incorrectly that you have such a testimony? Forgive me, I'm not hip to all the sub-factions or pop-philosophies among some of the members.
It’s been around for a long time. Some random person won’t be receiving revelation for the world. This guy was doing conferences with Chad and Lori Daybell, and in one of those conference he made a sexual reference, talking about six inches. I’ve never heard a holy man say something like that, and the people on the conference were horrified and nobody laughed except for Lori who laughed hysterically.
@@aprilpark7223 This "burn the witch!" treatment is exactly why the book has been trouble for him. He never claimed it was revelation for the world, or the church, or even revelation at all. He never claimed to be a holy man, or a prophet. You've painted him with a bunch of false labels. I refuse to contribute to tearing down one man's reputation.
I had never heard of this book until all the details about the Vallow/Daybell case. Once I also learned knew Julie Rowe was also linked to it I knew I never would read it.
I just finished reading Visions of Glory! Excited to listen to this. I will say, I loved the underlying message of hope in the book. I felt like the book went through one (of many) scenarios that *could happen* to fulfill all of the prophecies. I’m so glad that this book was published and definitely got some spiritual answers through reading it.
Thanks for sharing this letter. I read the book during COVID and found it unsettling and that much of it seemed written as if for an end of days movie. Many of these things he saw were in dreams that could be highly symbolic. I have since studied what the prophets, apostles and scriptures say about the events leading up to the 2nd coming and I do not think it will happen as many believe it will. I do not think the events will be spectacular or cinematic but many things will be fulfilled so naturally that if we are not watching for the signs we will miss them or some we may not even be privy to being aware of them. There will be many who will not even know Christ has returned when he does come.
Honestly if you take things out of a book and decide you want to go off the deep end, it’s on you. You’re probably the same people going down the AVOW route. Stay in the boat my friends.
When that "darkness" comes around, I often leave Hymns/songs about the Savior playing softly while I sleep. The music speaking of Christ brings the Spirit and pushes away the darkness. Prayer and using the Priesthood are necessary, but leaving music, conference talks, etc on while sleeping helps too. (I realized that book didn't make me feel right. The opposition likes to use a few truths, with lots of garbage mingled in between to get between us and the Spirit.)
Actually, it says that he truly didn't want the guru status or for that notoriety to interfere with the work he does to counsel children. It's pretty simple. Why people are more offended by this, without reading it, than they feel about political activism from within the church. It's bizarre. Witchcraft is crazy right now. Especially among the young. That's the real enemy! Because witchcraft is the gateway drug for worship of the dark one. He is the enemy of us all! Thanks brother G.
I read the book when I was bedridden and was looking for anything about nde's and such. I saw it as this person's experience. Is it gospel? No. But is it false? I can't tell anyone that their experience isn't valid. It was very interesting.
When I was on my mission I ended up reading bits and pieces from that book. I thought that everything in there sounded too good to be true. It's still intriguing me though. Then in a mission conference my mission president had said something that struck me. And ever since then I haven't been intrigued. He said, " God doesn't trust blabbermouths ". Visions of Glory is a garbage book. And John Pontius is a grifter
I'm so glad Nephi was a blabbermouth then. And all the prophets. Look, here's the thing, after I read it, a few weeks later I read the Isaiah passages in the BoM And I suddenly understood them. I've probably read the entire book of Mormon about 50 times in my life so there's that.
@@dorar6123 The difference is Nephi wasn't seeking fame or glory. He was a prophet of God called to write his experiences and keep a record. Pontious and this so called "Spencer" were seeking gain. The Book of Mormon is a result of Prophets being commanded to write down the history of their people and that history being abridged by the hand of Mormon and part of Moroni. The Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the earth and will bring anyone closer to God than any other book. Visions of Glory is mostly fictional garbage and should not have been published. plain and simple.
@@chaosking2661 a few questions: 1. What “gain” did John Pontus receive? He died before it was published. 2. ‘Spencer” has no publishing rights and thus is unable to change any inaccuracies, so what was his gain? 3. If his gain was fame, why not use his real name? 4. Thom has tried to make it very clear that these were his NDE experiences and NOT prophecies of the future. Have you read the book? If not, how do you conclude it is “mostly fictional garbage”? And what portion(s), in your opinion, are not “fictional garbage”? 5. Who are you to determine if someone’s personal experiences are anything other that what they say they are? 6. Thom would agree with you on one point. They should not have been published.
