Melvin J. Ballard

“I found myself one evening in the dreams of the night, in that sacred building, the Temple. After aseason of prayer and rejoicing, I was informed that I should have the privilege of entering into one ofthose rooms, to meet a glorious personage, and as I entered the door, I saw, seated on a raisedplatform, the most glorious Being my eyes have ever beheld, or that I ever conceived existed in all theeternal worlds. As I approached to be introduced, he arose and stepped towards me with extendedarms, and he smiled as he softly spoke my name. If I shall live to be a million years old, I shall neverforget that smile. He took me into his arms and kissed me, pressed me to His bosom, and blessed me,until the marrow of my bones seemed to melt! When He had finished, I fell at His feet, and as I bathedthem with my tears and kisses, I saw the prints of the nails in the feet of the Redeemer of the world.The feeling that I had in the presence of Him who hath all things in His hands, to have His love, Hisaffection, and His blessings was such that if I ever can receive that of which I had but a foretaste, Iwould give all that I am, all that I ever hope to be, to feel what I then felt (as cited in Bryant S.Hinckley, The Faith of Our Pioneer Fathers, pp. 226-27.)”

“We may deceive men, but we cannot deceive the Holy Ghost, and our blessings will not be eternal until they are also sealed by the holy spirit of promise, the Holy Ghost, one who reads the thoughts and hearts of men and gives his sealing approval to the blessings pronounced upon their heads. Then it is binding, and of full force.”