The Veil

[MorningStar]

If you were told you would see the other side of the veil in this life, what would you take that to mean? What would you expect to see?

[grannysue]

If you were told you would see the other side of the veil in this life, what would you take that to mean? What would you expect to see?

The spirit world, I guess...or at least some people residing there.

[Elgama]

I think we all get glimpses of it - I am not sure really, I don't expect it to be much different just busier.

-Charley

[Hemidakota]

If you were told you would see the other side of the veil in this life, what would you take that to mean? What would you expect to see?

Those of the General Assembly.

You will note when 'death doors' come upon those of the righteous [CFB], the veil grows thin between that individual and those across the veil.

[Moksha]

If you were told you would see the other side of the veil in this life, what would you take that to mean? What would you expect to see?

Probably something akin to Ivan Illitch from Tolstoy's novel, in which towards the very end, he is able to clearly see that which was truly real and important in this life. The rest would have to wait till one stepped out of the shadow and into the light.

[grannysue]

Probably something akin to Ivan Illitch from Tolstoy's novel, in which towards the very end, he is able to clearly see that which was truly real and important in this life. The rest would have to wait till one stepped out of the shadow and into the light.

I guess upon further reflection it could also mean just having senses and fleeting perceptions of premortal life and what we knew there.

[tree]

i have been thinking about that a lot here lately. and what exactly happened when the veil was rent at the time jesus was on the cross . what was the veil ?

[VisionOfLehi]

From quick scripture search, reference to the veil seems to be about Spiritual understanding, as well as seeing the Lord, or spirits of brothers and sisters.

It seems that most times when the veil is mentioned, and not as a piece of clothing or in the temple, that it refers to seeing the Lord.

This is an interesting topic! Bears some research

Edit: I should've added the scripture references. Here they are:

Ether 3

Ether 4

Doctrine and Covenants 38

Doctrine and Covenants 67

Doctrine and Covenants 110

[Gwen]

i think seeing beyond the veil is when you see something that is from the other side, weither it be the prexistance, current, or future. i also think that it's only a peice at a time, i don't think of it like opening a curten and seeing all that is in this "other world". more like peices of the other world come to you.

i know of a couple of ppl that have had visitors that had passed on, have been shown things past and present by those visitors. i consider that to have seen beyond the veil. though they didn't see what it's like over there they did see something that is normally covered.

in my opinion there always seems to be a purpose, not just some random event. if i were told i would see beyond the veil i'd wonder why this was to happen, if there was no ligitamate reason i'd question who was telling me this information. satan has a copy for everything.

[WillowTheWhisp]

To me it means having an understanding of things I knew before I came here, sort of recognising things. Sometimes I seem to recognise people too although in this life I have never met them before.

[darrel]

I don't have the reference but Lesson 5 in the Priesthood, Relief Society manual we studied last Sunday tells us that when we truly repent and live our life as we should the veil will be taken away. I think another example of that is Zion, the City of Enoch, which was taken from this earth in righteousness.:)

[Hemidakota]

I wonder if Dave Gardner wrote that one. Does anyone have a link to this lesson?

[Hemidakota]

Link to Lesson 5: LDS.org - Melchizedek Priesthood Chapter Detail - Repentance

[rameumptom]

If you were told you would see the other side of the veil in this life, what would you take that to mean? What would you expect to see?

I would take it as having higher things revealed to me. That could mean something I visually see, or something revealed through the Holy Spirit to other senses.

Interestingly, during the first dedication session of the Nauvoo Temple, Pres Hinckley paused and teared up. He said, "I feel the presence of the Father, the Son and of Joseph Smith with us."

In this instance, the veil was thin enough to recognize specific individuals without seeing them with the eyes.

Then again, seeing the other side of the veil could simply mean going to the temple and entering into the Celestial room. Of course, this rite of practicing leaving this world and entering into the presence of God is a very important rite in teaching us the mysteries of godliness.

For the Maya, seeing beyond this life was tied to their temples. The temple was a mountain reaching to the sky gods. Yet, under most temples were caverns that represented Xibalba, the underworld, where other gods dwelt and managed the dead. The priests had the responsibility of dealing with both sky and underworld gods, by walking up to the sky or walking down into the depths of the earth. Their temple was also representative of the Tree of Life, which spread to the sky, but also had roots that submerged to the underworld.

In our temples, we see a similarity, in that the baptismal font represents our work with the dead (the underworld), and our fonts are often in the basements of larger temples. Then, those redeemed from the underworld through baptism, are allowed to climb the temple to the Celestial heavens.

Christ represents both the tree of life and the temple, as he is both God of the Sky and of the Underworld - having conquered both. He reaches those who have died and entered Xibalba (the world of the dead, underworld), and he lifts those who have climbed the mount and reach to the thinly veiled skies to enter into His realm in the Celestial heavens.

[MorningStar]

Thank you for your input, everyone. :) I agree that it would happen for a reason.