@@dorar6123 Nephi was a prophet who was commanded to write the words of Jesus Christ. Thomas Harrison is not a prophet and is in violation of the words of the Prophet.
Wow, this video could have been 10 min instead of almost 40! A lot of this letter is in the introduction of the book. As with any and all things we read, listen to the spirit. The spirit always testifies of truth. I love the book! It’s hard when even my family members take it literal. Things like this can mislead those who are not spiritually self reliant. There are true principals in the book. My brother had Thomas as a Doctor and saw the manuscript in his briefcase. He mentioned it to Thomas at which time, Thomas said he wished that he would have never done it. People call him and ask, what happens in California, and here and there… it’s wasn’t, nor is the intent of the book to be a guide of the last days nor a prophetic communication to member or non members of the church.
I enjoyed reading the book years ago and believed it, but as I thought about the part where they found people under the earth, it seemed too impossible to be believable.
The book started out logical, interesting, compelling…THEN somehow turned into winding, almost compulsive, erratic narrative. On and on, with some things I KNEW were untrue, mixed with Church traditional thinking from our parents’ generation. Just no. The Spirit is plain and simple and direct. Anything winding and meandering DOES NOT come from a good place. Sorry. Temple sealers are mortal too.
If he separated himself from a book he wrote, he would have stopped selling it, at Deseret book no less, and very publicly announced that it was fiction, not true, how horrified he was. The problem is, he still believes it just hiding behind it.
He did not personally write it and does not have the rights to the publisher. His last set of edits did not make it into the book because the author had terminal cancer. Thom said that about a third of it was the authors interpretation. Here's the thing, when I read it about 5 years ago I found it deeply disturbing, but I also feel that it gave me a clue that the end times are upon us and I needed to prepare. Also when I read the Isaiah passages in the BoM a few weeks later, I suddenly understood what Nephi was trying to tell us. For me at least, it's huge. It's scary but also relevant. All I can say is that after you begin to understand, some people start looking a bit sandy in the face... Like ostriches.
I don't have any issues with the letter. Yes he had to becareful and john did rush the book without letting him correct some things. There are some imperfections in book. But his experience is legit. I had as strong a witness as possible about that book. Over all story of it is true.
Tawneenellson: Spencer didn’t publish the book. John Pontius published Spencer’s personal experience with John who then published the book without Spencer’s knowledge.
He starts reading the letter around 19:30
Thank YOU
It is truly unfortunate what has become of this book and it's reputation. Not to mention the grief felt by Brother Harrison over it! I'm one of the few souls that was truly touched by his experiences and was finally brought back to my Savior! I grew up in the church, but I struggled for twenty years with grievous sins and identity confusion. I have no doubt the Lord led me to this book at just the right time in my life (I had never even heard of it until early last year. I'm certain if it was sooner, I would not have received it well). I understood then just as I understand now that the book is not scripture. I could discern the intended purposes of the book and I can recognize the reality that not everything is going to be accurate or interpreted correctly, either by the author or the audience. But regardless, the fact is I owe my mighty change of heart to this book and the Lord for putting it in my path! I've never had a greater desire to be His disciple, keep His commandments, keep sacred covenants, follow the living prophet, and consecrate myself to God more so than I have after reading that book! Obviously, it doesn't replace the holy scriptures or teachings of the prophets, but I will always treasure it for what it is; a faithful person's beautiful experiences with our precious savior. I hope someday I can hear the corrected version of Brother Harrison's visions! I'm sure they are still powerful and beautiful!
Ditto! I read it with the Spirit.
Consider these apocryphal dreams & visions! Truth is in there but it doesn't mean it's all true for all people or that corrupt souls won't be tried & be found woefully lacking!
It's ridiculous. We don't throw the baby out because of a few poopy diapers!d
I love John & Tom. I have benefited from the works of John & Terri Pontius, including Visions of Glory! It is life & faith affirming! 🙏💜😇
From Spencer’s perspective, distancing himself from the book is understandable. There were things he approached the publisher to modify, and they wouldn’t. Members have been screaming that he’s a false prophet trying to lead people away. He was dragged into a disciplinary council in 2014 because of the ugly rumors. Notice he never says the book was false. He says it has been a source of grief for him.
