Crowther�s Life Everlasting is a genuine delight to me. Thanks for raising it to my attention. I thought it was a wonderful book when I first read it, more than thirty years ago. On reexamination, I find it to be even more relevant and edifying than the first view. I have in the interim period had cause to reflect on many of the issues Crowther examines. The insight afforded is significant. And, to those of us with serious concerns about loved ones gone before, it is a great comfort to have this review and compilation of so much good LDS-oriented information on that subject.
Of course, as with other proper works in this genre, this book does not presume to be authoritative. Crowther provides his own disclaimer in the introduction. �Brigham Young taught that �When any man publishes or preaches his peculiar views he should not say they are the views of the Church�. This book presents my views in the sense that they are based on the evidence available. As that evidence grows, my views grow and I grow. I write as an individual and not as an official spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the concepts expressed herein are not official statements of Latter-day Saint doctrine. Undoubtedly the teachings expressed herein sometimes exceed in scope the Church�s doctrines on the future life.� Crowther further states: �The evidence is historical, not clinical. The chemist or physicist will never hold the key to life after death unless it is revealed to them. That key lies in the accounts of those who have ventured into the spirit realm and then returned. Its meaning is found in the realm of religion, not of science. The things of the spirit are spiritually discerned.� Currently there is some legitimate concern about popular ideas regarding �near death experiences�. We are well advised to be conservative in our approach to this idea, particularly in regard to sources that sensationalize and exploit our natural interest in the subject. What distinguishes Crowther�s work is the quality of his references and sources. He carefully documents his ideas using scriptures and authoritative quotes from Church leaders. These actually constitute the bulk of the text. I especially appreciated his end-of-chapter summaries for their clarity in outlining important principles and ideas. Much of what is valuable in Crowther�s book is in the collected testimonies of many LDS members who share their own experiences with regard to death, and touching the spirit world. Sharing of testimonies is an important principle in the Church. Our understanding is that it affords opportunity for the Holy Ghost to bear witness to our souls, and thereby enlighten our minds. In this troubled world, a spiritual witness is an invaluable source of faith. Crowther�s dependence on citing personal testimonies is a strength, not a flaw. We cannot presume to dismiss the collective witness of so many individuals, particularly when many of the sources are well-respected figures in Church history. As Crowther states in his disclaimer, this is historical evidence, not a clinical study. In a cynical, skeptical world where such stories are almost inevitably associated with some kind of fraudulent misrepresentation or scam, Crowther�s book projects a pure white pillar of light. It suggests some good answers to questions that are vitally important to certain of us. --- Mij Ebaboc ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP9AU.bWix1n.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
