Solomon Chamberlain's Vision of Hell and the Three Heavens
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Around 1807–1808, when Solomon Chamberlain was about nineteen years old (having lived a wicked life from the time his father died until about age 19), he experienced a sequence of visions that transformed his life. First he had a vision of hell that greatly alarmed him; following this terrifying vision he had another showing three heavens with their respective glories, the third heaven far exceeding the others. These visionary experiences so affected him that he spent many days in sorrow and repentance and sought to know what he must do to be saved. He sought counsel from a Presbyterian minister, who told him to 'wait the Lord's due time.' Finding no satisfaction from men, Chamberlain turned directly to God and cried unto the Lord night and day until at length the Lord spoke to him: 'Solomon, thy sins are forgiven thee. Go in peac…' The visions led him to reform his life and ultimately to join the Methodist church.
In Their Own Words
“"From the time my father died, till I was 19 years of age I lived a very wicked life. About that time, I had a vision of hell, and which alarmed me very much, and I reformed and had another of three heavens, and their glories, and the third one, far exceeded the others. My visions so alarmed me, I was in sorrow and repentance for many days, on account of my sins, I thought I would give all the world if I could find a man that could tell me what I should do to be saved. I sought much, but could find none. I thought I would go to the Presbyterian Minister and enquire of him, I accordingly went, and asked him what I should do to be saved, he appeared like a man astonished, he said I must wait the Lord's due time, and in His own due time he would bring me in. As all others had failed I thought I would go to God and plead for mercy, and if I went to hell, I would go praying, and I cried unto the Lord night and day, for the forgiveness of my sins. Like Enos of old, till at length the Lord said, 'Solomon, thy sins are forgiven thee. Go in peace and sin no more.' My heart then leaped for joy unspeakable."”
— Solomon Chamberlain, in his autobiography, recounting the visions of hell and of three heavens that brought him to repentance in Connecticut at age nineteen, some two decades before he would meet Joseph Smith
Sources & References
Autobiography of Solomon Chamberlain (1788–1850), written at Beaver City, Utah, July 11, 1858; Holograph, HBLL; https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/solomon-chamberlain/ Autobiography of Solomon Chamberlain (c. 1858) Solomon Chamberlain, Autobiography (1788-1850), Holograph HBLL ; Solomon Chamberlain, Autobiography (1788-1850), as published on Doctrine and Covenants Central, https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/solomon-chamberlain/
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