There are parts of the book where it’s clear John makes interpretations that he shouldn’t. But the book has been valuable to me and opened my eyes to how real the last days might become in my lifetime. I made many changes for the better and I’m grateful for the book. However, I don’t attach myself to any specific interpretation of it, but merely watch current events with interest, and I look to the prophets and apostles like never before.
I agree with those members. Revelation doesn’t come through back doors.
@@aprilpark7223 Interesting. I'm not sure when that philosophy crept into the church; that there can be no "back door" (aka personal) revelation. I'm puzzled about how one could have a testimony of the Book of Mormon without revelation. Perhaps I assume incorrectly that you have such a testimony? Forgive me, I'm not hip to all the sub-factions or pop-philosophies among some of the members.
It’s been around for a long time. Some random person won’t be receiving revelation for the world. This guy was doing conferences with Chad and Lori Daybell, and in one of those conference he made a sexual reference, talking about six inches. I’ve never heard a holy man say something like that, and the people on the conference were horrified and nobody laughed except for Lori who laughed hysterically.
@@aprilpark7223 This "burn the witch!" treatment is exactly why the book has been trouble for him. He never claimed it was revelation for the world, or the church, or even revelation at all. He never claimed to be a holy man, or a prophet. You've painted him with a bunch of false labels. I refuse to contribute to tearing down one man's reputation.
@@cognitiveresonance339 you do you dude.
I had never heard of this book until all the details about the Vallow/Daybell case. Once I also learned knew Julie Rowe was also linked to it I knew I never would read it.
Can I ask a honest question? How were they linked to it?
@stormeyholmes267 they believed and followed it as scripture.
@@cindlou7335 well, that is their prerogative. I don’t remember Visions of Glory doing a revival.
I just finished reading Visions of Glory! Excited to listen to this. I will say, I loved the underlying message of hope in the book. I felt like the book went through one (of many) scenarios that *could happen* to fulfill all of the prophecies. I’m so glad that this book was published and definitely got some spiritual answers through reading it.
Thanks for sharing this letter. I read the book during COVID and found it unsettling and that much of it seemed written as if for an end of days movie. Many of these things he saw were in dreams that could be highly symbolic. I have since studied what the prophets, apostles and scriptures say about the events leading up to the 2nd coming and I do not think it will happen as many believe it will. I do not think the events will be spectacular or cinematic but many things will be fulfilled so naturally that if we are not watching for the signs we will miss them or some we may not even be privy to being aware of them. There will be many who will not even know Christ has returned when he does come.
Honestly if you take things out of a book and decide you want to go off the deep end, it’s on you. You’re probably the same people going down the AVOW route.
Stay in the boat my friends.
When that "darkness" comes around, I often leave Hymns/songs about the Savior playing softly while I sleep. The music speaking of Christ brings the Spirit and pushes away the darkness. Prayer and using the Priesthood are necessary, but leaving music, conference talks, etc on while sleeping helps too.
(I realized that book didn't make me feel right. The opposition likes to use a few truths, with lots of garbage mingled in between to get between us and the Spirit.)
Who cares who he is. The fact he's hiding his real identity from association with this book says much.
Actually, it says that he truly didn't want the guru status or for that notoriety to interfere with the work he does to counsel children.
It's pretty simple.
Why people are more offended by this, without reading it, than they feel about political activism from within the church.
It's bizarre.
Witchcraft is crazy right now. Especially among the young. That's the real enemy! Because witchcraft is the gateway drug for worship of the dark one.
He is the enemy of us all!
Thanks brother G.
I read the book when I was bedridden and was looking for anything about nde's and such. I saw it as this person's experience. Is it gospel? No. But is it false? I can't tell anyone that their experience isn't valid. It was very interesting.
Betty, there is so much wrong with this book. Please look up the FAIR article about it.
When I was on my mission I ended up reading bits and pieces from that book. I thought that everything in there sounded too good to be true. It's still intriguing me though. Then in a mission conference my mission president had said something that struck me. And ever since then I haven't been intrigued. He said, " God doesn't trust blabbermouths ".
Visions of Glory is a garbage book. And John Pontius is a grifter
I'm so glad Nephi was a blabbermouth then. And all the prophets. Look, here's the thing, after I read it, a few weeks later I read the Isaiah passages in the BoM And I suddenly understood them. I've probably read the entire book of Mormon about 50 times in my life so there's that.
