The Magnificent World of Spirits by Marlene Bateman Sullivan

The Magnificent World of Spirits by Marlene Bateman Sullivan was an insightful and eye-opening read.  It gave many different first hand accounts of people who had had near death experiences and had interacted with spirits during the time out of their bodies.  One account that really stood out to me, was that of a soldier who had been hit with a shock wave during a battle in which most of his comrades were killed.  He was dead for three days, declared dead by a doctor, even.  Yet when they started to bury him, his spirit came back to his body, and he started kicking and thrashing in the bag they’d put him in.  Of course, seeing this, they immediately got him out, and the story he had to tell of his experiences beyond this life, was pretty amazing. 


This story would be enjoyable to anyone who is curious about inspiring near-death experiences.  But I think it may be particularly comforting for someone who has recently lost someone close, and needs to be reminded that the essence of who a person is does not cease to exist at the end of the life of the body, but continues on another plane of existence; not only that, but that the person retains the same consciousness and personality that he or she had before.  The book was well-researched, and skillfully put together. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading inspiring, faith-affirming stories.
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Blurbs, Excerpts, and Author Bio for The Magnificent World of Spirits
Blurb for The Magnificent World of SpiritsLife. Death. Life.Not everyone who visits the spirit world stays there. The Magnificent World of Spirits: Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die, gives fascinating glimpses of life beyond the veil by people who visited the spirit world during the early years of the LDS Church.Filled with stories of insight and inspiration, The Magnificent World of Spirits is a stirring book that combines documented personal experiences with scripture, commentary, and quotes from latter-day prophets and other leaders. This book will bring you peace as you come to understand what awaits on the other side of the veil. After reading this book, you will never think of life—or death—in the same way.

Blurb for Gaze into Heaven (prequel to The Magnificent World of Spirits) Gaze Into Heaven; Near-death Experiences in Early LDS Church History, is a collection of more than 50 near-death experiences that occurred during the early years of the LDS Church. These documented accounts give fascinating glimpses into the spirit world by those who have actually been there. What happens when we die? What does the spirit world look like? Will we see departed family members and friends? What do people do there? All of these questions and many more are answered in Gaze Into Heaven.

Bio for Marlene Marlene Bateman Sullivan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor's degree in English. Marlene loves reading, camping, and flowers, and has a super-sized iris garden with over 75 different varieties. She also loves animals and has a pudgy Westie and an energetic Welsh Corgi who somehow manage to co-exist with her four cats.   Marlene has written a number of non-fiction books, including:  Latter-day Saint Heroes and Heroines, And There Were Angels Among Them, Visit’s From Beyond the Veil, By the Ministering of Angels, Brigham’s Boys, Heroes of Faith, Gaze Into Heaven; Near-death Experiences in Early Church History, andThe Magnificent World of Spirits. Marlene also wrote the best-selling novel, Light on Fire Island, as well as three other mysteries, Motive for Murder, A Death in the Family, and Crooked House.