Vision Granted Thomas Tew, Jr
16 July 1888 Sanpete County, Utah
This morning about 10 O'clock while traveling between Pigeon Hollow and Ephriam Graveyard, I felt a very strange sensation such as I never before experienced. Under this influence I went along, and when I looked ahead it seemed that right in front of me, there was a vast multitude of men, the the right and a little ahead stood a large man, about the size of my father, who waved his right hand and said,
“There are your kindred, and we have been waiting, waiting, waiting, and waiting for your Temple to be finished. It is now dedicated and accepted by our father and our God. You are our representative, and we want you to do for us what we can not do for ourselves. You have had the privilege of hearing the Gospel of our God, we had not that privilege.”
Just then I looked at them and saw that they were all men, and thought it strange there were no women. I tried to recognize some of them, but knew none, and I was thinking, “How can I find out their names?” when it appeared that a voice by me said, “When that will be required, it will be made known.”
I felt while looking at them. “Oh, shall I be worthy to help them!” The tears were rolling down my cheeks and in the humility of my soul I shouted, “God help me! And said aloud “God being my helper, I'll do all I can”, and it seemed the whole host shouted with one voice, “Amen”.
I could stand no longer, and I cried aloud, and while wiping my eyes, when I could control my feelings, I looked ahead, and all was gone. Driving all this time, my team was going at their own gait, but I got no nearer to them. Some of these men had white and some of them had dark clothes on. Their heads were uncovered. When I got to Ephriam, I felt so overcome, I had to tie up my team and rest before I could go on to Nephi.
My prayer is, ever since, to do all I can for them.
Thomas Tew