@@dorar6123 The difference is Nephi wasn't seeking fame or glory. He was a prophet of God called to write his experiences and keep a record. Pontious and this so called "Spencer" were seeking gain. The Book of Mormon is a result of Prophets being commanded to write down the history of their people and that history being abridged by the hand of Mormon and part of Moroni.
The Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the earth and will bring anyone closer to God than any other book.
Visions of Glory is mostly fictional garbage and should not have been published. plain and simple.
@@chaosking2661 a few questions: 1. What “gain” did John Pontus receive? He died before it was published. 2. ‘Spencer” has no publishing rights and thus is unable to change any inaccuracies, so what was his gain? 3. If his gain was fame, why not use his real name? 4. Thom has tried to make it very clear that these were his NDE experiences and NOT prophecies of the future. Have you read the book? If not, how do you conclude it is “mostly fictional garbage”? And what portion(s), in your opinion, are not “fictional garbage”? 5. Who are you to determine if someone’s personal experiences are anything other that what they say they are? 6. Thom would agree with you on one point. They should not have been published.
@@dorar6123 Nephi was a prophet who was commanded to write the words of Jesus Christ. Thomas Harrison is not a prophet and is in violation of the words of the Prophet.
@@chaosking2661💯
Wow, this video could have been 10 min instead of almost 40! A lot of this letter is in the introduction of the book. As with any and all things we read, listen to the spirit. The spirit always testifies of truth. I love the book! It’s hard when even my family members take it literal. Things like this can mislead those who are not spiritually self reliant. There are true principals in the book. My brother had Thomas as a Doctor and saw the manuscript in his briefcase. He mentioned it to Thomas at which time, Thomas said he wished that he would have never done it. People call him and ask, what happens in California, and here and there… it’s wasn’t, nor is the intent of the book to be a guide of the last days nor a prophetic communication to member or non members of the church.
I couldn’t have said it better, well done!
When president monsoon said to share sacred experiences. He meant as guided by the Holy Spirit. Not just haphazardly sharing them.
this is chad and Lori Daybells favorite book next to book of mormon.
I enjoyed reading the book years ago and believed it, but as I thought about the part where they found people under the earth, it seemed too impossible to be believable.
Yep, there were some weird things. Someone was deceived.
There are deep tunnels all over the country. There are people under the earth. That's how trafficking is done.
I was in the ward with the daughter of John Pontius and the girl that knew Thom Harrison and his experiences.
The book started out logical, interesting, compelling…THEN somehow turned into winding, almost compulsive, erratic narrative. On and on, with some things I KNEW were untrue, mixed with Church traditional thinking from our parents’ generation.
Just no. The Spirit is plain and simple and direct. Anything winding and meandering DOES NOT come from a good place. Sorry. Temple sealers are mortal too.
Agree completely.
If he separated himself from a book he wrote, he would have stopped selling it, at Deseret book no less, and very publicly announced that it was fiction, not true, how horrified he was. The problem is, he still believes it just hiding behind it.
He did not personally write it and does not have the rights to the publisher. His last set of edits did not make it into the book because the author had terminal cancer. Thom said that about a third of it was the authors interpretation. Here's the thing, when I read it about 5 years ago I found it deeply disturbing, but I also feel that it gave me a clue that the end times are upon us and I needed to prepare. Also when I read the Isaiah passages in the BoM a few weeks later, I suddenly understood what Nephi was trying to tell us. For me at least, it's huge. It's scary but also relevant. All I can say is that after you begin to understand, some people start looking a bit sandy in the face... Like ostriches.
thanks for sharing!
I don't have any issues with the letter. Yes he had to becareful and john did rush the book without letting him correct some things. There are some imperfections in book. But his experience is legit. I had as strong a witness as possible about that book. Over all story of it is true.
Guy! Ouijas never work for me under any circumstances either ever! I love 💕😘 the Book 📚📖 Of Mormon ❤😂🎉😅😊! 8/11/24! 10:31am! 13:33
It was President Ballard's grandfather.
Yo that drink is SO BAD for you, you gotta give that crap up it will kill you
Journey to the Veil
Tawneenellson: Spencer didn’t publish the book. John Pontius published Spencer’s personal experience with John who then published the book without Spencer’s knowledge.