A Promise of Two Years, November 22, 1881
—extracted from Orson F. Whitney, “A Terrible Ordeal,” Helpful Visions, book 14 of Faith-Promoting Series. (1887)
David P. Kimball was the fourth son of Heber C. Kimball, councellor to the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On August 5, 1881, he was took sick with fever and pneumonia at which time he saw into the spirit world.
About 10 days later during a period of seven days, while wandering in the Salt River desert in Arizona without food or water, he received more visions.
David’s death was recorded by Charles S. Whitney in a letter under the date of November 22, 1883:
“Uncle David died this morning at half-past six, easily, and apparently without a bit of pain.
Shortly before he died, he looked up and called, ‘Father, Father!’
All night long he had called for Uncle Heber.
You remember hearing him tell how grandpa came to him when he was lost in the desert, and how he pled for two more years and was given that much longer to stay.
Last Saturday, the day he was so bad, was just two years from the day he was lost, and today is just two years from the day his father and mother came to him and gave him a drink of water, and told him that his friends would find him and he should live two years longer.
He knew that he was going to die, and bade Aunt Caroline goodbye day before yeaterday.”
(pp. 10, 11) At this point I heard the most beautiful singing I ever listened to in all my life.
These were the words, repeated three times by a choir: “God bless Brother David Kimball.”
I a once distinguished among them the voice of my second wife, Julia Merrill, who in life was a good singer.
This, of course, astonished me.
(p. 11) Just then my father commenced talking to me, the voice seeming to come from a long distance.
He commenced by telling me of his associations with President [Brigham] Young, the Prophet Joseph [Smith, Jr.], and others in the spirit world, then enquired about his children, and seemed to regret that his family were so scattered,
and said there would be a great reformation in his family inside of two years.
He also told me where I should live, also yourself and others, and a great many other things.
I conversed freely with Father, and my words were repeated three times by as many different persons, exactly as I spoke them, until they reached him, and then his words to me were handed down in a like manner.
After all this I gave way to doubt, thinking it might be only a dream, and to convince myself that I was awake, I got up and walked out-doors into open air.
(pp. 11) I returned and still the spirit of doubt was upon me.
To test it further I asked my wife Julia to sing me a verse of one of her old songs.
At that, the choir, which had continued singing, stopped and she sang the song through, every word being distinct and beautiful.
The name of the song was, “Does He Ever Think of Me?”
My eyes were now turned toward the south, and there, as in a large parquette, I beheld hundreds, even thousands, of friends and relatives.
I was then given the privilege of asking questions and did so.
This lasted for some time, after which the singing commenced again, directly above me.
I now wrapped myself in a pair of blankets and went out-doors, determined to see the singers, but could see nothing, though I could hear the voices just the same.
I returned to my couch and the singing, which was all communicative and instructive, continued until the day dawned.
(pp. 12) [Accompanied by eight spiritual guides on way to Wickenburg, Arizona, November 5, 1881.]
We drove on until about 11 a.m., when a host of evil spirits made their appearance.
They were determined to destroy me, but I had power of mind to pay no attention to them, and let them curse all day without heeding them any more than possible.
Five times they made a rush en masse to come into the wagon, the last one, where I was, but were kept off by my friends (spiritual).
About 2 p.m., I told my boy to stop and we would water our horses.
We used for this purpose barrels that we had along with us.
After this I walked to the west side of my wagons, and looking to the east, I saw and heard the evil spirits floating in the air and chanting curses upon Brigham Young.
I saw two other groups of the same kind, but did not hear them.
Then I looked to the south and the whole atmosphere was crowded with fallen spirits, or those who had not obtaind bodies.
Others who tried to torment me were spirits who had lived upon the earth.
Having seen so many and being complimented by my guard for seeing so well, I became a little timid and asked my spiritual friends if they had any help.
The answer was, “Yes, plenty.”
(p. 13) This scene vanished, and I was then taken in the vision into a vast building, which was built on the plan of the Order of Zion.
I entered through a south door and found myself in a part of the building which was unfinished, though a great many workmen were busy upon it.
My guide showed me all through this half of the house, and then took me through the other half, which was finished.
The richness, grandeur and beauty of it defied description.
There were many apartments in the house, which was very spacious, and they differed in size and fineness of the workmanship, according to the merits on earth of those who were to occupy them.
I felt most at home in the unfinished part, among the workmen.
The upper part of the house was filled with Saints, but I could not see them, though some of them conversed with me, my father and mother, Uncle Joseph Young and others.
(p. 14) My father told me many things, and I received many reproofs for my wrong-doings.
Yet he was loth to have me leave, and seemed to feel very bad when the time came for me to go.
He told me I could remain there if I chose to do so, but I pled with him that I might stay with my family long enough to make them comfortable, to repent of my sins, and more fully prepare myself for the change.
Had it not been for this, I never should have returned home, except as a corpse.
Father finally told me I could remain two years, and to do all the good I could during that time, after which he would come for me.
He mentioned four others that he would come for also, though he did not say it would be at the same time.
(p. 15) Another long and dreary day passed, but I could see nothing but wolves and ravens and a barren desert covered with cactus, and had about made up my mind that the promise of two years life, made by my father, was not to be realized.
While in this terrible plight, and when I had just about given up all hope, my father and mother appeared to me and gave me a drink of water and comforted me, telling me I would be found by my friends who were out searching for me, and that I should live two years longer as I had been promised.
When night came I saw another fire a few hundred yards from me and could see my friends around it, but I was so hoarse I could not make them hear.
By this time my body was almost lifeless and I could hardly move, but my mind was in a perfect condition and I could realize everything that happend around me.